EP0457669A1 - Device for remote-sanitising of a surface in a hostile environment by degradation with recuperation and treatment of the wastes - Google Patents

Device for remote-sanitising of a surface in a hostile environment by degradation with recuperation and treatment of the wastes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0457669A1
EP0457669A1 EP91401240A EP91401240A EP0457669A1 EP 0457669 A1 EP0457669 A1 EP 0457669A1 EP 91401240 A EP91401240 A EP 91401240A EP 91401240 A EP91401240 A EP 91401240A EP 0457669 A1 EP0457669 A1 EP 0457669A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
installation according
electrostatic filter
cyclone separator
waste
remote
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91401240A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0457669B1 (en
Inventor
François Bodin
Jean Bonnant
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Orano Cycle SA
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Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires SA
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Publication of EP0457669A1 publication Critical patent/EP0457669A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F7/00—Shielded cells or rooms
    • G21F7/06—Structural combination with remotely-controlled apparatus, e.g. with manipulators
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/001—Decontamination of contaminated objects, apparatus, clothes, food; Preventing contamination thereof
    • G21F9/005—Decontamination of the surface of objects by ablation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an installation making it possible to clean up a surface located in a hostile environment, such as a surface located inside a highly irradiating cell in the nuclear industry, by a degradation controlled remotely from this surface, the installation further comprising means for recovering and treating the waste produced by this degradation.
  • the subject of the invention is precisely an installation the original design of which allows it to both remotely sanitize, by degradation, a surface located in a hostile environment, and the automatic recovery and treatment of waste produced by this degradation, which makes it possible to intervene in all cases, whatever the degree of contamination of a cell, without other human intervention than that required by the maintenance of the installation and the punctual maintenance of the devices that it comprises, this installation also allowing the direct treatment and storage of waste, without passing through intermediate receptacles.
  • this installation comprises a single sealed tank inside which are formed a first relatively large volume compartment connected below a first cyclone separator and a second relatively small volume compartment connected below a second cyclone separator arranged downstream of the first cyclone separator on the collection piping, the first and the second compartments being internally equipped with means for injecting treatment products and means for recovering these products through filters.
  • the filtering means then comprise, downstream of the cyclone separator on the collection piping, an electrostatic filter comprising a hopper-shaped bottom capable of being tightly connected to a container which collects the dust, after electrical shutdown of the filter electrostatic.
  • Deflectors placed in the inlet cone of the electrostatic filter then make it possible to distribute the air flow evenly inside this filter, while the flow of dust towards the container can be improved by placing a vibrator on the hopper-shaped bottom of the electrostatic filter.
  • At least one absolute filtration member is placed downstream of the electrostatic filter.
  • the installation is preferably automated by equipping the electrostatic filter as well as each of the absolute filtration members with clogging detectors which make it possible to successively control the automatic stopping of the means for actuating the cutting edge of the bush hammer and the automatic stopping of the means suction when a clogging is detected.
  • the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures relates to the remediation of the contaminated degradable surface A of the soil of a highly irradiating and contaminated cell B.
  • This application should not however be considered as limiting, the installation according to the invention being able to be used to carry out the sanitation by degradation of a surface of any orientation (ground, wall, ceiling, etc ...) in a hostile environment which can be either a confinement cell used in the nuclear industry or any area in which the intervention time for humans is very limited, if not impossible.
  • the nature of the material constituting the surface which it is desired to carry out the remediation may be arbitrary, provided that this surface can be degraded by means of a bush hammer.
  • This surface can in particular be formed on a wall of concrete or an equivalent material, with or without paint.
  • the remote sanitation installation comprises a remote controlled bush hammering assembly 10 placed in the hostile zone to be sanitized, that is to say inside cell B in the embodiment shown.
  • a pipe 12 for collecting the waste produced by the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 connects this assembly to the rest of the installation, located outside the hostile zone, that is to say outside of cell B in the case of figure 1.
  • this waste collection pipe 12 opposite the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 is connected to a vacuum cleaner 14 which discharges the air outside by a discharge sheath 16.
  • the vacuum cleaner 14 is a pneumatic ejector which operates by the Venturi effect when a solenoid valve 18 placed in a compressed air inlet pipe 20 is open.
  • the waste collection piping 12 successively passes through a first cyclone separator 22, a second cyclone separator 24, an electrostatic filter 26 and two absolute filters 28 and 30, of nuclear quality, before reaching the vacuum cleaner 14.
  • This bush hammering assembly 10 essentially comprises a remote-controlled vehicle 32 and a bush hammer 34 supported by this vehicle. It should be noted that, in certain particular cases, the remote-controlled vehicle can carry several bush hammers simultaneously.
  • the remote-controlled vehicle 32 can be of any type, adapted to the nature of the terrain in the area in which intervention is necessary. It can in particular be a tracked vehicle as illustrated in the figure, or a wheeled or legged vehicle.
  • the vehicle 32 can be totally radio-controlled, without any mechanical connection by cable or pipe does not connect it to remote control means (not shown) located outside the hostile zone and using which an operator safely controls the movements of the vehicle, the application of the bush hammer 34 on the surface A to sanitize and actuate this bushhammer.
  • the transmission to the vehicle 32 of the control signals which ensure the movements of the latter and the application of the bush hammer on the surface to be treated is carried out by means of an assembly 36 of cables and pipes which runs on a bracket 38 articulated at the rear of the remote-controlled vehicle 32.
  • the bracket 38 is oriented horizontally and pivots about a vertical axis, when the surface A is horizontal. When the vehicle is moving rearward, this bracket 38 can be oriented to the right or to the left of the vehicle so that the assembly 36 of cables and pipes is moved away from the circulation area of the vehicle.
  • the remote-controlled vehicle 32 comprises an upper support plate 40 on which the bracket 38 at the rear of the vehicle are hinged respectively and a plate 42 supporting the bush hammer 34 at the front of the vehicle. More specifically, the plate 42 is articulated on the support plate 40 by an axis 44 oriented transversely relative to the vehicle 32 and in a horizontal direction when this vehicle rests on a horizontal surface A.
  • One or more jacks 46 such as pneumatic or electric jacks are articulated by their ends respectively on a clevis 40a secured to the upper face of the support plate 40 and on a chappe 42a secured to the upper face of the plate 42.
  • the axes of corresponding joint are designated by the references 48 and 50 in FIG. 2.
  • the jacks 46 are in the extended position and the plate 42 is then practically in the extension of the support plate 40.
  • the cylinders 46 are actuated in the direction of reduction of their length, in order to free the bush hammer 34 from the ground.
  • this configuration which corresponds to the remediation of the soil in the area in question, can be modified at will when the surfaces to be treated are oriented differently, for example in a vertical direction or turned downwards.
  • the bush hammer 34 is mounted on the underside of the plate 42 by dampers 52 making it possible to attenuate the transmission to the vehicle 32 of the vibrations produced by the bush hammer 34.
  • the bush hammer 34 comprises a casing 54 internally delimiting, on either side of a partition 56 oriented horizontally when the bush hammer is pressed against a horizontal surface A, an upper control zone 57 and a closed lower space 58.
  • one or more motors 60 preferably pneumatically controlled, used to move, in a linear reciprocating movement oriented perpendicular to the partition 56, one or more cutting edges 62 placed in the chamber 58.
  • the face of each of the cutters 62 opposite the partition 56 has sharp teeth which make it possible to degrade the surface A on which the bush hammer 34 is applied, when the cutters 62 strike this surface under the effect of their back-and-forth movements illustrated by the arrows F in Figure 2.
  • the actuation of the motors 60 is controlled by a compressed air inlet pipe 64 controlled by a solenoid valve 66.
  • the pipe 64 is connected to control means (not shown) located outside the cell.
  • the air leaving the motors 60 in the upper control zone 57 is expelled directly into the cell by a rejection pipe 68 connected to the casing 54.
  • the section of this pipe 68 is at least twice that of the piping 64 of compressed air supply.
  • the casing 54 extends around the cutting edges 62 up to an annular end edge carrying a brush or a flap 70 capable of being applied in a sealed manner to the surface A to be treated, under the effect of the depression created in the chamber 58 by the vacuum cleaner 14.
  • the strokes of the motors 60 controlling the linear reciprocating movement of the cutting edges 62 are such that the latter are spaced from the surface A when they occupy their retracted positions.
  • the underside of each of the cutters 62 can strike the surface A when these cutters are pushed towards this surface by the motors 60.
  • the dynamic confinement of the chamber 58 is ensured by the vacuum created in the piping 12 for collecting waste by the vacuum cleaner 49. In this way, the distance between the partition 56 and the surface A to treatment is substantially constant when the bush hammer is in the working position.
  • the piping 12 is connected to a tube 72 which passes through the rear face of the casing 54 of the bushhammer 34 and opens into the chamber 58.
  • a deflector 74 is placed in this room, opposite the end of the tubing 72, so that the latter opens in the immediate vicinity of the surface A and over the entire width of the bush hammer by a passage of reduced width.
  • the pressure drop thus created makes it possible to suck, at the rear of the bushhammer and over its entire width, particles and waste larger than the dust produced by striking the cutting edges 62 on the surface.
  • the two cyclone separators 22 and 24 which are successively arranged in the waste collection pipe 12 outside cell B are placed above two watertight compartments 76 , 78 delimited in a sealed receiving and treatment tank 80 by a vertical partition 82. More specifically, the cyclone separators 22 and 24 are tightly connected by quick couplings 84 and 86 to inlet orifices formed in the wall upper part of the tank 80, on either side of the partition 82, vertically of the compartments 76 and 78 respectively. To take into account the difference in particle size which can be received in compartments 76 and 78 respectively, the volume of compartment 76 is approximately 15 to 20 times greater than that of compartment 78.
  • the tank 80 is itself placed in a concrete container 88 without a cover, which provides biological protection.
  • Each of the compartments 76 and 78 of the tank 80 receives at its upper part a spraying ramp 90, 92 able to be connected to an appropriate circuit (not shown) making it possible to inject into the corresponding compartment a product used for treating waste who are received there.
  • the treatment can be done in a single operation, at the end of the filling of the compartments 76 and 78, or on the contrary in different stages as this filling is carried out.
  • each of the compartments 76 and 78 is inclined towards a low point 98, 100 of this compartment, above which is placed a filter 102, 104 advantageously separated from the rest of the compartment by a partition (not shown).
  • a pipe 106, 108 installed on the upper wall of the tank 80 above each of the filters 102 and 104 allows, when it is connected to an adequate suction circuit, to recover the treatment product injected by the ramps d spraying 90 and 92, in the case of a liquid, after the latter has passed through the waste contained in the compartments 76 and 78, then the filters 102 and 104.
  • the tank 80 is advantageously equipped, above the compartment 76, with a level detector 110 with a rotary vane 112, located on the upper wall of the tank 80.
  • a level detector 110 with a rotary vane 112 located on the upper wall of the tank 80.
  • the cyclone separators 22 and 24 are then removed by disconnecting the quick couplings 84 and 86.
  • the orifices thus released in the upper wall of the tank 80 make it possible to introduce into each of the compartments 76 and 78 concrete or another material for blocking the rubble that they contain.
  • the spray bars 90 and 92 as well as the pipes 106 and 108 are then dismantled and the upper part of the tank 80 is concreted so as to form a cover closing the container 88 so as to ensure its mechanical and biological continuity.
  • the rubble and dust which have not been collected in the two compartments 76 and 78 of the tank 80 are brought to the electrostatic filter 26 by the pipework 12 for collecting waste.
  • the inlet cone 114 of the electrostatic filter 26 is equipped with deflectors 116 which ensure a homogeneous distribution of the dust in the air stream which passes through the diffusers and then the ionizers of the electrostatic filter.
  • the latter is equipped at the bottom with a hopper-shaped bottom 118, the lower end of which is tightly connected to a container 120 by a weldable sleeve 122.
  • a vibrator 124 is mounted on the hopper-shaped bottom 118.
  • the electrostatic filter 26 As long as the electrostatic filter 26 is electrically supplied, the dust trapped inside it remains fixed there. On the contrary, when the power supply to the filter 26 is stopped, the dust trapped in the latter falls by gravity into the container 120 towards which they are guided by the hopper-shaped bottom 118. In order to improve the descent of the dust, the vibrator 124 is then activated.
  • Means are associated with the electrostatic filter 26 in order to detect clogging.
  • the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 is stopped, as is the vacuum cleaner 14.
  • the dust drops in the container 120 of the as previously described.
  • Another means detects the filling of the container 120. When this detection is carried out, the entire installation is stopped and the container 120 is removed and separated from the electrostatic filter 26 by deployment and welding of the sleeve 122. The biological protection of the container 120 is then supplemented by the addition of a cover to the upper part thereof.
  • the dust which remains still contained in the air leaving the electrostatic filter 26 is conveyed by the piping 12 to the absolute filters 28 and 30.
  • the clean air leaving these filters is discharged outwardly through the sheath 16 by the vacuum cleaner 14.
  • Each of the absolute filters 28 and 30 is advantageously equipped with a pressure switch 126, 128 making it possible to detect clogging when it is energized.
  • the entire installation which has just been described is remotely controlled and its various elements are slaved to each other.
  • the starting of the vacuum cleaner 14, controlled by the opening of the solenoid valve 18, can only be done on condition that the electrostatic filter 26 is energized and not clogged, that the pressure switches 126 and 128 are energized but do not indicate any clogging and that the vane level detector 110 is energized and that its vane 112 is rotating.
  • the start-up of the bush hammer 34 is controlled by the opening of the solenoid valve 66 controlling the arrival of the compressed air in the motors 60 through the piping 64.
  • the triggering of the pressure switches 126 and 128, the clogging detector of the electrostatic filter 26 and / or the blocking of the pallet 112 of the level detector 110 automatically cause the valve 66 closing supplying the motors 60 with compressed air, then closing the the valve 18 supplying compressed air to the vacuum cleaner 14.
  • the unclogging of the electrostatic filter 26 can only be carried out when the vacuum cleaner 14 is stopped and the electrostatic filter off. At this time, the vibrator 124 can be started to promote the descent of the dust into the container 120.
  • the treatment of the waste in the tank 80 by the use of the spray bars 90 and 92 and the pipes 106 and 108 can be done at any time.
  • the remote sanitation installation which has just been described therefore makes it possible to carry out the remediation, by degradation, of a surface located in a hostile environment, without any other human intervention than that required by the maintenance of the installation, the waste and dust resulting from the degradation of the surface being moreover recovered, treated and packaged directly without requiring complex and dangerous handling.
  • the remote-controlled vehicle 32 can take different forms and that its remote control can be produced in different ways without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the mounting of the bush hammer on this vehicle which can also carry several bush hammers simultaneously, can be achieved in different ways, taking into account in particular the orientation of the surface to be treated.
  • the part of the installation making it possible to recover and treat the waste can undergo different variants.
  • the two compartments 76 and 78 can be replaced by two separate tanks.
  • the container 120 can be replaced by a third compartment integrated into the tank 80.

