EP4241287A2

EP4241287A2 - Connection assembly for a sealed transfer container

Info

Publication number: EP4241287A2
Application number: EP21851661.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean Belin
Original assignee: Getinge Life Science France SAS
Current assignee: Getinge Life Science France SAS
Priority date: 2020-12-10
Filing date: 2021-12-09
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Also published as: FR3117464B1; WO2022123183A2; AU2021396575A9; AU2021396575A1; JP2024501460A; CA3201618A1; CN116981638A; FR3117464A1; US20240029907A1; WO2022123183A3; TW202224771A

Abstract

A connection assembly for a sealed transfer container having a sealed transfer cell comprising a cell flange (18) and a cell door (22), the assembly comprising a container flange (20) and a container door (24) that is mounted in the container flange (20), wherein the container flange (20) comprises a first longitudinal portion (42) for connecting to the cell and a second longitudinal portion (44) for connecting to a container, the first longitudinal connecting portion (42) and the second longitudinal connecting portion (44) being connected by a shoulder (84) facing the container door.

Description

Title: CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FOR WATERPROOF TRANSFER CONTAINER

TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a connection assembly for a sealed transfer container and to a container comprising such a connection assembly.

In a number of industrial sectors, including the nuclear, medical, pharmaceutical and agri-food sectors, it is necessary or desirable to perform certain tasks in a confined atmosphere, either in order to protect the environment, for example from radioactivity , toxicity..., or on the contrary to be able to carry out these tasks in an aseptic or dust-free atmosphere, or finally both simultaneously.

The transfer of devices or products from one closed volume to another, without at any time the sealing of each of these volumes vis-à-vis the outside being broken, poses a delicate problem to to fill. This problem can be solved by a double door connection device.

Such a double-door device provided with a multiple-safety control is for example known from document FR 2 695 343. Each volume is closed by a door mounted in a flange. Each door is secured to its flange either by a bayonet connection or by a hinge and a locking system and the two flanges are intended to be secured to each other by a bayonet connection.

For example, one of the closed volumes is formed by an isolator and the other volume is formed by a flexible container, also referred to as a sealed transfer bag.

Conventionally the connection part carried by the insulator is designated alpha part and the connection part carried by the container is designated beta part.

Gaskets are provided on the alpha part and on the beta part to ensure sealing between the connected volumes.

The beta part comprises a beta flange closed by a beta gate, the beta flange and the beta gate cooperating with each other by a bayonet connection, and the alpha part comprises an alpha flange closed by an alpha door, the alpha door being articulated on the alpha flange by a hinge. Sealing between the beta flange and the beta door is ensured by a seal housed in the beta flange.

The connection between the transfer bag and the enclosure is made by mechanical cooperation of the beta flange and the alpha flange by a bayonet-type connection. This mechanical cooperation ensures both the mechanical connection and the sealing of the connection.

The tight connection cycle is as follows:

The container carrying the beta part is approached to the alpha part, the ears of the beta flange enter notches of the alpha flange, and the beta door ears enter notches of the alpha door. The container is rotated, for example clockwise, the ears of the beta flange rotate and slide in a groove of the alpha flange. Simultaneously, due to the friction of the seal carried by the beta flange, the rotation of the container causes the rotation of the beta door, which causes the connection between the beta door and the alpha door by the bayonet connection. The two doors are then joined together. Each lug of the beta gate then comes to rest against a circumferential stop carried by the alpha gate.

The container is still rotated, due to the bearing of the ears of the door beta against the circumferential stops on the door alpha, the rotation of the container causes the disconnection between the door beta and the flange beta.

Depending on the seals, one carried by the beta flange and the other carried by the alpha door, the following alternative is possible:

Simultaneously with the pivoting and sliding of the lugs of the beta flange in a groove of the alpha flange, due to the friction of the seal carried by the alpha door, the beta door is held stationary in rotation and the beta door is disconnected from the beta flange . Each lug of the beta flange then bears against a circumferential abutment carried by the beta door.

The container is still pivoted, due to the support of the ears of the beta flange against the circumferential stops on the beta door, the rotation of the container causes the beta gate to rotate, which causes the connection between the beta gate and the alpha gate through the bayonet link. The two doors are then joined together.

From inside the cubicle, the alpha door is unlocked and the set of two doors can be swiveled inwards around the hinge pin.

The transfer between the two volumes can take place.

The disconnection cycle is as follows:

The two doors are put back in place in the brackets.

The container is rotated counterclockwise. Due to the friction between the gates, the beta gate remains stationary in rotation, causing the beta gate and the beta flange to connect. Then, circumferential abutments carried by the beta flange bear against the circumferential abutments of the beta door, causing the rotation of the beta door relative to the alpha door and their disconnection. The container is also disconnected from the alpha flange. The container can then be removed from the flange.

The circumferential stops carried by the beta flange are formed by a circumferential end of the lugs of the beta flange. This results in lugs of large circumferential dimensions, for example the alpha flange has four lugs, the lugs each extending over an angle of 60°.

