Abstract:
An apparatus ( 10 ) makes easier, simpler and quicker the obtention of a sample of materials for physical and/or chemical testing. The apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a housing ( 24 ) containing a ram ( 18 ), the housing ( 24 ) having an anvil end ( 22 ) and a cutting end ( 12 ). In a method of using the apparatus ( 10 ), the cutting end ( 12 ) is driven into a substrate ( 14 ) and a plug ( 16 ) of sample material is obtained. Plug ( 16 ) is removed form housing ( 24 ) by forcing ram ( 18 ) in the direction of plug ( 16 ).

Description:
This is a continuation of application No. PCT/US99/10668, filed May 13, 1999. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for obtaining plug samples of materials for the purpose of measuring the physical and/or chemical properties of the sample. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the development of industrial products, it is important that the quality and properties of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished materials used in final products be known. Basically, the sample of the material is removed from the main body of the materials being used, and the properties of the sample are measured. When the material to be tested is a solid, a piece of the material must be cut loose from the main body of the material. Because of safety issues, it is preferred that tools such as razor blade, knives, and other cutting objects not be used for obtaining such samples. 
     One prior art apparatus commonly used to obtain a plug of sample comprises a hollow tube, which is pounded into the material to be tested to cut loose a sample, which breaks off in the end of the tube to form a plug. Such a plug can be provided in a form that can be used directly in many kinds of tests. Although relatively safe to use, such a tool has the drawback that the plug, once jammed into the end of the tube, is difficult to remove, and from a man-hour standpoint, the obtaining of such samples is very expensive. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that makes easier, simpler, and cheaper the obtention of a sample of material from a solid body of raw material, intermediate materials, or finished materials. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     An apparatus for obtaining a plug of material for testing comprises (a) a housing ( 24 ) having a cutting end ( 12 ) and an anvil end ( 22 ), (b) a ram ( 18 ) contained within the housing ( 24 ) and, (c) a collar ( 20 ) disposed over an outside surface of the housing ( 24 ), the collar ( 20 ) having a non-fixed relationship with the housing ( 24 ) and a having a fixed relationship with the ram ( 18 ). The housing ( 24 ) may contain a spring loading means ( 26 , 26   a ) associated with the ram ( 18 ). 
     In one embodiment, a spring ( 26 ) is in a surrounding relationship with said ram ( 18 ), and in an alternative embodiment a spring ( 26   a ) is loaded within said housing ( 24 ) in cavity ( 40 ) of anvil ( 22 ). 
     The collar ( 20 ) is associated with the housing ( 24 ) through a pin ( 28 ) which passes through holes ( 34 , 34 ) in the collar and through slots ( 32 ) in the housing ( 24 ). 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the housing ( 24 ) comprises an upper portion ( 27 ) and a lower portion ( 25 ) which are connected to each other by mechanical means ( 19 ). The lower portion ( 25 ) has a resting flange ( 21 ) which provides a compression point for spring ( 26 ). The housing ( 24 ) has an endless cutting end ( 12 ) and an anvil end ( 22 ). The housing ( 24 ) may have a grip ( 15 ) in proximal relation to the anvil end ( 22 ). 
     Also provided is a method for obtaining a plug of material for testing the properties of the material comprising the steps of (a) providing an apparatus having a housing ( 24 ) having a cutting end ( 12 ) which has a endless cutting edge, (b) driving cutting end ( 12 ) into a substrate ( 14 ) thereby forming a plug ( 16 ) of substrate, (c) causing a ram ( 18 ) within housing ( 24 ) to move in the direction of plug ( 16 ), thereby forcing the plug ( 16 ) to be removed from cutting end ( 12 ). 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section view of the apparatus of the invention along the line  2 - 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus of the invention cutting a sample wherein the apparatus is in an at-rest position. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the removal of a sample from the apparatus wherein the apparatus is in an active position. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the component parts of the apparatus. 
     FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  illustrates alternative configurations of component parts of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  of the invention comprises a housing  24  which has a cutting end  12  and an anvil end  22 . Cutting end  12  has an endless cutting edge which may have any desired geometrical shape. The apparatus  10  is designed so that cutting end  12  is jammed into or pounded into a material substrate from which a sample is needed for testing. 
     By endless cutting edge it is meant the cutting edge encloses an area of space. The enclosed area of space becomes the area occupied by a plug of material when the cutting edge is used to obtain a plug of sample. The cutting edge may be a circle, an oval, a square, or any other geometrical shape which can be used for testing a sample of material. 
     If apparatus  10  is pounded into a substrate, anvil end  22  receives a blow from a hammer or other object, to create force which is transferred to cutting end  12  which is placed against a substrate. Accordingly, the housing, and especially anvil end  22 , is made of a structurally strong material, such as steel, and is preferably made of stainless steel. 