Abstract

To carry out the sanitisation of a surface (A) situated in a hostile environment, a hammer granulator (34) mounted on a remotely controlled vehicle (32) is employed. The waste produced by the hammer granulator is recovered directly by a collection pipework (12) connected to a suction cleaner (14). Cyclone separators (22, 24), an electrostatic filter (26) and absolute filters (28, 30) which are placed in this order in the collection pipework recover the waste in order of decreasing size. The cyclone separators are mounted on two compartments (76, 78) formed in a vessel (80) and each equipped with devices (90, 92, 100, 102, 106, 108) allowing a product for processing the waste to be recovered to be injected into these compartments, and its recovery after filtration. A container (120) is also placed under the electrostatic filter (26). <IMAGE>

Description

L'invention concerne une installation permettant de réaliser l'assainissement d'une surface située en milieu hostile, telle qu'une surface située à l'intérieur d'une cellule très irradiante dans l'industrie nucléaire, par une dégradation commandée à distance de cette surface, l'installation comprenant de plus des moyens permettant de récupérer et de traiter les déchets produits par cette dégradation.The invention relates to an installation making it possible to clean up a surface located in a hostile environment, such as a surface located inside a highly irradiating cell in the nuclear industry, by a degradation controlled remotely from this surface, the installation further comprising means for recovering and treating the waste produced by this degradation.

