Drill core sample holder

Abstract

A drill core sample holder that receives drill core samples therein, has a lower housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material that defines a plurality of lower channels therein and an upper housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material that defines a plurality of upper channels therein. The upper housing is adapted to be mounted onto the lower housing in a mounted position in which each lower channel is aligned with a respective one of the upper channels so that the lower channel and the respective upper channel collectively define a tubular receptacle for containing a respective drill core sample therein.

1 . A drill core sample holder for receiving drill core samples therein, the holder comprising:
 a lower housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material and defining a plurality of lower channels therein; and   an upper housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material and defining a plurality of upper channels therein and being adapted to be mounted onto the lower housing in a mounted position in which each lower channel is aligned with a respective one of the upper channels so that the lower channel and the respective upper channel collectively define a tubular receptacle for containing a respective drill core sample therein.   
     
     
         2 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein the lower housing is stackable onto an auxiliary lower housing of identical configuration so that the lower channels of the lower housing are at least partially nested downwardly into the lower channels of the auxiliary lower housing. 
     
     
         3 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein the upper housing is stackable onto an auxiliary upper housing of identical configuration so that the upper channels of the upper housing are at least partially nested into the upper channels of the auxiliary upper housing. 
     
     
         4 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein the upper housing is stackable onto the lower housing so that the upper channels of the upper housing are at least partially nested into the lower channels of the lower housing. 
     
     
         5 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein the upper housing includes a pair of opposing side flanges and the lower housing includes a pair of opposing side flanges, each of the side flanges of the upper housing being adapted to be coupled to a respective one of the side flanges of the lower housing using pairs of mating connectors formed on the side edges respectively, the pair of mating connectors includomg one hook formed on one of the housings and one catch formed on the other one of the housings which selectively retains the hook engaged thereon in a mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing. 
     
     
         6 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are identical to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The holder according to  claim 6  wherein each housing includes a plurality of hooks formed at spaced positions along one side thereof and a plurality of catches formed at spaced positions along another side thereof in which each catch selectively retains a corresponding one of the hooks of the other housing thereon in a mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing. 
     
     
         8 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein each channel has (i) two side walls extending in a longitudinal direction of the channel in which the side walls taper inwardly towards one another from an open side to an inner end of the channel, and (ii) two end walls at opposing ends of the side walls which taper longitudinally inwardly towards one another from the open side to the inner end of the channel. 
     
     
         9 . The holder according to  claim 8  wherein the end walls form part of a surface of a sphere in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The holder according to e  claim 8  wherein each channel further comprises a pair of divider ribs, each protruding radially inwardly from a wall of the channel between a partly cylindrical main portion of the channel and an end portion defined by a corresponding one of the end walls of the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The holder according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of drain holes formed in a wall of the channel of each housing portion. 
     
     
         12 . The holder according to  claim 1  further comprising a radiofrequency tag supported on one of the upper and lower housings. 
     
     
         13 . The holder according to  claim 1  wherein each housing consists of a molded composite of plastic with glass fibers therein.