     A collar  20  is disposed over the outside of housing  24  and has a non-fixed relationship with housing  24 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 2, collar  20  has a fixed relationship with ram  18  which is contained within housing  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, collar  20  is fixed to ram  18  using pin  28 . Collar  20  may move relative to housing  24  when pin  28  moves in slot  32  of the housing. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, collar  20  is held at-rest by spring  26  which forces pin  28  to one end of slot  32 . 
     With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, when apparatus  10  is used to cut a sample of a substrate  14 , a force is applied to anvil  22  which drives cutting end  12  into substrate  14 . The at-rest position of ram  18  determines the depth of the cut provided in substrate  14 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 4, removal of sample plug  16  from the cutting end of  12  of housing  24  is obtained by stabilizing the position of housing  24  and forcing collar  20  in the direction of cutting end  12  of housing  24 . Thus moving collar  20  forces pin  28  in the same direction in slot  32 , which forces ram  18  toward the cutting end  12  of housing  24 . Stabilization of housing  24  may be aided by a grip  15  provided on the sides of anvil  22 . A resting flange  21  in housing  24  limits the downward movement of spring  26 . 
     In some instances, substrate  14  may comprise a sticky or slightly adhesive material. In such instances it is preferred that ram  18  have a non-stick end  17  comprising a non-stick material. Such a non-stick material may comprise polished steel or chrome, or a coating of a polymerized substituted hydrocarbon, such as Teflon® polymer. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that ram  18 , in its entirety, may comprise such a non-stick material. 
     A non-stick ram  18 , or a ram  18  with a non-stick end  17  may be particularly useful in an automated system where sample plugs are cut automatically. In an automated system the non-stick properties of ram  18  makes easier the automatic placement of plug samples in automated testing equipment since, if properly calibrated and adjusted, the plug  16  of material will drop off the end of ram  18  without manual intervention, and the plug  16  can be dropped into selected sample holders in the automatic equipment. 
     With reference now to FIG. 5, component parts of the illustrated apparatus of the invention are shown in an exploded view wherein it can be seen that housing  24  comprises an upper portion  27  and a lower portion  25  which may be connected together by a mechanical means  19 . Mechanical means  19  comprises threads in the illustrated embodiment. Mechanical means  19  makes possible a change in the length of apparatus  10 , in that longer or shorter versions of upper portion  27  may be combined with lower portion  25 , or longer or shorter versions of lower portion  25  may be combined with upper portion  27 . Also, although the endless cutting edge of cutting end  12  is illustrated in the figures as resenting a circle, other sample shapes may be obtained by replacing lower portion  25  with a similar component having a differently shaped endless cutting edge. 
     If different lengthened housings  24  are used, the position of mm  18  within housing  24  can be adjusted by changing the position of hole  29  which is used to receive pin  28 . Pin  28  passes through hole  34  in collar  20  into hole  29  in ram  18 , and is threaded into hole  34   a  of collar  20 . As described above, pin  28  moves in slot  32  which allows movement of collar  20  relative to housing  24 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 6 a,  a locking mechanism  32   a  may be used to lock the position of ram  18  relative to housing  24  while a sample is being obtained. In such an embodiment, when removal of the sample  16  from cutting end  12  of housing  24  is desired, the locking mechanism  32   a  is activated so that the ram can move within housing  24 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that other similar locking mechanisms, and other types of locking mechanisms, such as ratchets, can also be used in the apparatus of the invention. 
     With reference now to FIG. 6 b,  in an embodiment where a locking mechanism is used to lock the position of the ram  28  relative to housing  24 , different types of spring loading may be used relative to and  18 . For example, spring  26   a  may be between ram  18  and opening  40  in anvil  22 , to provide constant pressure against mm  18 , so that when a locking mechanism, such as locking mechanism  32   a  is activated, ram  18  automatically is forced in the direction of cutting end  12 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a slings serving the same function as  26   a  may encompass the ram  18  in the same manner shown for spring  26 , but extend beyond the end of ram  18  into opening  40  of anvil  22 . 
     In the use of apparatus  10 , the lab technician, dependent on the type of material being tested, may grab housing  24  by grip  15 , and jab cutting end  12  into a substrate  14 , or may place cutting end  12  against substrate  14  and strike anvil  22  with a hammer or other object in the direction of arrow  36 . 
     Depending on the thickness of substrate  14 , cutting end  12  may cut through substrate  14  to form plug  16 , or plug  16  may be broken off the main body of material by twisting or rocking housing  24 . 
     To remove plug  16  from housing  24 , in the case where the embodiment of apparatus  10  which is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is used, the technician may grab grip  15  with one hand, and move collar  20  in the direction of arrow  38  with the other hand, whereby pin  28  will move in the direction of arrow  38 , forcing ram  18  in the same direction, which will force plug  16  out of housing  24 . Plug  16  can then be further processed for chemical or physical testing as needed.