Jusqu'à présent, dans l'industrie nucléaire, l'assainissement d'une cellule irradiante et contaminée ne pouvait être réalisé qu'en faisant intervenir directement à l'intérieur de la cellule un nombre important de personnes réalisant directement la dégradation de la surface à assainir. Cependant, cette solution est exclue lorsque l'état très irradiant et le degré de contamination très élevé d'une cellule interdisent pratiquement toute intervention directe de l'homme à l'intérieur de celle-ci. De plus, même lorsque les interventions humaines à l'intérieur de la cellule ne sont pas totalement exclues, elles entraînent pour le personnel l'absorption de débits de doses importants qu'il est souhaitable d'éviter. En outre, ce type d'interventions nécessite de stocker les déchets produits par la dégradation de la surface dans des réceptacles intermédiaires placés à l'intérieur de la cellule, avant que ces déchets ne puissent être traités et stockés de façon définitive.Until now, in the nuclear industry, the remediation of an irradiating and contaminated cell could only be achieved by bringing directly inside the cell a large number of people directly realizing the degradation of the surface to clean up. However, this solution is excluded when the very irradiating state and the very high degree of contamination of a cell practically prohibits any direct intervention of the man inside it. In addition, even when human intervention inside the cell is not completely excluded, it entails for staff the absorption of high dose rates which it is desirable to avoid. In addition, this type of intervention requires storing the waste produced by the degradation of the surface in intermediate receptacles placed inside the cell, before this waste can be treated and stored definitively.

L'invention a précisément pour objet une installation dont la conception originale lui permet à la fois de réaliser l'assainissement à distance, par dégradation, d'une surface située en milieu hostile, et la récupération et le traitement automatiques des déchets produits par cette dégradation, ce qui permet d'intervenir dans tous les cas, quel que soit le degré de contamination d'une cellule, sans autre intervention humaine que celle nécessitée par la maintenance de l'installation et la maintenance ponctuelle des appareils qu'elle comporte, cette installation permettant en outre le traitement et le stockage directs des déchets, sans passage dans des réceptacles intermédiaires.The subject of the invention is precisely an installation the original design of which allows it to both remotely sanitize, by degradation, a surface located in a hostile environment, and the automatic recovery and treatment of waste produced by this degradation, which makes it possible to intervene in all cases, whatever the degree of contamination of a cell, without other human intervention than that required by the maintenance of the installation and the punctual maintenance of the devices that it comprises, this installation also allowing the direct treatment and storage of waste, without passing through intermediate receptacles.

Conformément à l'invention, ce résultat est obtenu au moyen d'une installation d'assainissement à distance, par dégradation, d'une surface située en milieu hostile, avec récupération et traitement des déchets produits par la dégradation, caractérisée par le fait qu'elle comprend :

  • un véhicule télécommandé portant au moins une bouchardeuse comportant au moins un taillant apte à être animé d'un mouvement de va-et-vient par des moyens d'actionnement, pour venir frapper ladite surface, à l'intérieur d'un espace clos délimité en périphérie par un carter de la bouchardeuse ;
  • une tuyauterie de collecte des déchets produits par les taillants à l'intérieur dudit espace clos, raccordée sur le carter et dont l'extrémité opposée est raccordée sur des moyens d'aspiration ;
  • au moins un séparateur cyclone et des moyens de filtrage placés successivement dans cet ordre sur la tuyauterie de collecte ;
  • au moins une cuve étanche de réception et de traitement des déchets recueillis par le séparateur cyclone, raccordée de façon déconnectable au-dessous de ce dernier, et équipée intérieurement de moyens d'injection de produits de traitement, et de moyens de récupération de ces produits au travers de filtres.
In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained by means of a remote sanitation installation, by degradation, of a surface located in a hostile environment, with recovery and treatment of the waste produced by the degradation, characterized in that 'she understands :
  • a remote-controlled vehicle carrying at least one bush hammer comprising at least one cutting edge capable of being driven back and forth by actuation means, in order to strike said surface, inside a closed enclosed space on the periphery by a bushhammer housing;
  • a pipe for collecting the waste produced by the cutters inside said closed space, connected to the casing and the opposite end of which is connected to suction means;
  • at least one cyclone separator and filtering means placed successively in this order on the collection piping;
  • at least one sealed tank for receiving and processing the waste collected by the cyclone separator, connected in a disconnectable manner below the latter, and fitted internally with means for injecting treatment products and with means for recovering these products through filters.

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, cette installation comprend une seule cuve étanche à l'intérieur de laquelle sont formés un premier compartiment de relativement grand volume raccordé au-dessous d'un premier séparateur cyclone et un deuxième compartiment de relativement petit volume raccordé au-dessous d'un deuxième séparateur cyclone disposé en aval du premier séparateur cyclone sur la tuyauterie de collecte, le premier et le deuxième compartiments étant équipés intérieurement de moyens d'injection de produits de traitement et de moyens de récupération de ces produits au travers de filtres.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this installation comprises a single sealed tank inside which are formed a first relatively large volume compartment connected below a first cyclone separator and a second relatively small volume compartment connected below a second cyclone separator arranged downstream of the first cyclone separator on the collection piping, the first and the second compartments being internally equipped with means for injecting treatment products and means for recovering these products through filters.

Avantageusement, les moyens de filtrage comprennent alors, en aval du séparateur cyclone sur la tuyauterie de collecte, un filtre électrostatique comportant un fond en forme de trémie apte à être raccordé de façon étanche sur un conteneur qui récupère les poussières, après arrêt électrique du filtre électrostatique.Advantageously, the filtering means then comprise, downstream of the cyclone separator on the collection piping, an electrostatic filter comprising a hopper-shaped bottom capable of being tightly connected to a container which collects the dust, after electrical shutdown of the filter electrostatic.

Des déflecteurs placés dans le cône d'entrée du filtre électrostatique permettent alors de répartir le flux d'air de façon homogène à l'intérieur de ce filtre, alors que l'écoulement des poussières vers le conteneur peut être amélioré en plaçant un vibreur sur le fond en forme de trémie du filtre électrostatique.Deflectors placed in the inlet cone of the electrostatic filter then make it possible to distribute the air flow evenly inside this filter, while the flow of dust towards the container can be improved by placing a vibrator on the hopper-shaped bottom of the electrostatic filter.

Afin de compléter le filtrage de l'air avant son rejet à l'extérieur, au moins un organe de filtration absolue est placé en aval du filtre électrostatique.In order to complete the filtration of the air before it is discharged to the outside, at least one absolute filtration member is placed downstream of the electrostatic filter.

