PNEUMATIC BIOMASS CORING MACHINE
A core sampling system for removing sample cores of material from biomass bales, which includes a base member, a supporting member extending from and moveable relative to the base member, and a rotatable corer extending from the supporting member. The rotatable corer includes a first elongated tube at least partially surrounding a second elongated tube and a distal tip extending from a distal end of the second elongated tube. The system also includes a transport tube in communication with an inner area of the second elongated tube.
1 . A core sampling system for removing sample cores of material from biomass bales, the system comprising:
a base member;
a supporting member extending from and moveable relative to the base member;
a rotating corer extending from the supporting member, wherein the corer comprises:
a first elongated tube at least partially surrounding a second elongated tube; and
a distal tip extending from a distal end of the second elongated tube; and
a transport tube in communication with an inner area of the second elongated tube.
2 . The core sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating corer is controlled with a hydraulic motor.
3 . The core sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip of the corer is removably attached to the distal end of the second elongated tube.
4 . The core sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip of the corer comprises a tapered outer surface.
5 . The core sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip of the corer comprises a plurality of cutting surfaces spaced from each other around a circumference of the corer.
6 . The core sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the supporting member comprises a hydraulically controlled elongated arm that is electrically controllable.
7 . The core sampling system of claim 1 , wherein the transport tube comprises at least one rigid portion and at least one flexible portion.
8 . A method of extracting samples of biomass material from biomass bales, comprising the steps of:
positioning a coring system adjacent to a biomass bale, the coring system comprising:
a base member;
a supporting member extending from and moveable relative to the base member;
a rotating corer extending from the supporting member, wherein the corer comprises:
a first elongated tube at least partially surrounding a second elongated tube; and
a distal tip extending from a distal end of the second elongated tube; and
a transport tube in communication with an inner area of the second elongated tube;
activating the coring system so that the rotating corer rotates;
moving the corer toward the biomass bale until the corer contacts the bale;
penetrating the bale with the corer to a specified depth, thereby producing a biomass sample core; and
transporting the biomass sample core to a testing location.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the rotating corer is controlled with a hydraulic motor.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the distal tip of the corer is removably attached to the distal end of the second elongated tube, and further comprising the step of removing a first distal tip and replacing it with a second distal tip.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the distal tip of the corer comprises a tapered outer surface.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the distal tip of the corer comprises a plurality of cutting surfaces spaced from each other around a circumference of the corer.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the supporting member comprises a hydraulically controlled elongated arm that is electrically controllable.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the transport tube comprises at least one rigid portion and at least one flexible portion.
15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of positioning the biomass bale comprises moving the bale to the coring system.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the biomass bale is moved using a conveyance system.
17 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of positioning the biomass ball comprises moving the coring system to the biomass bale.