Containers, generally flexible bags, are usually intended for the sterile transfer of small components such as stoppers, syringe plungers, plastic vials, etc. on filling lines in the pharmaceutical industry.

Components can jam during transfer between container and cell.

Furthermore, in order to protect the contamination ring, designated "ring of concern", an internal sleeve which is located in the container is generally deployed by the operator in the direction of the cell, this sleeve covers the contamination ring and provides a channel for component flow. The implementation of this internal sleeve requires the intervention of an operator from inside the cell which, on the one hand, complicates the operations and lengthens the transfer time, and on the other hand prevents the installation of an opening system from the outside, ie not requiring the intervention of an operator from inside the cell.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connection assembly for a sealed transfer container, comprising a flange and a door, allowing easy transfer between the container and a cell.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a connection assembly for a sealed transfer container, comprising a flange and a door, making it possible to dispense with the use of an internal sleeve during transfers.

The objects stated above are achieved by a connection assembly for a sealed transfer container comprising a flange and a door, the flange has an integrated drop, the drop connecting to the part of the flange providing the connection to the alpha part and to the the door, by a shoulder oriented towards the beta door. Thus, the container function and the connection function are separated.

The end of a drop which is placed in the cell can then advantageously bear against the shoulder, which will protect the ring from contamination. In addition, it isolates the lugs from the flange of the components, the risks of jamming are then eliminated.

It is then no longer necessary to deploy an internal sleeve in the isolator to protect the ring from contamination. The beta flange according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for opening the alpha door by an external opening system, whether motorized or not, for which the manual operations from inside the insulator and the presence of the glove are removed.

On the one hand, when the beta door is closed, the drop integrated with the beta flange and the closed container door form a smooth-walled space, the components contained in the container cannot come to be wedged between the flange and the door. . On the other hand, when the double door is open, the integrated drop and the drop contained in the insulator which bears against the shoulder of the beta flange form a transfer path which does not include any obstacle. The spillage of components is facilitated. The dimensions and shape of the integrated chute depend on the shape and dimensions of the components to be transferred.

According to another aspect, the beta door comprises two sets of circumferential stops, one set of stops being actuated when connecting the container to an alpha part and the other set of stops being actuated when disconnecting the container from the alpha part , the two games cooperating with the ears of the flange ensuring the locking of the door on the flange. The angular extension of the ears of the beta part can be substantially reduced, for example the angular extension can be 30° instead of 60° in the state of the art.

This reduction in angular extension facilitates the molding of flanges made by injection and the number of undercuts can be reduced. It then becomes advantageous to produce the beta flange by injection. A gain in material is obtained.

In the case where the flange does not dissociate the container function and the connection function, the reduction of the angular extension of the ears makes it possible to limit the risks of jamming of components, by substantially increasing the section of passage between the container and the cell .

In other words, the ears of the beta flange intended for connecting the beta door are sized to ensure the fastening of the door to the flange and the stops are no longer distributed between the flange and the door but are only on the gate.

The realization of the stops only on the door complicates its manufacture little and, when the beta door is secured to the alpha door and housed in the cell, the stops do not interfere with the transfer.

The subject of the present application is therefore a connection assembly for a leaktight transfer container with a leaktight transfer cell comprising a cell flange and a cell door, said connection assembly comprising a container flange and a container door mounted in the container flange, the flange comprising a first longitudinal portion for connection to the cell and a second longitudinal portion for connection to a container, the first longitudinal portion of connection and the second longitudinal connection portion being connected by a shoulder facing the container door.

Advantageously, the second longitudinal portion forms a fall integrated into the container flange.

Preferably, the assembly comprises an annular seal between the shoulder and a face of the container door facing the shoulder.

The assembly may include bayonet connection means between the container flange and the container door, the container flange being configured to connect to the cell flange, by a bayonet connection and the container door being configured to connect to the cell door by a bayonet connection, the container flange having on its radially inner periphery inner lugs extending radially inwards and separated by notches, and the container door having on its radially inner periphery radially outwardly extending lugs separated by notches, the container door having a first stop set comprising at least one stop member for an inner lug of the container flange in a direction of rotation of the flange container in a connection phase of the connection assembly to the cell, and a second abutment set distinct from the first abutment set, comp bearing at least one abutment element, for an inner lug of the container flange in a direction of rotation of the container flange in a disconnection phase of the connection assembly to the cell.

Preferably, the first abutment set has the same number of abutment elements as the number of inner lugs, and the second abutment set has the same number of abutment elements as the number of inner lugs.

In one example, the container door ears have an angular extension equal to twice the angular extension of the inner ears.

According to an additional characteristic, each abutment element of the first abutment set is located at a lateral end of a lug of the container door, and each abutment element of the second abutment set is located at an equal distance from the two lateral ends of an ear of the container door. According to another additional characteristic, each abutment element is formed by a pin parallel to the axis of the container door.