L'installation est de préférence automatisée en équipant le filtre électrostatique ainsi que chacun des organes de filtration absolue de détecteurs de colmatage qui permettent de commander successivement l'arrêt automatique des moyens d'actionnement du taillant de la bouchardeuse et l'arrêt automatique des moyens d'aspiration lorsqu'un colmatage est détecté.The installation is preferably automated by equipping the electrostatic filter as well as each of the absolute filtration members with clogging detectors which make it possible to successively control the automatic stopping of the means for actuating the cutting edge of the bush hammer and the automatic stopping of the means suction when a clogging is detected.

Un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention va à présent être décrit, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, en se référant aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en coupe partielle représentant de façon schématique une installation d'assainissement à distance conforme à l'invention ; et
  • la figure 2 est une vue représentant à plus grande échelle la partie de l'installation illustrée sur la figure 1 qui se trouve dans la zone hostile dans laquelle on désire réaliser l'assainissement.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a partial sectional view schematically representing a remote sanitation installation according to the invention; and
  • Figure 2 is a view showing on a larger scale the part of the installation illustrated in Figure 1 which is in the hostile area in which it is desired to carry out sanitation.

L'exemple de réalisation illustré sur les figures concerne l'assainissement de la surface dégradable contaminée A du sol d'une cellule B fortement irradiante et contaminée. Cette application ne doit cependant pas être considérée comme limitative, l'installation selon l'invention pouvant être utilisée pour réaliser l'assainissement par dégradation d'une surface d'orientation quelconque (sol, mur, plafond, etc...) dans un milieu hostile qui peut être indifféremment une cellule de confinement utilisée dans l'industrie nucléaire ou une zone quelconque dans laquelle le temps d'intervention pour l'homme est très limité, voire impossible.The exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures relates to the remediation of the contaminated degradable surface A of the soil of a highly irradiating and contaminated cell B. This application should not however be considered as limiting, the installation according to the invention being able to be used to carry out the sanitation by degradation of a surface of any orientation (ground, wall, ceiling, etc ...) in a hostile environment which can be either a confinement cell used in the nuclear industry or any area in which the intervention time for humans is very limited, if not impossible.

Dans le même esprit, la nature du matériau constituant la surface dont on désire réaliser l'assainissement peut être quelconque, à condition que cette surface puisse être dégradée au moyen d'une bouchardeuse. Cette surface peut notamment être formée sur une paroi en béton ou en un matériau équivalent, avec ou sans peinture.In the same spirit, the nature of the material constituting the surface which it is desired to carry out the remediation may be arbitrary, provided that this surface can be degraded by means of a bush hammer. This surface can in particular be formed on a wall of concrete or an equivalent material, with or without paint.

L'installation d'assainissement à distance selon l'invention comprend un ensemble de bouchardage télécommandé 10 placé dans la zone hostile à assainir, c'est-à-dire à l'intérieur de la cellule B dans le mode de réalisation représenté. Une tuyauterie 12 de collecte des déchets produits par l'ensemble de bouchardage télécommandé 10 relie cet ensemble au reste de l'installation, situé en dehors de la zone hostile, c'est-à-dire à l'extérieur de la cellule B dans le cas de la figure 1.The remote sanitation installation according to the invention comprises a remote controlled bush hammering assembly 10 placed in the hostile zone to be sanitized, that is to say inside cell B in the embodiment shown. A pipe 12 for collecting the waste produced by the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 connects this assembly to the rest of the installation, located outside the hostile zone, that is to say outside of cell B in the case of figure 1.

L'extrémité de cette tuyauterie 12 de collecte des déchets opposée à l'ensemble de bouchardage télécommandé 10 est raccordée sur un aspirateur 14 qui refoule l'air à l'extérieur par une gaine de rejet 16. Dans l'exemple de réalisation illustré sur les figures, l'aspirateur 14 est un éjecteur pneumatique qui fonctionne par effet Venturi lorsqu'une électrovanne 18 placée dans une canalisation 20 d'arrivée d'air comprimé est ouverte.The end of this waste collection pipe 12 opposite the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 is connected to a vacuum cleaner 14 which discharges the air outside by a discharge sheath 16. In the embodiment illustrated on In the figures, the vacuum cleaner 14 is a pneumatic ejector which operates by the Venturi effect when a solenoid valve 18 placed in a compressed air inlet pipe 20 is open.

A l'extérieur de la cellule B, la tuyauterie 12 de collecte des déchets traverse successivement un premier séparateur cyclone 22, un deuxième séparateur cyclone 24, un filtre électrostatique 26 et deux filtres absolus 28 et 30, de qualité nucléaire, avant de parvenir à l'aspirateur 14. Ces différents appareils permettent d'extraire successivement de l'air aspiré par la tuyauterie 12 des déchets (gravats et poussières) dont la taille va en décroissant, de telle sorte que l'air rejeté par la gaine 16 soit suffisamment propre pour être évacué directement dans l'atmosphère.Outside cell B, the waste collection piping 12 successively passes through a first cyclone separator 22, a second cyclone separator 24, an electrostatic filter 26 and two absolute filters 28 and 30, of nuclear quality, before reaching the vacuum cleaner 14. These various devices make it possible to successively extract from the air sucked by the piping 12 waste (rubble and dust) whose size is decreasing, so that the air rejected by the sheath 16 is sufficient clean to be discharged directly into the atmosphere.

La structure de l'ensemble de bouchardage télécommandé 10 va à présent être décrite plus en détail en se référant à la figure 2.The structure of the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

Cet ensemble de bouchardage 10 comprend essentiellement un véhicule télécommandé 32 et une bouchardeuse 34 supportée par ce véhicule. Il est à noter que, dans certains cas particuliers, le véhicule télécommandé peut porter simultanément plusieurs bouchardeuses.This bush hammering assembly 10 essentially comprises a remote-controlled vehicle 32 and a bush hammer 34 supported by this vehicle. It should be noted that, in certain particular cases, the remote-controlled vehicle can carry several bush hammers simultaneously.

Le véhicule télécommandé 32 peut être d'un type quelconque, adapté à la nature du terrain dans la zone dans laquelle une intervention est nécessaire. Il peut notamment s'agir d'un véhicule à chenilles comme l'illustre la figure, ou encore d'un véhicule à roues ou à pattes.The remote-controlled vehicle 32 can be of any type, adapted to the nature of the terrain in the area in which intervention is necessary. It can in particular be a tracked vehicle as illustrated in the figure, or a wheeled or legged vehicle.

Le véhicule 32 peut être totalement radiocommandé, sans qu'aucune liaison mécanique par câble ou tuyau ne le relie à des moyens de commande à distance (non représentés) situés en dehors de la zone hostile et à l'aide desquels un opérateur commande en toute sécurité les déplacements du véhicule, l'application de la bouchardeuse 34 sur la surface A à assainir et l'actionnement de cette bouchardeuse. Dans le mode de réalisation illustré sur la figure 2, la transmission au véhicule 32 des signaux de commande qui assurent les déplacements de ce dernier et l'application de la bouchardeuse sur la surface à traiter, est réalisée au moyen d'un ensemble 36 de câbles et de tuyaux qui chemine sur une potence 38 articulée à l'arrière du véhicule télécommandé 32. La potence 38 est orientée horizontalement et pivote autour d'un axe vertical, lorsque la surface A est horizontale. Lorsque le véhicule se déplace vers l'arrière, cette potence 38 peut être orientée vers la droite ou vers la gauche du véhicule afin que l'ensemble 36 de câbles et de tuyaux soit écarté de la zone de circulation du véhicule.The vehicle 32 can be totally radio-controlled, without any mechanical connection by cable or pipe does not connect it to remote control means (not shown) located outside the hostile zone and using which an operator safely controls the movements of the vehicle, the application of the bush hammer 34 on the surface A to sanitize and actuate this bushhammer. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the transmission to the vehicle 32 of the control signals which ensure the movements of the latter and the application of the bush hammer on the surface to be treated, is carried out by means of an assembly 36 of cables and pipes which runs on a bracket 38 articulated at the rear of the remote-controlled vehicle 32. The bracket 38 is oriented horizontally and pivots about a vertical axis, when the surface A is horizontal. When the vehicle is moving rearward, this bracket 38 can be oriented to the right or to the left of the vehicle so that the assembly 36 of cables and pipes is moved away from the circulation area of the vehicle.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation illustré sur la figure 2, le véhicule télécommandé 32 comporte un plateau supérieur de supportage 40 sur lequel sont articulées respectivement la potence 38 à l'arrière du véhicule et une platine 42 supportant la bouchardeuse 34 à l'avant du véhicule. Plus précisément, la platine 42 est articulée sur le plateau support 40 par un axe 44 orienté transversalement par rapport au véhicule 32 et selon une direction horizontale lorsque ce véhicule repose sur une surface A horizontale.In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the remote-controlled vehicle 32 comprises an upper support plate 40 on which the bracket 38 at the rear of the vehicle are hinged respectively and a plate 42 supporting the bush hammer 34 at the front of the vehicle. More specifically, the plate 42 is articulated on the support plate 40 by an axis 44 oriented transversely relative to the vehicle 32 and in a horizontal direction when this vehicle rests on a horizontal surface A.

