Sampling of pulverulent materials

956,716. Sampling pulverulent materials. BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS CO. Ltd. Nov. 29, 1961 [Aug. 29, 1960], No. 29663/60. Heading B8N. A device for taking a sample from a pile of pulverulent material, such as coal or ore, comprises a casing 1 mounted on trunnions 2 in a bracket 3, a helical drill 7 terminating in a point 11, e.g. of tungsten carbide, mounted in a self-aligning ball-bearing 8 and driven through a flexible coupling 6 and reduction gear 4, by a reversible electric motor 5, and a cylindrical container 10 secured to the casing and closely surrounding the helix 9 of the drill. and terminating, at its lower end, in an open mouth. The drill is, preferably, provided with a radial curved clearing arm 12. In use, the device is suspended by the bracket 3, e.g. from a crane or hoist, and lowered on to the surface of the material and the motor is started to rotate the drill so that its helix 9 appears to be moving towards the point 11. The weight of the device causes the drill and container to enter the material. The motor is then reversed and the helix 9 carries a sample of the material into the container 10. The motor is then stopped and the device is withdrawn from the material and moved over a receptacle. The motor is again reversed and started and the helix 9 discharges the sample into the receptacle.