Sample cup for use in X-ray spectroscopy with internal overflow reservoir

Abstract

A sample cup for retaining a sample material to be subjected to an x-ray spectrochemical analysis. The sample cup comprises a cell body of a cylindrical configuration having an open top end and an open bottom end and defining a hollow between the two open ends, the open top end having an outer wall and an inner wall encircling the open top end. The outer wall and the inner wall extend axially and are positioned in concentric relationship with one another and form a reservoir space therebetween.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An open-ended sample cup assembly for spectrochemical analysis, comprising:
 a hollow body comprising an open top end and an open bottom end, the open top end including around the periphery thereof an outer wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, and an inner wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer wall and the inner wall extending axially and concentrically arranged, said inner surface of said outer wall and said outer surface of said inner wall forming an internal reservoir therebetween, which internal reservoir is adapted for receiving overflow of a sample material from the open top end of said hollow body, and which outer wall is adapted for preventing overflow of the sample material from the internal reservoir into an analysis chamber;   a thin film sheet for disposing on said open bottom end to form a closed bottom end and define an open-ended cell for receiving a sample material; and   a retaining device for positioning adjacent the periphery of the closed bottom end to maintain the thin film sheet in a plane suitable for spectrochemical analysis of the sample material in said open-ended cell.   
     
     
         20 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the retaining device comprises a snap-on retaining ring. 
     
     
         21 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the hollow body further comprises a peripheral groove disposed about the outer surface of the outer wall adjacent the open bottom end for receiving the snap-on retaining ring. 
     
     
         22 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the snap-on retaining ring comprises an inwardly extending peripheral ridge adapted to cooperate with the peripheral groove on the hollow body. 
     
     
         23 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the hollow body further comprises a tapered bottom collar portion disposed between the peripheral groove and the bottom end of the hollow body. 
     
     
         24 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the snap-on retaining ring further comprises an inner tapered surface adapted to cooperate with the tapered bottom collar portion of the hollow body. 
     
     
         25 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the thin film sheet is a polymeric material. 
     
     
         26 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the polymeric material is polyester. 
     
     
         27 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the hollow body and snap-on retaining ring are fabricated from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         28 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the polymeric material is polyethylene. 
     
     
         29 . An open-ended sample cup assembly for spectrochemical analysis, comprising:
 a hollow body comprising an open top end and an open bottom end, the open top end including around the periphery thereof an outer wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, and an inner wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner wall configured to a selected height for receiving a selected amount of sample material in the hollow body, the outer wall and the inner wall extending axially and concentrically arranged, said inner surface of said outer wall and said outer surface of said inner wall forming an internal reservoir therebetween, which internal reservoir is adapted for receiving overflow of a sample material from the open top end of said hollow body, and which outer wall is adapted for preventing overflow of the sample material from the internal reservoir into an analysis chamber;   a thin film sheet for disposing on said open bottom end to form a closed bottom end and define an open-ended cell for receiving a sample material; and   a retaining device for positioning adjacent the periphery of the open bottom end to maintain the thin film sheet in a plane for spectrochemical analysis of the sample material in said open-ended cell.   
     
     
         30 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the retaining device comprises a snap-on retaining ring. 
     
     
         31 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the hollow body further comprises a peripheral groove disposed about the outer surface of the outer wall adjacent the open bottom end for receiving the snap-on retaining ring. 
     
     
         32 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the snap-on retaining ring comprises an inwardly extending peripheral ridge adapted to cooperate with the peripheral groove on the hollow body. 
     
     
         33 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the hollow body further comprises a tapered bottom collar portion disposed between the peripheral groove and the bottom end of the hollow body. 
     
     
         34 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein the snap-on retaining ring further comprises an inner tapered surface adapted to cooperate with the tapered bottom collar portion of the hollow body. 
     
     
         35 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the thin film sheet is a polymeric material. 
     
     
         36 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 35 , wherein the polymeric material is polyester. 
     
     
         37 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the hollow body and snap-on retaining ring are fabricated from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         38 . The sample cup assembly according to  claim 37 , wherein the polymeric material is polyethylene.