Apparatus for placing geophones beneath the surface of the earth

An apparatus for placing geophones beneath the surface of the earth includes a machine frame that supports an elongated probe rod. The probe rod is dimensioned to reach a selected subterranean earth layer. The rod has upper and lower end portions. A geophone holder is positioned at the lower end of the rod for holding a geophone and its cable. A plurality of drive wheels carried by the frame transport the rod between the upper and lower positions. The drive rollers include at least an opposed pair of upper wheels and an opposed pair of lower wheels. The wheels are loaded with an adjustable spring pusher so that extensive pressure can be applied from the drive wheels to the pipe for gripping and driving the pipe even when muddy. A gear train interconnects all of the driving wheels so that all of the wheels rotate at the same rotational speed. A gear train preferably includes six gears including a pair of upper gears, a pair of lower gears, and a pair of intermediate drive gears. The intermediate drive gears are intermeshed so that a single motor rotates one of the intermediate gears and thereby drives all six of the gears of the drive train.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to the placement of geophones beneath the 
surface of the earth and more particularly to an improved powered probe 
apparatus that burrows into the earth using a pipe or rod having a lower 
or distal end that carries a socket for holding a geophone. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for 
placing geophones below the earth's surface using a rod that carries the 
geophone at its lower end portion wherein the outer surface of the rod is 
smooth and uninterrupted, and wherein the rod is driven by a series of 
gear driven drive rollers that are each shaped to grip the outer surface 
of the pipe and a frame supports the gears, the drive rollers, and wipers 
that remove dirt and mud from the pipe during operation. 
2. General Background of the Invention 
Geophones are transducers, used in seismic work, that respond to motion of 
the ground at a location on or below the surface of the earth. Geophones 
are typically positioned at intervals beneath the surface of the earth 
during seismic surveying. Seismologists are often required to place these 
geophones in subterranean formations beneath marshy, swampy, and like 
areas. Working in such terrain presents problems. Mechanical equipment can 
easily break down and become incumbered with the type of unconsolidated 
clay-like mud that is often at the earth's surface in areas where oil and 
gas is found. 
Some patents have issued that relate generally to the problem of placing 
geophones beneath the earth's surface. 
One example of such a patent is U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,999 issued to R. E. 
Garner and entitled "METHOD AND APATUS FOR POSITIONING GEOPHONES IN 
SUBTERRANEAN EARTH FORMATIONS". The Garner patent provides a geophone 
support adaptor having a recess for supporting the geophone and a piston 
mechanism located immediately above the geophone. After the adaptor has 
been positioned within the desired earth's stratum, the geophone is 
expelled from the adaptor by operatively connecting the piston to a fluid 
reservoir at the surface of the earth. Modifications of the adaptor 
include a solenoid operated piston mechanism to expel the geophone from 
the adaptor, and means to rotate the adaptor during its removal through 
assist in the release of the geophone. 
The Gremillion U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,242 entitled "HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED 
CAVITY FORMING DEVICE" discusses underground exploration and survey work 
and the providing of a cavity forming device and the placement of the 
explosive charges into the cavity formed. The Gremillion '242 patent 
relates to a device for forming cavities for the introduction of an 
explosive charge and which includes a pair of rotatably driven stems that 
are forced downwardly into the ground surface by a hydraulic mechanism 
which includes a piston and cylinder assembly which is longitudinally 
extensible and retractable and which is connected with the stems in such a 
manner to extend and retract the stems longitudinal distance twice the 
longitudinal extension and retraction of the piston and cylinder assembly. 
Another Gremillion patent is U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,775 entitled "VIBRATING 
HOLE FORMING DEVICE FOR SEISMIC EXPLORATION". In the Gremillion '775 
patent, a vibrating hole forming device for seismic explorating is 
provided in which a vertically elongated mounting pipe with attached rack 
gears powered vertically by a hydraulically driven pinion gear which will 
mechanically push the pipe downward into the earth's surface. A vibrating 
mechanism imparts vibration to the downward force exerted by the pinion 
gear and rack gear. Vibration is imparted to the pipe automatically when 
hydraulic pressure required to operate the pinion gear reaches a 
predetermined pressure such as when the point on the lower end of the pipe 
encounters a predetermined resistance to further downward movement. This 
enables the device to penetrate through sands or extremely dense 
subsurface terrain thereby eliminating the necessity of providing heavy 
weight vehicle such as is required when conventional hole forming devices 
are used on which the device is mounted. 