According to a preferred embodiment, the container door is configured to connect with the cell door by a bayonet connection implementing three ears.

The container flange can be configured to connect with the cell flange by a bayonet connection implementing three lugs.

The present application also relates to a sealed transfer container comprising a connection assembly according to the invention and a container fixed to the container flange.

The container can be fixed to the second connection part by welding or by clamping means.

The present application also relates to a leaktight transfer installation comprising a cell comprising a cell flange, a cell door, cell door locking means on the cell flange, and a leaktight transfer container according to the invention .

The cell can advantageously comprise a movable internal fall so that a first longitudinal end of the internal fall comes to rest against the shoulder. Advantageously, the first longitudinal end of the internal chute comprises an annular seal intended to come into contact with the shoulder.

According to an additional characteristic, the first longitudinal end of the internal chute has an internal diameter close to or equal to the internal diameter of the second longitudinal portion so that, when the internal chute is bearing against the shoulder, a pipe having a surface substantially smooth interior is achieved.

The bayonet connection between the container door and the cell door can implement three ears.

The bayonet connection between the container flange and the cell flange can implement three ears. Advantageously, the installation comprises a motorized control of the locking means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood on the basis of the following description and the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating the connection of a transfer container to a cell by means of a sealed double-door transfer device by bayonet-type means.

Figure 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of a connection assembly.

Figure 2B is a longitudinal sectional view of a variant of the assembly of Figure 2A.

Figure 2C is a longitudinal sectional view of another variant of the assembly of Figure 2A.

Figure 2D is a longitudinal sectional view of another variant of Figure 2A.

Figure 3 is a side view of the connection assembly connected to a cell and docked by an internal drop.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variant of the flange of Figure 2A.

Figure 5A

Figure 5B are side views of variants of the flange of Figure 2A.

Figure 6A

Figure 6B are side views of variants of the flange of Figure 2A.

Figure 7 is a side view of a variant of the flange of Figure 2A.

Figure 8A

Figure 8B are side views of variants of the flange of Figure 2A.

Figure 9A

Figure 9B are side views of variants of the flange of Figure 2A. Figure 10A is a perspective view of another example of a flange, door and gasket connection assembly for a transfer container and a cell flange and door seen from the outside.

Figure 10B is a perspective view of the transfer container connection assembly of Figure 10A.

Figure 11 is a top view of the transfer container flange of Figure 10A shown alone.

Figure 12A is a view of the inside face of the transfer container door of Figure 10A shown alone.

Figure 12B is an exterior view of a flange, door and seal connection assembly for the transfer container of Figure 10A.

Figure 12C is a side view of the door of Figure 12A.

Figure 13A

Figure 13B

Figure 13C

Figure 13D are container side views of the various stages of connecting the assembly of Figure 10A to a cell.

Figure 14A

Figure 14B

Figure 14C are front views of cell flange and cell door according to other embodiments.

Figure 15A is a perspective view of an alternative for the flange of the connector assembly of Figure 10A.

Figure 15B is a perspective view of another alternative for the flange of the connector assembly of Figure 10A.

Figure 16A is a perspective view of a connector assembly configured to connect to the cell flange and cell door of Figure 14A.

Figure 16B is a perspective view of a connector assembly configured to connect to the cell flange and cell door of Figure 14B. Figure 16C is a perspective view of a connector assembly configured to connect to the cell flange and cell door of Figure 14C.

Figure 17A is a perspective view of a bridle with three outer ears and three inner ears.

Figure 17B

Figure 17C show perspective views of the outer and inner faces respectively of a container door adapted to connect to the flange of Figure 17A.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, the expressions "cell door" and "alpha door" are synonymous, the expressions "container door" and "beta door" are synonymous, the expressions "cell flange" and "alpha flange" are synonyms and the expressions "container flange" and "beta flange" are synonymous.

In Figure 1, one can see a schematic representation of a double-door sealed transfer system in which a transfer container according to the invention can be implemented.

In general, the double door transfer system has a symmetry of revolution around the X axis which is the axis of the cell flange.

In the following description, the two closed volumes that it is desired to connect correspond respectively to an insulator 10 or cell and to a container 12. In this example, the container comprises a flexible container part.

The cell 10 is delimited by a wall 14 of which only part is visible in FIG. 1. It can be equipped, for example, with remote manipulation means such as telemanipulators and/or gloves (not shown) integral with the wall 14 The container 12 is also delimited by a wall 16, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 1. The wall 16 is formed by a flexible bag, for example obtained by welding at their edges two pieces of film, for example of rectangular shape. The bag has an opening sealed to a flange. The double-door sealed transfer device mainly comprises a cell flange 18, a container flange 20 equipped with a seal 25, a cell door 22 equipped with a seal 82 normally closing a circular opening delimited by the cell flange 18, and a container door 24 normally closing an opening delimited by the container flange 20. The cell flange 18 and the container flange 20 are fixed respectively on the wall 14 of the cell 10 and on the wall 16 of the container 12 In this example, the cell door 22 is hinged to the cell flange 18 by a hinge 26.

