US Patent:
20120234102, Sep 20, 2012
Inventors:
Bruce David Johnson - Brookside, CA
Bernard Paul Boudreau - Halifax, CA
Mark Andrew Barry - Stillwater Lake, CA
Kelly Dorgan - La Jolla CA, US
Peter Alfred Jumars - Whitefield ME, US
International Classification:
G01N 3/08
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for investigating subsurface properties of sediment, soil, snow, food stuff and other soft materials incorporates a probe head, preferably in the form of a coil spring that functions as a screw thread, which moves into the soil, snow, sediment, food stuff or other soft material, isolates a column of the material and applies tension to that column while measuring the applied force with a force sensor.