U.S. patent application number 12/439450 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-28 for drill core trays and accessories for use therewith.
Invention is credited to John David Wilson.
Application Number | 20100018886 12/439450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39136303 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100018886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilson; John David |
January 28, 2010 |
DRILL CORE TRAYS AND ACCESSORIES FOR USE THEREWITH
Abstract
A drill core tray (100) comprises a sheet metal base plate (104)
shaped to form a number of elongated recesses (114). The recesses
(114) are separated by dividers (112) comprising inclined lower
sides (120) leading into upstanding side Walls (122) which join to
form an apex (124) which is located above the horizontal diameter
of a core received in the recess. A core lifter (200) is used with
the tray (100). It has arms (204) constituting a hemi-cylindrical
body and terminating in an open mouth (208) opposite which is a
channel (210). The lifter (200) includes a pair of handles (214).
The mouth (208) can pass over a core (102) in a recess (114) and by
rotating the lifter (200) the arms (204) pass under the core (102).
On further rotation, the channel (210) engages an apex (124) about
which the lifter (200) can pivot to lift the core (102) out of the
tray (100).
Inventors: |
Wilson; John David;
(Sandton, ZA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
1290 Avenue of the Americas
NEW YORK
NY
10104-3800
US
|
Family ID: |
39136303 |
Appl. No.: |
12/439450 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
August 7, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ZA2007/000047 |
371 Date: |
July 30, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/443 ;
206/561; 220/694 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 25/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/443 ;
220/694; 206/561 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/20 20060101
B65D085/20; B65D 1/36 20060101 B65D001/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2006 |
ZA |
2006/07178 |
Claims
1. A drill core tray comprising a sheet metal base plate shaped to
provide a number of elongated recesses into each of which a core
may be received fitting closely therein and each of which, in
section, comprises a base and inclined lower sides leading from the
edges of the base wherein the lower sides continue into upstanding
side walls with the upstanding side walls of adjacent recesses
converging slightly to form a divider having an apex which is
located above the horizontal diameter but below the upper portion
of a core received in the recess.
2. A drill core tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of the
tray are closed by end walls.
3. A drill core tray as claimed in claim 2, wherein side and end
stop surfaces are provided at and outside the corners of the end
walls to define a space within which an identical tray can be
received to be stacked on the lower tray.
4. A drill core tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of
horizontal slots are provided in the end walls and wherein flat
fabric handles are provided outside the end walls, each handle
having end parts that respectively pass through the slots to attach
the handle to the end wall.
5. A drill core tray as claimed in claim 4, wherein stop means are
provided at the end parts of each handle.
6. A drill core tray as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stop means
each comprise a bent over section of the end parts of the handle
that form upwardly open "U"-shaped portions which can engage the
material of the side walls when lifted, the thickness of the slots
being such that the "U"-shaped portions can pass therethrough to
attach the handle to the core tray.
7. An accessory for use with a drill core tray comprising an
elongated sheet metal member bent to form arms constituting a
hemi-cylindrical body terminating in an open mouth with extensions
to the ends of the arms which extend parallel and approximately
tangentially to the parts of the body to which they are connected
and further comprising handle means on the accessory to facilitate
holding the accessory, wherein the accessory can pass over a core
in the core tray and then be rotated about the axis of the body to
lift the core out of its recess.
8. An accessory as claimed in claim 7, wherein the member has a
length of about the same length as the recesses in the drill core
tray.
9. An accessory as claimed in claim 7, having a protruding channel
formed therein directly opposite to the mouth.
10. An accessory as claimed in claim 7, adapted for use with a
drill core tray, comprising a sheet metal base plate shaped to
provide a number of elongated recesses into each of which a core
may be received fitting closely therein and each of which, in
section, comprises a base and inclined lower sides leading from the
edges of the base wherein the lower sides continue into upstanding
side walls with the upstanding side walls of adjacent recesses
converging slightly to form a divider having an apex which is
located above the horizontal diameter but below the upper portion
of a core received in the recess, the accessory having a protruding
channel formed therein directly opposite to the mouth, wherein when
the body has engaged a core and has been rotated relative thereto,
the channel will engage the apex of a divider to lift a core
received in the body out of a recess.
11. An accessory as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handle means
projects from the side of the body.
12. An accessory as claimed in claim 11, wherein the handle means
comprises two spaced handles.
13. The combination of a drill core tray with an accessory for use
therewith, the drill core tray comprising: a sheet metal base plate
shaped to provide a number of elongated recesses into each of which
a core may be received fitting closely therein, and each of which,
in section, comprises a base with inclined lower sides leading from
its edges wherein the lower sides continue into upstanding side
walls with the side walls of adjacent recesses converging slightly
to form a divider having an apex which is located above the
horizontal diameter but below the upper portion of a core received
in the recess, and the accessory comprising: an elongated sheet
metal member bent to form arms constituting a hemi-cylindrical body
terminating in an open mouth with extensions to the ends of the
arms that extend parallel and approximately tangentially to the
parts of the body to which they are connected and being spaced
apart so as to be able to receive a core therein and being able to
fit between the side walls, and handle means on the accessory to
facilitate holding the accessory, wherein the arms of the accessory
can pass over a core in the core tray and within the recesses in
which the core is received and then can be rotated about the axis
of the body to lift the drill core out of its recess.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to drill core trays and to
accessories for use therewith.