Means designated generally by the reference 28, make it possible to control the opening and closing of the doors 22 and 24.

The fastening of the container door 24 to the container flange 20 is provided by a bayonet connection, to allow the fastening of the container flange 20 to the cell flange 18 and the fastening of the container door 24 to the door. of cell 22, the double-door watertight transfer system also includes two other bayonet connections. The three bayonet connections are arranged in such a way that after docking of the container flange 20 on the cell flange 18, a rotation of the container 12 around its axis, for example in the direction of clockwise, has the effect of joining the container flange 20 and the cell flange 18, of joining the container door 24 and the cell door 22, and of separating the container door 24 from the container flange 20. In one mode of operation , these last two operations are carried out consecutively, so that the opening of the container only occurs after the container door 24 has been secured to the cell door 22 to form a double door.

The assembly formed by the cell flange and the cell door is commonly referred to as the “alpha part”.

The assembly formed by the container flange 20, the container door 24 and the gasket 25 mounted on the flange, and which provides both the seal between the flange and the container door 24 and between the cell flange 18 and the container flange 20, is commonly referred to as a "beta part". The transfer container then comprises a beta connection part and a container which is flexible in this example. The beta connection part will also be referred to as a connection set.

The connection assembly comprises the container flange 20 and the container door 24. The container is secured in a sealed manner to the flange, for example by welding or by mechanical means, for example by a clamp in the case of a flexible container.

In FIG. 2A, one can see an example of a container flange 20 according to the invention. The body of the flange 20 includes a shoulder 84 connecting the first longitudinal connection portion 42 to and the second longitudinal connection portion 44 to the container.

The second face 56 of door 24 faces the shoulder. The second longitudinal portion 44 of tubular shape and the shoulder 84 border the second longitudinal end on the outside.

The second longitudinal portion 44 forms an integrated chute 86. The term “chute” refers to an element, for example tubular or formed in part by a portion of tube and delimiting a flow path ensuring the guidance of the objects.

The shoulder 84 and the chute 86 are intended to cooperate very advantageously with an internal chute in the cell to ensure the dumping of the objects.

In Figure 2B, another example of a container flange 20 according to the invention can be seen. Very advantageously, an annular seal 88 is disposed on the shoulder 84. In this example, when the door 24 is mounted in the flange 20, the face 56 of the door 24 is in contact with the seal 88. The function of the seal 88 is to ensure the seal, on the one hand, between the flange 20 and the door 24 and, on the other hand, between the flange 20 and an internal drop in the cell.

Advantageously, the seal 88, placed in the shoulder of the flange 20, protects the interior volume of the container 12 from the particles caused by the friction between the door and the container flange. Alternatively and according to Figure 2C, the seal 88 can be placed on the face 56 of the door 24 to provide this seal. Sealing between the flange 20 and the fall inside the cell is then made in this variant by adding a gasket 88' to the inside fall, as shown in FIG. 2D.

The flange 20 separates the connection part to the cell from the containing part, thus it makes it possible to protect the contamination ring, designated “ring of concern”, liable to be polluted.

An example of operation will now be described.

The container is connected to the cell as described above, the passage between the cell and the container is open.

An internal drop 90 (FIGS. 2D and 3) located in the cell is placed in the flange 20 so that one of its longitudinal ends 90.1 bears against the seal 88 or that the seal 88 carried by the drop 90 comes in contact with the shoulder 84. The presence of the gasket 88 provides a seal between the flange 20 and the internal chute 90 and makes the transfer of powder possible.

Very advantageously, the internal diameter of the internal drop 90 is close to or equal to the internal diameter of the shoulder 84. Thus a flow path having a substantially smooth internal surface is provided between the internal drop 90 and the integrated drop. 86 of the flange 20, limiting or even avoiding any risk of jamming of objects flowing between the container and the cell. The term “substantially smooth inner surface” is understood to mean an inner surface exhibiting little or no variation in transverse dimension or else a continuous variation in transverse dimension that does not create any obstacle to the flow of the object.

The flange 20 makes it possible to avoid deploying a sleeve in the isolator to protect the transferred objects from the contamination ring, designated “ring of concern”. Manual operations from inside the isolator and the presence of the glove required to deploy the sleeve are eliminated. The flange 20 is then particularly suitable for installations with automatic door opening without manual intervention, ie without unlocking the cell door from the inside by an operator. A motorized system can then be implemented to control the locking and unlocking of the cell door. In the examples of FIGS. 2A to 2D, the integrated chute has a cylindrical shape with a circular section and constant diameter and is coaxial with the end portion of the internal chute resting against the shoulder 84.

In Figures 4 to 9B, other examples of integrated drop are shown.

