EP0247921B1 - Releasable device for connecting two closed volumes without loss of confinement - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a disconnectable device intended to connect two closed volumes, such as a confinement enclosure and a transport container, without breaking the confinement of these two volumes.

Such a device finds its application as well in the nuclear industry as in the chemical, medical, pharmaceutical or electronic industries.

Thus, in the nuclear and chemical industries, the radioactive or dangerous nature of the products handled makes it necessary to confine these products in closed volumes in order to avoid any contamination of the external atmosphere.

Conversely, in the pharmaceutical, medical and electronic industries, it is common to have to work in a sterile or dust-free atmosphere. In this case, this atmosphere is also enclosed in a closed volume, in order to be protected from any contamination by the external atmosphere.

In all cases, it is necessary to be able to have a means for introducing into a closed volume and extracting from the same volume products, devices and devices of various kinds placed in another closed volume.

To this end, each of the enclosed volumes has at least one generally circular access opening delimited by a flange and normally closed by a door. The flanges and the doors are provided with disconnectable fixing means making it possible to connect the flanges and the doors of the two closed volumes. After opening the double door thus formed, the two closed volumes are put in communication and the transfers of products and equipment can be carried out.

In such a device, to permanently preserve the confinement of the closed volumes vis-à-vis the external atmosphere, it is necessary to provide seals of a particular type. In fact, any surface of the doors or flanges in contact before docking with the outside atmosphere must imperatively be sealed from the closed volumes at all times during handling, that is to say both during the 'docking only when the double door is open and inserted into one of the enclosed volumes. Conversely, the seals must also permanently ensure containment vis-à-vis the external atmosphere of any surface of the flanges or plugs in contact with the internal atmosphere of the closed volumes when the doors are in place.

Patent FR-A-1 346 486 from the French Atomic Energy Commission describes a sealed junction device between two sealed enclosures, in which this result is obtained by means of two seals having a section in the shape of a curvilinear polygon. These seals are received in grooves of square section formed respectively in the door of one of the enclosures and in the flange of the other enclosure. When the enclosures are docked and the double door still in place, the desired containment is obtained by contact of the lips of the seals both with the groove in which they are received, with the door or the flange of the corresponding closed volume and with the flange or the door of the other closed volume.

Devices fitted with seals of this type work satisfactorily. In particular, they correctly provide the desired containment under normal conditions of use.

However, the use of lip seals is not entirely satisfactory when significant pressure differences exist between the enclosed volumes and the external atmosphere. Indeed, depending on whether the internal pressure in the enclosed volumes is lower or higher than the external pressure, the lips of the seals must be oriented differently, which means that in both cases different seals must be used. In addition, in the event that the pressure gradient is temporarily reversed, the quality of the seal may be affected.

Furthermore, the manufacture of lip seals described in patent FR-1 346 486 requires special care which significantly increases the cost.

The present invention specifically relates to a disconnectable device for connecting two closed volumes without breaking the confinement of the latter vis-à-vis the external atmosphere, this device using seals of new design, particularly simple and inexpensive, which can be used interchangeably, whether the closed volumes are in overpressure or in depression with respect to the external atmosphere, and preserving the confinement, even when they are subjected to high pressure differences.

To this end and in accordance with the invention, a disconnectable device is proposed for connecting two closed volumes without breaking the confinement of the latter vis-à-vis the external atmosphere, each of these volumes having at least a circular opening with a given axis, delimited by a flange and normally closed by a door, this device comprising detachable fixing means for the doors on the flanges, detachable fixing means for the flanges one on the other, means fixing means that can be disconnected from one another, and sealing means consisting of two annular seals to permanently confine said enclosed volumes vis-à-vis the external atmosphere, characterized in that that said seals each have in section an approximately circular part and at least one projecting part forming a fixing heel, the heel of a first of these seals being housed in a sealed manner in a groove formed in the door of a first of the closed volumes, the approximately circular part of this seal being in leaktight contact with two surfaces inclined relative to the axes of the openings and formed respectively on the flange from the first closed volume and on the door of the second closed volume when all the fixing means are connected, the heel of the second seal being housed in a sealed manner in a groove formed in the flange of the second closed volume, the approximately circular part of this second seal being in sealed contact with two other surfaces inclined with respect to the axes of the openings and formed respectively on the door of the second closed volume and on the flange of the first closed volume, as well as with the approximately circular part of the first seal, when all the means of attachment are connected.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the seals has a central recess of approximately circular section, concentric with said approximately circular part.

The inclined surfaces may have an approximately rectilinear section or be concave and have an arcuate section of radius at least equal to the radius of the approximately circular parts of the joints. The protruding parts of the seals can in particular be oriented parallel to the axes of the openings and have an approximately rectangular shape.

