EP0505269B1 - Method and installation for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure to a second enclosure without contaminating the latter - Google Patents

Method and installation for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure to a second enclosure without contaminating the latter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0505269B1
EP0505269B1 EP92400718A EP92400718A EP0505269B1 EP 0505269 B1 EP0505269 B1 EP 0505269B1 EP 92400718 A EP92400718 A EP 92400718A EP 92400718 A EP92400718 A EP 92400718A EP 0505269 B1 EP0505269 B1 EP 0505269B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
door
flange
enclosure
adaptor
container
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92400718A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0505269A1 (en
Inventor
Charles Glachet
Liliane Ponchet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Getinge Life Science France SAS
Original Assignee
La Calhene SA
SNE la Calhene SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by La Calhene SA, SNE la Calhene SA filed Critical La Calhene SA
Publication of EP0505269A1 publication Critical patent/EP0505269A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0505269B1 publication Critical patent/EP0505269B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G21F5/00—Transportable or portable shielded containers
    • 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
    • G21F5/00—Transportable or portable shielded containers
    • G21F5/06—Details of, or accessories to, the containers
    • G21F5/12—Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements
    • 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
    • G21F7/005—Shielded passages through walls; Locks; Transferring devices between rooms

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and an installation designed for transferring products such as waste from a contaminated enclosure into a second relatively clean enclosure, without this transfer having the consequence of contaminating the second enclosure.
  • the invention applies in particular to the nuclear industry but can also be used in the chemical industry.
  • a transport container which is docked on the enclosure by means of a double door transfer device.
  • This well-known device makes it possible to successively dock the container on the enclosure, put the container in communication with the enclosure by opening a double door, in order to ensure the transfer of the products, the closing of this communication by replacing the double door, then separating the transport container, without at any time the surfaces called upon to be in contact with the external atmosphere are contaminated.
  • Document EP-A-0 187 558 illustrates a double door device for the sealed connection of two speakers.
  • Document EP-A-0 187 557 illustrates a transfer device with a sealed double barrier between a container and a confinement enclosure comprising two transfer systems with double doors.
  • the subject of the invention is precisely a method and an installation, the original design of which makes it possible to transfer products from a contaminated enclosure to a second enclosure which is relatively clean compared to this contaminated enclosure, without contaminating this second enclosure.
  • This process allows, by using a sealed triple door transfer system, to introduce the products to be transferred into a transfer pot whose interior is contaminated, to transport this transfer pot to the second enclosure at l inside a transport container which is never placed in communication with the first enclosure, then introduce the transfer pot containing the products into the second enclosure.
  • the tightness of the two enclosures with respect to the external atmosphere is preserved, as well as the tightness of the transport container with respect to the external atmosphere, and above all, the contaminated atmosphere present in the first enclosure and in the transfer pot is never in contact with the atmosphere present inside the transport container.
  • the reference 10 designates a part of the wall of a highly contaminated enclosure 12, in which there are products such as waste 14, which it is desired to transfer to a second relatively clean enclosure 16, part of the wall of which is illustrated at 18 in FIGS. 1E and 1F.
  • the wall 10 is in reality a thick wall comprising all the protections ⁇ , ⁇ and ⁇ imposed by the strong contamination present in cell 12, while wall 18 is a wall of reduced thickness essentially providing ⁇ protection.
  • the wall 10 of the contaminated enclosure 12 comprises at least one access system formed by a flange A, in which an annular adapter B, normally closed in a sealed manner, is normally received sealed by a door C.
  • the openings formed in the flange A and in the adapter B are coaxial.
  • the complementary access system of a transport container can be docked 20 on the access system to the contaminated enclosure 12 constituted by the flange A, the adapter B and the door C.
  • This complementary access system also comprises a flange D, in which an annular adapter E is received in leaktight manner, normally sealed by a door F.
  • the openings formed in the flange D and in the adapter E are coaxial and their average diameters are smaller than those of the openings formed in the flange A and in the adapter B.
  • docking of the access system to the transport container 20 on the access system to the contaminated enclosure 12 has the effect of connecting the flanges A and D and the adapters B and E, respectively, while releasing the adapter E from the flange D and the door F from the adapter E.
  • an empty transfer pot 22 which also includes an access system formed by a flange G in which a door H is normally received in sealed manner.
  • the average diameter of the opening formed in the flange G is less than that of the opening formed in the adapter E.
  • the door H is normally locked on the flange G of the transfer container 22 and docking means provided between the doors F and H are released.
  • the three doors C, H and B which are then linked to each other to form a triple door, are extracted inside the contaminated enclosure 12 by actuation of the connecting means which normally hold the door C tightly in the adapter B. Under these conditions, the contaminated enclosure 12 communicates with the interior of the transfer pot 22, so that the products 14 can be transferred to the latter.
  • the space formed in the container 20 around the transfer pot 22 remains however sealed in a sealed manner from the interior of the enclosure 12.
  • the triple door formed by the doors C, F and H connected together is then replaced.
  • the operating system carried by door C is then actuated again, from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, so as to separate the three doors C, F and H from one another and to lock door H again transfer pot 22 on its flange G.
  • the flange D of the transport container 20 of the flange A of the enclosure 12 is then disconnected and the adapter E of the adapter B. During this same movement, the adapter E is on the contrary locked on the flange D .
  • the container 20 can then be separated from the contaminated enclosure 12, which results in the reestablishment of the connection between the door F of the container and its adapter E.
  • the container 20 is then transported to the second enclosure 16 into which must be introduced the transfer pot 22 containing the products 14.
  • the second enclosure 16 is also equipped with at least one access system comprising a flange A ′, which has a circular opening of the same diameter as the opening formed in the flange A, and a door B′C ′ which normally closes this circular opening in a sealed manner.
  • the door B′C ′ can be made in one piece, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1E and 1F, or in two pieces in the form of an adapter and a door which are then identical to the adapter B and to the door C equipping the access system to the contaminated enclosure 12.
  • the transport container 20 is docked with the access system to the enclosure 16. This has the effect of connecting the flange D to the flange A ′ and of connecting the adapter E to the door B′C ′. This movement also has the effect of disconnecting the adapter E from the flange D.
  • the assembly formed by the door B′C ′ and by the door F and the adapter E can be extracted inside the enclosure 16 by connecting means which normally maintain the door B′C ′ in sealed support inside the flange A ′.
  • the transfer pot 22, closed by its door H can be extracted from the transport container 20 and transferred into the enclosure 16 without the contaminated atmosphere contained in the enclosure 12 being introduced into this pregnant 16.
  • an empty transfer container in the container 20 can be made from another enclosure specially provided for this purpose.
  • the container 20 is then disconnected from the enclosure 16 and can be used for a new transport of products between the enclosure 12 and the enclosure 16.
  • the flange A of the contaminated enclosure 12 internally delimits a circular opening 24, of frustoconical shape, the diameter of which increases towards the interior of the enclosure.
  • the adapter B carries an annular seal 26, of triangular cross section, one of the faces of which is normally in sealed abutment against the frustoconical surface of the opening 24 and the other face of which is oriented radially with respect to this opening and turned towards the outside of the enclosure 12.
  • This other face is designed to come into sealing abutment against the face of the adapter E turned towards the outside of the container 20, in the immediate vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of this adapter.
  • the adapter B also delimits a circular opening 28, of frustoconical shape, the diameter of which increases towards the inside of the contaminated enclosure 12.
  • a circular opening 28 of frustoconical shape, the diameter of which increases towards the inside of the contaminated enclosure 12.
  • Another face of the seal 30, oriented radially and turned towards the outside of the enclosure 12 comes into sealed contact against the surface of the door F turned towards the outside of the container 20, in the immediate vicinity of the peripheral edge from this door, when the container is docked on the enclosure.
  • the frustoconical shapes of the surfaces 24 and 28 make it possible to dismantle the adapter B and the door C towards the interior of the enclosure 12, while preventing reverse movement.
  • these connecting means comprise fingers 32 (only one of which is shown), mounted on the face of the adapter B facing towards the inside of the enclosure 12, and radially oriented. The end of each finger 32 successively passes through a slot 34, formed parallel to the axis of the opening 24 in a part 36 fixed on the inner face of the flange A, and a slot 38, in the form of a helix, formed in a rotary crown 40 also mounted on the flange A.
  • a rotation of the crown 40 controlled from inside the contaminated enclosure 12 has the effect of displacing the fingers 32 in the slots 34, as a result of the cooperation of these fingers 32 with the helical slots 38. This results in a tearing of the adapter B or, on the contrary, by sealingly pressing the latter against the opening 24, according to the direction of rotation of the crown 40.
  • Comparable connecting means are provided between the door C and the adapter B, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 3. These means, similar to those which have just been described, include fingers 42, fixed on the door C, which penetrate into slots 44 formed parallel to the axis of the opening 28 in a part 46 fixed on the adapter B and in helical slots (not shown) formed in a crown rotary 48, also supported by adapter B.
  • the flange A and the adapter B of the contaminated enclosure 12 comprise docking means 50 and 52 respectively, of the bayonet type , on their faces facing the outside of the enclosure.
  • the flange D comprises, on its face turned towards the outside of the container 20, bayonet docking means 54, designed to cooperate with the bayonet docking means 50 of the flange A, to form a connection system to bayonet.
  • the adapter E comprises, on its face facing the outside of the container 20, bayonet docking means 58, designed to cooperate with the bayonet docking means 52 of the adapter B, for form another bayonet connection system.
  • the door C is crossed in leaktight fashion along its axis by a rotary shaft section 60 capable of being driven in rotation, from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, by operating means such as a flywheel. or a lever (not shown) engaged on an operating square 61 (FIG. 5).
  • the rotation of this section of shaft 60 commands the use of a locking ball connection system 64 between the doors C and F.
  • the section shaft 60 has at least one groove in an arc of a circle 62 the bottom of which constitutes a cam surface allowing, depending on the angular position of the shaft section 60, to completely erase the locking balls 64 in a disconnected position doors C and F, or push them outward in a position of connection of these doors.
  • Each of the balls 64 is mounted in a circular hole radially passing through a tubular extension of the door C, formed around the section 60 outside the enclosure 12. When they occupy the connection position of the doors C and F, the locking balls 64 protrude beyond the outer surface of the above-mentioned tubular extension.
  • doors C and F When the doors C and F are placed side by side, the locking balls 64 are then behind a flange 66 formed in a bore 67 passing through the door F along its axis, at the end of this bore turned towards the outside of the transport container 20. Doors C and F are then linked to each other.
  • connection of the adapter E on the flange D of the container 20 is normally provided by a bayonet connection comprising bayonet docking means 68 formed inside the flange D and bayonet docking means 70 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the adapter E.
  • a relative rotation between the flange D and the adapter E therefore has the effect of securing these two parts.
  • This bayonet connection between the flange D and the adapter E is such that these two parts are automatically separated from one another, when the flange D and the adapter E are approached respectively on the flange A and on the adapter B by rotating the transport container 20.
  • the adapter E closes sealingly a circular opening 74 formed in the flange D, this opening 74 being of frustoconical shape and having a diameter which decreases towards the inside of the container 20.
  • the opening 74 is formed on one of the faces of a joint annular seal 72, of triangular section, mounted on the flange D. A radial face of this same seal 72 also comes into sealing abutment against the exterior surface of the flange A immediately surrounding the opening 24, when the flange D is approached on flange A.
  • the shape of the opening 24 in which the adapter B is received and the shape of the opening 74 in which the adapter E is received are such that these two openings form a single frustoconical surface when the flanges A and D are joined.
  • the diameter of this frustoconical surface decreases towards the outside of the enclosure 12, which allows the simultaneous disassembly of the adapters B and E towards the inside of the enclosure, while preventing their displacement in the opposite direction.
  • An annular seal 78 of triangular section, is also mounted on the adapter E, so that it has a frustoconical inner face defining the opening 76 and a radial face turned towards the outside of the container 20 and able to come into watertight support against an external surface of the adapter B located in the immediate vicinity of the opening 28, when the two adapters are docked.
  • the disconnectable link by which the door F is normally secured to the door E comprises several identical mechanisms, mounted in the door F and circumferentially distributed around the axis thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of these mechanisms comprises a pusher 80 mounted to slide in a blind bore 82 formed in the door F parallel to its axis and opening onto the face of this door turned towards the outside of the container.
  • a spring 84 resting on the bottom of the blind bore 82, normally maintains the pusher 80 in a position such that its opposite end protrudes beyond the outside face of the door F. This position is determined by the coming resting on a shoulder formed on the pusher 80 against an abutment surface 86 formed in the bore 82.
  • a sealing bellows 88 the ends of which are mounted respectively on the pusher 80 and on the surface 86, ensures confinement from inside the bore 82 with respect to the outside.
  • the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 is completed by a locking finger 90 slidably housed in a circular hole radially passing through the door F and causing the bore 82 to communicate with the frustoconical peripheral surface of this door.
  • this pusher 80 When the pusher 80 is in its projecting position described above, a large diameter portion of this pusher is located opposite the locking finger 90, so that the latter is pushed radially outward. Its end then protrudes beyond the frustoconical peripheral surface of the door F, in an annular groove 92 formed in the internal peripheral surface of the adapter E, when the door F is inside this adapter.
  • the locking finger 90 is located opposite a part of smaller diameter of the pusher 80, so that this locking finger 90 disappears in the door F and no longer does protrusion on the frustoconical peripheral surface of this door.
  • the door F is thus automatically detached from the adapter E when the container 20 comes into contact with the enclosure 12.
  • the door F of the transport container 20 is also crossed in leaktight fashion along its axis by a section of rotary shaft 94 whose rotation makes it possible to control, according to the direction, the joining or the separation of the doors F and H.
  • This rotation is obtained using the operating means controlling the rotation of the shaft section 60, when the container 20 is approached on the enclosure 12.
  • the rotary shaft sections 60 and 94 then cooperate with one another by rotational connecting means constituted, for example, by a part 96, of polygonal section, of the shaft section 60, which projects outwards from the enclosure 12 and penetrates into a recess 98, of complementary section, formed on the face of the shaft section 94 facing outwards from the container 20.
  • the locking ball system 100 ensuring the joining and detaching of the doors F and H is moreover similar to the system making it possible to join and detach the doors C and F.
  • the locking balls 100 are received from sliding way in circular holes drilled radially in a tubular extension of the door F, projecting towards the inside of the container around the shaft section 94.
  • An arcuate groove 102 formed in line with each of these holes on the outer surface of the shaft section 94 and the bottom of which forms a cam surface allows, depending on the angular position of the shaft section 94, either to erase the balls 100 inside the holes, or to push them towards the 'outside.
  • the balls 100 protrude behind a flange 104 formed in a bore 105 axially passing through the door H, near the face of this door facing outwards from the transfer pot 22.
  • the door F of the transport container 20 supports an annular seal 106, of triangular section, of which an outer peripheral face is in leaktight support on the frustoconical surface formed by the opening 76 when the door F is placed in the adapter E.
  • the seal 106 also has a radial face intended to be in leaktight abutment against the surface of the door H facing outwards from the transfer pot 22, in the immediate vicinity of the periphery of this door, when doors F and H are pressed against each other.
  • the flange G of the transfer pot 22 also delimits a circular opening 108, the frustoconical shape of which extends that of the openings 28 and 76, so that the adjoining doors C, F and H can be removed simultaneously towards the interior of the enclosure 12 while their displacement in the opposite direction is impossible.
  • the circular opening 108 is formed at least in part on the inner peripheral face of a seal annular seal 110, of triangular cross section, mounted on the flange G.
  • This seal 110 also includes a radial surface capable of coming into sealing contact against a surface of the adapter E turned towards the interior of the container 20 and located in the immediate vicinity of the circular opening 76, when the flange G is applied against the adapter E.
  • the door H is also crossed in leaktight fashion along its axis by a section of rotary shaft 112 whose rotation makes it possible to control the connection and disconnection of the door H relative to the flange G
  • This rotation is controlled by the maneuvering means located in the contaminated enclosure 12, through the rotating shaft sections 60 and 94.
  • these means may include an extension 114, of polygonal section, of the shaft section 94, located at the end of this section facing the interior of the container 20.
  • This extension 114 is received in a recess 116, of cross section complementary to that of the extension 114, formed in the end of the shaft section 112 facing outwards from the transfer pot 22, when the doors F and H are joined.
  • the shaft section 112 is integral with a disc 117 terminated by a ring 118 at its periphery.
  • connection between the door H and the flange G is carried out in the same manner as the connections described above between the doors C and F and between the doors F and H. More specifically, this connection comprises a system with blocking balls 120. These 120 balls are received in circular holes formed radially in a tubular part of the door H projecting towards the inside of the transfer pot, in the flange G. Grooves in an arc of a circle 122 formed on the external surface of the ring 118 and whose funds form cam surfaces allow, depending on the angular position of the crown, either to erase the balls 120 inside their holes, or to place them projecting so that they enter a groove 124 formed in the flange G.
  • this system mainly comprises a helical compression spring 126, centered on the axis of the container and located in the immediate vicinity of the cylindrical wall of the latter.
  • This compression spring 126 is supported by one end on the bottom of the container 20 and by its opposite end on a flange formed on a sliding sleeve 128 housed in the annular space surrounding the transfer pot 22 inside the container 20.
  • the sliding sleeve 128 is normally held in abutment against a shoulder 130 formed on the flange G, so that the latter is normally pressed in a sealed manner against the adapter E of the container.
  • the adapter B seals the opening 24 of the flange A and the door C seals the opening 28 of the adapter B in a sealed manner. Furthermore, the locking balls 64 are in their retracted position. In addition, the parts A, B and C are indexed, so that they are immobilized in rotation with respect to each other. Finally, the shaft section 60 then occupies an indexed position in the door C.
  • the bayonet connection 68.70 between the adapter E and the flange D is locked, the door F is locked in the adapter E by the locking fingers 90 and the door H is locked in the flange G by the blocking balls 120.
  • the flange G and the door H of the transfer pot 22 are pressed in a sealed manner respectively against the adapter E and the door F of the container 20 by the spring 126.
  • the blocking balls 100 are then deleted, so that the doors F and H are not locked together.
  • the parts D, G and H are indexed, so that these parts are immobilized in rotation with respect to each other. The same is true for parts E and F.
  • the part 96 of the rotary shaft section 60 enters the recess 98 of the rotary shaft section 94. This penetration is made possible by the rotary indexing means (not shown) of the door F in the adapter E. It should be noted that the shaft sections 60, 94 and 112 remain immobilized in rotation relative to the door C, during the rotation of the container 20. However, the 30 ° rotations of the door F around the section 94 and 60 ° of the door H around the section 112 which result therefrom have no effect on the locking ball connections 100 and 120, which remain respectively unlocked and locked.
  • the container 20 can then be approached on the access system to the second enclosure 16.
  • This access system will not be described in detail, because it essentially has the same characteristics as the access system to the contaminated enclosure. 12, although it may be slightly simpler.
  • the flange A ′ of this access system to the second enclosure 16 is completely identical to the flange A of the contaminated enclosure, both with regard to the dimensional characteristics and with regard to the various systems mounted on this bridle.
  • These systems include a bayonet system 50 ′ identical to the system 50 of the flange A, on the outside face of the flange A ′ and, on the inside face of this flange, a tubular piece 36 ′ having slots 34 ′ parallel to the 'axis of the flange A, and a rotary actuating crown 40 ′, having helical slots (not shown).
  • the simplification of the access system to the second enclosure 16 relates to the door B′C ′, which can be produced in one piece instead of being made up of an adapter B and a door C as in the system d access to the contaminated enclosure 12.
  • This door B′C ′ has the same dimensions as the assembly formed by the door C and the adapter B of the access system to the enclosure 12.
  • this door B ′ C ′ is also equipped with fingers 32 ′ capable of penetrating into the slots 34 ′ and into the helical slots of the crown 40 ′, in order to fix the door B′C ′ on the flange A ′, or from the tear off.
  • the door B′C ′ is also equipped with bayonet connection means 52 ′, identical to the connection means 52 of the adapter B.
  • the door B′C ′ is a conventional door, that is to say we find neither the rotary shaft section 60, nor the locking balls 64.
  • the existing bayonet connection between door B′C ′ and adapter E simultaneously connects door F to door B′C ′, since the latter prevents escape to the outside of door F.
  • the rotation of the container 20 has the effect of securing the flanges D and A ′ and of securing the adapter E, and with it the door F of the door B′C ′.
  • the end of this rotation leads to the adapter E being separated from the flange D of the container 20.
  • the locking ball system 100 is then unlocked and the locking ball system 120 is locked, when the operator acts, from inside the enclosure 16, by remote control means, to turn the crown 40 ′, it tears off the door B′C ′ inside the enclosure 16, at the same time as the adapter E and the door F linked to this door B′C ′. Under these conditions, illustrated in FIG. 4, the transfer pot 22 containing the products 14 can be transferred into the enclosure 16, without any contamination being introduced therein.
  • the double door constituted by the door B′C ′, the adapter E and the door F is then replaced, then the transport container 20 is disconnected from the enclosure 16.
  • a pot empty transfer can be reintroduced into the container 20 either from the enclosure 16, or from another enclosure, in order to allow the transfer of other products inside this container, without contaminating the enclosure 16.
  • the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, but covers all its variants.
  • the docking means allowing the various flanges, adapters and doors to be connected together, as well as the connecting means by which the adapters can be locked in the flanges and the doors locked in the adapters can be different from the means which have been described.
  • the door B′C ′ of the second enclosure 16 can, in certain cases, be replaced by an adapter assembly B′-door C ′ identical to the adapter assembly B-door C.
  • the door C ′ Must be crossed by a rotary shaft section similar to the section 60, making it possible to connect the doors C ′ and F by means of a locking ball system similar to that which includes the balls 64.
  • the rotation exerted on the sections shaft coupled, after docking of the container on the enclosure 16, must then be such that it controls the attachment of the doors C ′ and F, without causing a change in state of the locking ball systems 100 and 120. This can be obtained by giving the grooves in an arc of these last two systems a greater angular length (for example, double) than that of the grooves of the locking ball system provided between the doors C ′ and F.

