GB2079353A

GB2079353A - Soil sampling apparatus and process

Info

Publication number: GB2079353A
Application number: GB8119601A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-06-26
Filing date: 1981-06-25
Publication date: 1982-01-20
Also published as: GB2079353B; FR2485582A1; SE8103932L; NL8103111A; DE3125239A1

Abstract

A soil sampling apparatus is provided which comprises a support tube (10) rotatably supporting a collecting cylinder (12) at one end thereof, pressure cylinders (46, 48) in the support tube to rotate the collecting cylinder between a vertical position coaxial with the support tube and a horizontal position perpendicular to the axis of the support tube, a pressure cylinder (18) disposed for rotation with the collecting cylinder to extend and retract the collecting cylinder (12) into and out of a soil layer on a horizontal axis, and a remote pump and control device for activating the pressure cylinders. A process for collecting an undisturbed soil sample from a predetermined underground soil layer is also provided, and this process comprises (a) forming a vertical hole down to the position required; (b) introducing a collecting cylinder vertically into the hole; (c) rotating the collecting cylinder to a horizontal position with its axis coincident with the direction of the soil layer; (d) pressing the collecting cylinder into the soil layer to collect a sample; (e) withdrawing the cylinder from the soil layer; (f) rotating the cylinder back to a vertical orientation; and (g) extracting the collecting cylinder with its soil sample from the hole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Soil sampling apparatus and process The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for collecting soil samples for testing.

More particularly, this invention is directed to a method and apparatus for collecting soil samples which result in larger and uniform samples even from narrow soil layers below the surface.

A conventional method employed for collecting soil samples for testing employs the steps of drilling a vertical hole having a diameter of about 10 cm from the soil surface to the layer to be sampled by removing the soil above the layer, extracting the drilling bit, introducing a collecting cylinder into the hole, pressing the cylinder vertically into the soil layer thereby filling the cylinder with soil, and extracting the cylinder from the hole to obtain the soil sample. Such conventional processes, working only in the vertical direction, may not provide a sufficient amount of soil for investigation if the thickness of the soil layer is less than the length of the collecting cylinder.

Also, during insertion of the collecting cylinder into the drilled hole, soil particles can drop on the target soil layer from above, particularly when soil layers above the target layer are not coherent, such as gravel. In that case, the particles must be removed by a drill bit or a baler before insertion of the collecting cylinder. Otherwise, the particles are pushed into the cylinder and reduce the length of the target soil layer recovered by the cylinder. Thus, even if the soil layer initially has a sufficient thickness, the target soil layer sample is decreased and does not provide a satisfactory sample for tests.

Furthermore, soil layers generally vary in a vertical direction even though they seem to be uniform.

Therefore, conventional vertical soil sampling is unable to provide a sufficient amount of sample which is physically uniform. For this reason, precise soil tests which are conducted axially (particularly those for evaluating dynamic soil characteristics) inevitably yield fluctuating test results, which are of little or no value.

The present invention avoids or ameliorates the drawbacks of the conventional vertical sampling process and provides for rapid and easy collection of a uniform, undisturbed soil sample, even from a thin soil layer. Futhermore, the present invention provides for the recovery of a uniform soil sample even when soil layers above the target layer are not coherent and can easily collapse, and when the target soil layer varies in properties in the vertical direction.

The present invention is similar to the conventional process described above in that a vertical hole is formed in the soil reaching to the target soil layer.

However, in the present invention, the sampling cylinder is rotated to a position perpendicular to the vertical hole in the soil when the cylinder reaches the target layer and is then pressed into the soil layer.

Thereafter, the sampling cylinder is retracted, rotated back to the vertical position, and withdrawn from the vertical hole. More particularly the present invention provides, in one aspect, a soil sampling apparatus, comprising: a) a head including a collecting cylinder operable to collect soil therein upon being pressed into a soil layer and means for pressing the collecting cylinder along a first axis into the soil layer and for retracting it therefrom; b) means for rotating said head 90" about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis between a first position where the axis of said cylinder is coaxial with said first axis and a second position rotated substantially 90" from said first position; and c) remote control means for operating said rotating means and said pressing means.