Un ou plusieurs vérins 46 tels que des vérins pneumatiques ou électriques sont articulés par leurs extrémités respectivement sur une chappe 40a solidaire de la face supérieure du plateau support 40 et sur une chappe 42a solidaire de la face supérieure de la platine 42. Les axes d'articulation correspondants sont désignés par les références 48 et 50 sur la figure 2.One or more jacks 46 such as pneumatic or electric jacks are articulated by their ends respectively on a clevis 40a secured to the upper face of the support plate 40 and on a chappe 42a secured to the upper face of the plate 42. The axes of corresponding joint are designated by the references 48 and 50 in FIG. 2.

Dans les conditions normales de fonctionnement, illustrées sur la figure 2, les vérins 46 sont en position allongée et la platine 42 se trouve alors pratiquement dans le prolongement du plateau support 40. Au contraire, lorsqu'un déplacement du véhicule 32 est envisagé, les vérins 46 sont actionnés dans le sens de la réduction de leur longueur, afin de dégager la bouchardeuse 34 du sol. Bien entendu, cette configuration, qui correspond à l'assainissement du sol de la zone considérée, peut être modifiée à volonté lorsque les surfaces à traiter sont orientées différemment, par exemple selon une direction verticale ou tournée vers le bas.Under normal operating conditions, illustrated in FIG. 2, the jacks 46 are in the extended position and the plate 42 is then practically in the extension of the support plate 40. On the contrary, when a movement of the vehicle 32 is envisaged, the cylinders 46 are actuated in the direction of reduction of their length, in order to free the bush hammer 34 from the ground. Of course, this configuration, which corresponds to the remediation of the soil in the area in question, can be modified at will when the surfaces to be treated are oriented differently, for example in a vertical direction or turned downwards.

Comme l'illustre la figure 2, la bouchardeuse 34 est montée sur la face inférieure de la platine 42 par des amortisseurs 52 permettant d'atténuer la transmission au véhicule 32 des vibrations produites par la bouchardeuse 34.As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bush hammer 34 is mounted on the underside of the plate 42 by dampers 52 making it possible to attenuate the transmission to the vehicle 32 of the vibrations produced by the bush hammer 34.

La bouchardeuse 34 comporte un carter 54 délimitant intérieurement, de part et d'autre d'une cloison 56 orientée horizontalement lorsque la bouchardeuse est plaquée contre une surface horizontale A, une zone supérieure de commande 57 et un espace inférieur clos 58. Dans la zone supérieure de commande sont placés un ou plusieurs moteurs 60, de préférence à commande pneumatique, servant à déplacer selon un mouvement linéaire de va-et-vient orienté perpendiculairement à la cloison 56, un ou plusieurs taillants 62 placés dans la chambre 58. La face de chacun des taillants 62 opposée à la cloison 56 comporte des dents acérées qui permettent de dégrader la surface A sur laquelle est appliquée la bouchardeuse 34, lorsque les taillants 62 viennent frapper cette surface sous l'effet de leurs mouvements de va-et-vient illustrés par les flèches F sur la figure 2.The bush hammer 34 comprises a casing 54 internally delimiting, on either side of a partition 56 oriented horizontally when the bush hammer is pressed against a horizontal surface A, an upper control zone 57 and a closed lower space 58. In the zone one or more motors 60, preferably pneumatically controlled, used to move, in a linear reciprocating movement oriented perpendicular to the partition 56, one or more cutting edges 62 placed in the chamber 58. The face of each of the cutters 62 opposite the partition 56 has sharp teeth which make it possible to degrade the surface A on which the bush hammer 34 is applied, when the cutters 62 strike this surface under the effect of their back-and-forth movements illustrated by the arrows F in Figure 2.

L'actionnement des moteurs 60 est commandé par une tuyauterie 64 d'arrivée d'air comprimé contrôlée par une électrovanne 66. Comme l'ensemble 36 de câbles et de tuyaux, la tuyauterie 64 est reliée à des moyens de commande (non représentés) situés en dehors de la cellule. L'air sortant des moteurs 60 dans la zone supérieure de commande 57 est expulsé directement dans la cellule par un tuyau de rejet 68 raccordé sur le carter 54. La section de ce tuyau 68 est au moins double de celle de la tuyauterie 64 d'arrivée d'air comprimé.The actuation of the motors 60 is controlled by a compressed air inlet pipe 64 controlled by a solenoid valve 66. Like the assembly 36 of cables and pipes, the pipe 64 is connected to control means (not shown) located outside the cell. The air leaving the motors 60 in the upper control zone 57 is expelled directly into the cell by a rejection pipe 68 connected to the casing 54. The section of this pipe 68 is at least twice that of the piping 64 of compressed air supply.

En dessous de la cloison 56, le carter 54 se prolonge autour des taillants 62 jusqu'à un bord d'extrémité annulaire portant un balai ou une bavette 70 apte à être appliqué(e) de façon étanche sur la surface A à traiter, sous l'effet de la dépression créée dans la chambre 58 par l'aspirateur 14. Dans ces conditions, les courses des moteurs 60 commandant le mouvement linéaire de va-et-vient des taillants 62 sont telles que ces derniers sont espacés de la surface A lorsqu'ils occupent leurs positions rétractées. Au contraire, la face inférieure de chacun des taillants 62 peut venir heurter la surface A lorsque ces taillants sont poussés vers cette surface par les moteurs 60.Below the partition 56, the casing 54 extends around the cutting edges 62 up to an annular end edge carrying a brush or a flap 70 capable of being applied in a sealed manner to the surface A to be treated, under the effect of the depression created in the chamber 58 by the vacuum cleaner 14. Under these conditions, the strokes of the motors 60 controlling the linear reciprocating movement of the cutting edges 62 are such that the latter are spaced from the surface A when they occupy their retracted positions. On the contrary, the underside of each of the cutters 62 can strike the surface A when these cutters are pushed towards this surface by the motors 60.

Lors du fonctionnement de la bouchardeuse 34, le confinement dynamique de la chambre 58 est assuré par la dépression créée dans la tuyauterie 12 de collecte des déchets par l'aspirateur 49. De cette manière, la distance entre la cloison 56 et la surface A à traiter est sensiblement constante lorsque la bouchardeuse est en position de travail.During operation of the bushhammer 34, the dynamic confinement of the chamber 58 is ensured by the vacuum created in the piping 12 for collecting waste by the vacuum cleaner 49. In this way, the distance between the partition 56 and the surface A to treatment is substantially constant when the bush hammer is in the working position.