Description

L'invention concerne un procédé et une installation conçus pour transférer des produits tels que des déchets d'une enceinte contaminée dans une deuxième enceinte relativement propre, sans que ce transfert ait pour conséquence de contaminer la deuxième enceinte.The invention relates to a method and an installation designed for transferring products such as waste from a contaminated enclosure into a second relatively clean enclosure, without this transfer having the consequence of contaminating the second enclosure.

l'invention s'applique en particulier à l'industrie nucléaire mais peut aussi être utilisée dans l'industrie chimique.the invention applies in particular to the nuclear industry but can also be used in the chemical industry.

Dans l'ensemble du texte le mot "produit" doit être pris dans son sens le plus large et peut s'appliquer aussi bien à des produits en vrac sous formes diverses (solide, liquide, poudre, etc.) qu'à des objets de toute nature.Throughout the text the word "product" must be taken in its broadest sense and can apply both to bulk products in various forms (solid, liquid, powder, etc.) and to objects of any kind.

Habituellement, lorsqu'on désire introduire un produit dans une enceinte étanche ou l'en extraire, on a recours à un conteneur de transport que l'on accoste sur l'enceinte au moyen d'un dispositif de transfert à double porte. Ce dispositif bien connu permet d'effectuer successivement l'accostage du conteneur sur l'enceinte, la mise en communication du conteneur avec l'enceinte par ouverture d'une double porte, afin d'assurer le transfert des produits, la fermeture de cette communication par remise en place de la double porte, puis la séparation du conteneur de transport, sans qu'à aucun moment les surfaces appelées à être en contact avec l'atmosphère extérieure ne soit contaminées.Usually, when it is desired to introduce a product into a sealed enclosure or to extract it, a transport container is used which is docked on the enclosure by means of a double door transfer device. This well-known device makes it possible to successively dock the container on the enclosure, put the container in communication with the enclosure by opening a double door, in order to ensure the transfer of the products, the closing of this communication by replacing the double door, then separating the transport container, without at any time the surfaces called upon to be in contact with the external atmosphere are contaminated.

Le document EP-A-0 187 558 illustre un dispositif à double porte pour le raccordement étanche de deux enceintes. Le document EP-A-0 187 557 illustre un dispositif de transfert à double barrière étanche entre un conteneur et une enceinte de confinement comportant deux systèmes de transfert à doubles portes.Document EP-A-0 187 558 illustrates a double door device for the sealed connection of two speakers. Document EP-A-0 187 557 illustrates a transfer device with a sealed double barrier between a container and a confinement enclosure comprising two transfer systems with double doors.