Preferably, the soil sampling apparatus also includes means for rotatably supporting the head and for introducing and extracting the head to and from a position proximate the soil layer.

It may also be preferable to include water jet means located along the head for washing away soil in the path of rotation of the head from the second position to the first position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for collecting an undisturbed soil sample from a predetermined underground soil layer, comprising the steps of forming a vertical hole in soil from a ground surface at least to a position of said soil layer; introducing a collecting cylinder vertically into said hole to a position adjacent said soil layer; rotating said collecting cylinder about a horizontal axis to a horizontal position where its axis coincides with the direction of the soil layer; pressing said collecting cylinder into said soil layer to collect a required amount of soil in said cylinder; extracting said collecting cylinder from said soil layer; rotating said collecting cylinder to a position where its axis is vertical; and extracting said collecting cylinder containing said soil sample from said hole.

Preferably, the process for collecting a soil sample may also include the step of enlarging the hole proximate the soil layer after forming the vertical hole and before introducing the collecting cylinder.

Additionally, the process of collecting a soil sample may also include the step of injecting pressurized water into the path of the collecting cylinder while rotating the collecting cylinder to the horizontal position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example two embodiments of the invention, and, together with the following description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The Figures which constitute the drawings are as follows: Figures 1-5 show the sequence of actual procedure used in the present apparatus.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a hole bored through soil.

Figure 2 shows a sampling head provided with a collecting cylinder inserted into the bored hole.

Figure 3 shows the sampling head and collecting cylinder rotating about a horizontal axis and the wall of the bored hole being washed away by water ejected from nozzles provided at the leading side of the head.

Figure 4 shows the head and collecting cylinder in position horizontally.

Figure 5 depicts the collecting cylinder pressed into the soil layer by action of a pressure cylinder.

Figures 6and 6a are enlarged elevational and plan views showing the relationship of the pressure cylinder, collecting cylinder, and a cylindrical casing illustrated in the horizontal position.

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the device which rotates the head.

Figure 8 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 2 depicting the relationship of water supply pipes, bearings, rotary shaft and rotary block.

Figure 9 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in Figure 6 showing the relationship with water supply pipes, bearings, rotary shaft and rotary block.

Figure 10 is a partial cutaway view taken along line 10-10 in Figure 9.

Figure ii is an enlarged, cross-sectional view along line 11-11 in Figure 4.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the centre of Figure 6a.

Figure 13 is a schematic view or the other embodiment of the collecting apparatus.

Figure 14 is an overall schematic view of the collecting apparatus in which the collecting cylinder is positioned horizontally.

Figure 15 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the hole for accommodating the other embodiment of the collecting apparatus depicted in Figures 13 and 14.

Figures 16a and 16b are schematic views of a known device for drilling a portion ofthe hole depicted in Figure 15.

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the invention, the soil sampling apparatus comprises a head including a collecting cylinder operable to collect soil therein upon being pressed into a soil layer and means for pressing the collecting cylinder along a first axis into the soil layer and for retracting it therefrom.

As embodied herein and depicted in Figure 6, head 10 includes hollow collecting cylinder 12 slidably disposed in cylinder casing 14. One end 16 of collecting cylinder 12 is open permitting collecting cylinder 12 to be pressed into a soil layer and to collect a soil sample within collecting cylinder 12.

At the opposite end of head 10 from collecting cylinder 12 is pressure cylinder 18 disposed within cylinder casing 14. The piston in pressure cylinder 18 is connected by piston rod 20 (Figures 6,8 and 10) through rotary block 26 to closed end 22 of collecting cylinder 12. Hydraulic or pneumatic actuation of pressure cylinder 18 presses collecting cylinder 12 along first axis 24 into the soil layer and, by reversing pressure cylinder 18, retracts collecting cylinder 12 into cylindrical casing 14 and out ofthe soil layer.

Preferably, as depicted in Figures 6 and 10, piston 28 is slidably disposed in end 16 of collecting cylinder 12. Rubber rings 30 are placed around piston 28 between piston 28 and the inside wall of collecting cylinder 12. Piston 28 is suspended by wires 32 secured at one end thereof. Wires 32 extend through wire clamps 34 disposed in apertures 36 in closed end 22 of collecting cylinder 12 and are wound on wire drums 38 wherein springs 40 drive wire drums 38 to take up wires 32. Clamps 34 are so structured as to engage wires 32 when pulled in a direction out of collecting cylinder 12 and to release wires 32 when slack due to relative movement of piston 28 into collecting cylinder 12.