Other patents have issued that relate generally to drilling apparatus, 
underground pipe or cable installation, vibratory earth boring systems, 
vibratory hammer/extractor devices, and methods of installing piling. 
The Thiery et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,827 discloses an apparatus for 
drilling a bore hole with a drill tool driven in rotation by a motor 
suspended from the end of a drill column constituted by a flexible drill 
pipe. 
The Gosselin U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,932 discloses a process that comprises 
progressively increasing the weight on the drill bit, determining the 
greatest value of the penetration rate of the drill bit during this 
period, progressively decreasing the weight on the drill bit when the 
penetration rate has reached a determined value and again progressively 
increasing the weight on the drill bit when the tension on the drill pipe 
has reached a fixed value. The passage from a period during which this 
weight decreased and vice-versa is achieved by varying the linear speed of 
the drill pipe at the round surface, whereby the tension on the drill pipe 
is varied. 
The Schosek U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,274 relates to a light weight underground 
pipe or cable installing device adapted to be used in a narrow and deep 
operating trench. The Rossfelder et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,748 discloses 
a vibrator system and a method for using a vibrator system to sink pipes 
or shape equipment. The prior art discussion contained in the '748 patent 
cites numerous patents and publications that relate in general to earth 
drilling, the sinking of piles, and pile driving. 
The Staron et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,048 discloses a method of locating on 
drill pipe and ground recordings elementary corresponding to one in the 
same depth level of the drilling tool, and grouping these elementary 
recordings in pairs, and then in intercorrelating said recordings of the 
pairs so as to produce in respect of each pair a correlated signal which 
is representative of the acoustic energy produced and of the difference in 
travel times of the waves received on sensors from which the pair of 
recordings have been obtained. 
A vibratory hammer and extractor apparatus is disclosed in the Warrington 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,740. 
The Andreasson U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,926 relates to a pile which is intended 
to take compressive as well as tensile loads or to serve as a 
reinforcement member in soils. A pile is driven from a roller shaping unit 
by means of pressure in arbitrary directions into a mass of an earth 
layer. Upon attainment of the desired depth of penetration and/or pile 
length the pile is severed at or dose to the upper surface of the earth 
layer. 
A pile driving and/or pulling vibratory assembly with counter weights is 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,964 issued to John White. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for 
placing geophones beneath the surface of the earth. 
The present invention can be mounted on various vehicles that are less 
intrusive of delicate marsh habitat. Thus, the present invention can be 
mounted on an airboat, lightweight marsh buggy, small truck, or boat. 
The apparatus provides a machine frame and an elongated probe rod or pipe 
that is dimensioned to reach a selected subterranean earth layer. The rod 
has upper and lower ends. 
A geophone holder is positioned at the lower end of the rod. A plurality of 
drive wheels are carried by the frame for transporting the rod between 
upper and lower positions including at least a pair of opposed wheels for 
frictionally gripping the rod out of surface. 
A gear train interconnects and drives the wheel so that all of the wheels 
rotate at the same rotational speed. 
A pusher applies lateral pressure to at least one of the wheels of the 
opposed pair of wheels for making the compressive force that is generated 
between the wheels and the rod. 
In the preferred embodiment there are two pairs of opposed drive rollers 
including an upper pair of drive rollers and a lower pair of drive 
rollers. 
In the preferred embodiment, the drive rollers have annular grooves that 
correspond to and conform generally to the outer surface of the rod which 
is preferably smooth, uninterrupted and cylindrical. 
The gear train comprises of a pair of upper gears, a pair of lower gears, 
and a pair of intermediate gears positioned in between the pair of upper 
gears and the pair of lower gears. 