In FIG. 4, the flange 220 includes an integrated drop 286, the axis XC of which is inclined with respect to the axis of the first connection portion of the flange.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the flange 320, 320' comprises an integrated drop 386, 386' respectively in the shape of a funnel, i.e. a frustoconical shape with a small base oriented on the side of the flange and having a diameter equal to the opening of the flange.

In FIG. 5A, the axis of the truncated cone is coaxial with that of the flange.

In FIG. 5B, the axis of the truncated cone is inclined with respect to that of the flange.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the flange 420, 420' comprises an integrated drop 486, 486' respectively having a frustoconical shape with a large base oriented towards the side of the flange and having a diameter equal to the opening of the flange.

In FIG. 6A, the axis of the truncated cone is coaxial with that of the flange.

In FIG. 6B, the axis of the truncated cone is inclined with respect to that of the flange.

In Figure 7, flange 520 has an integrated drop 586 having a curved shape, for example an elbow shape. The end of the integrated chute connected to the flange has a diameter equal to that of the opening of the flange.

In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the flange comprises an integrated drop 620, 620' having a substantially frustoconical shape whose side wall is concave, and with a small base oriented on the side of the flange and having a diameter equal to the opening of the flange.

In FIG. 8A, the axis of the integrated drop is coaxial with that of the flange.

In FIG. 8B, the axis of the integrated drop is inclined with respect to that of the flange.

In Figures 9A and 9B, flange 720, 720' has an integrated drop

786, 786' respectively having a substantially frustoconical shape whose wall side is convex, with a large base oriented towards the side of the flange and having a diameter equal to the opening of the flange.

In FIG. 9A, the axis of the internal drop is coaxial with that of the flange.

In FIG. 9B, the axis of the internal drop is inclined with respect to that of the flange.

In Figures 10A, 10B, 11, 12A and 12B, an example of a connection assembly can be seen.

The flange 120 comprises a body of substantially tubular shape with a longitudinal axis X′ comprising a first longitudinal connection portion 42 to a part alpha of a cell and a second longitudinal connection portion 44 to the flexible container. A longitudinal passage is delimited through the two longitudinal portions. The first longitudinal connection portion 42 is configured to be closed off by the door 24. A container with a rigid container does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

The first connection portion 42 comprises on its radially outer periphery lugs 46, designated outer lugs, intended to cooperate with the flange alpha 18 to form a bayonet connection. The outer lugs 46 are distributed angularly in a regular manner. In the example shown, the outer lugs 46 are four in number. Advantageously, the layout and shape of the outer lugs 46 are similar or identical to those of the beta parts of the existing containers, thus allowing interchangeability of the containers and seeing the replacement of the existing containers by the containers according to the present invention without inconvenience for the user.

The first connection portion 42 comprises connection means cooperating with the door 24. The connection means are of the bayonet type. They have lugs 52, designated inner lugs, four in the example shown, projecting radially inwards. The inner lugs 52 are distributed angularly in a regular manner around the axis X'. In this example, each inner ear 52 has an angular extension of 30°, relatively small compared to the internal ears of the beta parts of the state of the art, allowing to increase the section of passage through the flange.

In the example shown, each inner ear 52 is aligned with an outer ear along a radius.

The flange 120, as well as the door 24, are advantageously made of plastic material, for example high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polysulfone (PSU), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polyetherimide (PEI), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blend, polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) ) or styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer. The flange can advantageously be obtained directly by injection. Indeed, the reduced angular dimensions of the inner lugs 52 facilitate injection molding because they limit the size of the undercuts, and therefore the width of the drawers to be implemented in the mold.

In FIGS. 12A and 12B, a top view of an embodiment of door 24 can be seen. Door 24 has the shape of a disc. It comprises a body provided with a first face 54 intended to be placed outside the container and facing the alpha door 22 and a second face 56 intended to be placed inside the container. The two faces 54, 56 are connected by an edge 57.

The door comprises, on its second face 56, connection means 58 configured to cooperate with the inner lugs 52 of the flange 120, and on its first face 54 connection means 60 to the cell door 22.

The connection means 58 comprise, on the radially outer periphery of the disc, lugs 62 separated two by two by a notch 64. The door comprises an annular groove 66 (FIG. 12C) formed in the edge 57 and connecting the notches 64 to each other. . The body of the door then comprises a plate 59 and ears.

The ears and the notches are distributed angularly in a regular manner around the axis of the door 24. The notches have an angular extension of approximately 30° to allow the fitting of the flange internal ears and the ears have an angular extension of 60°. An angular play, for example of the order of 5°, is provided to allow the mounting of the lugs in the notches for the bayonet connection.

In addition, the door 24 includes a first stop game 67, called connection game, intended to allow the rotational attachment of the container door 24 and the cell door 22 on part of the rotation of the flange 120 during from the container connection to the alpha part. The door 24 also includes a second abutment clearance 68, called disconnection clearance, intended to allow the attachment in rotation of the flange 120 and the door 24 on part of the rotation of the flange during the disconnection of the container at the alpha part.