[0002] The invention is concerned with a core tray of the kind
described in South African Patent specification No. 1987/05619 (and
equivalent U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,022). Such a drill core tray
comprises a sheet metal base plate shaped to provide a number of
elongated recesses, each of which, in section, comprises a base
with inclined lower sides leading from its edges that form
substantially triangular parts between the recesses. Drill cores
are placed into the recesses for storage purposes resting on the
lower sides of the recesses in such manner that their horizontal
diameters are located above the apices of the triangular parts.
[0003] Although these drill core trays are widely used and in most
ways are extremely satisfactory, an inconvenience has been
encountered in use in that it is often difficult to remove drill
cores from the tray for inspection etc. This is because a workman
cannot insert his fingers between adjacent drill core and the upper
side parts and must therefore lift the drill cores by engaging
their ends. Although this may be adequate for many purposes, it is
normally not very satisfactory. In addition adjacent cores may butt
against each other still further aggravating the problem of
removing the cores from the core tray. Furthermore we have also
found that workmen lifting drill cores in this manner often tend to
lose track of the location of the drill cores in a recess and
return them to the wrong position. This is particularly so where
the drill cores are relatively short as compared to the length of
the recesses so that in each recess there are a number of drill
cores.
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
drill core tray comprising a sheet metal base plate shaped to
provide a number of elongated recesses, each of which, in section,
comprises a base with inclined lower sides leading from its edges
wherein the lower sides continue into upper side walls with the
upper side walls of adjacent recesses converging slightly to form a
divider having an apex which is located above the horizontal
diameter of a core received in the recess. This will serve to
separate the cores and will have further advantages as will be
described below.
[0005] The ends of the tray are normally closed by end walls. Side
and end stop surfaces are conveniently provided outside the corners
of the end walls to define a space within which an identical tray
can be received to be stacked on the lower tray. In each end wall
there are preferably provided a pair of horizontal slots through
which the ends of a flat fabric handle can pass so that stop
members at their ends can hold the handles to the end walls. The
stop means conveniently comprise a bent over end section of the
handle forming upwardly open "U"-shaped portions, which can engage
the material of the side walls when lifted, the thickness of the
slots being such that the "U"-shaped portions can pass therethrough
to attach the handle to the core tray.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided an accessory for use with a drill core tray comprising an
elongated sheet metal member bent to form arms constituting a
hemi-cylindrical body terminating in an open mouth with extensions
to the ends of the arms which extend parallel and approximately
tangentially to the parts of the body to which they are connected
and further comprising handle means on the accessory to facilitate
holding the accessory, the arrangement being such that the
accessory can pass over a core in the core tray and then be rotated
about the axis of the body to lift the drill core out of its
recess. The member preferably has a length of about the same length
as the recesses in the drill core tray although it could be about
the length of a drill core sample in the recess, i.e. slightly less
than one quarter of this length.
[0007] The accessory preferably has a protruding channel formed
therein directly opposite to the mouth. Where the accessory is used
with a drill core tray of the invention the channel can pivot about
the apex of a divider to lift a core received in the body out of a
recess. The handle means preferably projects from the side of the
body, the preferably being two spaced handles for this purpose.
[0008] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0009] In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a core tray of the
invention;
[0011] FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively sections on lines 2.2 and 3.3
of FIG. 1
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view through a lifter with a drill
core therein in an inverted position, and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of the section illustrated in
FIG. 2 showing the loading of the lifter and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing how the lifter
pivots.
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a drill core tray 100
in which geological drill cores 102 are in use located as will be
described. The base plate 104 of the tray 100 is formed from bent
thin sheet metal having longitudinal side walls 106 with inwardly
directed upper flanges 108 terminating in short dependant rims 110.
Four equispaced longitudinal dividers 112 divide the tray 100 into
a number of central recesses 114 defined by the dividers 112 and
two outer recesses 116 between the outer dividers 112.1 and the
adjacent side walls 106. Each divider 112 comprises a pair of lower
side walls 120 inclined at about 45.degree. to the horizontal and
leading into upper side walls 122. The upper walls 122 are nearly
vertical but converge to meet at an apex 124 which is located above
the horizonal diameter of a core 102 received within the recess
114. The lower ends of the lower side walls 120 merge into a
horizontal part 126 which forms the base of a recess 114 or 116.
The cores are of various dimensions and the recess 114 and 116 are
correspondingly dimensioned.
[0016] An end closure wall 128 is spot welded to the ends of the
base plate 104. Each end closure wall 128 has a lower flange 130
which underlies the base plate 104 and an upper flange 132 which
rests on the flanges 108. It also has a short sides 134 (see FIG.