According to another aspect of the invention, in the case where the first and the second closed volumes are respectively a containment enclosure and a transport container, the door of the enclosure has cut sides in two diametrically opposite locations, separated by a maximum distance less than the inside diameter of the container, and the container flange has notches in two diametrically opposite locations, the width of these notches being greater than the thickness of the enclosure door and the distance separating the bottom of these notches being greater than the maximum distance separating the cut sides.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale représentant de façon schématique un dispositif conforme à l'invention permettant de mettre en communication un conteneur et une enceinte sans rompre l'étanchéité des volumes clos qu'ils délimitent,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe représentant à plus grande échelle les joints d'étanchéité utilisés dans le dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe schématique comparable à la figure 1 illustrant un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, et
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective montrant schématiquement la traversée de la bride de conteneur par la porte de l'enceinte, dans le dispositif de la figure 3.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section schematically showing a device according to the invention making it possible to put a container and an enclosure in communication without breaking the tightness of the closed volumes which they delimit,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing on a larger scale the seals used in the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view comparable to FIG. 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention, and
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the passage of the container flange through the door of the enclosure, in the device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 represents a device 10 according to the invention for communicating a closed volume 12 with a closed volume 14 without at any time breaking the seal or confinement between these closed volumes 12 and 14 and the external atmosphere 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the enclosed volume 12 is the interior of a confinement enclosure, part of the wall of which is shown at 18. The enclosed volume 14 is constituted by the interior d 'a container, part of the wall of which is shown at 20. It goes without saying that the device 10 according to the invention can be used to connect two closed volumes of different nature, for example two containment cells.

In known manner, the wall 18 comprises a flange 22 delimiting a circular opening 24 normally closed by a door 26.

In a comparable manner, the wall 20 of the container, generally of cylindrical shape, ends at one of its ends by a flange 28 delimiting a circular opening 30. This opening is normally closed by a door 32.

In a manner also known, removable fixing means are provided between each of the doors 26, 32 and the corresponding flange 22, 28, between the flanges 22 and 28 as well as between the doors 26 and 32. These fixing means can take any known form and they can in particular be either mechanical or magnetic, without departing from the scope of the invention.

By way of example, the dashed lines 34 in FIG. 1 diagrammatically show screws or a similar mechanism by which the door 26 is fixed internally and detachably in the opening 24 of the flange 22.

The reference 36 designates a bayonet connection by which the door 32 is detachably fixed on the flange 28 of the container.

The phantom lines 38 correspond to screws or to a similar mechanism by which the flange 28 of the container can be fixed in a removable manner on the flange 22 of the enclosure, outside of the latter.

Finally, the phantom lines 40 schematically represent screws or a similar mechanism by means of which the covers 26 and 32 can be secured to each other in a removable manner from the interior of the confinement enclosure.

Thanks to this arrangement, the openings 24 and 30 formed in the flanges 22 and 28 are normally closed by the doors 26 and 32.

When the container is docked on the enclosure, the flange 28 is fixed to the flange 22 by the screws 38. Similarly, the doors 26 and 32 are joined together by the screws 40. The double door 26, 32 thus formed is then dismantled by unscrewing the screws 34, then rotating the two doors in order to disconnect the bayonet system 36. The volumes 12 and 14 then communicate with each other through their openings 24 and 30.

According to the invention, the tightness of the confinement between the closed volumes 12 and 14 on the one hand and the external atmosphere 16 on the other hand is permanently preserved by two identical seals 42a and 42b, the structure and the arrangement will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The seals 42a and 42b being identical, only the seal 42a will be described, the corresponding elements of the seal 42b bearing the same references assigned the letter b.

The seal 42a is an annular seal, made of a deformable and waterproof material such as silicone or an elastomer. Its outer surface has in section an approximately circular part 44a and an approximately rectangular projecting part 46a disposed radially with respect to the part 44a and oriented parallel to the axis of the joint, that is to say parallel to the common axis openings 24 and 30, when the container is docked on the enclosure.

Preferably, the seal 42a also has a central recess 48a, of approximately circular section and concentric with the part 44a. This recess, which can in some cases be eliminated, gives the joint greater flexibility.

As shown in Figure 2, the joints 42a and 42b have in section a symmetrical shape with respect to an axis passing through the center of the part 42a and oriented parallel to the axis of the joint.

The part 46a of the seal 42a forms a fixing heel by which this seal is housed in a sealed manner in a groove of complementary shape 50 formed on the end face of the cover 26 turned towards the outside of the enclosure.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, when the container is docked on the enclosure, that is to say when all the connection means 34, 36, 38 and 40 are connected, the approximately circular part 44a of the joint 42a is simultaneously in tight contact with two inclined surfaces 22a and 32a formed respectively on the flange 22 and on the door 32, and with the approximately circular part 44b of the seal 42b.

