Inventors:
James A. Redding - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
G01N 120
Abstract:
A sample bucket is disclosed for intercepting a sample while cutting through a flow of particulate material. The bucket is in the form of a receptacle having an open mouth and a suitable depth for retaining a desired gross sample without overflow thereof. The sample bucket has a top enclosure wall which narrows the mouth of the bucket, while the bucket is in its upright position, in order to prevent overflowing and which widens the mouth of the bucket, while the bucket is in its inverted position, to allow full discharge of the contents. The sample bucket is preferably used as a part of a bucket sampler comprising a pair of chain conveyors which pass over a conveyor drive assembly and a conveyor tail assembly having sprocket wheels with sprockets. The bucket sampler is attached near its upper end to the pair of chain conveyors which straddle it, but the bucket sampler is supported at a pivot point on opposing sides by pivotally attached wheels which ride upon a pair of plates while the bucket traverses back and forth in both inverted and upright positions. With reference to the upright position, the point of attachment to the chain conveyors is disposed above the pivot point so that the bucket occupies substantially less than twice its depth in both the inverted and upright positions.