JP2002002953A - Sample transportation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sample transportation device for accurately discriminating the passage of a capsule. SOLUTION: The device comprises the capsule 8 which is formed of a ferromagnetic material for releasing a magnetic field and in which the sample can be inserted, a ring 8c formed of a non-ferromagnetic material and externally fixed to the capsule 8, a transportation pipe 3 in which the capsule 8 can be moved, and a field detector 10 mounted at the outside of a predetermined portion of the transportation pipe 3 via a clamp 9. The magnetic field released by the capsule 8 is detected by the field detector 10 for discriminating the passage of the capsule 8. The ring 8c formed of the non-ferromagnetic material is used to avoid the magnetic attraction of the capsule 8 to the inner face of the transportation pipe 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample transport device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of a conventional sample transporting apparatus. In this sample transporting apparatus, a portion closer to the base end is located outside the reactor pressure vessel 1 for research and a portion closer to the tip end. A transport pipe 3 that penetrates the reactor pressure vessel 1 and is located in the vicinity of the reactor core 2, an outer cylinder 4 surrounding a portion of the transport pipe 3 located inside the reactor pressure vessel 1, The transport / collection container 5 provided at the base end of the transport tube 3, a capsule 6 movable inside the transport tube 3, and a hearing aid 7 attached to a predetermined portion of the transport tube 3.

[0003] Water W is filled in the inside of the transport pipe 3, the outer cylinder 4, and the delivery / collection container 5, and a hole through which the water W can flow is provided at the tip of the transport pipe 3. Have been.

[0004] The capsule 6 is composed of a capsule body 6a having a hollow structure into which one end is opened and a sample is inserted, and a lid 6b capable of closing an opening of the capsule body 6a.

When irradiating a sample with this sample transport apparatus, the capsule body 6 into which the sample is inserted is used.
a is closed by the lid 6b, and the capsule 6 is loaded into the sending / collecting container 5, and then the sending / collecting container 5 is closed.
While applying the water pressure P1, the inside of the outer cylinder 4 is communicated with a storage tank (not shown).

As a result, the capsule 6 is pushed out of the delivery / collection container 5 toward the tip of the transport pipe 3, and the sample inside the capsule 6 reaching the vicinity of the reactor core 2 is irradiated with radiation.

Further, when collecting the sample which has been irradiated with the radiation, a water pressure P2 is applied to the outer cylinder 4 and the inside of the sending and collecting vessel 5 is communicated with the storage tank.

As a result, the capsule 6 is pushed back to the delivery / collection container 5 from the tip of the transport pipe 3.

Further, when the capsule 6 is moved, a sound passing through the capsule 6 is detected by the hearing device 7 and whether or not the capsule 6 has passed a predetermined portion of the transport pipe 3 is determined based on a signal 7 s of the hearing device 7. Is determined.

[0010]

However, in the sample transporting apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the signal 7s from the hearing aid 7 contains elements other than the passing sound caused by other sound sources as noise. , The passage of the capsule 6 may not be reliably determined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a sample transport apparatus capable of reliably determining passage of a capsule.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a sample transport apparatus according to the present invention comprises a capsule formed of a ferromagnetic material that emits a magnetic field and into which a sample can be inserted, and a nonmagnetic material. A ring that is fitted and secured to the capsule, and a transport tube through which the capsule can move.
A magnetic field detector installed outside a predetermined portion of the transport pipe.

In the sample transport apparatus of the present invention, the magnetic field emitted from the capsule moving inside the transport tube is detected by a magnetic field detector installed outside the transport tube to determine the passage of the capsule.

Further, the ring made of a non-magnetic material avoids magnetic attraction of the capsule to the inner surface of the transport tube.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a sample transport apparatus according to the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4 denote the same parts.

This sample transport apparatus comprises a transport pipe 3, a capsule 8 movable inside the transport pipe 3, and a magnetic field detector 1 attached to an outer surface of a predetermined location of the transport pipe 3 by a clamp 9.
0.