The pair of upper gears and connected for rotation to the upper pair of 
drive rollers while the pair of lower gears are connected for rotation to 
the lower pair of drive rollers. The apparatus includes a wiper that 
removes debris from the outer surface of the pipe as the pipe is being 
moved in between its upper and lower positions. The wipers are preferably 
spaced a part upper and lower wipers that are positioned respectively 
above and below the assembly of gears and drive rollers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIGS. 1-3 show generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the 
present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Pipe 11 can have 
a hollow bore 11D. In FIG. 1, the geophone setter apparatus 10 includes an 
elongated cylindrically-shaped probe rod or pipe 11 having an upper or 
proximal end 12 and a lower or distal end 13. The distal end 13 carries a 
geophone holder 14 that has a cylindrically shaped side wall 15 and a 
circular end plate 16. The side wall 15 and plate 16 surround a 
cylindrically shaped socket 17 that carries geophone 18 and its cable 19. 
A channel in geophone holder 14 enables cable 19 to be routed to the 
exterior of geophone holder 14 as shown in FIG. 1. 
A frame 20 supports a plurality of drive rollers. The frame 20 has an upper 
end 21 and a lower end 22. Lower end 22 of frame 20 can be bolted or 
otherwise connected to an amphibious marsh craft, airboat, boat, small 
truck or like vehicle. Upper end 21 of frame 20 includes housing 23. 
Housing 23 contains a drive mechanism for thrusting pipe 11 into the 
earth's surface. This drive mechanism is also used to remove pipe 11 after 
a geophone has been placed. Housing 23 contains the drive mechanism that 
includes a motor drive, gear train and drive rollers. Openings 11A, 11B as 
respective wipers 82, 83 (shown on FIG. 6) allow pipe 11 to pass through 
housing 23. 
A threaded connection 24 is formed between the distal end 13 portion of 
pipe 11 and geophone holder 14. The threaded connection 24 includes an 
externally threaded portion 25 (FIG. 5) on distal end 13 of pipe 11 and an 
internally threaded portion 26 on geophone holder 14. 
The apparatus 10 of the present invention has a motor drive 27 that is 
mounted on housing 23. Motor drive 27 cooperates with a four-way control 
valve 28 and pressure controller 29 to rotate a gear train and drive 
rollers that thrust the pipe 11 into the earth and withdraw the pipe from 
the earth after geophone placement is completed. Gage 30 indicates 
hydraulic pressure during use. Knob 31 on pressure controller 29 is used 
to regulate the working pressure of hydraulic motor drive 27. 
Valve handle 32 is used to actuate motor drive 27. In FIG. 1, an upward 
rotation of valve handle 32 rotates the hydraulic motor and gear train in 
a direction that lists pipe joint 11 upwardly. A downward rotation of 
valve handle 32 rotates hydraulic motor 27 in an opposite direction for 
thrusting the pipe 11 into the earth during placement of a geophone 18. 
In FIGS. 3-9, the construction of housing 23 and its contained drive train 
and drive rollers is shown more particularly. A drive shaft 33 extends 
from gear 34. Drive shaft 33 is connected to gear 34 for rotation of 
capstan 35. Gear 34 rotates with drive shaft 33. A pair of gears 36 and 37 
are shown in FIG. 6 positioned respectively above and below gear 34. The 
gears 36 and 37 intermesh with the gear 34 as shown in FIG. 6 so that when 
the drive shaft 33 is rotated by motor drive 27, the gears 34, 36 and 37 
also rotate. 
Gear 36 is mounted upon shaft 38 which is mounted in bearings 39, 40 (see 
FIG. 7). The gear 37 is mounted upon shaft 41 that is supported by rotary 
bearings 42, 43 as shown in FIG. 7. Gear 36 is mounted upon shaft 38. 
Likewise, drive roller 44 is mounted upon shaft 38 and rotates therewith. 
In this manner, when the gear 36 and shaft 38 rotate, the drive roller 44 
also rotates therewith. Similarly, when the gear 37 rotates with shaft 41, 
drive roller 45 rotates therewith. Each of the drive rollers 44, 45 
provides a respective annular grooved portion 46, 47 that engages the pipe 
11 during use. The annular grooved portions 46, 47 are shaped to generally 
conform to pipe 11, being U-shaped or V-shaped in cross section as shown 
in FIG. 7. 
