Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A circumferential sampling tool for obtaining a sample from an interior wall of a tube comprising:a cylindrical body having a central axis;an aperture in the cylindrical body;a shaft disposed in the cylindrical body along the central axis;a first cutter operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith, the first cutter being movable radially between a retracted position where the first cutter is disposed inside the cylindrical body at a first distance from the central axis and an extended position where the first cutter extends at least in part through the aperture at a second distance from the central axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance;a first actuator operatively connected to the first cutter for moving the first cutter between the retracted position and the extended position as the shaft rotates, the first actuator mechanically biasing the first cutter toward the retracted position;a second cutter operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and being disposed at an angle to first cutter, the second cutter being movable radially between a retracted position where the second cutter is disposed inside the cylindrical body at a third distance from the central axis and an extended position where the second cutter extends at least in part through the aperture at a fourth distance from the central axis, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance, the fourth distance being greater than the second distance; anda second actuator operatively connected to the second cutter for moving the second cutter between the retracted position and the extended position as the shaft rotates, the second actuator mechanically biasing the second cutter toward the retracted position, the second cutter being in the retracted position when the first cutter is in the extended position, and the first cutter being in the retracted position when the second cutter is in the extended position;wherein rotating the shaft causes the first cutter to move to the extended position thereby cutting a portion of the interior wall of the tube and then causes the second cutter to move to the extended position thereby cutting the sample from the interior wall of the tube from a location in the tube revealed by cutting the portion of the interior wall of the tube. 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein:the first actuator comprises a spring mechanically biasing the first cutter toward the retracted position; andthe second actuator comprises a spring mechanically biasing the second cutter toward the retracted position. 3. The tool of claim 2, further comprising a ramp disposed inside the cylindrical body along a circumferential portion thereof, the ramp being disposed opposite the aperture;wherein the first actuator further comprises a first roller, the first roller causing the first cutter to move to the extended position when the first roller rolls over the ramp; andwherein the second actuator further comprises a second roller, the second roller causing the second cutter to move to the extended position when the second roller rolls over the ramp. 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein a diameter of the first roller is greater than a diameter of the second roller. 5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first cutter is wider than the second cutter. 6. The tool of claim 1, wherein an arc defined by the first cutter in the extended position as the shaft rotates is longer than an arc defined by the second cutter in the extended position as the shaft rotates. 7. The tool of claim 1, further comprising:a first receptacle connected to the first cutter for receiving the portion of the interior wall of the tube cut by the first cutter; anda second receptacle connected to the second cutter for receiving the sample cut by the second cutter. 8. The tool of claim 1, further comprising:at least one spring connected to the first cutter for biasing the first cutter against the interior wall of the tube when the first cutter is in the extended position; andat least one spring connected to the second cutter for biasing the second cutter against the interior wall of the tube when the second cutter is in the extended position. 9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first cutter is disposed opposite the second cutter. 10. The tool of claim 9, further comprising at least one spring connected between the first cutter and the second cutter, the at least one spring biasing the first and second cutters away from each other. 11. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a motor disposed in the cylindrical body and operatively connected to the shaft for rotating the shaft. 12. A circumferential sampling tool for obtaining a sample from an interior wall of a tube comprising:a cylindrical body having a central axis;an aperture in the cylindrical body;a shaft disposed in the cylindrical body along the central axis;an extension ramp connected to the cylindrical body;a retraction ramp connected to the cylindrical body;a first cutter operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith, the first cutter being movable radially between a retracted position where the first cutter is disposed inside the cylindrical body at a first distance from the central axis and an extended position where the first cutter extends at least in part through the aperture at a second distance from the central axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance;a first actuator operatively connected to the first cutter for moving the first cutter between the retracted position and the extended position by interacting with the retraction ramp and the extension ramp respectively as the shaft rotates;a second cutter operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and being disposed at an angle to first cutter, the second cutter being movable radially between a retracted position where the second cutter is disposed inside the cylindrical body at a third distance from the central axis and an extended position where the second cutter extends at least in part through the aperture at a fourth distance from the central axis, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance, the fourth distance being greater than the second distance; anda second actuator operatively connected to the second cutter for moving the second cutter between the retracted position and the extended position by interacting with the retraction ramp and the extension ramp respectively as the shaft rotates, the second cutter being in the retracted position when the first cutter is in the extended position, and the first cutter being in the retracted position when the second cutter is in the extended position;wherein rotating the shaft causes the first cutter to move to the extended position thereby cutting a portion of the interior wall of the tube and then causes the second cutter to move to the extended position thereby cutting the sample from the interior wall of the tube from a location in the tube revealed by cutting the portion of the interior wall of the tube. 13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the first actuator includes a first actuation bar disposed generally parallel to the central axis, the first actuation bar having a first roller at a first end thereof, a second roller at a second end thereof, and at least one third roller between the first and second ends thereof;wherein the second actuator includes a second actuation bar disposed generally parallel to the central axis, the second actuation bar having a fourth roller at a first end thereof, a fifth roller at a second end thereof, and at least one sixth roller between the first and second ends thereof;wherein the extension ramp extends generally parallel to the central axis toward the first cutter and the second cutter, and defines an arc about the central axis;wherein the retraction ramp extends generally parallel to the central axis toward the extension ramp, the first cutter and the second cutter, and defines an arc about the central axis;wherein the first and second cutters are disposed between the extension ramp and the retraction ramp in a direction parallel to the central axis;the tool further comprising:a first holder connected to the first cutter, the first holder having at least one slot defined therein at an angle to the central axis, the at least one slot of the first holder receiving the at least one third roller therein; anda second holder connected to the second cutter, the second holder having at least one slot defined therein at an angle to the central axis, the at least one slot of the second holder receiving the at least one sixth roller therein;wherein when the first roller rolls over the extension ramp, the at least one third roller moves in the at least one slot of the first holder causing the first holder to move radially away from the central axis thereby causing the first cutter to move to the extended position;wherein when the second roller rolls over the retraction ramp, the at least one third roller moves in the at least one slot of the first holder causing the first holder to move radially toward the central axis thereby causing the first cutter to move to the retracted position;wherein when the fourth roller rolls over the extension ramp, the at least one sixth roller moves in the at least one slot of the second holder causing the second holder to move radially away from the central axis thereby causing the second cutter to move to the extended position; andwherein when the fifth roller rolls over the retraction ramp, the at least one sixth roller moves in the at least one slot of the second holder causing the second holder to move radially toward the central axis thereby causing the second cutter to move to the retracted position. 14. The tool of claim 13, wherein the extension ramp has a first ramp portion and a second ramp portion, the first ramp portion being longer than the second ramp portion; andwherein the first roller rolls over the first ramp portion of the extension ramp and the fourth roller rolls over the second ramp portion of the extension ramp. 15. The tool of claim 13, wherein the retraction ramp has a first ramp portion and a second ramp portion, the first ramp portion being longer than the second ramp portion; andwherein the second roller rolls over the second ramp portion of the retraction ramp and the fifth roller rolls over the first ramp portion of the retraction ramp. 16. The tool of claim 12, wherein the first cutter is wider than the second cutter. 17. The tool of claim 12, wherein an arc defined by the first cutter in the extended position as the shaft rotates is longer than an arc defined by the second cutter in the extended position as the shaft rotates. 18. The tool of claim 12, further comprising:a first receptacle connected to the first cutter for receiving the portion of the interior wall of the tube cut by the first cutter; anda second receptacle connected to the second cutter for receiving the sample cut by the second cutter. 19. The tool of claim 12, further comprising:at least one spring connected to the first cutter for biasing the first cutter against the interior wall of the tube when the first cutter is in the extended position; andat least one spring connected to the second cutter for biasing the second cutter against the interior wall of the tube when the second cutter is in the extended position. 20. The tool of claim 12, further comprising a motor disposed in the cylindrical body and operatively connected to the shaft for rotating the shaft.