Piston 28, wires 32, clamps 34 and wire drums 38 provide means for extracting the soil sample disposed within extended collecting cylinder 12 from the surrounding soil. As the soil sample is moved from the surrounding soil a vacuum is created tending to keep the sample in place. However, with piston 28 in intimate contact with the soil sample within collecting cylinder 12 and being restricted from movement relative to collecting cylinder 12 by wires 32 and clamps 34, the vacuum effect is counteracted. As a result, the frictional force between the soil sample and collecting cylinder 12 and the vacuum force generated by piston 28 overcome the force tending to retain the sample in the surrounding soil thereby permitting retraction of collecting cylinder 12 with the soil sample therein.

In the embodiment depicted in Figures 13 and 14, head 110 includes hollow collecting cylinder 112 slidably disposed in cylinder cover 114. End 116 of collecting cylinder i 12 is open permitting collecting cylinder 112 to be pressed into a soil layer and to collect a soil sample within collecting cylinder 112.

At the opposite end of head 110 from collecting cylinder 112 is pressure cylinder 118 formed in part by cylinder cover 114. Piston 115 in pressure cylinder 118 is secured to collecting cylinder 112 at closed end 122 thereof. Piston 115 divides cylindrical casing 114 into chambers 119 and 121 which are connected by a pair of conduits 123, 123' to a hydraulic or pneumatic pump and control device 129. Actuation of pump device 129 introducing pressure into chamber 119 presses collecting cylinder 112 along a first axis into the soil layer and, by relieving the pressure in chamber 119 and pressurizing chamber 121, retracts collecting cylinder 112 into cylindrical casing 114and out of the soil layer.

Preferably, the invention includes means for rotatably supporting the head and for introducing and extracting the head to and from a position proximate the soil layer. Referring to Figure 7, head 10 is rotatably supported by hollow support pipe 42.

Transverse shaft 44, coaxial with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, rotatably supports head 10 at its mid-portion. Pipe 42 carries head 10 in substantially coaxial position while pipe 42 is introduced and extracted from a hole in soil.

In the embodiment of Figures 13 and 14, head 110 is rotatably supported by substantially parallel arms 127 extending from hollow support pipe 142. Transverse shafts 144,144' in arms 127 rotatably support head 110. Pipe 142 carries head 110 in substantially coaxial position while pipe 142 is introduced and extracted from a hole in the soil.

In accordance with the invention, the soil sampling apparatus further comprises means for rotating the head 90" about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a first position where the axis of the collecting cylinder is coaxial with the first axis and a second position rotated substantially 90" from the first position.

As embodied and depicted in Figure 7, a pair of pressure cylinders 46, 48 are disposed in opposite ends of pipe 42. Cylinder 46 has a piston which is connected by rod 50 to point 52 on rotary block 26; point 52 is spaced from the axis of shaft 44. (See also Figures 11 and 12). Thus, rotary block 26 rotates in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 7, about the axis of shaft 44 when cylinder 36 is activated to pull rod 50 upwards.

Cylinder 48 has a piston which is connected by two parallei rods 54, 56 (See Figure 11) to point 52 on rotary block 26. Thus, when cylinder 48 is activated to pull rods 54, 56 downward, point 52 is pulled down to rotate rotary block 26 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 7, about shaft 44.

Selective actuation of pressure cylinders 46, 48 causes head 10 containing collecting cylinder 12 and pressure cylinder 18 to be rotated 90" a bout the second axis defined by shaft 44 between a first, horizontal position (Figure 5) corresponding to first axis 24 and a second, vertical position (Figure 2) substantially 90" from the first position.