Cependant, lorsqu'une telle installation est utilisée pour transférer un produit entre deux enceintes, l'atmosphère contaminée de la première enceinte pénètre dans le conteneur lorsque celui-ci est mis en communication avec cette enceinte pour recevoir le produit à transférer. Par conséquent, lorsque ce même conteneur est raccordé ultérieurement sur une deuxième enceinte destinée à recevoir le produit, l'ouverture de la double porte nécessaire à l'introduction du produit dans la deuxième enceinte a pour effet d'introduire l'atmosphère contaminée présente dans le conteneur à l'intérieur de cette deuxième enceinte. Il n'est donc pas possible, lorsqu'on utilise une telle installation, de préserver la deuxième enceinte vis-à-vis de la contamination présente dans la première enceinte.However, when such an installation is used to transfer a product between two enclosures, the contaminated atmosphere of the first enclosure enters the container when it is put in communication with this enclosure to receive the product to be transferred. Consequently, when this same container is subsequently connected to a second enclosure intended to receive the product, the opening of the double door necessary for the introduction of the product into the second enclosure has the effect of introducing the contaminated atmosphere present in the container inside this second enclosure. It is therefore not possible, when using such an installation, to preserve the second enclosure from contamination present in the first enclosure.

L'invention a précisément pour objet un procédé et une installation dont la conception originale permet de transférer des produits d'une enceinte contaminée dans une deuxième enceinte relativement propre par rapport à cette enceinte contaminée, sans contaminer cette deuxième enceinte.The subject of the invention is precisely a method and an installation, the original design of which makes it possible to transfer products from a contaminated enclosure to a second enclosure which is relatively clean compared to this contaminated enclosure, without contaminating this second enclosure.

Conformément à l'invention, ce résultat est obtenu au moyen d'un procédé pour transférer des produits d'une enceinte contaminée dans une deuxième enceinte, sans contaminer cette dernière, caractérisé par le fait qu'il consiste à :

  • accoster respectivement sur une bride, un adaptateur et une porte constituant un système d'accès à l'en ceinte contaminée, une bride, un adaptateur et une porte constituant un système d'accès à un conteneur de transport, dans lequel est placé un pot de transfert vide dont une bride et une porte constituant un système d'accès à ce pot de transfert sont respective ment en appui sur l'adaptateur et sur la porte du conteneur de transport ;
  • extraire les trois portes accostées dans l'enceinte contaminée, pour mettre en communication le pot de transfert avec cette dernière ;
  • introduire dans le pot de transfert les produits à transférer ;
  • refermer les trois portes accostées ;
  • déconnecter respectivement la bride, l'adaptateur et la porte du conteneur de transport de la bride, l'adaptateur et la porte de l'enceinte contaminée ;
  • transporter le conteneur de transport dans lequel est placé le pot de transfert contenant les produits à transférer jusqu'à la deuxième enceinte ;
  • accoster respectivement sur une bride et une porte constituant un système d'accès à la deuxième enceinte la bride et l'adaptateur du conteneur de transport ;
  • extraire dans la deuxième enceinte un ensemble formé par la porte de la deuxième enceinte et l'adaptateur et la porte du conteneur de transport, pour mettre en communication la deuxième enceinte avec ce dernier ;
  • introduire le pot de transfert contenant les produits à transférer dans la deuxième enceinte ;
  • remettre en place ledit ensemble ; et
  • déconnecter respectivement la bride et l'adaptateur du conteneur de transport de la bride et de la porte de la deuxième enceinte.
In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained by means of a process for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure into a second enclosure, without contaminating the latter, characterized in that it consists in:
  • docking respectively on a flange, an adapter and a door constituting an access system to the contaminated enclosure, a flange, an adapter and a door constituting an access system to a transport container, in which a pot is placed empty transfer container including a flange and a door constituting an access system to this transfer container are respectively supported on the adapter and on the door of the transport container;
  • extract the three doors approached in the contaminated enclosure, in order to put the transfer pot into communication with the latter;
  • introduce the products to the transfer pot to transfer ;
  • close the three doors approached;
  • disconnect respectively the flange, the adapter and the door of the transport container from the flange, the adapter and the door of the contaminated enclosure;
  • transport the transport container in which is placed the transfer pot containing the products to be transferred to the second enclosure;
  • docking respectively on a flange and a door constituting an access system to the second enclosure, the flange and the adapter of the transport container;
  • extracting in the second enclosure an assembly formed by the door of the second enclosure and the adapter and the door of the transport container, to put the second enclosure in communication with the latter;
  • introduce the transfer jar containing the products to be transferred into the second enclosure;
  • replace said assembly; and
  • disconnect the flange and the adapter from the transport container respectively from the flange and from the second enclosure door.

Ce procédé permet, en ayant recours à un système de transfert étanche à triple porte, d'introduire les produits à transférer dans un pot de transfert dont l'intérieur est contaminé, de transporter ce pot de transfert jusqu'à la deuxième enceinte à l'intérieur d'un conteneur de transport qui n'est jamais mis en communication avec la première enceinte, puis d'introduire le pot de transfert contenant les produits dans la deuxième enceinte. Au cours de ces différentes opérations, l'étanchéité des deux enceintes vis-à-vis de l'atmosphère extérieure est préservée, de même que l'étanchéité du conteneur de transport vis-à-vis de l'atmosphère extérieure, et surtout, l'atmosphère contaminée présente dans la première enceinte et dans le pot de transfert n'est jamais en contact avec l'atmosphère présente à l'intérieur du conteneur de transport.This process allows, by using a sealed triple door transfer system, to introduce the products to be transferred into a transfer pot whose interior is contaminated, to transport this transfer pot to the second enclosure at l inside a transport container which is never placed in communication with the first enclosure, then introduce the transfer pot containing the products into the second enclosure. During these various operations, the tightness of the two enclosures with respect to the external atmosphere is preserved, as well as the tightness of the transport container with respect to the external atmosphere, and above all, the contaminated atmosphere present in the first enclosure and in the transfer pot is never in contact with the atmosphere present inside the transport container.

L'invention a également pour objet une installation pour transférer des produits d'une enceinte contaminée dans une deuxième enceinte, sans contaminer cette dernière, caractérisée par le fait qu'elle comprend :

  • un système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée, comportant une première bride, un premier adaptateur et une pre mière porte, des premiers moyens de liaison déconnectables pour maintenir le premier adaptateur de façon étanche dans une ouverture de la première bride, des deuxièmes moyens de liaison déconnectables pour main tenir la première porte de façon étanche dans une ouverture du premier adaptateur, et des premiers moyens d'accostage prévus sur une face extérieure de la première bride, du premier adaptateur et de la première porte ;
  • un système d'accès à la deuxième enceinte, comportant une deuxième bride et une deuxième porte ; des troisièmes moyens de liaison déconnectables pour maintenir la deuxième porte de façon étanche dans une ouverture de la deuxième bride ; et des deuxièmes moyens d'accostage prévus sur une face extérieure de la deuxième bride et de la deuxième porte ;
  • un conteneur de transport ;
  • un pot de transfert apte à être reçu dans le conteneur de transport ;
  • un système d'accès au conteneur de transport comportant une troisième bride, un deuxième adaptateur et une troisième porte ; des quatrièmes moyens de liaison déconnectables pour maintenir le deuxième adaptateur de façon étanche dans une ouverture de la troisième bride ; des cinquièmes moyens de liaison déconnectables pour maintenir la troisième porte dans une ouverture du deuxième adaptateur ; des troisièmes moyens d'accostage prévus sur une face extérieure de la troisième bride, du deuxième adaptateur et de la troisième porte, aptes à coopérer avec les premiers moyens d'accostage et avec les deuxièmes moyens d'accostage ; et des quatrièmes moyens d'accostage prévus sur une face intérieure de la troisième porte ;
  • un système d'accès au pot de transfert comportant une quatrième bride et une quatrième porte ; des sixièmes moyens de liaison déconnectables pour maintenir la quatrième porte de façon étanche dans une ouverture de la quatrième bride ; des cinquièmes moyens d'accostage prévus sur une face extérieure de la quatrième porte, aptes à coopérer avec les quatrièmes moyens d'accostage ; et
  • des moyens d'application pour maintenir la quatrième bride en appui étanche contre le deuxième adaptateur, lorsque le pot de transfert est placé dans le conteneur de transport.
The subject of the invention is also an installation for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure into a second enclosure, without contaminating the latter, characterized in that it comprises:
  • an access system to the contaminated enclosure, comprising a first flange, a first adapter and a first door, first disconnectable connecting means for holding the first adapter in a sealed manner in an opening of the first flange, second means of disconnectable link for hand to hold the first door tightly in an opening of the first adapter, and of the first docking means provided on an external face of the first flange, of the first adapter and of the first door;
  • an access system to the second enclosure, comprising a second flange and a second door; third disconnectable connecting means for holding the second door in a sealed manner in an opening of the second flange; and second docking means provided on an outer face of the second flange and the second door;
  • a transport container;
  • a transfer pot suitable for being received in the transport container;
  • a transport container access system comprising a third flange, a second adapter and a third door; fourth disconnectable connecting means for holding the second adapter sealingly in an opening of the third flange; fifth disconnectable connection means to hold the third door in an opening of the second adapter; third docking means provided on an outer face of the third flange, the second adapter and the third door, capable of cooperating with the first docking means and with the second docking means; and fourth docking means provided on an inner face of the third door;
  • an access system to the transfer pot comprising a fourth flange and a fourth door; sixth disconnectable connecting means for holding the fourth door in a sealed manner in an opening of the fourth flange; fifth docking means provided on an outer face of the fourth door, capable of cooperating with the fourth docking means; and
  • application means for maintaining the fourth flange in leaktight support against the second adapter, when the transfer pot is placed in the transport container.

On décrira maintenant, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, en se référant aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • les figures 1A à 1F illustrent de façon schématique les principales phases de mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale représentant à plus grande échelle une partie de l'installation de transfert selon l'invention, juste avant l'accostage sur un système d'accès à une enceinte contaminée d'un conteneur de transport dans lequel est logé un pot de transfert destiné à recevoir des produits placés à l'intérieur de cette enceinte contaminée ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en coupe comparable à la figure 2 illustrant l'ouverture de la triple porte préalable à l'introduction des produits dans le pot de transfert, après accostage du conteneur sur le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe comparable aux figures 2 et 3 illustrant l'ouverture d'une double porte de l'installation selon l'invention permettant, après accostage du conteneur de transfert sur un système d'accès à une deuxième enceinte, l'introduction dans cette dernière du pot de transfert contenant les produits ; et
  • la figure 5 est une vue en coupe longitudinale schématique illustrant notamment le mécanisme de commande des moyens d'accostage qui sont prévus entre les trois portes de l'installation et des moyens de liaison déconnectables qui sont prévus entre le bouchon et la bride du pot de transfert.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • FIGS. 1A to 1F schematically illustrate the main phases of implementing the method according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing on a larger scale a part of the transfer installation according to the invention, just before docking on a system of access to a contaminated enclosure of a transport container in which is housed a transfer pot intended to receive products placed inside this contaminated enclosure;
  • Figure 3 is a comparable sectional view in FIG. 2 illustrating the opening of the triple door prior to the introduction of the products into the transfer pot, after docking of the container on the access system to the contaminated enclosure;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view comparable to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the opening of a double door of the installation according to the invention allowing, after docking of the transfer container on an access system to a second enclosure, the introduction into the latter of the transfer pot containing the products; and
  • Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating in particular the control mechanism of the docking means which are provided between the three doors of the installation and disconnectable connecting means which are provided between the plug and the flange of the pot transfer.

Sur les figures 1A à 1D, la référence 10 désigne une partie de la paroi d'une enceinte 12 fortement contaminée, dans laquelle se trouvent des produits tels que des déchets 14, que l'on désire transférer dans une deuxième enceinte relativement propre 16, dont une partie de la paroi est illustrée en 18 sur les figures 1E et 1F. Bien que l'épaisseur des parois 10 et 18 des cellules 12 et 16 soit illustrée de la même manière sur les figures 1A à 1F, la paroi 10 est en réalité une paroi épaisse comprenant toutes les protections α, β et γ imposées par la forte contamination présente dans la cellule 12, alors que la paroi 18 est une paroi de moindre épaisseur assurant essentiellement la protection γ.In FIGS. 1A to 1D, the reference 10 designates a part of the wall of a highly contaminated enclosure 12, in which there are products such as waste 14, which it is desired to transfer to a second relatively clean enclosure 16, part of the wall of which is illustrated at 18 in FIGS. 1E and 1F. Although the thickness of the walls 10 and 18 of the cells 12 and 16 is illustrated in the same way in FIGS. 1A to 1F, the wall 10 is in reality a thick wall comprising all the protections α, β and γ imposed by the strong contamination present in cell 12, while wall 18 is a wall of reduced thickness essentially providing γ protection.