1) which lies outside and is welded to the side walls 106. The end
wall 128 has an outwardly splayed upper end wall 136. Similarly the
short side 134 has an outwardly spayed outer part 138. The end wall
128 and outer parts 138 serve as guides to guide an upper core tray
to rest correctly upon a lower core tray for stacking purposes. In
so doing the upper core tray rests on the upper flanges 132 of the
end closure walls 128.
[0017] Water drainage holes 142 are provided in the end wall 128 at
each recess 114 and 116.
[0018] Each end wall 128 has a pair of aligned slots 144 therein. A
handle 146 (see FIG. 3) is provided at each slot 144. The handle
146 comprises a flat fabric member 148 having its ends 150 bent
over to form as it were a "U" shaped end part 152 with the sides
stapled together but with the end portion 154 free. A rubber tube
156 surrounds the centre portion of the fabric member 148 to
facilitate gripping of the handle. The thickness of the slots 144
are such that the end part 152 can pass easily therethrough. When
the handles 146 are used to lift the tray 100, the material of the
end wall above the slot 144 engages in the end part 152 to form a
secure connection between the handle 146 and the end wall 128.
[0019] An accessory of the invention comprises a lifter 200 (see
FIGS. 4, 5, 6) formed of bent sheet metal of an axial length
slightly less than the length of the tray 100 i.e. normally about
one metre. The lifter 200 has a drill core-holding part 202
consisting of two inclined arms 204 leading to a part 206 which is
a portion of a hemicylinder with an open mouth 208. Near the join
of the arms 204 is a narrow convex rectangular channel portion 210
which projects from the centre of the lifter 200. The base 212 of
the channel portion 210 is apertured at 213. Welded to one arm 204
are a pair of handle 214 to facilitate gripping and manipulating
the lifter 200. The parts 206 at the mouth 208 have a short
extensions 218 which project beyond the transverse diameter of the
drill core 102 with their ends 220 sharpened inwardly. The radius
of the hemi-cylindrical part 206 is a millimetre or so greater than
the radius of the drill core 102.
[0020] In use, the lifter 200 is placed vertically over the drill
core with the channel portion 128 at the highest point of the tab
lifter 200 as shown in FIG. 5. Continued downward pressure on the
lifter 200 will press the lifter 200 so that the arms 218 would be
prised between the dividers 112 and the drill core 102 so that the
drill core 102 would be received within the hemi-cylindrical part
206 of the lifter 200. The lifter 200 is now rotated with one arm
218 moving under the core 106 as shown in FIG. 6. The rotation
causes the channel portion 210 engage the apex 124 of the adjacent
divider 112. Further rotational movement of the handle 214 will
cause the lifter 200 to pivot about this apex 124 which serves as a
fulcrum therefor. This further rotational movement will cause
lifting the remainder of the lifter 200 as well as the drill core
102 therein into a raised position above the recess 114. The drill
core lifter 200 can then be inverted so that the core 102 is within
the part 206 and the mouth is uppermost. The lifter can now be
transported to any suitable location for inspection of the drill
core 102 or treatment thereof. The drill core 102 is returned to
the recess in the opposite manner to that described above i.e. the
lifter 200 is placed partially in the recess 114 with the channel
210 on the apex 124 of an adjacent divider 112 and on pivoting the
lifter 200 into the appropriate vertical position the drill core
102 will fall out of the mouth 208 of the lifter 200 and into the
recess 114. The lifter 200 can now be removed.
[0021] The cores in the outer recesses 116 are similarly
handled.
[0022] It will be seen that in this way the drill cores can be
easily removed from the recesses 114 of a tray 100 for inspection
or treatment and easily returned thereafter and the integrity of
the core is preserved. The cores or core parts will be retained in
the lifter so that the location is not varied. By providing the
sharpened ends 220 to the extensions 218 it will be easier for the
extensions 218 to be moved between the core 102 and the adjacent
dividers 124. Yet again, the strip of plastic wrap is placed over
the core and the lifter is conveniently used to wrap the plastic
film around the core. The system thus is an efficient system for
removing cores from a drill tray or replacing the cores therein
whilst preserving the integrity of the cores.
[0023] Where the cores are drilled from the oxidized zone it is
often required to protect the surfaces of the cores and retain the
dampness of the cores. This will preserve the mass of the rock.
Protection can be provided by a plastic wrap, a wax coating or a
heat shrunk cover. Also or alternatively a cover 230 may be
provided over the cores in the tray. The cover will be pushed
around the core during removal.
[0024] It will be appreciated that the lifter 200 can be used as
the core carrier described in our co-pending patent application
being filed to-day (agent's ref 94848.1).
[0025] The invention is not limited to the precise constructional
details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings. For
example instead of the end walls being welded to the base plate, it
may be pop-rivetted thereto. The tube 156 may comprise a plastic
member.
* * * * *