More precisely, the surface 22a is formed inside the flange 22, in a small diameter portion of this flange close to the outside of the closed volume 12. In addition, the surface 22a is inclined relative to the 'axis of the opening 24, so as to be turned towards the closed volume 12.

The surface 32a is formed in turn at the periphery of the door 32, on a large diameter part of the latter coming to be housed in the small diameter part of the flange 22 when the container is docked on the enclosure. The surface 32a is inclined relative to the axis of the opening 30, so as to be turned towards the outside of the closed volume 14.

The part 46b of the second seal 42b also forms a fixing heel which is received in a complementary groove 52 formed in the flange 28 of the container, on one face of this flange facing outwards from the closed volume 14.

When all the fixing means 34 to 40 are connected as illustrated in the figures, the approximately circular part 44b of the seal 42b is simultaneously in sealed contact with two other inclined surfaces 22a and 32b formed respectively on the flange 22 and on the door 32 , as well as with the part 44a of the seal 42a.

More specifically, the surface 22b is formed on the small diameter portion of the flange 22, and extends the surface 22a outward relative to the enclosed volume 12, so that this small diameter portion has in section approximately the in the form of a V. In addition, this surface 22b is inclined relative to the axis of the opening 24, towards the outside of the closed volume 12.

In a comparable manner, the surface 32b is formed on the part of larger diameter of the door 32 and extends the surface 32a towards the interior of the closed volume 14, so that this part of large diameter has in section approximately the shape of a V. This surface 32b is inclined relative to the axis of the opening 30, towards the inside of the closed volume 14.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the surfaces 22a, 32a, 22b and 32b are concave surfaces having in section the shape of an arc of a circle whose radius is approximately equal to the radius of the parts 44a and 44b of the joints.

This configuration is only an exemplary embodiment, the radii of the arcs of a circle formed by these surfaces can also be greater than the radii of the parts 44a and 44b of the joints. In an alternative embodiment not shown, these surfaces 22a, 32a, 22b and 32b can also be frustoconical surfaces having an approximately rectilinear section. This variant has the advantage of simplifying the machining of surfaces.

In summary, the invention makes it possible to achieve the desired seal thanks to the combination of two approximately O-rings 42a and 42b fixed by heels respectively in the door 26 and in the flange 28, each of these seals being able to come into tight contact. by at least one point of its section with the other joint and with inclined surfaces formed on the flange 22 and on the door 32.

Figures 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the invention highlighting another advantage provided by it.

In connection devices using gaskets of conventional design, the replacement of the gaskets associated with the enclosure door poses a problem which is difficult to solve. Indeed, to allow the replacement of this seal, the door must be removed from the enclosure, which can generally only be done by a similar device, but of larger size, giving access to another container. It therefore immediately appears that the replacement of the seal carried by the larger diameter door of an enclosure cannot be done.

Figures 3 and 4 show that the device of the invention solves this problem, by allowing the passage of the enclosure door through the opening which it normally provides closure. Thus, it becomes possible to replace the seal associated with this door by evacuating it by the associated container, after having introduced into the enclosure a door provided with a new seal and brought by the same container.

To facilitate understanding, elements similar to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals increased by 100.

We recognize in Figure 3 the flange 122 delimiting, in the wall of the enclosure, the circular opening 124 that normally closes the door 126. On this flange 122 is centered the end of the flange 128 delimiting the circular opening 130 at the open end of the wall 120 of the container. This opening 130 is normally closed by the door 132.

The sealing of the connection is ensured by an annular seal 142a mounted on the door 126 and by an annular seal 142b mounted on the flange 128. Each of these seals 142a, 142b comprises in section an approximately circular or 0-shaped hollow part and a heel in those parts, each of the two parts of this heel being inclined in opposite directions relative to a straight line oriented parallel to the axis of the joint. For the seal 142a of the door 126, this straight line is offset inwardly relative to the circular part of the seal. On the contrary, it is offset towards the outside with respect to the circular part of the seal 142b. Thus, the two joints 142a and 142b have approximately in section the shape of an R.

The heel in two parts of the joint 142a is housed in a groove formed on the end face of the door 126 facing outwards from the insulator, near the peripheral edge of this face. The circular part of this seal 142a is normally in abutment against a frustoconical or curvilinear surface formed on the flange 122 and turned towards the interior of the cell. When the container is connected to the flange 122, the circular part of the seal 142a is also supported on a frustoconical or curvilinear surface formed at the intersection of the external face and the peripheral edge of the cover 132 and, between these surfaces of the flange 122 and of the cover 132, on the circular part of the seal 142b.