La paroi 10 de l'enceinte contaminée 12 comprend au moins un système d'accès formé d'une bride A, dans laquelle est normalement reçu de façon étanche un adaptateur annulaire B, normalement obturé de façon étanche par une porte C. Les ouvertures formées dans la bride A et dans l'adaptateur B sont coaxiales.The wall 10 of the contaminated enclosure 12 comprises at least one access system formed by a flange A, in which an annular adapter B, normally closed in a sealed manner, is normally received sealed by a door C. The openings formed in the flange A and in the adapter B are coaxial.

Comme l'illustre la figure 1A, sur le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée 12 constitué par la bride A, l'adaptateur B et la porte C, peut être accosté le système d'accès complémentaire d'un conteneur de transport 20. Ce système d'accès complémentaire comporte également une bride D, dans laquelle est reçu de façon étanche un adaptateur annulaire E, normalement obturé de façon étanche par une porte F. Les ouvertures formées dans la bride D et dans l'adaptateur E sont coaxiales et leurs diamètres moyens sont inférieurs à ceux des ouvertures formées dans la bride A et dans l'adaptateur B.As illustrated in FIG. 1A, on the access system to the contaminated enclosure 12 constituted by the flange A, the adapter B and the door C, the complementary access system of a transport container can be docked 20. This complementary access system also comprises a flange D, in which an annular adapter E is received in leaktight manner, normally sealed by a door F. The openings formed in the flange D and in the adapter E are coaxial and their average diameters are smaller than those of the openings formed in the flange A and in the adapter B.

Comme on le verra plus en détail par la suite, l'accostage du système d'accès au conteneur de transport 20 sur le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée 12 a pour effet de raccorder les brides A et D et les adaptateurs B et E, respectivement, tout en libérant l'adaptateur E de la bride D et la porte F de l'adaptateur E.As will be seen in more detail below, docking of the access system to the transport container 20 on the access system to the contaminated enclosure 12 has the effect of connecting the flanges A and D and the adapters B and E, respectively, while releasing the adapter E from the flange D and the door F from the adapter E.

A l'intérieur du conteneur de transport 20 a été placé préalablement un pot de transfert vide 22, qui comporte également un système d'accès formé d'une bride G dans laquelle est normalement reçue de façon étanche une porte H. Le diamètre moyen de l'ouverture formée dans la bride G est inférieur à celui de l'ouverture formée dans l'adaptateur E.Inside the transport container 20 has been placed beforehand an empty transfer pot 22, which also includes an access system formed by a flange G in which a door H is normally received in sealed manner. The average diameter of the opening formed in the flange G is less than that of the opening formed in the adapter E.

Lorsque le conteneur de transport 20 est accosté sur le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée 12, la porte H est normalement verrouillée sur la bride G du pot de transfert 22 et des moyens d'accostage prévus entre les portes F et H sont libérés.When the transport container 20 is docked on the contaminated enclosure access system 12, the door H is normally locked on the flange G of the transfer container 22 and docking means provided between the doors F and H are released.

L'actionnement, depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12, d'un système de manoeuvre porté par la porte C, permet de raccorder les portes C et F, de raccorder les portes F et H, et de libérer la porte H de la bride G.The actuation, from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, of a maneuvering system carried through door C, connects doors C and F, connects doors F and H, and frees door H from the flange G.

Lorsque ces différentes opérations sont terminées, et comme l'illustre la figure 1B, les trois portes C, H et B, qui sont alors liées les unes aux autres pour former une triple porte, sont extraites à l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12 par un actionnement des moyens de liaison qui maintiennent normalement la porte C de façon étanche dans l'adaptateur B. Dans ces conditions, l'enceinte contaminée 12 communique avec l'intérieur du pot de transfert 22, de telle sorte que les produits 14 peuvent être transférés dans ce dernier. L'espace formé dans le conteneur 20 autour du pot de transfert 22 reste cependant isolé de façon étanche de l'intérieur de l'enceinte 12.When these various operations are completed, and as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the three doors C, H and B, which are then linked to each other to form a triple door, are extracted inside the contaminated enclosure 12 by actuation of the connecting means which normally hold the door C tightly in the adapter B. Under these conditions, the contaminated enclosure 12 communicates with the interior of the transfer pot 22, so that the products 14 can be transferred to the latter. The space formed in the container 20 around the transfer pot 22 remains however sealed in a sealed manner from the interior of the enclosure 12.

Comme l'illustre schématiquement la figure 1C, la triple porte constituée par les portes C, F et H reliées entre elles est ensuite remise en place. Le système de manoeuvre porté par la porte C est alors à nouveau actionné, depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12, de façon à désolidariser les trois portes C, F et H des unes des autres et à verrouiller à nouveau la porte H du pot de transfert 22 sur sa bride G.As shown schematically in Figure 1C, the triple door formed by the doors C, F and H connected together is then replaced. The operating system carried by door C is then actuated again, from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, so as to separate the three doors C, F and H from one another and to lock door H again transfer pot 22 on its flange G.

On déconnecte alors la bride D du conteneur de transport 20 de la bride A de l'enceinte 12 et l'adaptateur E de l'adaptateur B. Au cours de ce même mouvement, l'adaptateur E est au contraire verrouillé sur la bride D.The flange D of the transport container 20 of the flange A of the enclosure 12 is then disconnected and the adapter E of the adapter B. During this same movement, the adapter E is on the contrary locked on the flange D .

Comme l'illustre la figure 1D, le conteneur 20 peut alors être séparé de l'enceinte contaminée 12, ce qui se traduit par le rétablissement de la connexion entre la porte F du conteneur et son adaptateur E.As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the container 20 can then be separated from the contaminated enclosure 12, which results in the reestablishment of the connection between the door F of the container and its adapter E.

Le conteneur 20 est ensuite transporté jusqu'à la deuxième enceinte 16 dans laquelle doit être introduit le pot de transfert 22 contenant les produits 14.The container 20 is then transported to the second enclosure 16 into which must be introduced the transfer pot 22 containing the products 14.

La deuxième enceinte 16 est également équipée d'au moins un système d'accès comportant une bride A′, qui présente une ouverture circulaire de même diamètre que l'ouverture formée dans la bride A, et une porte B′C′ qui obture normalement cette ouverture circulaire de façon étanche. Il est à noter que la porte B′C′ peut être réalisée en une seule pièce, comme l'illustrent schématiquement les figures 1E et 1F, ou en deux pièces sous la forme d'un adaptateur et d'une porte qui sont alors identiques à l'adaptateur B et à la porte C équipant le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée 12.The second enclosure 16 is also equipped with at least one access system comprising a flange A ′, which has a circular opening of the same diameter as the opening formed in the flange A, and a door B′C ′ which normally closes this circular opening in a sealed manner. It should be noted that the door B′C ′ can be made in one piece, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1E and 1F, or in two pieces in the form of an adapter and a door which are then identical to the adapter B and to the door C equipping the access system to the contaminated enclosure 12.

Comme l'illustre la figure 1E, le conteneur de transport 20 est accosté au système d'accès à l'enceinte 16. Cela a pour effet de raccorder la bride D à la bride A′ et de raccorder l'adaptateur E à la porte B′C′. Ce mouvement a aussi pour effet de déconnecter l'adaptateur E de la bride D.As illustrated in FIG. 1E, the transport container 20 is docked with the access system to the enclosure 16. This has the effect of connecting the flange D to the flange A ′ and of connecting the adapter E to the door B′C ′. This movement also has the effect of disconnecting the adapter E from the flange D.

Par conséquent et comme l'illustre la figure 1F, l'ensemble formé par la porte B′C′ et par la porte F et l'adaptateur E peut être extrait à l'intérieur de l'enceinte 16 par des moyens de liaison qui assurent normalement le maintien de la porte B′C′ en appui étanche à l'intérieur de la bride A′. Lorsque cet ensemble est démonté, le pot de transfert 22, fermé par sa porte H, peut être extrait du conteneur de transport 20 et transféré dans l'enceinte 16 sans que l'atmosphère contaminée contenue dans l'enceinte 12 ne soit introduite dans cette enceinte 16.Consequently and as illustrated in FIG. 1F, the assembly formed by the door B′C ′ and by the door F and the adapter E can be extracted inside the enclosure 16 by connecting means which normally maintain the door B′C ′ in sealed support inside the flange A ′. When this assembly is dismantled, the transfer pot 22, closed by its door H, can be extracted from the transport container 20 and transferred into the enclosure 16 without the contaminated atmosphere contained in the enclosure 12 being introduced into this pregnant 16.

L'ensemble formé par la porte B′C′ associée à la porte F et à l'adaptateur E est ensuite remis en place, après qu'un pot de transfert vide ait été introduit dans le conteneur 20. En variante, l'introduction d'un pot de transfert vide dans le conteneur 20 peut se faire à partir d'une autre enceinte prévue spécialement à cet effet.The assembly formed by the door B′C ′ associated with the door F and the adapter E is then replaced, after an empty transfer pot has been introduced into the container 20. As a variant, the introduction an empty transfer container in the container 20 can be made from another enclosure specially provided for this purpose.

Le conteneur 20 est ensuite déconnecté de l'enceinte 16 et peut être utilisé pour un nouveau transport de produits entre l'enceinte 12 et l'enceinte 16.The container 20 is then disconnected from the enclosure 16 and can be used for a new transport of products between the enclosure 12 and the enclosure 16.

On décrira à présent plus en détail et à titre d'exemple non limitatif, un mode de réalisation particulier de l'installation utilisée dans le procédé qui vient d'être décrit en se référant aux figures 1A à 1F.We will now describe in more detail and by way of nonlimiting example, a particular embodiment of the installation used in the method which has just been described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1F.

Sur la figure 2, on voit que la bride A de l'enceinte contaminée 12 délimite intérieurement une ouverture circulaire 24, de forme tronconique, dont le diamètre augmente vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte. L'adaptateur B porte un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 26, de section triangulaire, dont l'une des faces est normalement en appui étanche contre la surface tronconique de l'ouverture 24 et dont une autre face est orientée radialement par rapport à cette ouverture et tournée vers l'extérieur de l'enceinte 12. Cette autre face est conçue pour venir en appui étanche contre la face de l'adaptateur E tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur 20, à proximité immédiate du bord périphérique extérieur de cet adaptateur.In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the flange A of the contaminated enclosure 12 internally delimits a circular opening 24, of frustoconical shape, the diameter of which increases towards the interior of the enclosure. The adapter B carries an annular seal 26, of triangular cross section, one of the faces of which is normally in sealed abutment against the frustoconical surface of the opening 24 and the other face of which is oriented radially with respect to this opening and turned towards the outside of the enclosure 12. This other face is designed to come into sealing abutment against the face of the adapter E turned towards the outside of the container 20, in the immediate vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of this adapter.

L'adaptateur B délimite également une ouverture circulaire 28, de forme tronconique, dont le diamètre va en augmentant vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12. L'une des faces d'un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 30, de section triangulaire, monté sur la porte C, vient normalement en appui étanche contre la surface tronconique de cette ouverture 28. Une autre face du joint 30, orientée radialement et tournée vers l'extérieur de l'enceinte 12, vient en appui étanche contre la surface de la porte F tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur 20, à proximité immédiate du bord périphérique de cette porte, lorsque le conteneur est accosté sur l'enceinte.The adapter B also delimits a circular opening 28, of frustoconical shape, the diameter of which increases towards the inside of the contaminated enclosure 12. One of the faces of an annular seal 30, of triangular section , mounted on the door C, normally comes into sealed contact against the frustoconical surface of this opening 28. Another face of the seal 30, oriented radially and turned towards the outside of the enclosure 12, comes into sealed contact against the surface of the door F turned towards the outside of the container 20, in the immediate vicinity of the peripheral edge from this door, when the container is docked on the enclosure.

Les formes tronconiques des surfaces 24 et 28 permettent de démonter l'adaptateur B et la porte C vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte 12, tout en empêchant le mouvement inverse.The frustoconical shapes of the surfaces 24 and 28 make it possible to dismantle the adapter B and the door C towards the interior of the enclosure 12, while preventing reverse movement.