Gear 48 (FIG. 6) is mounted upon shaft 49 and intermeshes with gear 34. 
Thus when the gear 34 is rotated by motor drive 27 and its drive shaft 33, 
the gear 48 also rotates upon its shaft 49. A pair of pivoting frames 54, 
55 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, each pivotally mounted upon shaft 49. The 
gear 50 is attached to and rotates to roller 51. Gear 52 is attached to 
and rotates with drive roller 53. The pivoting frames 54, 55 pivot upon 
shaft 49 so that they can tightly grip the pipe 11 when the pipe 11 is 
positioned in between the upper rollers 44, 51 and in between the bottom 
rollers 45, 53. This arrangement is best seen in FIG. 9. 
In FIG. 9, a thrusting of pipe 11 into the earth's surface is shown showing 
the relative rotational directions of the drive wheels and associated 
gears. In FIG. 8 a shaft 56 is used for supporting gear 50 and roller 51 
upon pivoting frame 54. The shaft 56 is mounted upon rotary bearings 57, 
58. Similarly, shaft 59 carries gear 52 and drive roller 53. The shaft 59 
is mounted to pivoting frame 55 with rotary bearings 60, 61. 
A pair of springs 62, 63 are used to apply force to each pivoting frame 54, 
55 for urging the rollers 51 and 53 into contact with pipe 11 and pressing 
pipe 1 against rollers 44, 45. In FIGS. 6 and 9, each spring 62, 63 is 
mounted in a respective housing 64, 65. The housing 64 provides an 
internally threaded bore 66. The housing 65 similarly provides an 
internally threaded bore 67. 
An externally threaded nut 68 engages the threaded bore 66 of spring 
housing 64. Externally threaded nut 69 engages the threaded bore 67 of 
spring housing 65. Arrows 70 and 71 respectively illustrate the rotation 
of each respective threaded nut 68, 69 relative to its spring housing 64, 
65. This rotation of the externally threaded nuts 68, 69 is used to apply 
greater or lesser pressure to the pipe 11 by rollers 44, 51 and 45, 53. 
As each externally threaded nut 68, 69 is rotated in a direction that moves 
the nut 68 or 69 toward housing 11, this produces more and more 
compression of springs 62, 63 respectively for applying more and more 
pressure to pipe 11 via drive rollers 51, 53 as they urge the pipe 11 
toward drive rollers 44, 45 respectively. 
In FIG. 6, a bracket 72 is attached to the end portion of pivoting frame 54 
opposite shaft 59. Bracket 72 enables a pinned connection 73 to be formed 
between bracket 72 and spring 62. Spring 62 includes a push rod 76 portion 
that centers the spring 62 as shown in FIG. 6 and a transverse plate 77 
that extends away from the push rod 76 for defining an end support for the 
spring. In this fashion, the spring 62 can be compressed in between 
threaded nut 68 and transverse plate 77. Similarly, spring 63 is mounted 
to push rod 78 and transverse plate 79. A pinned connection 75 is formed 
between bracket 74 and spring 63 at pushrod 78. 
Arrows 80 and 81 in FIG. 6 indicate the direction of movement of spring 62 
and 63 as compression is applied to or relieved from the springs 62, 63 by 
externally threaded nuts 68 and 69 as they are rotated in either 
rotational direction to accomplish more or less compression. 
Wiper assemblies 82, 83 are provided for wiping dirt, mud, and the like 
from the external surface of pipe 11 during use. The upper wiper assembly 
82 can be a smaller wiper since most of the debris will be removed by 
lower wiper 83. The lower wiper 83 in FIG. 6 is comprised of three 
rectangular rubber plates having circular openings that are slightly 
smaller in diameter than the external diameter of pipe 11. In this 
fashion, the rubber wiper assemblies 82, 83 conform tightly to the outside 
surface of pipe 11 so that when the pipe is lowered or raised, any mud or 
debris on the outside surface of pipe 11 will be removed by the wipers 
before it enters the interior of housing 23, thus protecting the gears and 
drive rollers from mud, debris, et cetera. In FIG. 10, pipe 11 is being 
thrusted into the earth E. In FIG. 11, pipe 11 is being withdrawn, leaving 
geophone 18 behind. In FIG. 12, capstan 35 is used to engage cable 19 
during removal of geophone 18. 