Rods 54,56, as seen in Figure 11, are spaced wider than the maximum width of the portion of head 10 containing pressure cylinder 18 in order not to hinder rotation thereof.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 13, the means for rotating head 110 comprises pressure cylinders 146, 148 connected to coaxial gears 147, 149 secured to shafts 144 and 144'. In particular, pressure cylinders 146, 148 are disposed within support pipe 142 spaced from arms 127 and each contains a piston connected by racks 151, 153 to opinions on gears 155,157. Gears 155,157 are rotatably secured to the inside wall of pipe 142 between cylinders 146, 148 and arms 127 by shafts 159,161. Gears 155,157 are drivingly connected to gears 147, 149 by chains 163,165.Activation of cylinders 146, 148 rotates gears 147, 149, 155, 157 to rotate head 110900 about a second axis defined by shafts 144, 144' between a horizontal first position (Figure 14) where collecting cylinder 122 is coaxial with a first axis and a second, vertical position (Figure 13) substantially 90" from the first position.

Support pipe 142 further includes seat 166 connected by shaft 168 to rod 170 all of which are slidably disposed in support pipe 142. The lower face of seat 166 is shaped to conform to the external periphery of casing 114 of head 110. When head 110 is rotated to the first, horizontal position (Figure 14), rod 170 is moved down by contrnltrom the surface to press seat 166 against casing 114 to fix head 110 in the horizontal position.

- In accordance with the invention, the sampling apparatus further comprises remote control means for operating the rotating means and the pressing means.

As seen in Figure 4, a hydraulic or pneumatic pump and control device 58 is connected by conduits schematically represented by line 60 which pass through hollow support pipe 42 to pressure cylinder 18 and pressure cylinders 46,48. Pump and control device 58 activates pressure cylinders 46,48 to rotate head 10 about shaft 44 and activates pressure cylinder 18 to extend and retract collecting cylinder 12.

Similarly, in the embodiment depicted in Figures 13 and 14, pump and control device 129 is connected by pairs of conduits 123, 123' to pressure cylinders 146,148 and bya pair of conduits 125,125' to pressure cylinder 118 to rotate head 110 and extend and retract collecting cylinder 112, respectively.

Preferably, the apparatus includes water jet means located along the head for washing away soil in the path of rotation of the head from the second position to the first position. As seen generally in Figures 3, 6a and 7, water pipes 70 extend along head 10 on the side of each end of head 10 which advances into soil on rotation of head 10 from the second, vertical position to the first, horizontal position. Water jet nozzles 72 are spaced along water pipes 70 and disposed to eject water under pressure at an angle to the axis of head 10 selected as optimum to wash away soil in front of advancing head 10 during rotation.

As best seen in Figures 8 and 9, conduit means are provided for conducting water to water pipes 70 and nozzles 72. Two water supply pipes 74 extend from the ground surface through support pipe 42 to a central hollow portion 76 of rotary block 26, via conduits 78 within shaft 44. Conduits 80 in rotary block 26 (Figure 10) conduct the water to water pipes 70.

In operation, the embodiment of the invention depicted in Figures 1-12 requires a hole 76 to be bored into the soil a sufficient distance to receive head 10 with the mid-portion thereof being approximately adjacent the selected soil layer (Figures 1 and 2).

Once head 10 has been placed in hole 76 by lowering support pipe 42 into the hole, a pump disposed on the surface adjacent the hole is activated to supply water to supply pipes 74. The water is supplied through pipe 74 under pressure and passes through conduit 78 in shaft 44 and central hollow portion 76 of rotary block 26 to water pipes 70 extending along leading faces of head 10 and is ejected through nozzles 72 to wash away the soil in the path of rotation of head 10.

Hydraulic or pneumatic control device 58, located on the surface proximate hole 76 is used to activate pressure cylinder 46. Movement of the piston in pressure cylinder 46 pulls rod 50 upwards thereby rotating rotary block 26 and head 10 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figures 3 and 7. Rotation of head 10 and ejection of water through nozzles 72 continues until head 10 achieves a first position substantially horizontal and coaxial with a first axis as depicted in Figure 4. The soil washed away by the water ejected from nozzle 72 is carried to the surface by the water through hole 76. Du ring rotation of head 10 from the second, vertical position (Figure 2) to the first, horizontal position (Figure 4) by upward movement of rod 50, pressure cylinder 48 is in a free or idle state permitting upward movement of rods 54.

