Self-packaging sample tube assembly and sample sealing storage method

Abstract

The invention provides a self-packaging sample tube assembly and a sample sealing storage method. The self-packaging sample tube assembly comprises a funnel, a tube body, a sealing spring and a sealing hose, the upper part of the funnel is a conical cylinder section, and the lower part is a round pipe connecting section; the tube body is used for storing a sample; the sealing spring is a high-elasticity spiral spring ring of which the two ends are connected; the upper end of the sealing hose is peripherally sewed with the sealing spring and then hooped outside the circular tube type structure at the lower part of the funnel, and the lower end is fixed at the upper part of the tube body; and when the sealing hose is separated from the circular pipe connecting section at the lower part of the funnel, the sealing hose is shrunk into a ball shape under the action of resilience force of the sealing spring, so that the opening part of the pipe body is sealed. The self-packaging sample tube assembly and the sample sealing storage method provided by the invention meet the storage and sealing requirements of soil samples drilled in a specific depth of an extraterrestrial planet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of soil sampling and packaging of extraterrestrial bodies in deep space exploration activities, and particularly relates to a self-sealed sample tube assembly, which is suitable for collecting and sealing samples drilled at different depths in deep space exploration of extraterrestrial planets. The self-sealed sample tube can form a channel for the drilled samples to enter under normal conditions, and then, with the assistance of external force, the tube body can be detached and the mouth of the tube body can be sealed at the same time, thereby preventing cross contamination between drilled samples at different depths and between drilled and other types of samples, so as to ensure the scientific value of the drilled samples at a specific depth. Background Art

[0002] In the exploration mission of collecting soil samples from extraterrestrial planets and returning them to Earth, drilling is an effective way to obtain soil samples at a specific depth on the planet. The relevant drilling mechanism works in coring mode at a specific depth. With the cooperation of the coring mechanism, the drill bit switches to a hollow drill, and collects samples into the internal cavity of the drill bit while drilling. After each section of sample is obtained, the drill bit will be lifted to a certain height above the ground and the sample will be transferred to a sample tube directly below it for storage. Subsequently, with the assistance of external force, the tube body falls off and is transferred to the sample container and mixed with samples obtained by other means. After sampling, the storage of soil samples from extraterrestrial planets requires the sealing of the sample tube mouth to prevent cross-contamination between drilled samples at different depths and between drilled and other types of samples, so as to ensure the scientific value of samples drilled at a specific depth.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to carry out innovative design of sample tube assemblies according to the storage and sealing requirements of soil samples drilled at specific depths of extraterrestrial planets. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, the inventors have conducted intensive research and provided a self-sealed sample tube assembly and a sample sealing storage method to meet the storage and sealing requirements of soil samples drilled from extraterrestrial planets at a specific depth.

[0005] The design of the sample tube assembly needs to meet the following requirements:

[0006] (1) Patency of the path for sample introduction into the sample tube

[0007] When the drill tool is placed directly above the sample tube, the drilled sample needs to be smoothly introduced into the sample tube body after it is separated from the drill tool, so it is necessary to ensure the patency of the introduction path into the tube body.

[0008] (2) Sealing of the mouth of the sample tube

[0009] After the drilled samples enter the sample tube body, the mouth of the sample tube needs to be sealed to ensure that the sample inside the tube body does not flow out and external pollution does not enter, so as to maximize the scientific value of the drilled samples at a specific depth.

[0010] In view of the design requirements of the sample tube assembly, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0011] (1) Patency of the path for sample introduction into the sample tube

[0012] The sample tube assembly mainly includes a funnel, a sealing hose, a tube body and a sealing spring; the sealing spring is sewn around the upper end of the sealing hose, and the lower end is connected to the tube body. The sealing spring is clamped outside the circular tube connection section at the bottom of the funnel, and the tube body is hung on the funnel by friction. The funnel and the sealing hose together form a sample introduction path to ensure that the sample can smoothly enter the tube body.

[0013] (2) Sealing of the mouth of the sample tube

[0014] The sealing of the tube mouth is mainly achieved by the sealing hose and the sealing spring with the assistance of external force. The sealing hose is made of woven cloth hose or polymer hose, which is cylindrical. The lower end is fixed to the upper part of the tube body, and the upper end is sewn with the sealing spring and clamped on the outside of the circular tube structure at the bottom of the funnel. The sealing spring is made of high elastic alloy and is spiral. The spiral sealing spring has three states:

[0015] (a) Free state: In this state, the sealing spring is not connected to the sealing hose, and is in a state without any external force, in a spiral shape. It is also the storage state at normal temperature and pressure. Before being sewn with the sealing hose, the two ends of the sealing spring are connected, and the shape of the sealing spring is twisted and deformed to form a spiral ring.