In the exemplary embodiment, the connection abutment set 67 comprises four abutment elements 70, each abutment element 70 being intended to cooperate with a first lateral end 52.1 of an inner lug 52 of the flange 120.

Each abutment element 70 is positioned at a lateral end of an ear of the door 24, and the abutment elements 70 are arranged relative to each other so as to be distributed angularly in a uniform manner. They are separated from each other by an angle of 90°. In this example, the abutment elements 70 are formed by pins, for example metal, mounted parallel to the axis of the door and passing through a lug, the groove and the plate. The pins can be mounted in the door after it has been manufactured.

Alternatively, the abutment elements 70 are made directly from material with the body of the door, for example during thermoplastic injection molding.

Alternatively, one, two or three abutment elements 70 are implemented. Nevertheless, a greater number of abutment elements makes it possible to distribute the force, limiting the risks of damaging the flange.

In the exemplary embodiment, the disconnection abutment set 68 comprises four abutment elements 72, each abutment element 72 being intended to cooperate with a second lateral end 52.2 of an inner lug 52 of the flange120. Each abutment element ni is positioned in a central zone of a lug 62 of the door and the abutment elements 72 are arranged relative to each other so as to be distributed angularly in a uniform manner. They are separated from each other by an angle of 90°. In this example, the abutment elements 72 are formed by pins, for example metal, mounted parallel to the axis of the door and passing through a lug, the groove and the plate. The pins can be mounted in the door after it has been manufactured.

Alternatively, the abutment elements 72 are made directly from material with the body of the door, for example during thermoplastic injection molding.

As for the abutment elements 70, one, two or three abutment elements 72 can be implemented. However, a greater number of abutment elements makes it possible to distribute the force, limiting the risks of damaging the flange.

The angle a between abutment elements 72 of the disconnection set relative to the abutment elements 70 of the connection set is chosen such that the angular displacement of the value of this angle ensures, in the connection phase, the disconnection between the flange 120 and the door 24, and the connection between the container door 24 and the cell door 22. The angular displacement of the value of this angle a ensures in the disconnection phase the connection of the container door 24 and the flange of container 120, and the disconnection of container door 24 and cell door 22.

In the example shown, the inner ears of beta flanges 52 have an angular extension of 30°, the ears of the beta door 62 have an angular extension of 60° and the notches between the ears 64 have an angular extension of 30° to accommodate the inner lugs 52 without counting the angular play of assembly.

The angle a between an abutment element 70 and an abutment element 72 intended to come into contact with the first lateral edge 52.1 and the second lateral edge 52.2 of the same inner lug of the flange 120 is equal to 60°.

The number and the relative angular position of the abutment elements are chosen according to the number of internal ears and the angular extensions of the various elements participating in the bayonet connections between the container door and the flange and between the container door and the door of cell. The connection means 60 between the door 24 and the cell door 22 comprise a recessed impression of circular shape 74, provided on its outer periphery with notches 76 extending radially outwards and intended to receive the ears of the cell door. An annular groove 78 centered on the axis of the door connects the notches and accommodates the ears of the cell door.

The cell door 22 comprises, projecting from its face located outside the cell, a projecting disc provided on its outer periphery with lugs 80 extending radially outwards and intended to be received in the notches 76 of the container door 24, and to cooperate with the groove 78 to ensure the immobilization of the two doors relative to each other in the longitudinal direction. The annular seal 82 is provided on the outer face of the cell door 22, intended to come into contact with the face of the container door and to ensure the seal between the two faces of the doors 22, 24.

The flange 120 has a clear passage and its production is simplified. Adding an extra stop set to the container door does not complicate or complicates very little its manufacture.

The connection and disconnection cycles between a container comprising the connection assembly according to the invention and a cell will now be described.

An example of a tight connection cycle will now be described:

The container is approached to the cell flange and the cell door, the outer lugs 46 of the flange 120 enter notches of the cell flange 18, and the lugs 80 of cell door 22 enter notches 76 of the container door 24 (FIGS. 10A and 13A). The container is rotated, clockwise, the outer ears 46 also rotate and slide in a groove of the cell flange 18. Simultaneously, due to friction between the container and cell doors, the door container 24 is held stationary in rotation relative to the flange 120, the inner lugs 52 slide relative to the container door 24 and are positioned opposite the notches 64 of the door 24, the flange 120 and the door 24 are then disconnected (FIG. 13B). Furthermore, each inner lug 52 of the flange 120 bears, by its first lateral edge 52.1, against an abutment element 70 of the connection set carried by the door 24.

The container is still pivoted, due to the support of the inner ears 52 of the flange 120 against the abutment elements 70, the rotation of the container causes the rotation of the door 24, which causes the relative rotation of the doors 24 and 22 , and the connection between the doors by the bayonet connection 60. The two doors are then secured longitudinally and in sealed contact (FIG. 13C).