Afin de permettre la collecte des déchets produits par l'action des taillants 62 sur la surface A, la tuyauterie 12 est branchée sur une tubulure 72 qui traverse la face arrière du carter 54 de la bouchardeuse 34 et débouche dans la chambre 58. Un déflecteur 74 est placé dans cette chambre, en face de l'extrémité de la tubulure 72, de telle sorte que cette dernière débouche à proximité immédiate de la surface A et sur toute la largeur de la bouchardeuse par un passage de largeur réduite. La perte de charge ainsi créée permet d'aspirer, à l'arrière de la bouchardeuse et sur toute sa largeur, des particules et déchets plus gros que des poussières produits par la frappe des taillants 62 sur la surface.In order to allow the collection of the waste produced by the action of the cutters 62 on the surface A, the piping 12 is connected to a tube 72 which passes through the rear face of the casing 54 of the bushhammer 34 and opens into the chamber 58. A deflector 74 is placed in this room, opposite the end of the tubing 72, so that the latter opens in the immediate vicinity of the surface A and over the entire width of the bush hammer by a passage of reduced width. The pressure drop thus created makes it possible to suck, at the rear of the bushhammer and over its entire width, particles and waste larger than the dust produced by striking the cutting edges 62 on the surface.

En se référant à nouveau à la figure 1, on voit que les deux séparateurs cyclones 22 et 24 qui sont disposés successivement dans la tuyauterie 12 de collecte des déchets à l'extérieur de la cellule B sont placés au-dessus de deux compartiments étanches 76, 78 délimités dans une cuve de réception et de traitement étanche 80 par une cloison verticale 82. Plus précisément, les séparateurs cyclones 22 et 24 sont raccordés de façon étanche par des raccords rapides 84 et 86 sur des orifices d'entrée formés dans la paroi supérieure de la cuve 80, de part et d'autre de la cloison 82, à la verticale des compartiments 76 et 78 respectivement. Pour tenir compte de la différence de taille des particules qui peuvent être reçues respectivement dans les compartiments 76 et 78, le volume du compartiment 76 est environ 15 à 20 fois plus grand que celui du compartiment 78. La cuve 80 est elle-même placée dans un conteneur de béton 88 dépourvu de couvercle, qui assure la protection biologique.Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the two cyclone separators 22 and 24 which are successively arranged in the waste collection pipe 12 outside cell B are placed above two watertight compartments 76 , 78 delimited in a sealed receiving and treatment tank 80 by a vertical partition 82. More specifically, the cyclone separators 22 and 24 are tightly connected by quick couplings 84 and 86 to inlet orifices formed in the wall upper part of the tank 80, on either side of the partition 82, vertically of the compartments 76 and 78 respectively. To take into account the difference in particle size which can be received in compartments 76 and 78 respectively, the volume of compartment 76 is approximately 15 to 20 times greater than that of compartment 78. The tank 80 is itself placed in a concrete container 88 without a cover, which provides biological protection.

Chacun des compartiments 76 et 78 de la cuve 80 reçoit à sa partie supérieure une rampe d'aspersion 90, 92 apte à être raccordée à un circuit approprié (non représenté) permettant d'injecter dans le compartiment correspondant un produit servant à traiter les déchets qui y sont reçus. Selon le cas, le traitement peut être fait en une seule opération, à la fin du remplissage des compartiments 76 et 78, ou au contraire en différentes étapes au fur et à mesure de ce remplissage.Each of the compartments 76 and 78 of the tank 80 receives at its upper part a spraying ramp 90, 92 able to be connected to an appropriate circuit (not shown) making it possible to inject into the corresponding compartment a product used for treating waste who are received there. Depending on the case, the treatment can be done in a single operation, at the end of the filling of the compartments 76 and 78, or on the contrary in different stages as this filling is carried out.

Le fond 94, 96 de chacun des compartiments 76 et 78 est incliné vers un point bas 98, 100 de ce compartiment, au-dessus duquel est placé un filtre 102, 104 avantageusement séparé du reste du compartiment par une cloison (non représentée). Une tuyauterie 106, 108 implantée sur la paroi supérieure de la cuve 80 au-dessus de chacun des filtres 102 et 104 permet, lorsqu'elle est raccordée sur un circuit d'aspiration adéquate, de récupérer le produit de traitement injecté par les rampes d'aspersion 90 et 92, lorsqu'il s'agit d'un liquide, après que celui-ci ait traversé les déchets contenus dans les compartiments 76 et 78, puis les filtres 102 et 104.The bottom 94, 96 of each of the compartments 76 and 78 is inclined towards a low point 98, 100 of this compartment, above which is placed a filter 102, 104 advantageously separated from the rest of the compartment by a partition (not shown). A pipe 106, 108 installed on the upper wall of the tank 80 above each of the filters 102 and 104 allows, when it is connected to an adequate suction circuit, to recover the treatment product injected by the ramps d spraying 90 and 92, in the case of a liquid, after the latter has passed through the waste contained in the compartments 76 and 78, then the filters 102 and 104.

La cuve 80 est avantageusement équipée, au-dessus du compartiment 76, d'un détecteur de niveau 110 à palette rotative 112, implanté sur la paroi supérieure de la cuve 80. Lorsque le détecteur de niveau 110 associé à la cuve 80 détecte le remplissage du compartiment 76 par arrêt de la rotation de sa palette 112, le fonctionnement de l'ensemble 10 de bouchardage télécommandé est stoppé, de même que celui de l'aspirateur 14. Les séparateurs cyclones 22 et 24 sont alors retirés par déconnexion des raccords rapides 84 et 86. Les orifices ainsi dégagés dans la paroi supérieure de la cuve 80 permettent d'introduire dans chacun des compartiments 76 et 78 du béton ou un autre matériau de blocage des gravats qu'ils contiennent. Les rampes d'aspersion 90 et 92 ainsi que les tuyauteries 106 et 108 sont alors démontées et la partie supérieure de la cuve 80 est bétonnée de façon à former un couvercle fermant le conteneur 88 de façon à en assurer la continuité mécanique et biologique.The tank 80 is advantageously equipped, above the compartment 76, with a level detector 110 with a rotary vane 112, located on the upper wall of the tank 80. When the level detector 110 associated with the tank 80 detects the filling compartment 76 by stopping the rotation of its pallet 112, the operation of the remote controlled bush hammering assembly 10 is stopped, as is that of the vacuum cleaner 14. The cyclone separators 22 and 24 are then removed by disconnecting the quick couplings 84 and 86. The orifices thus released in the upper wall of the tank 80 make it possible to introduce into each of the compartments 76 and 78 concrete or another material for blocking the rubble that they contain. The spray bars 90 and 92 as well as the pipes 106 and 108 are then dismantled and the upper part of the tank 80 is concreted so as to form a cover closing the container 88 so as to ensure its mechanical and biological continuity.

Les gravats et poussières qui n'ont pas été récupérés dans les deux compartiments 76 et 78 de la cuve 80 sont amenés au filtre électrostatique 26 par la tuyauterie 12 de collecte des déchets. Le cône d'entrée 114 du filtre électrostatique 26 est équipé de déflecteurs 116 qui assurent une répartition homogène des poussières dans la veine d'air qui traverse les diffuseurs puis les ioniseurs du filtre électrostatique.The rubble and dust which have not been collected in the two compartments 76 and 78 of the tank 80 are brought to the electrostatic filter 26 by the pipework 12 for collecting waste. The inlet cone 114 of the electrostatic filter 26 is equipped with deflectors 116 which ensure a homogeneous distribution of the dust in the air stream which passes through the diffusers and then the ionizers of the electrostatic filter.