Le maintien de l'adaptateur B en appui étanche dans l'ouverture 24 est assuré par des moyens de liaison déconnectables permettant une ouverture par arrachement. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté sur la figure 2, ces moyens de liaison comprennent des doigts 32 (dont l'un seulement est représenté), montés sur la face de l'adaptateur B tournée vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte 12, et orientés radialement. L'extrémité de chaque doigt 32 traverse successivement une fente 34, formée parallèlement à l'axe de l'ouverture 24 dans une pièce 36 fixée sur la face intérieure de la bride A, et une fente 38, en forme d'hélice, formée dans une couronne rotative 40 également montée sur la bride A.Maintaining the adapter B in leaktight support in the opening 24 is ensured by disconnectable connecting means allowing opening by pulling out. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, these connecting means comprise fingers 32 (only one of which is shown), mounted on the face of the adapter B facing towards the inside of the enclosure 12, and radially oriented. The end of each finger 32 successively passes through a slot 34, formed parallel to the axis of the opening 24 in a part 36 fixed on the inner face of the flange A, and a slot 38, in the form of a helix, formed in a rotary crown 40 also mounted on the flange A.

Une rotation de la couronne 40 commandée depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12 a pour effet de déplacer les doigts 32 dans les fentes 34, par suite de la coopération de ces doigts 32 avec les fentes en hélice 38. Cela se traduit par un arrachement de l'adaptateur B ou au contraire par la mise en appui étanche de ce dernier contre l'ouverture 24, selon le sens de rotation de la couronne 40.A rotation of the crown 40 controlled from inside the contaminated enclosure 12 has the effect of displacing the fingers 32 in the slots 34, as a result of the cooperation of these fingers 32 with the helical slots 38. This results in a tearing of the adapter B or, on the contrary, by sealingly pressing the latter against the opening 24, according to the direction of rotation of the crown 40.

Des moyens de liaison comparables sont prévus entre la porte C et l'adapteur B, comme l'illustre notamment la figure 3. Ces moyens, analogues à ceux qui viennent d'être décrits, comprennent des doigts 42, fixés sur la porte C, qui pénètrent dans des fentes 44 formées parallèlement à l'axe de l'ouverture 28 dans une pièce 46 fixée sur l'adaptateur B et dans des fentes en hélice (non représentées) formées dans une couronne rotative 48, également supportée par l'adaptateur B.Comparable connecting means are provided between the door C and the adapter B, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 3. These means, similar to those which have just been described, include fingers 42, fixed on the door C, which penetrate into slots 44 formed parallel to the axis of the opening 28 in a part 46 fixed on the adapter B and in helical slots (not shown) formed in a crown rotary 48, also supported by adapter B.

Pour permettre l'accostage de la bride D et de l'adaptateur E du conteneur de transport 20, la bride A et l'adaptateur B de l'enceinte contaminée 12 comportent des moyens d'accostage 50 et 52 respectivement, du type à baïonnette, sur leurs faces tournées vers l'extérieur de l'enceinte.To allow docking of the flange D and the adapter E of the transport container 20, the flange A and the adapter B of the contaminated enclosure 12 comprise docking means 50 and 52 respectively, of the bayonet type , on their faces facing the outside of the enclosure.

La bride D comporte, sur sa face tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur 20, des moyens d'accostage à baïonnette 54, prévus pour coopérer avec les moyens d'accostage à baïonnette 50 de la bride A, pour former un système de raccordement à baïonnette.The flange D comprises, on its face turned towards the outside of the container 20, bayonet docking means 54, designed to cooperate with the bayonet docking means 50 of the flange A, to form a connection system to bayonet.

De façon comparable, l'adaptateur E comporte, sur sa face tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur 20, des moyens d'accostage à baïonnette 58, prévus pour coopérer avec les moyens d'accostage à baïonnette 52 de l'adaptateur B, pour former un autre système de raccordement à baïonnette.Similarly, the adapter E comprises, on its face facing the outside of the container 20, bayonet docking means 58, designed to cooperate with the bayonet docking means 52 of the adapter B, for form another bayonet connection system.

Il est à noter que les positions relatives entre l'adaptateur B et la bride A d'une part et entre l'adaptateur E et la bride D d'autre part, lorsque les deux adaptateurs obturent les ouvertures 24 et 74, sont telles que les raccordements des adaptateurs E et B et des brides D et A sont obtenus simultanément par une rotation du conteneur 20 autour de son axe.It should be noted that the relative positions between the adapter B and the flange A on the one hand and between the adapter E and the flange D on the other hand, when the two adapters close the openings 24 and 74, are such that the connections of the adapters E and B and of the flanges D and A are obtained simultaneously by a rotation of the container 20 about its axis.

Par ailleurs, la porte C est traversée de façon étanche selon son axe par un tronçon d'arbre rotatif 60 apte à être entraîné en rotation, depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12, par des moyens de manoeuvre tels qu'un volant ou un levier (non représentés) en prise sur un carré de manoeuvre 61 (figure 5).Furthermore, the door C is crossed in leaktight fashion along its axis by a rotary shaft section 60 capable of being driven in rotation, from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, by operating means such as a flywheel. or a lever (not shown) engaged on an operating square 61 (FIG. 5).

Comme l'illustre plus en détail la figure 5, la rotation de ce tronçon d'arbre 60 commande la mise en oeuvre d'un système de liaison à billes de blocage 64 entre les portes C et F. A cet effet, le tronçon d'arbre 60 comporte au moins une rainure en arc de cercle 62 dont le fond constitue une surface de came permettant, selon la position angulaire du tronçon d'arbre 60, soit d'effacer complètement les billes de blocage 64 dans une position de déconnexion des portes C et F, soit de les repousser vers l'extérieur dans une position de connexion de ces portes. Chacune des billes 64 est montée dans un trou circulaire traversant radialement un prolongement tubulaire de la porte C, formé autour du tronçon 60 à l'extérieur de l'enceinte 12. Lorsqu'elles occupent la position de connexion des portes C et F, les billes de blocage 64 font saillie au-delà de la surface extérieure du prolongement tubulaire précité. Lorsque les portes C et F sont accolées, les billes de blocage 64 se trouvent alors derrière une collerette 66 formée dans un alésage 67 traversant la porte F selon son axe, à l'extrémité de cet alésage tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur de transport 20. Les portes C et F sont alors liées l'une à l'autre.As illustrated in more detail in FIG. 5, the rotation of this section of shaft 60 commands the use of a locking ball connection system 64 between the doors C and F. For this purpose, the section shaft 60 has at least one groove in an arc of a circle 62 the bottom of which constitutes a cam surface allowing, depending on the angular position of the shaft section 60, to completely erase the locking balls 64 in a disconnected position doors C and F, or push them outward in a position of connection of these doors. Each of the balls 64 is mounted in a circular hole radially passing through a tubular extension of the door C, formed around the section 60 outside the enclosure 12. When they occupy the connection position of the doors C and F, the locking balls 64 protrude beyond the outer surface of the above-mentioned tubular extension. When the doors C and F are placed side by side, the locking balls 64 are then behind a flange 66 formed in a bore 67 passing through the door F along its axis, at the end of this bore turned towards the outside of the transport container 20. Doors C and F are then linked to each other.

On voit également sur la figure 2 que le raccordement de l'adaptateur E sur la bride D du conteneur 20 est normalement assuré par une liaison à baïonnette comprenant des moyens d'accostage à baïonnette 68 formés à l'intérieur de la bride D et des moyens d'accostage à baïonnette 70 formés sur la surface périphérique extérieure de l'adaptateur E. Une rotation relative entre la bride D et l'adaptateur E a donc pour effet de solidariser ces deux pièces.We also see in Figure 2 that the connection of the adapter E on the flange D of the container 20 is normally provided by a bayonet connection comprising bayonet docking means 68 formed inside the flange D and bayonet docking means 70 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the adapter E. A relative rotation between the flange D and the adapter E therefore has the effect of securing these two parts.

Cette liaison à baïonnette entre la bride D et l'adaptateur E est telle que ces deux pièces sont automatiquement désolidarisées l'une de l'autre, lorsque la bride D et l'adaptateur E sont accostés respectivement sur la bride A et sur l'adaptateur B par une rotation du conteneur de transport 20.This bayonet connection between the flange D and the adapter E is such that these two parts are automatically separated from one another, when the flange D and the adapter E are approached respectively on the flange A and on the adapter B by rotating the transport container 20.

Dans ces conditions, l'adaptateur E obture de façon étanche une ouverture circulaire 74 formée dans la bride D, cette ouverture 74 étant de forme tronconique et présentant un diamètre qui diminue vers l'intérieur du conteneur 20. L'ouverture 74 est formée sur l'une des faces d'un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 72, de section triangulaire, monté sur la bride D. Une face radiale de ce même joint 72 vient également en appui étanche contre la surface extérieure de la bride A entourant immédiatement l'ouverture 24, lorsque la bride D est accostée sur la bride A.Under these conditions, the adapter E closes sealingly a circular opening 74 formed in the flange D, this opening 74 being of frustoconical shape and having a diameter which decreases towards the inside of the container 20. The opening 74 is formed on one of the faces of a joint annular seal 72, of triangular section, mounted on the flange D. A radial face of this same seal 72 also comes into sealing abutment against the exterior surface of the flange A immediately surrounding the opening 24, when the flange D is approached on flange A.

Il est à noter que la forme de l'ouverture 24 dans laquelle est reçu l'adaptateur B et la forme de l'ouverture 74 dans laquelle est reçu l'adaptateur E sont telles que ces deux ouvertures forment une surface tronconique unique lorsque les brides A et D sont accolées. Le diamètre de cette surface tronconique va en diminuant vers l'extérieur de l'enceinte 12, ce qui autorise le démontage simultané des adaptateurs B et E vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte, tout en empêchant leur déplacement en sens inverse.It should be noted that the shape of the opening 24 in which the adapter B is received and the shape of the opening 74 in which the adapter E is received are such that these two openings form a single frustoconical surface when the flanges A and D are joined. The diameter of this frustoconical surface decreases towards the outside of the enclosure 12, which allows the simultaneous disassembly of the adapters B and E towards the inside of the enclosure, while preventing their displacement in the opposite direction.

On voit également sur la figure 2 que la porte F est reçue dans une ouverture circulaire 76 dont la forme tronconique prolonge celle de l'ouverture 28 formée dans l'adaptateur B, lorsque le conteneur 20 est accosté sur l'enceinte contaminée 12. Cet agencement autorise le démontage simultané des portes C et F vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte 12, tout en interdisant le mouvement inverse.We also see in Figure 2 that the door F is received in a circular opening 76 whose frustoconical shape extends that of the opening 28 formed in the adapter B, when the container 20 is docked on the contaminated enclosure 12. This arrangement allows the simultaneous disassembly of doors C and F towards the interior of the enclosure 12, while prohibiting reverse movement.

Un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 78, de section triangulaire, est également monté sur l'adaptateur E, de telle sorte qu'il présente une face intérieure tronconique définissant l'ouverture 76 et une face radiale tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur 20 et apte à venir en appui étanche contre une surface extérieure de l'adaptateur B située au voisinage immédiat de l'ouverture 28, lorsque les deux adaptateurs sont accostés.An annular seal 78, of triangular section, is also mounted on the adapter E, so that it has a frustoconical inner face defining the opening 76 and a radial face turned towards the outside of the container 20 and able to come into watertight support against an external surface of the adapter B located in the immediate vicinity of the opening 28, when the two adapters are docked.

La liaison déconnectable par laquelle la porte F est normalement solidarisée de la porte E comprend plusieurs mécanismes identiques, montés dans la porte F et circonférentiellement répartis autour de l'axe de celle-ci. Comme l'illustre la figure 5, chacun de ces mécanismes comprend un poussoir 80 monté coulissant dans un alésage borgne 82 formé dans la porte F parallèlement à son axe et débouchant sur la face de cette porte tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur. Un ressort 84, prenant appui sur le fond de l'alésage borgne 82, maintient normalement le poussoir 80 dans une position telle que son extrémité opposée fasse saillie au-delà de la face extérieure de la porte F. Cette position est déterminée par la venue en appui d'un épaulement formé sur le poussoir 80 contre une surface de butée 86 formée dans l'alésage 82. Un soufflet d'étanchéité 88, dont les extrémités sont montées respectivement sur le poussoir 80 et sur la surface 86, assure le confinement de l'intérieur de l'alésage 82 vis-à-vis de l'extérieur.The disconnectable link by which the door F is normally secured to the door E comprises several identical mechanisms, mounted in the door F and circumferentially distributed around the axis thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of these mechanisms comprises a pusher 80 mounted to slide in a blind bore 82 formed in the door F parallel to its axis and opening onto the face of this door turned towards the outside of the container. A spring 84, resting on the bottom of the blind bore 82, normally maintains the pusher 80 in a position such that its opposite end protrudes beyond the outside face of the door F. This position is determined by the coming resting on a shoulder formed on the pusher 80 against an abutment surface 86 formed in the bore 82. A sealing bellows 88, the ends of which are mounted respectively on the pusher 80 and on the surface 86, ensures confinement from inside the bore 82 with respect to the outside.