FIGS. 13-17 show a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present 
invention designated generally by the numeral 84 in FIG. 13. In the 
embodiment of FIGS. 13-17, fluid is used for jetting to form a borehole. 
The pipe 11 is used for forming the borehole 118 (FIG. 17) and is then 
removed from the earth E. A dynamite adapter 110 is then attached to pipe 
11 and placed into the borehole 118. The dynamite adapter can use a 
commercially available hold down tip 1 12 to anchor the dynamite in the 
borehole 118 at the lower end 119 thereof. 
FIG. 13 shows the second embodiment of the apparatus of the present 
invention and more particularly an overall view showing the fluid jetting 
arrangement. In FIG. 13, the apparatus 84 includes a frame 20 supporting a 
housing 23 that includes the motor drive, control valve, drive rollers and 
the like as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12. Thus, 
the housing 23 in FIG. 13 is constructed in accordance with FIGS. 1-4, and 
6-9. 
The upper end portion of pipe 11 has a control valve 86 connected thereto 
using a connector 85 such as a threaded bushing. A flow line 87 connects 
to control valve 86 for supplying fluid to pipe 11 via control valve 86. 
Fluid can be in the form of water such as supplied from reservoir 95 or 
compressed air as supplied by diesel engine 105 and air tank 103. Pipe 11 
provides a hollow internal open ended flow bore 11C. In FIG. 13, flow 
through pipe 11 is indicated by arrows 11D. A jetting nozzle 120 is at the 
lower end of pipe 11. 
Valves 90 and 91 can be opened or closed as selected by the user to supply 
either water or air or a combination thereof. Flow inlet line 87 is 
attached to a flexible hose section 88 for isolating any vibration and/or 
movement of pipe 11 from spoolpiece 89. Spoolpiece 89 is conventional pipe 
that is connected to valves 90 and 91. The valves 90 and 91 control 
respectively the flow of compressed air and water to spoolpiece 89, hose 
88, flow line 87, and valve 86. 
If the user desires to jet with water, valve 90 can be closed and valve 91 
opened. Pump 92 receives fluid (e.g., water) from suction line 93 that is 
connected to lines 96 and 97. The line 96 receives fluid from a storage 
tank 94. The line 97 receives water from reservoir 95. Control valves 98 
and 99 enable the user to selectively receive water from either tank 94 or 
reservoir 95. Flow line 97 can provide a filter screen 100 for intaking 
water from reservoir 95 as indicated by arrows 101 in FIG. 13. 
Sometimes, a source of water is not readily available. If the user desires 
to use compressed air in the jetting operation, tank 103 defines an 
accumulator for holding compressed air at a desired pressure level. Flow 
line 102 communicates with pipe spoolpiece 89 so that air flow from tank 
103 can flow through line 102 and valve 90 to spoolpiece 89. If only 
compressed air is to be used in the jetting operation, valve 91 can be 
closed and pump 92 shut off to eliminate the flow of water to spoolpiece 
89. Diesel engine 105 can be used to supply compressed air via line 104 to 
tank 103. Diesel engine 105 can be a conventional diesel engine having a 
number of cylinders 106. Cylinder 106A in FIG. 13 can be used for 
compressing air by placing a control valve 108 in its fuel line 107. Check 
valve 109 prevents the flow of compressed air from tank 103 to engine 105. 
In FIGS. 14-17, dynamite adapter 1 10 is shown more particularly. Dynamite 
adapter 110 is in the form of an elongated tubular member having upper and 
lower sections 110A, 110B and that holds one or more sections of dynamite 
111 to be activated and fired with cable 117, as shown in FIGS. 14-17. A 
threaded connection can be used for attaching the lower end of pipe 11 to 
dynamite adapter 111. 
