DRILL CORE TRAYS AND ACCESSORIES FOR USE THEREWITH
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).
This invention relates to drill core trays and to accessories for use therewith.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Referring now to
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
Water drainage holes 142 are provided in the end wall 128 at each recess 114 and 116.
Each end wall 128 has a pair of aligned slots 144 therein. A handle 146 (see
An accessory of the invention comprises a lifter 200 (see
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
The cores in the outer recesses 116 are similarly handled.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 28, 2010
Inventor: John David Wilson (Sandton)
Application Number: 12/439,450
International Classification: B65D 85/20 (20060101); B65D 1/36 (20060101);