Le mécanisme illustré sur la figure 5 est complété par un doigt de blocage 90 logé de façon coulissante dans un trou circulaire traversant radialement la porte F et faisant communiquer l'alésage 82 avec la surface périphérique tronconique de cette porte.The mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 is completed by a locking finger 90 slidably housed in a circular hole radially passing through the door F and causing the bore 82 to communicate with the frustoconical peripheral surface of this door.

Lorsque le poussoir 80 se trouve dans sa position en saillie décrite précédemment, une partie de grand diamètre de ce poussoir se trouve en face du doigt de blocage 90, de telle sorte que celui-ci est repoussé radialement vers l'extérieur. Son extrémité fait alors saillie au-delà de la surface périphérique tronconique de la porte F, dans une gorge annulaire 92 formée dans la surface périphérique intérieure de l'adaptateur E, lorsque la porte F se trouve à l'intérieur de cet adaptateur.When the pusher 80 is in its projecting position described above, a large diameter portion of this pusher is located opposite the locking finger 90, so that the latter is pushed radially outward. Its end then protrudes beyond the frustoconical peripheral surface of the door F, in an annular groove 92 formed in the internal peripheral surface of the adapter E, when the door F is inside this adapter.

Au contraire, lorsque le poussoir 80 est repoussé dans l'alésage 82 à l'encontre du ressort 84, ce qui se produit notamment par la venue de ce poussoir en appui contre la face extérieure de la porte C lors de l'accostage du conteneur 20 sur l'enceinte 12 (figure 5), le doigt de blocage 90 se trouve en face d'une partie de moindre diamètre du poussoir 80, de sorte que ce doigt de blocage 90 s'efface dans la porte F et ne fait plus saillie sur la surface périphérique tronconique de cette porte. La porte F est ainsi automatiquement désolidarisée de l'adaptateur E lors de l'accostage du conteneur 20 sur l'enceinte 12.On the contrary, when the pusher 80 is pushed back into the bore 82 against the spring 84, which occurs in particular by the coming of this pusher in abutment against the outside face of the door C during the docking of the container 20 on the enclosure 12 (FIG. 5), the locking finger 90 is located opposite a part of smaller diameter of the pusher 80, so that this locking finger 90 disappears in the door F and no longer does protrusion on the frustoconical peripheral surface of this door. The door F is thus automatically detached from the adapter E when the container 20 comes into contact with the enclosure 12.

Comme l'illustrent les figures 2 et 5, la porte F du conteneur de transport 20 est également traversée de façon étanche selon son axe par un tronçon d'arbre rotatif 94 dont une rotation permet de commander, selon le sens, la solidarisation ou la désolidarisation des portes F et H. Cette rotation est obtenue à l'aide des moyens de manoeuvre commandant la rotation du tronçon d'arbre 60, lorsque le conteneur 20 est accosté sur l'enceinte 12. En effet, les tronçons d'arbre rotatifs 60 et 94 coopèrent alors entre eux par des moyens de liaison en rotation constitués, par exemple, par une partie 96, de section polygonale, du tronçon d'arbre 60, qui fait saillie vers l'extérieur de l'enceinte 12 et pénétre dans un évidement 98, de section complémentaire, ménagé sur la face du tronçon d'arbre 94 tournée vers l'extérieur du conteneur 20.As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the door F of the transport container 20 is also crossed in leaktight fashion along its axis by a section of rotary shaft 94 whose rotation makes it possible to control, according to the direction, the joining or the separation of the doors F and H. This rotation is obtained using the operating means controlling the rotation of the shaft section 60, when the container 20 is approached on the enclosure 12. In fact, the rotary shaft sections 60 and 94 then cooperate with one another by rotational connecting means constituted, for example, by a part 96, of polygonal section, of the shaft section 60, which projects outwards from the enclosure 12 and penetrates into a recess 98, of complementary section, formed on the face of the shaft section 94 facing outwards from the container 20.

Le système à billes de blocage 100 assurant la solidarisation et la désolidarisation des portes F et H est par ailleurs semblable au système permettant de solidariser et de désolidariser les portes C et F.The locking ball system 100 ensuring the joining and detaching of the doors F and H is moreover similar to the system making it possible to join and detach the doors C and F.

Plus précisément et comme l'illustre notamment la figure 5, les billes de blocage 100 sont reçues de façon coulissante dans des trous circulaires percés radialement dans un prolongement tubulaire de la porte F, faisant saillie vers l'intérieur du conteneur autour du tronçon d'arbre 94. Une gorge en arc de cercle 102 formée au droit de chacun de ces trous sur la surface extérieure du tronçon d'arbre 94 et dont le fond forme une surface de came permet, selon la position angulaire du tronçon d'arbre 94, soit d'effacer les billes 100 à l'intérieur des trous, soit de les repousser vers l'extérieur. Dans ce dernier cas, les billes 100 font saillie derrière une collerette 104 formée dans un alésage 105 traversant axialement la porte H, à proximité de la face de cette porte tournée vers l'extérieur du pot de transfert 22.More precisely and as illustrated in particular in FIG. 5, the locking balls 100 are received from sliding way in circular holes drilled radially in a tubular extension of the door F, projecting towards the inside of the container around the shaft section 94. An arcuate groove 102 formed in line with each of these holes on the outer surface of the shaft section 94 and the bottom of which forms a cam surface allows, depending on the angular position of the shaft section 94, either to erase the balls 100 inside the holes, or to push them towards the 'outside. In the latter case, the balls 100 protrude behind a flange 104 formed in a bore 105 axially passing through the door H, near the face of this door facing outwards from the transfer pot 22.

En se référant à nouveau à la figure 2, on voit que la porte F du conteneur de transport 20 supporte un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 106, de section triangulaire, dont une face périphérique extérieure est en appui étanche sur la surface tronconique formée par l'ouverture 76 lorsque la porte F est placée dans l'adaptateur E. Le joint d'étanchéité 106 comporte également une face radiale prévue pour être en appui étanche contre la surface de la porte H tournée vers l'extérieur du pot de transfert 22, à proximité immédiate de la périphérie de cette porte, lorsque les portes F et H sont appliquées l'une contre l'autre.Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the door F of the transport container 20 supports an annular seal 106, of triangular section, of which an outer peripheral face is in leaktight support on the frustoconical surface formed by the opening 76 when the door F is placed in the adapter E. The seal 106 also has a radial face intended to be in leaktight abutment against the surface of the door H facing outwards from the transfer pot 22, in the immediate vicinity of the periphery of this door, when doors F and H are pressed against each other.

La bride G du pot de transfert 22 délimite également une ouverture circulaire 108, dont la forme tronconique prolonge celle des ouvertures 28 et 76, de telle sorte que les portes C, F et H accolées peuvent être démontés simultanément vers l'intérieur de l'enceinte 12 alors que leur déplacement en sens inverse est impossible.The flange G of the transfer pot 22 also delimits a circular opening 108, the frustoconical shape of which extends that of the openings 28 and 76, so that the adjoining doors C, F and H can be removed simultaneously towards the interior of the enclosure 12 while their displacement in the opposite direction is impossible.

L'ouverture circulaire 108 est formée au moins en partie sur la face périphérique intérieure d'un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 110, de section triangulaire, monté sur la bride G. Ce joint d'étanchéité 110 comporte également une surface radiale apte à venir en appui étanche contre une surface de l'adaptateur E tournée vers l'intérieur du conteneur 20 et située au voisinage immédiat de l'ouverture circulaire 76, lorsque la bride G est appliquée contre l'adaptateur E.The circular opening 108 is formed at least in part on the inner peripheral face of a seal annular seal 110, of triangular cross section, mounted on the flange G. This seal 110 also includes a radial surface capable of coming into sealing contact against a surface of the adapter E turned towards the interior of the container 20 and located in the immediate vicinity of the circular opening 76, when the flange G is applied against the adapter E.

Comme l'illustre notamment la figure 5, la porte H est également traversée de façon étanche selon son axe par un tronçon d'arbre rotatif 112 dont la rotation permet de commander la connexion et la déconnexion de la porte H par rapport à la bride G. Cette rotation est commandée par les moyens de manoeuvre situés dans l'enceinte contaminée 12, au travers des tronçons d'arbre rotatifs 60 et 94. Pour cela, il est également prévu entre les tronçons 94 et 112 des moyens permettant d'en assurer la liaison en rotation lorsque les portes F et H sont appliquées l'une contre l'autre. Comme on l'a représenté à titre d'exemple sur la figure 5, ces moyens peuvent comprendre un prolongement 114, de section polygonale, du tronçon d'arbre 94, situé à l'extrémité de ce tronçon tournée vers l'intérieur du conteneur 20. Ce prolongement 114 est reçu dans un évidement 116, de section complémentaire de celle du prolongement 114, formé dans l'extrémité du tronçon d'arbre 112 tournée vers l'extérieur du pot de transfert 22, lorsque les portes F et H sont accolées.As illustrated in particular in FIG. 5, the door H is also crossed in leaktight fashion along its axis by a section of rotary shaft 112 whose rotation makes it possible to control the connection and disconnection of the door H relative to the flange G This rotation is controlled by the maneuvering means located in the contaminated enclosure 12, through the rotating shaft sections 60 and 94. For this, means are also provided between the sections 94 and 112 the connection in rotation when the doors F and H are applied one against the other. As shown by way of example in FIG. 5, these means may include an extension 114, of polygonal section, of the shaft section 94, located at the end of this section facing the interior of the container 20. This extension 114 is received in a recess 116, of cross section complementary to that of the extension 114, formed in the end of the shaft section 112 facing outwards from the transfer pot 22, when the doors F and H are joined.

A l'intérieur du pot de transfert 22, le tronçon d'arbre 112 est solidaire d'un disque 117 terminé par une couronne 118 à sa périphérie.Inside the transfer pot 22, the shaft section 112 is integral with a disc 117 terminated by a ring 118 at its periphery.

La liaison entre la porte H et la bride G est réalisée de la même manière que les liaisons précédemment décrites entre les portes C et F et entre les portes F et H. Plus précisément, cette liaison comprend un sytème à billes de blocage 120. Ces billes 120 sont reçues dans des trous circulaires formés radialement dans une partie tubulaire de la porte H faisant saillie vers l'intérieur du pot de transfert, dans la bride G. Des gorges en arc de cercle 122 formées sur la surface extérieure de la couronne 118 et dont les fonds forment des surfaces de came permettent, selon la position angulaire de la couronne, soit d'effacer les billes 120 à l'intérieur de leurs trous, soit de les placer en saillie afin qu'elles pénètrent dans une gorge 124 formée dans la bride G.The connection between the door H and the flange G is carried out in the same manner as the connections described above between the doors C and F and between the doors F and H. More specifically, this connection comprises a system with blocking balls 120. These 120 balls are received in circular holes formed radially in a tubular part of the door H projecting towards the inside of the transfer pot, in the flange G. Grooves in an arc of a circle 122 formed on the external surface of the ring 118 and whose funds form cam surfaces allow, depending on the angular position of the crown, either to erase the balls 120 inside their holes, or to place them projecting so that they enter a groove 124 formed in the flange G.

Comme l'illustre plus précisément la figure 4, ces différents mécanismes sont complétés par un système, placé à l'intérieur du conteneur de transport 20, permettant de maintenir la bride G du pot de transfert 22 en appui étanche contre l'adaptateur E du conteneur, lorsque ce dernier est fermé et renferme le pot de transfert.As illustrated more precisely in FIG. 4, these various mechanisms are supplemented by a system, placed inside the transport container 20, making it possible to maintain the flange G of the transfer pot 22 in sealed contact against the adapter E of the container, when the latter is closed and contains the transfer pot.

Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, ce système comprend principalement un ressort de compression hélicoïdal 126, centré sur l'axe du conteneur et situé à proximité immédiate de la paroi cylindrique de celui-ci. Ce ressort de compression 126 prend appui par une extrémité sur le fond du conteneur 20 et par son extrémité opposée sur une collerette formée sur un manchon coulissant 128 logé dans l'espace annulaire entourant le pot de transfert 22 à l'intérieur du conteneur 20.In the embodiment shown, this system mainly comprises a helical compression spring 126, centered on the axis of the container and located in the immediate vicinity of the cylindrical wall of the latter. This compression spring 126 is supported by one end on the bottom of the container 20 and by its opposite end on a flange formed on a sliding sleeve 128 housed in the annular space surrounding the transfer pot 22 inside the container 20.

