Sampling device

A metal melt sampling device comprising a sampling unit of refractory material for mounting in a support tube, said sampling unit including first and second portions and further means, said second portion being integral with said first portion and defining with said further means walls of main sample cavity, said first portion defining a leading end of the unit;

• and an inlet passage to enable metal melt to pass in use from said leading end of said unit to said main sample cavity, wherein at least one of said first and second portions is adapted to be a push fit in said support tube and, wherein a portion of said walls of said main sample cavity is shaped to produce, in use, a locating formation in the sample of metal melt, whereby a solidified sample extracted from said main sample cavity may be located by said locating formation during preparation of a surface of said sample for analysis.

A metal melt sampling device comprising a sampling unit of refractory material for mounting in a support tube, said sampling unit including first and second portions and further means, said second portion being integral with said first portion and defining with said further means walls of a main sample cavity, said first portion defining a leading end of the unit;

• and an inlet passage to enable metal melt to pass in use from said leading end of said unit to said main sample cavity, wherein at least one of said first and second portions is adapted to be a push fit in said support tube, said device further including a support tube into which said sampling unit is push fitted, said support tube defining a leading end, wherein said support tube is made of a paperboard, the device further comprising paperboard cover over said leading end of said support tube adapted to protect said sampling unit on insertion into a metal melt.

A metal melt sampling device comprising a sampling unit of refractory material for mounting in a support tube, said sampling unit including first and second portions and at least one metal plate, said second portion being integral with said first portion and defining with said at least one metal plate walls of a main sample cavity, said first portion defining a leading end of a unit, wherein said at least one metal plate is secured to said second portion of said sampling unit by a generally U-shaped clip, portions of said clip adjacent a bight of said U converging and arms of said clip subsequently diverging to an extent sufficient that, in use, when said clip is mounted on said second portion of said sampling unit, said diverging portions of said clip are adapted to engage said support tube whereby on insertion of said sampling unit into said support tube said arms of said clip are forced radially inwardly to assist securement of said at least one metal plate on said second portion of said sampling unit;

• and an inlet passage to enable metal melt to pass in use from said leading end of said unit to said main sample cavity, wherein at least one of said first and second portions is adapted to be a push-fit in said support tube.