Similarly, the heel in two parts of the joint 142b is housed in a groove formed on the end face of the flange 128 facing outwards from the container, near the opening 130. The circular part of this joint is supported on a frustoconical or curvilinear surface formed on the outer peripheral edge of the door 132 and turned towards the inside of the container, when this door is in place. Similarly, when the container is connected to the insulator, this circular part is in abutment against a frustoconical or curvilinear surface formed at the intersection of the external face and the internal peripheral edge of the flange 122, and against the circular part of the attached 142a.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the relative diameters of the seals 142a and 144a are such that the outside diameter of the seal 142a is approximately equal to the diameter of the seal 142b at the center of its circular part. Conversely, the inside diameter of the seal 142b is approximately equal to the diameter of the seal 142a at the center of its circular part.

As illustrated in the right part of FIG. 3, the door 126 includes inside the cell a flange 127 normally coming to bear on the interior face of the flange 122. However, to allow passage of this door 126 to inside the openings formed in the flanges 122 and 128, its outer peripheral edge has, in two diametrically opposite locations, cut sides 160 between which the maximum distance is less than the inside diameter of the container. One of these cut sections is shown in the left half of FIG. 3. As illustrated in this figure, the maximum distance between the cut sections is greater than the outside diameter of the heel of the joint 142a, but less than the outside diameter of this section. attached.

Furthermore, the part of the flange 128 which projects inside the container, to delimit the opening 130, has two notches 162 located at diametrically opposite locations. The width of these notches is greater than the thickness of the door 126 and the distance separating the bottoms of these notches is greater than the maximum distance separating the cut sides 160 from the door 126, so that the latter can pass through the flange 128 after having been inclined by 90 °, when the cut sides 160 are placed opposite the notches 162, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the distance separating the bottoms of the notches 162 is greater than the internal diameter of the joint 142b and less than the inside diameter of the heel of this joint.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of example, but covers all variants thereof within the scope of the claims.

Thus, the central recess formed in the joints can possibly be eliminated. Likewise, the heels ensuring the fixing of the joints can take different forms from the forms described. Furthermore, it has been seen that the surfaces on which the seal comes into leaktight support can take different forms. Finally, it is recalled that the removable fixing means which must be provided between the flanges and the doors can be the subject of many different embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. Disconnectable device for linking two closed volumes (12, 14) without breaking the confinement thereof with respect to the external atmosphere (16), each of these closed volumes having at least one circular opening (24, 30) with a given axis, defined by a flange (22, 28) and normally sealed by a door (26,32), said device incorporating means (34, 36) for the disconnectable fixing of the doors to the flanges, means (38) for the disconnectable fixing of the flanges to one another, means (40) for the disconnectable fixing of the doors to one another and sealing means (42a, 42b) consisting of two annular gaskets for permanently ensuring a confinement of said closed volumes with respect to the external atmosphere, characterized in that said gaskets (42a, 42b), each has in section an approximately circular part (44a, 44b) and at least one projecting part (46a, 46b) forming a fixing member, the member of a first (42a) of gaskets being sealingly located in a groove (50) formed in the door (26) of a first (12) of the closed volumes, the approximately circular part (44a) of said gasket being in tight contact with two surfaces (22a, 32a) inclined with respect to the axes of the openings and formed respectively on the flange (22) of the first closed volume and on the door (32) of the second closed volume when all the fixing means are connected, the member of the second gasket (42b) being sealingly located in a groove (52) formed in the flange (28) of the second closed volume (14), the approximately circular part (44b) of said second gasket being in tight contact with two other surfaces (32b, 22b) inclined with respect to the axes of the openings and respectively formed on the door (32) of the second closed volume and on the flange (22) of the first closed volume, as well as with the approximately circular part (44a) of the first gasket when all the fixing means are connected.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the gaskets (42a, 42b) has a central recess (48a, 48b) with an approximately circular cross-section concentric to the approximately circular part (44a, 44b).

3. Device according to either of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said inclined surfaces (22a, 22b, 32a, 32b) have an approximately rectilinear cross-section.

4. Device according to either of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said inclined surfaces (22a, 22b, 32a, 32b) are concave and have a circular arc cross-section, whose radius is at least equal to the radius of the approximately circular parts (44a, 44b) of the gaskets.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projecting parts (46a, 46b) of the gaskets are oriented parallel to the axes of the openings and have an approximately rectangular shape.

6. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first and second closed volumes are respectively a confinement enclosure and a transportation container, the door (126) of the enclosure having flats (160) cut at two diametrically opposite locations separated by a maximum distance less than the internal diameter of the container and the flange (128) of the container has notches (162) at two diametrically opposite locations, the width of these notches exceeding the thickness of the door (126) of the enclosure and the distance separating the bottom of said notches exceeding the maximum distance separating the flats (160).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the projecting part of the gasket (142a) mounted on the door (126) of the enclosure is displaced inwards with respect to the circular part of the gasket, the projecting part of the gasket (142b) mounted on the container flange (128) being displaced outwards with respect to the circular part of said gasket.

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