Chute tube

A chute tube (or sampling tube) is an important tool in the sampling of bulk materials. It is used to extract representative samples from a bulk material flow, whether it's from a free-flowing stream of bulk material or from a container such as a silo or a large sack.

The chute tube consists of a hollow tube, often made of a sturdy material like stainless steel, with an opening that can be opened and closed. When the chute tube is inserted into the bulk material flow or container, the opening is opened to allow the material to fall into the tube. Then, the opening is closed to secure the sample.

Using a chute tube ensures that the extracted sample represents the entire volume or mass of the bulk material and not just the surface. This is important because the characteristics of the bulk material (such as grain size, moisture, or foreign material content) can vary throughout the entire container or stream.

Another advantage of using a chute tube is that it minimizes sample contamination. Since the material falls directly into the tube and the tube is then sealed, the sample does not come into contact with the hands of the sampler or other surfaces that could contaminate it.

The chute tube is, therefore, a simple but effective tool for ensuring accurate and representative sampling of bulk materials.