Ce dernier est équipé en partie basse d'un fond en forme de trémie 118 dont l'extrémité inférieure est raccordée de façon étanche sur un conteneur 120 par une manchette soudable 122. Un vibreur 124 est monté sur le fond en forme de trémie 118.The latter is equipped at the bottom with a hopper-shaped bottom 118, the lower end of which is tightly connected to a container 120 by a weldable sleeve 122. A vibrator 124 is mounted on the hopper-shaped bottom 118.

Tant que le filtre électrostatique 26 est alimenté électriquement, les poussières piégées à l'intérieur de celui-ci y restent fixées. Au contraire, lorsque l'alimentation électrique du filtre 26 est stoppée, les poussières piégées dans ce dernier chutent par gravité dans le conteneur 120 vers lequel elles sont guidées par le fond en forme de trémie 118. Afin d'améliorer la descente des poussières, le vibreur 124 est alors actionné.As long as the electrostatic filter 26 is electrically supplied, the dust trapped inside it remains fixed there. On the contrary, when the power supply to the filter 26 is stopped, the dust trapped in the latter falls by gravity into the container 120 towards which they are guided by the hopper-shaped bottom 118. In order to improve the descent of the dust, the vibrator 124 is then activated.

Des moyens (non représentés) sont associés au filtre électrostatique 26 afin d'en détecter le colmatage. Lorsque cette détection est effectuée, l'ensemble 10 de bouchardage télécommandé est stoppé, de même que l'aspirateur 14. Après arrêt de l'alimentation électrique du filtre électrostatique 26 et actionnement du vibreur 124, les poussières chutent dans le conteneur 120 de la manière décrite précédemment.Means (not shown) are associated with the electrostatic filter 26 in order to detect clogging. When this detection is carried out, the remote-controlled bush hammering assembly 10 is stopped, as is the vacuum cleaner 14. After stopping the electrical supply of the electrostatic filter 26 and actuation of the vibrator 124, the dust drops in the container 120 of the as previously described.

Un autre moyen (non représenté) détecte le remplissage du conteneur 120. Lorsque cette détection est réalisée, l'ensemble de l'installation est stoppé et le conteneur 120 est retiré et séparé du filtre électrostatique 26 par déploiement et soudage de la manchette 122. La protection biologique du conteneur 120 est alors complétée par l'adjonction d'un couvercle à la partie supérieure de celui-ci.Another means (not shown) detects the filling of the container 120. When this detection is carried out, the entire installation is stopped and the container 120 is removed and separated from the electrostatic filter 26 by deployment and welding of the sleeve 122. The biological protection of the container 120 is then supplemented by the addition of a cover to the upper part thereof.

Les poussières qui restent encore contenues dans l'air sortant du filtre électrostatique 26 sont véhiculées par la tuyauterie 12 jusqu'aux filtres absolus 28 et 30. L'air propre sortant de ces filtres est rejeté vers l'extérieur au travers de la gaine 16 par l'aspirateur 14. Chacun des filtres absolus 28 et 30 est équipé avantageusement d'un manostat 126, 128 permettant d'en détecter le colmatage lorsqu'il est sous tension.The dust which remains still contained in the air leaving the electrostatic filter 26 is conveyed by the piping 12 to the absolute filters 28 and 30. The clean air leaving these filters is discharged outwardly through the sheath 16 by the vacuum cleaner 14. Each of the absolute filters 28 and 30 is advantageously equipped with a pressure switch 126, 128 making it possible to detect clogging when it is energized.

L'ensemble de l'installation qui vient d'être décrit est commandé à distance et ses différents éléments sont asservis entre eux. En particulier, la mise en marche de l'aspirateur 14, commandée par l'ouverture de l'électrovanne 18, ne peut se faire qu'à condition que le filtre électrostatique 26 soit sous tension et non colmaté, que les manostats 126 et 128 soient sous tension mais n'indiquent aucun colmatage et que le détecteur de niveau à palette 110 soit sous tension et que sa palette 112 tourne.The entire installation which has just been described is remotely controlled and its various elements are slaved to each other. In particular, the starting of the vacuum cleaner 14, controlled by the opening of the solenoid valve 18, can only be done on condition that the electrostatic filter 26 is energized and not clogged, that the pressure switches 126 and 128 are energized but do not indicate any clogging and that the vane level detector 110 is energized and that its vane 112 is rotating.

Lorsque l'aspirateur 14 fonctionne, la mise en marche de la bouchardeuse 34 est commandée par l'ouverture de l'électrovanne 66 contrôlant l'arrivée de l'air comprimé dans les moteurs 60 par la tuyauterie 64.When the vacuum cleaner 14 is operating, the start-up of the bush hammer 34 is controlled by the opening of the solenoid valve 66 controlling the arrival of the compressed air in the motors 60 through the piping 64.

Le déclenchement des manostats 126 et 128, du détecteur de colmatage du filtre électrostatique 26 et/ou le blocage de la palette 112 du détecteur de niveau 110 provoquent automatiquement la fermeture de la vanne 66 alimentant en air comprimé les moteurs 60, puis la fermeture de la vanne 18 alimentant en air comprimé l'aspirateur 14.The triggering of the pressure switches 126 and 128, the clogging detector of the electrostatic filter 26 and / or the blocking of the pallet 112 of the level detector 110 automatically cause the valve 66 closing supplying the motors 60 with compressed air, then closing the the valve 18 supplying compressed air to the vacuum cleaner 14.

Le décolmatage du filtre électrostatique 26 ne peut s'effectuer que lorsque l'aspirateur 14 est à l'arrêt et le filtre électrostatique hors tension. A ce moment, le vibreur 124 peut être mis en marche pour favoriser la descente des poussières dans le conteneur 120.The unclogging of the electrostatic filter 26 can only be carried out when the vacuum cleaner 14 is stopped and the electrostatic filter off. At this time, the vibrator 124 can be started to promote the descent of the dust into the container 120.

Le traitement des déchets dans la cuve 80 par l'utilisation des rampes d'aspersion 90 et 92 et des tubulures 106 et 108 peut se faire à tout moment.The treatment of the waste in the tank 80 by the use of the spray bars 90 and 92 and the pipes 106 and 108 can be done at any time.

L'installation d'assainissement à distance qui vient d'être décrite permet, par conséquent, de réaliser l'assainissement, par dégradation, d'une surface située dans un milieu hostile, sans autre intervention humaine que celle nécessitée par la maintenance de l'installation, les déchets et poussières résultant de la dégradation de la surface étant par ailleurs récupérés, traités et conditionnés directement sans nécessiter de manutention complexe et dangereuse.The remote sanitation installation which has just been described therefore makes it possible to carry out the remediation, by degradation, of a surface located in a hostile environment, without any other human intervention than that required by the maintenance of the installation, the waste and dust resulting from the degradation of the surface being moreover recovered, treated and packaged directly without requiring complex and dangerous handling.

Bien entendu, l'invention n'est pas limitée au mode de réalisation qui vient d'être décrit à titre d'exemple, mais en couvre toutes les variantes.Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, but covers all its variants.

Ainsi, on a vu que le véhicule télécommandé 32 peut prendre différentes formes et que sa télécommande peut être réalisée de différentes manières sans sortir du cadre de l'invention. De même, le montage de la bouchardeuse sur ce véhicule, qui peut en outre porter simultanément plusieurs bouchardeuses, peut être réalisé de différentes manières, compte tenu notamment de l'orientation de la surface à traiter.Thus, we have seen that the remote-controlled vehicle 32 can take different forms and that its remote control can be produced in different ways without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, the mounting of the bush hammer on this vehicle, which can also carry several bush hammers simultaneously, can be achieved in different ways, taking into account in particular the orientation of the surface to be treated.