On reaching the first, horizontal position, pressure cylinder 18 on the left side of head 10 as seen in Figure 6 is activated by pump and conrol device 58.

Movement of the piston in pressure cylinder 18 moves piston rod 20 extending collecting cylinder 12 to the right (Figure 5) from inside casing 14 and into the soil layer from which a sample is sought. Wires 32 and clamps 34 prevent piston 28 from moving with collecting cylinder 12, thus the soil sample fills collecting cylinder 12 and abuts against piston 28 at one end thereof. The soil sample in collecting cylinder 12 is not contaminated by foreign matter such as soil from layers above the soil layer sought to be sampled or muddy water created in washing away the soil in front of the rotating head 10 since piston 28 is held in the open end 16 of collecting cylinder 12 during rotation of the head.

After collecting cytinder 12 has been extended until piston 28 abuts closed end 22 of collecting cylinder 12, action of pressure cylinder 18 is reversed by pump and control device 58 retracting collecting cylinder 12 from the soil layer with the soil sample therein. As already mentioned, this soil sample is retained in collecting cylinder 12 through the action of piston 28 abutting against one end of the soil sample and the friction of the soil sample against the wall of collecting cylinder 12.

When collecting cylinder 12 has been fully retracted into casing 14, pump and control device 58 activates pressure cylinder 48 pulling rods 54, 56 downward which rotates rotary block 26 and head 10 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2, causing head 10 to move from its first, horizontal position to its second, vertical position within support tube 42. In the second, vertical position of head 10, collecting cylinder 12 is turned upright with open end 16 thereof facing upwards to prevent the soil sample from falling from collecting cylinder 12. With head 10 in the vertical position, support pipe 42 is extracted from hole 76, and the soil sample is obtained from collecting cylinder 12.

In use of the embodiment depicted in Figures 13 and 14, hole 176 (Figures 15) is drilled into the soil to and slightly beyond the selected soil layer 183 from which a sample is sought. Drilling tool 179 (Figures 16a and 16b) is introduced into hole 176 to the point where the head 181 of tool 179 is adjacent soil layer 183. The head 181 of tool 179 is expanded as depicted in Figure 16b and rotated to enlarge hole 176 creating a cavity 177 within layer 183. Head 181 of tool 179 is then retracted and then tool 179 is extracted from hole 176.

After extraction of tool 179, support tube 142 carrying head 110 is introduced into hole 176 to a position wherein head 110 is a cavity 177. Then pump and control device 129 is used to activate pressure cylinders 146, 148 to drive gears 155, 157, chains 163,165, and gears 147,149 to rotate head 110 from its second, vertical position (Figure 13) to its first, horizontal position (Figure 14). When head 110 is in its horizontal position, rod 170, shaft 168 and seat 166 are lowered so that the contoured face of seat 116 abutes against casing 114 of head 110 securing head 110 in the horizontal position.

After head 110 is in its horizontal position, pump and control device 129 pumps fluid under pressure through conduit 123 into chamber 119 through orifice 131 moving piston 115 and collecting cylinder 112 secured thereto out of casing 114 and into the soil layer 183. Any fluid trapped in chambger 121 is returned to pump and control device 129 through orifice 133 and conduit 123'.

At insertion of collecting cylinder 112 into the soil layer 183, any air or water present in collecting cylinder 112 is compressed towards the bottom thereof by the soil and is ejected to the exterior of the; cylinder through port 135, port 136, air release conduit 139 helically wound around collecting cylinder 112, and to the atmosphere through opening 141 in casing 114.

After collecting cylinder 112 has been fully extended and filled with a soil sample from layer 183, pump and control device 129 is reversed providing fluid pressure through conduit 123' and port 133 into chamber 121 which acts on piston 115 retracting collecting cylinder 112 into casing 114. Fluid in chamber 119 is expelled through port 131 and conduit 123. When collecting cylinder 112 is fully retracted into casing 114, pump and control device 129 reverses pressure cylinders 146, 148 to activate in reverse gears 155, 157 and 147, 149 to rotate head 110 from its first, horizontal position to its second, vertical position aligned with support pipe 142.