A commercially available hold down tip 112 having anchors 113 can be 
attached to the lower end of dynamite adapter 110. These hold down tips 
are commercially available. FIG. 15 illustrates the downward movement of 
pipe 11 and dynamite adapter 110 containing dynamite 111 and hold down tip 
112. In FIG. 16, the pipe 11 and dynamite adapter 110 are shown moving 
downwardly in borehole 118 that was formed using the jetting apparatus 
that was shown and described more particularly in FIG. 13. Arrow 115 in 
FIG. 16 illustrates the downward movement of pipe 11, dynamite adapter 110 
in borehole 118. 
In FIG. 17, dynamite adapter 110 and its contained charges of dynamite have 
been placed at the lower end portion 119 of borehole 118. The user then 
reverses the direction of the drive motor of housing 23 withdrawing pipe 
11 as shown by the arrows 116 in FIG. 17. In the embodiment of FIGS. 
14-17, the dynamite adapter 110 is in the form of a pair of telescoping 
sections 110A, 110B that separate when the user withdraws pipe 11 as shown 
in FIG. 17. The hold down tip 112 retains the lower section 110B of 
dynamite adapter 110. 
The present invention provides an improved system for placing dynamite 
during seismic exploration with minimal damage to the surrounding 
environment by the transport vehicle. The frame 20 in FIGS. 13-17 can be 
attached to relatively lightweight vehicles such as a one or two-man 
amphibious marsh craft weighing approximately 2,500-5,000 lbs., including 
airboats, boats, and small trucks for example. The apparatus 10 can be 
made to weigh as little as 200 pounds and can generate 2,500 pounds of 
thrust to pipe 11. 
The following table lists the parts numbers and parts descriptions as used 
herein and in the drawings attached hereto. 
______________________________________ 
TS LIST 
Part Number Description 
______________________________________ 
10 geophone placing apparatus 
11 pipe 
.sup. 11A opening 
.sup. 11B opening 
.sup. 11C bore 
.sup. 11D arrows 
12 proximal end 
13 distal end 
14 geophone holder 
15 side wall 
16 end plate 
17 socket 
18 geophone 
19 cable 
20 frame 
21 upper end 
22 lower end 
23 housing 
24 threaded connection 
25 externally threaded portion 
26 internally threaded portion 
27 motor drive 
28 4 way control valve 
29 pressure controller 
30 gage 
31 knob 
32 valve handle 
33 drive shaft 
.sup. 33A bearing 
34 gear 
35 capstan 
36 gear 
37 gear 
38 shaft 
39 bearing 
40 bearing 
41 shaft 
42 bearing 
43 bearing 
44 drive roller 
45 drive roller 
46 annular groove 
47 annular groove 
48 gear 
49 shaft 
50 gear 
51 roller 
52 gear 
53 roller 
54 pivoting frame 
55 pivoting frame 
56 shaft 
57 bearing 
58 bearing 
59 shaft 
60 bearing 
61 bearing 
62 spring 
63 spring 
64 spring housing 
65 spring housing 
66 threaded bore 
67 threaded bore 
68 externally threaded nut 
69 externally threaded nut 
70 arrow 
71 arrow 
72 bracket 
73 pinned connection 
74 bracket 
75 pinned connection 
76 pushrod 
77 transverse plate 
78 pushrod 
79 transverse plate 
80 arrow 
81 arrow 
82 wiper assembly 
83 wiper assembly 
84 geophone/dynamite placing apparatus 
85 connector 
86 control valve 
87 flow inlet 
88 flexible hose 
89 pipe spoolpiece 
90 valve 
91 valve 
92 pump 
93 flow line 
94 storage tank 
95 reservoir 
96 flow line 
97 flow line 
98 valve 
99 valve 
100 filter screen 
101 arrows 
102 flow line 
103 air tank 
104 flow line 
105 diesel engine 
106 cylinder 
.sup. 106A cylinder 
107 fuel line 
108 fuel shut off valve 
109 check valve 
110 dynamite adapter 
.sup. 110A upper section 
.sup. 110B lower section 
111 dynamite 
112 hold down tip 
113 anchor 
114 arrow 
115 arrow 
116 arrow 
117 electrical cable 
118 hole 
119 lower end 
120 jetting tip 
E earth 
______________________________________ 
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope 
of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may 
be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the 
descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the 
details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting 
sense.