Par ailleurs, la partie de l'installation permettant de récupérer et de traiter les déchets peut subir différentes variantes. Ainsi, les deux compartiments 76 et 78 peuvent être remplacés par deux cuves séparées. A l'inverse, le conteneur 120 peut être remplacé par un troisième compartiment intégré à la cuve 80.In addition, the part of the installation making it possible to recover and treat the waste can undergo different variants. Thus, the two compartments 76 and 78 can be replaced by two separate tanks. Conversely, the container 120 can be replaced by a third compartment integrated into the tank 80.

Claims (11)

Installation d'assainissement à distance, par dégradation, d'une surface située en milieu hostile, avec récupération et traitement des déchets produits par la dégradation, caractérisée par le fait qu'elle comprend : - un véhicule télécommandé (32) portant au moins une bouchardeuse (34) comportant au moins un taillant (62) apte à être animé d'un mouvement de va-et-vient par des moyens d'actionnement (60), pour venir frapper ladite surface, à l'intérieur d'un espace clos (58) délimité en périphérie par un carter (54) de la bouchardeuse ; - une tuyauterie (12) de collecte des déchets produits par les taillants à l'intérieur dudit espace clos, raccordée sur le carter et dont l'extrémité opposée est raccordée sur des moyens d'aspiration (14) ; - au moins un séparateur cyclone (22, 24) et des moyens de filtrage (26, 28, 30) placés successivement dans cet ordre sur la tuyauterie de collecte ; - au moins une cuve étanche (80) de réception et de traitement des déchets recueillis par le séparateur cyclone, raccordée de façon déconnectable au-dessous de ce dernier, et équipée intérieurement de moyens d'injection (90, 92) de produits de traitement, et de moyens de récupération (106, 108) de ces produits au travers de filtres (102, 104). Remote sanitation installation, by degradation, of a surface located in a hostile environment, with recovery and treatment of waste produced by degradation, characterized by the fact that it includes: - a remote-controlled vehicle (32) carrying at least one bush hammer (34) comprising at least one cutter (62) capable of being driven back and forth by actuation means (60), to strike said surface, inside an enclosed space (58) delimited on the periphery by a casing (54) of the bush hammer; - a pipe (12) for collecting the waste produced by the cutters inside said closed space, connected to the casing and the opposite end of which is connected to suction means (14); - at least one cyclone separator (22, 24) and filtering means (26, 28, 30) placed successively in this order on the collection piping; - at least one sealed tank (80) for receiving and processing the waste collected by the cyclone separator, connected in a disconnectable manner below the latter, and fitted internally with means of injection (90, 92) of treatment products , and recovery means (106, 108) of these products through filters (102, 104). Installation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par le fait qu'elle comprend une seule cuve étanche (80) à l'intérieur de laquelle sont formés un premier compartiment (76) de relativement grand volume raccordé au-dessous d'un premier séparateur cyclone (22) et un deuxième compartiment (78) de relativement petit volume raccordé au-dessous d'un deuxième séparateur cyclone (24) disposé en aval du premier séparateur cyclone sur la tuyauterie de collecte, le premier et le deuxième compartiments étant équipés intérieurement de moyens d'injection (90, 92) de produits de traitement et de moyens de récupération (106, 108) de ces produits au travers de filtres (102, 104).Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a single sealed tank (80) inside which are formed a first compartment (76) of relatively large volume connected below a first cyclone separator ( 22) and a second compartment (78) of relatively small volume connected below a second cyclone separator (24) disposed downstream of the first cyclone separator on the collection piping, the first and second compartments being internally equipped with means for injecting (90, 92) treatment products and means (106, 108) for recovering these products through filters (102, 104 ). Installation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée par le fait qu'un détecteur de niveau à palette (110) est placé dans le premier compartiment (76).Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that a paddle level detector (110) is placed in the first compartment (76). Installation selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de filtrage comprennent, en aval du séparateur cyclone (22, 24) sur la tuyauterie de collecte, un filtre électrostatique (26) comportant un fond en forme de trémie (118) apte à être raccordé de façon étanche sur un conteneur (120) qui récupère les poussières, après arrêt électrique du filtre électrostatique.Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filtering means comprise, downstream of the cyclone separator (22, 24) on the collection piping, an electrostatic filter (26) comprising a hopper-shaped bottom (118) capable of being tightly connected to a container (120) which collects the dust, after electrical shutdown of the electrostatic filter. Installation selon la revendication 4, caractérisée par le fait que le filtre électrostatique comprend un cône d'entrée (114) dans lequel sont placés des déflecteurs (116) répartissant le flux d'air de façon homogène à l'intérieur du filtre électrostatique.Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the electrostatic filter comprises an inlet cone (114) in which are placed deflectors (116) distributing the air flow uniformly inside the electrostatic filter. Installation selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 et 5, caractérisée par le fait qu'un vibreur (124) est monté sur le fond en forme de trémie du filtre électrostatique.Installation according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that a vibrator (124) is mounted on the hopper-shaped bottom of the electrostatic filter. Installation selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 6, caractérisée par le fait que les moyens de filtrage comprennent, en aval du filtre électrostatique (26), au moins un organe de filtration absolue (28, 30).Installation according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the filtering means comprise, downstream of the electrostatic filter (26), at least one absolute filtration member (28, 30). Installation selon la revendication 7, caractérisée par le fait que le filtre électrostatique et l'organe de filtration absolue sont équipés de détecteurs de colmatage (126, 128).Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the electrostatic filter and the absolute filtration member are equipped with clogging detectors (126, 128). Installation selon la revendication 8, caractérisée par le fait qu'un signal de colmatage émis par l'un quelconque des détecteurs de colmatage commande successivement l'arrêt automatique des moyens d'actionnement (60) du taillant de la bouchardeuse et l'arrêt automatique des moyens d'aspiration (14).Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that a clogging signal emitted by any of the clogging detectors successively controls the automatic stopping of the actuating means (60) of the cutting edge of the bush hammer and the automatic stopping of the suction means (14). Installation selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que les moyens d'actionnement du taillant de la bouchardeuse sont des moyens pneumatiques, alimentés par une tuyauterie d'arrivée d'air comprimé (64) et rejettent cet air comprimé à l'extérieur de la bouchardeuse par un tuyau de rejet (68) de section au moins double de celle de la tuyauterie d'arrivée d'air comprimé.Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for actuating the cutting edge of the bush hammer are pneumatic means, supplied by a compressed air supply pipe (64) and reject this compressed air at the outside of the bush hammer by a rejection pipe (68) of section at least double that of the compressed air inlet pipe. Installation selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée par le fait que la bouchardeuse (34) est montée sur le véhicule (32) par l'intermédiaire d'amortisseurs (52).Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bush hammer (34) is mounted on the vehicle (32) by means of shock absorbers (52).
EP91401240A 1990-05-15 1991-05-14 Device for remote-sanitising of a surface in a hostile environment by degradation with recuperation and treatment of the wastes Expired - Lifetime EP0457669B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9006040 1990-05-15
FR909006040A FR2662296B1 (en) 1990-05-15 1990-05-15 REMOTE SANITATION INSTALLATION, BY DEGRADATION, OF A SURFACE LOCATED IN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT, WITH RECOVERY AND TREATMENT OF WASTE.

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EP0457669A1 true EP0457669A1 (en) 1991-11-21
EP0457669B1 EP0457669B1 (en) 1995-03-08

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US (1) US5158583A (en)
EP (1) EP0457669B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3009753B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100233333B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69107889D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2662296B1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA913628B (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0457669B1 (en) 1995-03-08
JPH05113499A (en) 1993-05-07
DE69107889D1 (en) 1995-04-13
FR2662296B1 (en) 1994-06-17
US5158583A (en) 1992-10-27
KR910020748A (en) 1991-12-20
ZA913628B (en) 1992-02-26
FR2662296A1 (en) 1991-11-22
KR100233333B1 (en) 1999-12-01
JP3009753B2 (en) 2000-02-14

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