Lorsque le pot de transfert 22 est présent dans le conteneur de transport 20, le manchon coulissant 128 est normalement maintenu en appui contre un épaulement 130 formé sur la bride G, de sorte que cette dernière est normalement pressée de façon étanche contre l'adaptateur E du conteneur.When the transfer pot 22 is present in the transport container 20, the sliding sleeve 128 is normally held in abutment against a shoulder 130 formed on the flange G, so that the latter is normally pressed in a sealed manner against the adapter E of the container.

Lorsque l'adaptateur E est enlevé comme on l'a représenté en trait plein sur la figure 4, la collerette du manchon coulissant 128 vient en appui contre une rondelle de butée 132 montée dans le conteneur 20 à proximité de son extrémité ouverte, ce qui évite l'éjection du pot de transfert 22 sous l'action du ressort 126.When the adapter E is removed as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, the flange of the sliding sleeve 128 bears against a stop washer 132 mounted in the container 20 near its open end, which prevents the transfer pot 22 from being ejected under the action of the spring 126.

Comme l'illustre la figure 2, avant que le conteneur 20 dans lequel est situé un pot de transfert vide 22 ne soit accosté sur l'enceinte contaminée 12, l'adaptateur B obture de façon étanche l'ouverture 24 de la bride A et la porte C obture de façon étanche l'ouverture 28 de l'adaptateur B. En outre, les billes de blocage 64 sont dans leur position effacée. De plus, les pièces A, B et C sont indexées, de telle sorte qu'elles sont immobilisées en rotation les unes par rapport aux autres. Enfin, le tronçon d'arbre 60 occupe alors une position indexée dans la porte C.As illustrated in FIG. 2, before the container 20 in which an empty transfer pot 22 is located is docked on the contaminated enclosure 12, the adapter B seals the opening 24 of the flange A and the door C seals the opening 28 of the adapter B in a sealed manner. Furthermore, the locking balls 64 are in their retracted position. In addition, the parts A, B and C are indexed, so that they are immobilized in rotation with respect to each other. Finally, the shaft section 60 then occupies an indexed position in the door C.

Par ailleurs, la liaison à baïonnette 68,70 entre l'adaptateur E et la bride D est verrouillée, la porte F est verrouillée dans l'adaptateur E par les doigts de blocage 90 et la porte H est verrouillée dans la bride G par les billes de blocage 120. En outre, la bride G et la porte H du pot de transfert 22 sont pressées de façon étanche respectivement contre l'adaptateur E et la porte F du conteneur 20 par le ressort 126. Cependant, les billes de blocage 100 sont alors effacées, de telle sorte que les portes F et H ne sont pas verrouillées entre elles. Par ailleurs, les pièces D, G et H sont indexées, de sorte que ces pièces sont immobilisées en rotation les unes par rapport aux autres. Il en est de même pour les pièces E et F.Furthermore, the bayonet connection 68.70 between the adapter E and the flange D is locked, the door F is locked in the adapter E by the locking fingers 90 and the door H is locked in the flange G by the blocking balls 120. In addition, the flange G and the door H of the transfer pot 22 are pressed in a sealed manner respectively against the adapter E and the door F of the container 20 by the spring 126. However, the blocking balls 100 are then deleted, so that the doors F and H are not locked together. Furthermore, the parts D, G and H are indexed, so that these parts are immobilized in rotation with respect to each other. The same is true for parts E and F.

Lorsque le conteneur 20 est accosté sur l'enceinte contaminée 12, une rotation de 60° du conteneur autour de son axe a pour effet de faire tourner de 60° les pièces D, G et H par rapport à la bride A et de 30° les pièces E et F par rapport aux pièces B et C d'une part et à la bride D, d'autre part. Par conséquent, la rotation du conteneur a pour effet de solidariser la bride D de la bride A et l'adaptateur E de l'adaptateur B, grâce aux liaisons à baïonnette 50,54 et 52,58 prévues entre ces pièces, puis de désolidariser l'adaptateur E de la bride B du conteneur 20.When the container 20 is docked on the contaminated enclosure 12, a rotation of 60 ° of the container around its axis has the effect of rotating the parts D, G and H by 60 ° relative to the flange A and by 30 ° parts E and F in relation to parts B and C of a on the one hand and on the flange D on the other. Consequently, the rotation of the container has the effect of securing the flange D of the flange A and the adapter E of the adapter B, by means of the bayonet connections 50.54 and 52.58 provided between these parts, then of dissociating the adapter E of the flange B of the container 20.

Au début de cet accostage, la partie 96 du tronçon d'arbre rotatif 60 pénètre dans l'évidement 98 du tronçon d'arbre rotatif 94. Cette pénétration est rendue possible par les moyens d'indexage en rotation (non représentés) de la porte F dans l'adaptateur E. Il est à noter que les tronçons d'arbre 60, 94 et 112 restent immobilisés en rotation par rapport à la porte C, lors de la rotation du conteneur 20. Cependant, les rotations de 30° de la porte F autour du tronçon 94 et de 60° de la porte H autour du tronçon 112 qui en découlent sont sans effet sur les liaisons à billes de blocage 100 et 120, qui restent respectivement déverrouillée et verrouillée.At the start of this docking, the part 96 of the rotary shaft section 60 enters the recess 98 of the rotary shaft section 94. This penetration is made possible by the rotary indexing means (not shown) of the door F in the adapter E. It should be noted that the shaft sections 60, 94 and 112 remain immobilized in rotation relative to the door C, during the rotation of the container 20. However, the 30 ° rotations of the door F around the section 94 and 60 ° of the door H around the section 112 which result therefrom have no effect on the locking ball connections 100 and 120, which remain respectively unlocked and locked.

Par ailleurs, l'accostage du conteneur 20 sur l'enceinte 12 a aussi pour effet de désolidariser la porte F de l'adaptateur E, en repoussant le poussoir 80 à l'encontre du ressort 84. Il n'existe donc plus de liaison entre la porte F et l'adaptateur E. Les billes de blocage 64 et 100 se trouvent alors toujours dans leur état déverrouillé et les billes de blocage 120 dans leur état verrouillé, comme illustré sur la partie droite de la figure 5.Furthermore, docking of the container 20 on the enclosure 12 also has the effect of separating the door F from the adapter E, by pushing the pusher 80 against the spring 84. There is therefore no longer any connection between the door F and the adapter E. The locking balls 64 and 100 are then always in their unlocked state and the locking balls 120 in their locked state, as illustrated on the right-hand side of FIG. 5.

Un opérateur agit alors depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12, par des moyens de manutention à distance appropriés, sur l'organe de manoeuvre 61 (figure 5) permettant d'entraîner en rotation le tronçon d'arbre rotatif 60. Etant donné que les tronçons d'arbre 60, 94 et 112 sont liés en rotation, cette action permet d'entraîner simultanément en rotation les trois tronçons. Plus précisément, l'opérateur réalise alors une rotation selon un angle tel qu'il a pour effet de faire changer d'état chacun des systèmes à billes de blocage 64, 100 et 120. Cet angle peut être, par exemple, de 30°. Par conséquent, lorsque l'action de l'opérateur est terminée, les portes C et F se trouvent reliées entre elles par les billes de blocage 64 et les portes F et H se trouvent également reliées entre elles par les billes 100. Au contraire, la liaison entre la porte H et la bride G du pot de transfert 22 est supprimée. La position correspondante des billes de blocage 64,100 et 120 est illustrée sur la partie gauche de la figure 5.An operator then acts from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, by appropriate remote handling means, on the operating member 61 (FIG. 5) making it possible to drive the rotary shaft section 60 in rotation. given that the shaft sections 60, 94 and 112 are linked in rotation, this action makes it possible to simultaneously rotate the three sections. More precisely, the operator then performs a rotation at an angle such that it has the effect of changing the state of each of the locking ball systems 64, 100 and 120. This angle can be, for example, 30 ° . Consequently, when the operator's action is complete, the doors C and F are connected to each other by the locking balls 64 and the doors F and H are also connected to each other by the balls 100. On the contrary, the connection between the door H and the flange G of the transfer pot 22 is eliminated. The corresponding position of the locking balls 64, 100 and 120 is illustrated on the left side of FIG. 5.

L'opérateur, agissant toujours à distance depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte contaminée 12, entraîne ensuite en rotation la couronne 48, afin d'arracher la porte C et les portes F et H qui y sont alors liées, comme l'illustre la figure 3. Lorsque cet arrachement est terminé, on se trouve dans la position de la figure 1B permettant l'introduction des produits 14 dans le pot de transfert 22.The operator, always acting remotely from inside the contaminated enclosure 12, then rotates the crown 48, in order to tear off the door C and the doors F and H which are then linked to it, as illustrated FIG. 3. When this tearing is finished, we are in the position of FIG. 1B allowing the introduction of the products 14 into the transfer pot 22.

Les opérations inverses des précédentes permettent de refermer simultanément les portes C, F et H, puis de désolidariser le conteneur 20 dans lequel est logé le pot de transfert 22 contenant alors les produits 14 de l'enceinte de confinement 12, pour se retrouver dans les conditions de la figure 1D.The reverse operations of the preceding allow the doors C, F and H to be closed simultaneously, then to separate the container 20 in which the transfer pot 22 is housed, then containing the products 14 of the confinement enclosure 12, in order to end up in the conditions of Figure 1D.

Il est à noter qu'au cours de ces différentes opérations, l'atmosphère contaminée présente dans l'enceinte 12 a pénétré dans le pot de transfert 22 mais que l'atmosphère présente autour de ce pot de transfert à l'intérieur du conteneur de transport 20 n'a été à aucun moment en contact avec cette atmosphère contaminée.It should be noted that during these various operations, the contaminated atmosphere present in the enclosure 12 has penetrated into the transfer pot 22 but that the atmosphere present around this transfer pot inside the container of transport 20 was never in contact with this contaminated atmosphere.

Comme l'illustre la figure 4, le conteneur 20 peut ensuite être accosté sur le système d'accès à la deuxième enceinte 16. Ce système d'accès ne sera pas décrit en détail, car il présente pour l'essentiel les mêmes caractéristiques que le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée 12, même s'il peut être légèrement plus simple.As shown in Figure 4, the container 20 can then be approached on the access system to the second enclosure 16. This access system will not be described in detail, because it essentially has the same characteristics as the access system to the contaminated enclosure. 12, although it may be slightly simpler.

Ainsi, la bride A′ de ce système d'accès à la deuxième enceinte 16 est totalement identique à la bride A de l'enceinte contaminée, aussi bien en ce qui concerne les caractéristiques dimensionnelles qu'en ce qui concerne les différents systèmes montés sur cette bride. Ces systèmes comprennent un système à baïonnette 50′ identique au système 50 de la bride A, sur la face extérieure de la bride A′ et, sur la face intérieure de cette bride, une pièce tubulaire 36′ présentant des fentes 34′ parallèles à l'axe de la bride A, et une couronne de manoeuvre rotative 40′, présentant des fentes en hélice (non représentées).Thus, the flange A ′ of this access system to the second enclosure 16 is completely identical to the flange A of the contaminated enclosure, both with regard to the dimensional characteristics and with regard to the various systems mounted on this bridle. These systems include a bayonet system 50 ′ identical to the system 50 of the flange A, on the outside face of the flange A ′ and, on the inside face of this flange, a tubular piece 36 ′ having slots 34 ′ parallel to the 'axis of the flange A, and a rotary actuating crown 40 ′, having helical slots (not shown).