When head 110 has been aligned with support pipe 142, the entire apparatus is extracted from hole 176.

While the mechanism for rotating head 110 in the device depicted in Figures 13 and 14 has been described as hydraulic or pneumatic, the rotation of head 110 may be electrically or mechanically driven through flexible cable. Additionally, the use of seat 153 to fix head 110 in the horizontal position may be replaced by a mechanism for locking gears 147, 149 or locking the chains 163,165.

Also in accordance with the invention, a process is provided for collecting an undisturbed soil sample from a predetermined underground soil layer. The process comprises the steps of forming a vertical hole in the soil from the ground surface at least to a position of the soil layer; introducing a collecting cylinder vertically into the hole to a position adjacent the soil layer; rotating the collecting cylinder about a horizontal axis to a horizontal position where its axis coincides with the direction of the soil layer; pressing the collecting cylinder into the soil layer to collect a required amount of soil in the cylinder; extracting the collecting cylinder from the soil layer; rotating the collecting cylinder to a position where its axis is vertical; and extracting the collecting cylinder containing the soil sample from the hole.

Preferably, the process also includes the step of enlarging the hole proximate the soil layer after forming the vertical hole and before introducing the collecting cylinder.

It may also be preferred that the process include the step of injecting pressurized water in the path of the collecting cylinder while rotating the collecting cylinder to the horizontal position.

The invention provides a soil sample collecting apparatus which permits the collection of a sufficient amount of soil sample from a thin target soil layer below the surface without disturbance of or contamination by layers of soil above the target soil layer.

The apparatus also permits the collection of a homogeneous soil sample in a horizontal direction which permits a uniform sample and significantly improves the accuracy of the soil testing.

Claims

1. Asoil sampling apparatus, comprising: a) a head including a collecting cylinder operable to collect soil therein upon being pressed into a soil layer and means for pressing the collecting cylinder along a first axis into the soil layer and for retracting it therefrom; b) means for rotating said head 90" about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis between a first position where the axis of said cylinder is coaxial with said first axis and a second position rotated substantially 90" from said first position; and c) remote control means for operating said rotating means and said pressing means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, which further includes means for rotatably supporting said head and for introducing and extracting said head to and from a position proximate said soil layer.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said supporting means comprises a hollow support pipe including a transverse shaft coaxial with said second axis for rotatably supporting said head.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said head comprises a cylindrical casing rotatably supported by said shaft, wherein said pressing means comprises a pressure cylinder disposed in said cylindrical casing and wherein said collecting cylinder is coaxially and slidably disposed in said cylindrical casing and operatively connected to said pressure cylinder for movement into and out of said cylindrical casing along said first axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1,2,3 or 4, which further includes water jet means located along said head for washing away soil in the path of rotation of said head from said second position to said first position.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said water jet means comprises water jet nozzles disposed along the faces of said head advancing into said soil during rotation of said head and conduit means for conducting water to said nozzles.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, which further includes a piston slidably disposed in said collecting cylinder and means for retracting said piston toward one end of said collecting cylinder during movement of the other end of said collecting cylinder into the soil layer.

8. Apparatus, for sampling soil, substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as illustrated, in the accompanying drawings.

9. A process for collecting an undisturbed soil sample for a predetermined underground soil layer, comprising the steps of: a) forming a vertical hole in soil from a ground surface at least to a position of said soil layer; b) introducing a collecting cylinder vertically into said hole to a position adjacent said soil layer; c) rotating said collecting cylinder about a horizontal axis to a horizontal position where its axis coincides with the direction of said soil layer; d) pressing said collecting cylinder into said soil layer to collect a required amount of soil in said cylinder; e) extracting said collecting cylinder from said soil layer; f) rotating said collecting cylinder to a position where its axis is vertical; and g) extracting said collecting cylinder containing said soil sample from said hole.

10. A process according to Claim 9, which further includes the step of enlarging said hole proximate said soil layer after forming said vertical hole and before introducing said collecting cylinder.

11. A process according to Claim 9 or 10, which further includes the step of injecting pressurized water in the path of said collecting cylinder while rotating said collecting cylinder to said horizontal position.

12. A process, for collcting a soil sample, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.