The order of the sequences of the connection cycle described above can be modified according to the frictional forces between the seal carried by the container flange and the other carried by the cell door. The connection cycle can be as follows. Simultaneously, due to the friction of the seal carried by the container flange, the rotation of the container causes the rotation of the container door 24, which causes the connection between the container door 24 and the cell door 22 by the bayonet connection . The two doors 24, 22 are then joined together. Each ear of the container door 24 then bears against a circumferential stop carried by the cell door.

The container is still rotated, due to the bearing of the ears of the container door 24 against the circumferential stops on the cell door 22, the rotation of the container causes the disconnection between the container door 24 and the container flange 120 .

From inside the cell, the locking means 28 are controlled to unlock the cell door 22 and the assembly of the two doors can be pivoted towards the inside of the cell around the axis of the hinge 26 (figure 13D).

The transfer between the two volumes can take place. Due to the clear passage through the flange 120, the risks of object jamming are significantly reduced.

An example of a disconnect cycle is as follows:

All of the two doors 22, 24 are put back in place in the flanges.

The container is rotated counterclockwise. Due to the friction between the doors, the door 24 remains immobile in rotation, which causes the connection of the door 24 and the flange 120, and the inner lugs 52 come to bear against the abutment elements 72 by their second lateral edge 52.2 . The rotation of the container is continued, causing the relative rotation of the doors 22, 24 and the disconnection of the two doors 22, 24. The container is also disconnected from the cell flange 18. The container can then be removed from the flange.

The order of the sequences of the disconnection cycle described above can be modified according to the frictional forces between the seal carried by the container flange and the other carried by the cell door. The two doors 22, 24 are disconnected from each other, and then the container door 24 is connected to the container flange 120.

It will be understood that other angular extension values are possible. The angular extension value is chosen to ensure sufficient mechanical strength.

The connection assembly described above also has the advantage of being connectable to an existing alpha part without requiring adaptation.

According to a variant represented in FIG. 15A, the disconnection abutment clearance is produced on the flange 120, the abutment elements 72' of this clearance are not formed by an end of inner lugs but by distinct and discrete elements. Thus the flange has lugs of reduced angular extension, for example 30° instead of 60° allowing easy injection molding. The abutment elements can be made in one piece with the flange, for example by molding, but since these elements are simple in shape and of small size, they do not complicate injection molding. According to another variant represented in FIG. 15B, the abutment elements 72'' of the disconnection set are produced by metal pins attached to the flange.

The angle a of 60° is respected. These variants dissociate the functions of mechanical strength ensured by the lugs and of stopping in rotation ensured by the stops during the connection cycle.

The bayonet connection between the container door 24 and the container flange 20 can be a bayonet connection in which the stops are distributed between the door and the flange or a bayonet connection of the type described in relation to FIGS. 10A to 13D.

As another example, flange 20 and gate 24 can be modified to connect an alpha part by means other than a bayonet connection. In Figures 14A-14C, examples of alpha portion exhibiting reduced connection hyperstatism can be seen.

In FIG. 14A, the cell door 822 has three lugs 880. As a result, the container door is modified, the footprint on its exterior face then has three notches to accommodate the three lugs of the cell door. This connection advantageously has reduced hyperstatism, ensuring homogeneous compression of the seals, which is favorable to sealing between the two doors. The other elements of the alpha and beta parts are unchanged, such as the four-ear bayonet connection between the two flanges or the four-ear bayonet connection between the container flange and the container door.

This embodiment makes it very easy to adapt existing installations to containers whose door has a footprint with three notches by replacing the cell doors without having to replace the cell flange. Similarly, existing containers fitted with their flange can be adapted by replacing only the container door. In Fig. 16A can be seen a container flange 820 and container door 824 adapted to connect to the alpha portion of Fig. 14A.

The connection between the flange 820 and the door 824 can be made by four ears or by three ears.

In FIG. 14B, an alpha part can be seen in which the flange 918 has three connection notches 992 to the beta flange and the cell door 922 has four lugs 980. The hyperstatism of the connection between the cell flange and the container flange is reduced, which is favorable to the sealing between the two.

In this example, the cell flange is modified to have three ears.

In Fig. 16B there can be seen a container flange 920 and container door 924 adapted to connect to part alpha in Fig. 14B. The connection between the flange 920 and the door 924 can be made by four ears or by three ears.

In Figure 14C, cell flange 918 has three connection notches 992 to the beta flange and cell door 1022 has three ears 1080. In this example both the hyperstatism of the connection between the cell flange and the bridle container and the hyperstatism of the connection between the cell door and the container door are reduced.

In Fig. 16C, a beta part adapted to connect to the alpha part of Fig. 14C can be seen, and composed of the container flange 920 and the container door 824. The connection between the flange 920 and the door 824 can be performed by four ears or by three ears.