The capsule 8 comprises a capsule body 8a having an open end and a hollow structure into which a sample is inserted, and a lid 8b capable of closing the opening of the capsule body 8a. A plurality of rings 8c are externally fitted and fixed to 8a.

A ferromagnetic material that emits a magnetic field is used as a material for forming the capsule body 8a, and a non-magnetic material is used as a material for forming the ring 8c.

The clamp 9 has a first structure 11 and a second structure 12 which are in contact with the outer surface of the transport pipe 3, respectively, and a bolt 13 and a nut 14 which fasten the two structures 11, 12 to each other. ing.

The first structure 11 is formed in an arc shape which can be in contact with about half of the outer surface of the transport pipe 3 in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction of the transport pipe 3 and is arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the transport pipe 3. A pair of end plates 15, a reinforcing plate 16 which is curved along the outer surface of the transport pipe 3 and is fixed to the end plate 15 at intervals in the circumferential direction of the transport pipe 3, and Connecting plate 1 connected to a non-adjacent end and fixed to end plate 15
7, both end plates 15 and both reinforcing plates 16
A magnetic field detector 10 is provided in a space surrounded by.

The second structure 12 is formed in an arc shape which can be in contact with about half of the outer surface of the transport pipe 3 in the circumferential direction as viewed in the axial direction of the transport pipe 3 and is arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the transport pipe 3. A pair of end plates 18, a reinforcing plate 19 curved along the outer surface of the transport pipe 3 and fixed to the end plate 18, and connected to the circumferential end of the reinforcing plate 19 in the transport pipe 3 and fixed to the end plate 18. The connecting plate 20 is fastened to the connecting plate 17 of the first structure 11 by bolts 13 and nuts 14.

Further, the magnetic field detector 10 is configured to output a signal 10s when detecting a magnetic field.

In the sample transport apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a water pressure P1 is applied to the capsule 8 from the proximal end of the transport pipe 3, and a hydraulic pressure P2 is applied to the capsule 8 from the distal end of the transport pipe 3. By providing, when the capsule 8 moving in the predetermined direction inside the transport pipe 3 passes through the place where the magnetic field detector 10 is installed, the ferromagnetic material that is the material forming the capsule body 8a emits. The magnetic field is detected by the magnetic field detector 10, and a signal 10s is output from the magnetic field detector 10.

As described above, in the sample transport device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the capsule 8 moving inside the transport tube 3 is used.
Is detected by the magnetic field detector 10, so that passage through the capsule 8 can be reliably detected.

Further, since the material forming the ring 8c externally fitted and fixed to the capsule body 8a is a non-magnetic material, magnetic attraction of the capsule body 8a to the inner surface of the transport pipe 3 can be avoided.

Further, since the magnetic field detector 10 is attached to the outside of the transport pipe 3 via the clamp 9, application to an existing sample transport apparatus can be dealt with by simple modification.

The sample transporting apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes a plurality of magnetic field detectors attached to the transport pipe, and does not depart from the gist of the present invention. Of course, changes can be made in the range.

[0029]

As described above, according to the sample transport apparatus of the present invention, various excellent effects as described below can be obtained.

(1) Since the magnetic field emitted from the capsule moving inside the transport pipe is detected by the magnetic field detector, the passage of the capsule can be reliably determined.

(2) Since the ring made of a non-magnetic material is externally fitted and fixed to the capsule, magnetic attraction of the capsule to the inner surface of the transport tube can be avoided.

(3) Since the magnetic field detector is installed outside the transport tube, application to an existing sample transport device can be dealt with by simple modification.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away side view showing an example of an embodiment of a sample transport device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the capsule in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a conventional sample transport device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the capsule in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 transport tube 8 capsule 8c ring 10 magnetic field detector

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A capsule formed of a ferromagnetic material that emits a magnetic field and into which a sample can be inserted, a ring formed of a non-magnetic material and externally fixed to the capsule, and a transport that allows the capsule to move inside. A sample transport apparatus comprising: a pipe; and a magnetic field detector installed outside a predetermined portion of the transport pipe.