[0016] (b) Expanded state: The sealing spring is connected to the sealing hose. The upper end of the sealing hose is sleeved on the outside of the circular tube connecting section at the bottom of the funnel. The sealing spring is expanded into a ring and wrapped around the outside of the sealing hose. This state is the assembly state of the sealing spring on the product.

[0017] (c) Sealed state: The sealing spring is connected to the sealing hose, and the sealing hose is detached from the circular tube connecting section at the bottom of the funnel. Under the rebound force of the sealing spring, the sealing hose shrinks into a ball and forms a maze, completing the sealing of the mouth of the sample tube body to prevent cross-contamination of planetary soil samples inside and outside the tube.

[0018] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a self-sealing sample tube assembly is provided, comprising a funnel, a tube body, a sealing spring and a sealing hose; the upper portion of the funnel is a conical section, and the lower portion is a circular tube connecting section; the tube body is used to store samples; the sealing spring is a high-elasticity spiral spring coil with both ends connected; the sealing hose is sewn around the sealing spring at the upper end and then clamped on the outside of the circular tube structure at the lower portion of the funnel, and the lower end is fixed to the upper portion of the tube body; when the sealing hose is detached from the circular tube connecting section at the lower portion of the funnel, the sealing hose shrinks into a ball under the action of the rebound force of the sealing spring, thereby completing the sealing of the tube body mouth.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for sealing and storing a sample, comprising:

[0020] Using the self-sealed sample tube assembly described above to receive the sample;

[0021] After the sample enters the tube body, the tube body and the sealing hose are pulled down from the funnel, and the sealing hose is detached from the round tube connecting section at the bottom of the funnel. Under the rebound force of the sealing spring, the sealing hose shrinks into a ball, completing the sealing of the sample tube.

[0022] A self-sealed sample tube assembly and a sample sealing storage method provided by the present invention have the following features:

[0023] Beneficial effects:

[0024] (1) The present invention provides a self-sealing sample tube assembly, in which a soft connection is formed between the funnel and the tube body using a sealing hose and a sealing spring, which can effectively avoid the phenomenon of biased load jamming caused by a hard connection. When an external force is applied to pull the tube body to separate it from the funnel, the tube body can adapt to the position deviation of the external force applying mechanism, and no additional radial force will be generated, which is more conducive to the external force applying mechanism applying a pulling force;

[0025] (2) The present invention provides a self-sealing sample tube assembly, in which the sealing of the tube mouth is achieved by using a sealing hose and a sealing spring. Compared with the traditional mechanical sealing method, it has a simple and reliable structure, a light weight, a good sealing effect, and a low requirement for the external force applying mechanism to apply a separation action. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 An upward view and a cross-sectional view of a self-sealed sample tube assembly;

[0027] Figure 2 This is the appearance view of the self-sealed sample tube assembly;

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the vicinity of the sealing hose in the cross-sectional view;

[0029] Figure 4 This is the view of the sealing spring in the free state;

[0030] Figure 5 Diagram of the process of connecting the two ends of the sealing spring with a metal sleeve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following detailed description of the present invention will make the features and advantages of the present invention more clear and explicit.

[0032] The word “exemplary” is used exclusively herein to mean “serving as an example, example, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0033] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides a self-sealed sample tube assembly suitable for storing soil samples drilled from extraterrestrial planets, comprising: a funnel, a tube body, a sealing spring and a sealing hose;

[0034] The upper part of the funnel is a conical cylinder section with a certain taper, and the lower part is a circular tube connecting section; the tube body is used to store drilled samples and return to the earth together with the samples; the sealing hose is made of a woven cloth hose or a polymer hose, which is cylindrical in shape, with the lower end fixed to the upper part of the tube body, and the upper end is sewn with a sealing spring and then clamped on the outside of the circular tube structure at the bottom of the funnel, and the tube body is hung on the funnel by friction.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, in order to improve the connection strength between the sealing hose, the funnel and the tube body, an annular protrusion is processed at the lower end of the funnel circular tube connecting section, and the sealing spring is limited above the annular protrusion to prevent the sealing spring from falling off.

[0036] An annular groove is processed on the outer periphery of the pipe opening of the pipe body, and the lower end of the sealing hose is fixed by binding with a rope or a metal wire at the annular groove of the pipe body.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, the sealing spring is made of high elastic alloy. In a state without external force (i.e., free state), it is in a spiral shape. Before being sewn with the sealing hose, the two ends of the sealing spring are connected, and the shape of the sealing spring is distorted. After the sealing spring is connected to the upper end of the sealing hose, it is sleeved on the outside of the circular tube connection section at the bottom of the funnel. The sealing spring is unfolded into a ring and wrapped around the outside of the sealing hose. This state is the assembly state of the sealing spring on the product. When it is clamped on the circular tube connection section at the bottom of the funnel, the sealing spring will generate a large contraction force, and the friction caused by this will hang the tube body on the funnel.