La simplification du système d'accès à la deuxième enceinte 16 concerne la porte B′C′, qui peut être réalisée en une seule pièce au lieu d'être constituée d'un adaptateur B et d'une porte C comme dans le système d'accès à l'enceinte contaminée 12. Cette porte B′C′ présente les mêmes dimensions que l'ensemble formé par la porte C et l'adaptateur B du système d'accès à l'enceinte 12. De plus, cette porte B′C′ est également équipée de doigts 32′ aptes à pénétrer dans les fentes 34′ et dans les fentes en hélice de la couronne 40′, afin de fixer la porte B′C′ sur la bride A′, ou de l'en arracher. La porte B′C′ est également équipée de moyens de raccordement à baïonnette 52′, identiques aux moyens de raccordement 52 de l'adaptateur B. Enfin, la porte B′C′ est une porte classique, c'est-à-dire qu'on n'y retrouve ni le tronçon d'arbre rotatif 60, ni les billes de blocage 64. En effet, la liaison à baïonnette existant entre la porte B′C′ et l'adaptateur E relie simultanément la porte F à la porte B′C′, puisque cette dernière empêche l'échappement vers l'extérieur de la porte F.The simplification of the access system to the second enclosure 16 relates to the door B′C ′, which can be produced in one piece instead of being made up of an adapter B and a door C as in the system d access to the contaminated enclosure 12. This door B′C ′ has the same dimensions as the assembly formed by the door C and the adapter B of the access system to the enclosure 12. In addition, this door B ′ C ′ is also equipped with fingers 32 ′ capable of penetrating into the slots 34 ′ and into the helical slots of the crown 40 ′, in order to fix the door B′C ′ on the flange A ′, or from the tear off. The door B′C ′ is also equipped with bayonet connection means 52 ′, identical to the connection means 52 of the adapter B. Finally, the door B′C ′ is a conventional door, that is to say we find neither the rotary shaft section 60, nor the locking balls 64. Indeed, the existing bayonet connection between door B′C ′ and adapter E simultaneously connects door F to door B′C ′, since the latter prevents escape to the outside of door F.

Lorsque le conteneur 20 est accosté sur la deuxième enceinte 16, la rotation du conteneur 20 a pour effet de solidariser les brides D et A′ et de solidariser l'adaptateur E, et avec lui la porte F de la porte B′C′. De plus, la fin de cette rotation conduit à désolidariser l'adaptateur E de la bride D du conteneur 20.When the container 20 is docked on the second enclosure 16, the rotation of the container 20 has the effect of securing the flanges D and A ′ and of securing the adapter E, and with it the door F of the door B′C ′. In addition, the end of this rotation leads to the adapter E being separated from the flange D of the container 20.

Etant donné que le système à billes de blocage 100 est alors déverrouillé et que le système à billes de blocage 120 est verrouillé, lorsque l'opérateur agit, depuis l'intérieur de l'enceinte 16, par des moyens de commande à distance, pour tourner la couronne 40′, il arrache la porte B′C′ à l'intérieur de l'enceinte 16, en même temps que l'adaptateur E et la porte F liés à cette porte B′C′. Dans ces conditions, illustrées sur la figure 4, le pot de transfert 22 contenant les produits 14 peut être transféré dans l'enceinte 16, sans qu'aucune contamination ne soit introduite dans celle-ci.Since the locking ball system 100 is then unlocked and the locking ball system 120 is locked, when the operator acts, from inside the enclosure 16, by remote control means, to turn the crown 40 ′, it tears off the door B′C ′ inside the enclosure 16, at the same time as the adapter E and the door F linked to this door B′C ′. Under these conditions, illustrated in FIG. 4, the transfer pot 22 containing the products 14 can be transferred into the enclosure 16, without any contamination being introduced therein.

La double porte constituée par la porte B′C′, l'adaptateur E et la porte F est ensuite remise en place, puis le conteneur de transport 20 est déconnecté de l'enceinte 16. Comme on l'a mentionné précédemment, un pot de transfert vide peut être réintroduit dans le conteneur 20 soit depuis l'enceinte 16, soit depuis une autre enceinte, afin de permettre le transfert d'autres produits à l'intérieur de ce conteneur, sans contaminer l'enceinte 16.The double door constituted by the door B′C ′, the adapter E and the door F is then replaced, then the transport container 20 is disconnected from the enclosure 16. As previously mentioned, a pot empty transfer can be reintroduced into the container 20 either from the enclosure 16, or from another enclosure, in order to allow the transfer of other products inside this container, without contaminating the enclosure 16.

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. Ainsi, on comprendra notamment que les moyens d'accostage permettant de relier entre eux les différentes brides, adaptateurs et portes, ainsi que les moyens de liaison par lesquels les adaptateurs peuvent être verrouillés dans les brides et les portes verrouillées dans les adaptateurs peuvent être différents des moyens qui ont été décrits.Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, but covers all its variants. Thus, it will be understood in particular that the docking means allowing the various flanges, adapters and doors to be connected together, as well as the connecting means by which the adapters can be locked in the flanges and the doors locked in the adapters can be different from the means which have been described.

Par ailleurs, la porte B′C′ de la deuxième enceinte 16 peut, dans certains cas, être remplacée par un ensemble adaptateur B′-porte C′ identique à l'ensemble adaptateur B-porte C. Dans ce cas, la porte C′ doit être traversée par un tronçon d'arbre rotatif semblable au tronçon 60, permettant de relier les portes C′ et F au moyen d'un système à billes de blocage analogue à celui qui comprend les billes 64. La rotation exercée sur les tronçons d'arbre accouplés, après accostage du conteneur sur l'enceinte 16, doit alors être telle qu'elle commande l'accrochage des portes C′ et F, sans entraîner de changement d'état des systèmes à billes de blocage 100 et 120. Cela peut être obtenu en donnant aux gorges en arc de cercle de ces deux derniers systèmes une longueur angulaire supérieure (par exemple, double) à celle des gorges du système à billes de blocage prévu entre les portes C′ et F.Furthermore, the door B′C ′ of the second enclosure 16 can, in certain cases, be replaced by an adapter assembly B′-door C ′ identical to the adapter assembly B-door C. In this case, the door C ′ Must be crossed by a rotary shaft section similar to the section 60, making it possible to connect the doors C ′ and F by means of a locking ball system similar to that which includes the balls 64. The rotation exerted on the sections shaft coupled, after docking of the container on the enclosure 16, must then be such that it controls the attachment of the doors C ′ and F, without causing a change in state of the locking ball systems 100 and 120. This can be obtained by giving the grooves in an arc of these last two systems a greater angular length (for example, double) than that of the grooves of the locking ball system provided between the doors C ′ and F.

Claims (7)

  1. Process for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure (12) into a second enclosure (10), without contaminating the latter, characterized in that it comprises:
    - respectively engaging on a flange (A), an adaptor (B) and a door (C) constituting an access system to the contaminated enclosure (12), a flange (D), an adaptor (E) and a door (F) constituting the access system to a transportation container (20), in which is placed an empty transfer chamber (22), whereof a flange (G) and a door (H) constituting an access system to said transfer chamber respectively bear on the adaptor (E) and on the door (F) of the transportation container (20);
    - extracting the three coupled doors (C,F,H) in the contaminated enclosure (12) for linking the transfer chamber (22) with the latter;
    - introducing into the transfer chamber (22) the products to be transferred;
    - reclosing the three coupled doors (C,F,H);
    - respectively disconnecting the flange (D), the adaptor (E) and the door (F) of the transportation container (20) from the flange (A), the adaptor (B) and the door (C) of the contaminated enclosure;
    - transporting the transportation container (20) in which is placed the transfer chamber (22) containing the products to be transferred up to the second enclosure;
    - respectively engaging on a flange (A′) and a door (B′,C′) constituting an access system to said second enclosure (16) the flange (D) and adaptor (E) of the transportation container;
    - extracting in the second enclosure an assembly formed by the door (B′,C′) of the second enclosure and the adaptor (E) and door (F) of the transportation container, in order to link said second enclosure with the latter;
    - introducing the transfer chamber (22) containing the product to be transferred into the second enclosure;
    - putting back into place the said assembly; and
    - respectively disconnecting the flange (D) and adaptor (E) of the transportation container from the flange (A′) and door (B′C′) of the second enclosure.
  2. Installation for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure (12) into a second enclosure (16) without contaminating the latter, characterized in that it comprises:
    - an access system to the contaminated enclosure, comprising a first flange (A), a first adaptor (B) and a first door (C), first disconnectable linking means (32,40) for maintaining the first adaptor in tight manner in an opening (24) of the first flange, second disconnectable linking means (42,48) for maintaining the first door (C) in tight manner in an opening (28) of the first adaptor and first engagement means (50,52,64) provided on an outer face of the first flange, the first adaptor and the first door;
    - an access system to the second enclosure comprising a second flange (A′) and a second door (B′,C′), third disconnectable linking means (32′,40′) for maintaining the second door in tight manner in an opening of the second flange and second engagement means (50′,52′) provided on an outer face of the second flange and the second door;
    - a transportation container (20);
    - a transfer chamber (22) which can be received in the transportation container;
    - an access system to the transportation container comprising a third flange (D), a second adaptor (E) and a third door (F), fourth disconnectable linking means (68,70) for maintaining the second adaptor (E) in tight manner in an opening of the third flange (D), fifth disconnectable linking means (90,92) for maintaining the third door (F) in an opening of the second adaptor, third engagement means (54,58,66) provided on an outer face of the third flange, the second adaptor and the third door and able to cooperate with the first engagement means and with the second engagement means and fourth engagement means (100) provided on an inner face of the third door;
    - an access system to the transfer chamber comprising a fourth flange (G) and a fourth door (H), a sixth disconnectable linking means (120,124) for maintaining the fourth door in tight manner in an opening of the fourth flange (G) and fifth engagement means (104) provided on an outer face of the fourth door and able to cooperate with the fourth engagement means; and
    - application means (126) for maintaining an outer face of the fourth flange (G) tightly bearing against an inner face of the second adaptor, when the transfer chamber is placed in the latter.
  3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the third engagement means (54,58) provided on the third flange (D) and on the second adaptor (E) form with the first engagement means (50,52) provided on the first flange (A) and on the first adaptor (B) and with the second engagement means (50′,52′) provided on the second flange (A′) and on the second door (B′,C′) of the first bayonet connection systems, that fourth disconnectable linking means (68,70) form a second bayonet connection system and that a rotation of the transportation container (20) connecting the first bayonet connection systems also has the effect of disconnecting the second bayonet connection system.
  4. Installation according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fifth disconnectable linking means comprise at least one locking pin (90) radially mobile in the third door (F) between a normal locking position obtained under the action of elastic means (84), in which the locking pin projects into a recess (92) of the second adaptor (E), and an unlocked position obtained during the bearing of the third door (F) on the first or second door (B′,C′).
  5. Installation according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first engagement means provided on the first door (C) comprise a first locking ball system (64) controlled by a first rotary shaft section (60) traversing the first door in a tight manner and whereof the locking balls are able to penetrate behind a collar (66) of the third door (F), forming third engagement means, the fourth engagement means comprise a second locking ball system (100) controlled by a second rotary shaft section (94) traversing the third door (F) in a tight manner and whereof the locking balls are able to penetrate behind a collar (104) of the fourth door, forming the fifth engagement means, the sixth disconnectable linking means comprise a third locking ball system (120) fitted in the fourth door (H), controlled by a third rotary shaft (112) section traversing the fourth door in a tight manner and whereof the locking balls are able to penetrate a groove (124) of the fourth flange (G), said first, second and third rotary shaft sections (60,100,120) being able to cooperate by rotation linking means (96,98,114,116) when the doors which support them are coupled.
  6. Installation according to any one of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the first, second and third disconnectable linking means comprise pull-out means (32,40, 32′,40′) accessible from the interior of the enclosures (12,16).
  7. Installation according to any one of the claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the application means comprise second elastic means (26) fitted in the transportation container (20) and on which bear the transfer chamber (22) when it is placed in said container.
EP92400718A 1991-03-20 1992-03-18 Method and installation for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure to a second enclosure without contaminating the latter Expired - Lifetime EP0505269B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9103390A FR2674225B1 (en) 1991-03-20 1991-03-20 PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR TRANSFERRING PRODUCTS FROM A CONTAMINATED ENCLOSURE TO A SECOND ENCLOSURE, WITHOUT CONTAMINATING THE LATTER.
FR9103390 1991-03-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0505269A1 EP0505269A1 (en) 1992-09-23
EP0505269B1 true EP0505269B1 (en) 1995-06-28

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92400718A Expired - Lifetime EP0505269B1 (en) 1991-03-20 1992-03-18 Method and installation for transferring products from a contaminated enclosure to a second enclosure without contaminating the latter

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US (1) US5226781A (en)
EP (1) EP0505269B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3090532B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69203121T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2674225B1 (en)

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FR2674225A1 (en) 1992-09-25
DE69203121T2 (en) 1996-02-29
EP0505269A1 (en) 1992-09-23
JPH05288894A (en) 1993-11-05
US5226781A (en) 1993-07-13
JP3090532B2 (en) 2000-09-25
FR2674225B1 (en) 1993-07-16
DE69203121D1 (en) 1995-08-03

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