In the examples of Figures 14B and 14C, implementing cell flanges with three notches, an additional stop clearance is added to allow disconnection. Indeed, when the cell flange has four notches, the same abutment play can be used for connection and disconnection, for example by choosing four lugs each extending over 30° and a connection movement over 60°.

In the examples of Figures 14B and 14C, by choosing ears extending over 30° also, they are separated by 120°. However, the movement of connection and the movement of disconnection extend over 60°. In FIGS. 14B and 14C, one can see a first set of connection abutments 994 comprising three abutment elements located on a lateral edge of the ears and a second set of disconnection abutments 996 comprising three abutment elements located at 30° from the elements stop of the first set upstream of the latter in the direction of connection.

As a variant, provision may be made to produce lugs extending over 40° and separated by an angle of 80°, the connection and disconnection movements then taking place over an angular stroke of 80°. A single stop game can then be implemented.

In Figure 17A, a container flange 1020 can be seen having three inner ears and three outer ears, and in Figures 17B and 17C there can be seen a container door 1024 adapted to connect to the flange 1020. The flange assembly 1020 and gate 1024 is adapted to connect to portion alpha in Figure 14C.

Claims

24 Claims

1. Connection assembly for a sealed transfer container with a sealed transfer cell comprising a cell flange (18) and a cell door (22), said connection assembly comprising a container flange (20) and a container door (24) mounted in the container flange (20), wherein the container flange (20) has a first longitudinal connection portion (42) to the cell and a second longitudinal connection portion (44) to a container, the first longitudinal connection portion (42) and the second longitudinal connection portion (44) being connected by a shoulder (84) facing the container door.

2. Connection assembly according to claim 1, in which the second longitudinal portion (44) forms a drop integrated with the container flange.

3. Connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an annular seal (88) between the shoulder (84) and a face of the container door (24) facing the shoulder.

4. Connection assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising bayonet connection means between the container flange and the container door (24), the container flange being configured to connect to the cell flange (18) by a bayonet connection and the container door (24) being configured to connect to the cell door (22) by a bayonet connection, the container flange having on its radially inner periphery inner lugs (52 ) extending radially inwards and separated by notches, and the container door (24) having on its radially outer periphery ears (62) extending radially outwards separated by notches (64), the container door (24) having a first abutment set (67) comprising at least one abutment element (70) for an inner ear (52) of the container flange in a direction of rotation of the container flange in a connection phase of the cell connection assembly, and a second abutment set (68) separate from the first abutment set (67), comprising at least one abutment element (72), for an inner lug (52) of the flange container in a direction of rotation of the container flange in a disconnection phase of the connection assembly to the cell.

5. Connection assembly according to claim 4, in which the first abutment set (67) comprises the same number of abutment elements (70) as the number of internal lugs (52), and the second abutment set ( 68) has the same number of abutment elements (72) as the number of inner lugs (52).

6. Connection assembly according to claim 4 or 5, in which the ears (62) of the container door (24) have an angular extension equal to twice the angular extension of the inner ears (52).

7. Connection assembly according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein each abutment element (70) of the first abutment set (67) is located at a lateral end of a lug (62) of the container door (24), and each abutment element (72) of the second abutment set (68) is located equidistant from the two lateral ends of a lug (62) of the container door (24).

8. Connection assembly according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein each abutment element (70, 72) is formed by a pin parallel to the axis of the container door.

9. Connection assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container door is configured to connect with the cell door by a bayonet connection implementing three ears.

10. Connection assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container flange is configured to connect with the cell flange by a bayonet connection implementing three ears.

11. Sealed transfer container comprising a connection assembly according to one of the preceding claims and a container fixed to the container flange.

12. Sealed transfer container according to the preceding claim, wherein the container is fixed to the second connection part by welding or by clamping means.

13. Sealed transfer installation comprising a cell comprising a cell flange, a cell door, cell door locking means on the cell flange, and a sealed transfer container according to claim 11 or

12.

14. Sealed transfer installation according to claim 13, wherein the cell comprises an internal drop (90) movable so that a first longitudinal end of the internal drop comes to rest against the shoulder (84).

15. Sealed transfer installation according to the preceding claim, in which the first longitudinal end of the internal chute comprises an annular seal (88') intended to come into contact with the shoulder (84).

16. Sealed transfer installation according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the first longitudinal end of the internal fall (90) has an internal diameter close to or equal to the internal diameter of the second longitudinal portion so that when the internal fall ( 90) bears against the shoulder (84), a conduit having a substantially smooth inner surface is produced.

17. Sealed transfer installation according to one of claims 13 to

16 in combination with claim 9, wherein the bayonet connection between the container door and the cell door implements three lugs.

18. Sealed transfer installation according to one of claims 13 to

17 in combination with claim 10, wherein the bayonet connection between the container flange and the cell flange implements three lugs.

19. Transfer installation according to one of claims 13 to 18, comprising a motorized control of the locking means.