[0038] The funnel and the sealing hose together form a sample introduction path, ensuring that the sample can smoothly enter the tube body.

[0039] After the drilled sample enters the tube body, the mouth of the tube body needs to be sealed and transferred to the container. At this time, external force is needed to overcome the friction generated by the sealing spring hoop at the bottom of the funnel and pull the tube body + sealing hose off the funnel. After the sealing hose is disconnected from the circular tube connection section at the bottom of the funnel, the sealing hose shrinks into a ball under the rebound force of the sealing spring and forms a maze to complete the sealing of the sample tube and prevent cross-contamination of extraterrestrial soil samples inside and outside the tube.

[0040] like Figure 5 As shown, before being sewn with the sealing hose, the two ends of the sealing spring are connected by a metal sleeve, which is an aluminum sleeve or a steel sleeve. The two ends of the sealing spring are inserted into the metal sleeve from both sides of the metal sleeve. By applying a compressive force to the metal sleeve to plastically deform it, the two ends of the sealing spring are connected, so that the sealing spring can be stretched into a ring under the action of an external force. The length of the sealing spring should be such that the sealing spring hoop is in a stretched state when it is outside the circular tube structure at the bottom of the funnel.

[0041] When assembling the sealing spring and the sealing hose, put the sealing hose on the sewing tool, put the sealing spring on the outside of the sealing hose, keep a certain distance between the sealing spring and the upper edge of the sealing hose, and reversely wrap the sealing spring with the upper edge of the sealing hose and sew it with sutures. During the sewing process, it is necessary to ensure that the sealing spring is not obviously exposed.

[0042] In order to improve the sealing performance of the sealing spring on the sealing hose, the sealing hose has a double-layer sleeve structure, including an outer connecting tube and an inner filling tube. The outer connecting tube connects the funnel and the tube body, and the inner filling tube is sewn and fixed to the inner wall of the outer connecting tube. When the sealing hose shrinks into a ball shape, the tightness of the ball is increased.

[0043] The present invention has been described in detail above in conjunction with specific implementations and exemplary examples, but these descriptions cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art understand that, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, a variety of equivalent substitutions, modifications or improvements may be made to the technical solution of the present invention and its implementation methods, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

[0044] The contents not described in detail in the specification of the present invention belong to the common knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A self-sealed sample tube assembly, characterized in that: It includes a funnel, a tube body, a sealing spring and a sealing hose; the upper part of the funnel is a conical cylinder section, and the lower part is a round tube connecting section; the tube body is used to store samples; the sealing spring is a spiral spring coil with both ends connected; the sealing hose is sewn around the sealing spring at the upper end and then clamped on the outside of the round tube structure at the lower part of the funnel, and the lower end is fixed to the upper part of the tube body; when the sealing hose is detached from the round tube connecting section at the lower part of the funnel, the sealing hose shrinks into a ball under the action of the rebound force of the sealing spring, thereby completing the sealing of the mouth of the tube body.

2. The self-sealed sample tube assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing hose is a woven cloth hose or a polymer hose.

3. The self-sealed sample tube assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing hose is a double-layer sleeve structure, including an outer connecting tube and an inner filling tube. The outer connecting tube connects the funnel and the tube body, and the inner filling tube is sewn and fixed to the inner wall of the outer connecting tube to seal the tube mouth together with the outer connecting tube.

4. The self-sealed sample tube assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end of the funnel circular tube connecting section is processed with an annular protrusion, and the sealing spring is limited above the annular protrusion.

5. The self-sealed sample tube assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: An annular groove is processed on the outer periphery of the pipe opening of the pipe body, and the lower end of the sealing hose is bound and fixed at the annular groove of the pipe body.

6. The self-sealed sample tube assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two ends of the sealing spring are connected by a metal sleeve, which is an aluminum sleeve or a steel sleeve. The two ends of the sealing spring are inserted into the metal sleeve from both sides of the metal sleeve. The metal sleeve is plastically deformed by applying a compressive force to connect the two ends of the sealing spring, so that the sealing spring can be expanded into a ring under the action of external force.

7. The self-sealed sample tube assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing spring and the sealing hose are assembled by using a sewing tool. The sealing hose is put on the sewing tool, and the sealing spring is put outside the sealing hose. The sealing spring is close to the upper edge of the sealing hose, and the upper edge of the sealing hose reversely wraps the sealing spring and is sewn with sutures.

8. A method for sealing and storing a sample, characterized in that: include: Using the self-sealed sample tube assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to receive the sample; After the sample enters the tube body, the tube body and the sealing hose are pulled down from the funnel, and the sealing hose is detached from the round tube connecting section at the bottom of the funnel. Under the rebound force of the sealing spring, the sealing hose shrinks into a ball, completing the sealing of the sample tube.

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