US2760655A

US2760655A - Remote handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2760655A
Application number: US504695A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry E Foskuhl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-04-28
Filing date: 1955-04-28
Publication date: 1956-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1956 H. E. FosKuHl.

REMOTE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 28, 1955 1N V EN TOR.

Henry E. Foskuh/ AT TORNE Y United States atent O REMOTE HANDLING APPARATUS Henry E. Foskuhl, Waynesville, Ohio, assignor to the Umted States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application April 28, 1955, Serial No. 504,695

Claims. (Cl. 214-17) .The present invention relates to remote control handlmg, and more especially to special equipment for performing operations of the type where the material to be handled must be closely confined, protected by an inert atmosphere, or Where an object must be inserted into a vacuum system without breaking the vacuum. The invention 1s. especially useful in transporting radioactive sample materials from one closed system to another closed system without the human operator touching the sample, wlthout allowing the escape of dangerous particles from the sample, and without exposing the operator to dangerous radiations given off by the sample.

In the performance of certain assay operations, radioactive foils must be transferred from a plating bath where they receive the active material to a microbalance for weighing. The foils are so highly radioactive that the complete transfer must be accomplished within a gas and radiation-tight chamber to prevent the spread of contamination as the foils are transported from one place to another. Moreover, adequate radiation shielding must be provided so that a human operator can carry the foils from place to place. Since certain operations must be performed inside vacuum chambers, means must be provided for inserting a foil into a chamber and removing it without breaking the vacuum, and also without allowing the external surfaces of the vacuum chamber to become contaminated from contact with or exposure to radiation from the foils. In addition, certain operations require that'the foil be moved from place to place within the enclosed chamber and be rotated through 180 to allow counting of both foil surfaces.

Other operations, not involving radioactivity, require that certain chemically active substances be shielded from air or from moisture during transport from one place to another, and that means be provided for inserting and withdrawing such substances from gas-tight vessels without dangerous exposure of the substance. Still other operations require replacement of small parts within a vacuum system, such as that of a mass spectrometer or a high pressure nuclear radiation counter, without loss of pressure or vacuum due to the insertion or removal of the part to be replaced.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of applicants invention to provide improved means for withdrawing, transporting, and inserting objects from one closed system into another closed system. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel sample carrier for transporting a substance in a gas-tight sealed carrier between the two closed systems. Yet another object of the invention is to provide novel fittings for vacuum systems including a detachable portion which may be transported from a first system to a second system and inserted into a corresponding tting member on the second system, together with means for insertion of the substance carried into the second system and manipulation of the substance therein. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a pre- Patented Aug. 28, k1956 ferred embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the detachable portion of my novel apparatus removed from its normal position for clarity.

Figure 2 illustrates, in partial section, the fitting including the detachable portion;

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the mechanism of thei invention as it is attached to a closed vacuum system, an

Figure 4 shows a sleeve forming an integral part of the sub-assembly of Figure l.

According to the invention, extendable forceps are provided inside the body of a detachable carrier which forms a vacuum tight seal with a mounting block member. The block member in turn is mounted on a wall of the systern to be served and communicates with the interior of the system `through an aperture which registers with an axial aperture in the carrier. A cam is provided with a cam follower which grasps the end cap of the carrier and slides it to one side responsive to cam movement to expose the axial carrier aperture to the registering aperture in the block. Means are provided for extending the forceps from inside the carrier through the block aperture into the closed system and for rotating the forceps therein.

Referring lirst to Figure 3, a typical installation of one embodiment of the invention on the wall of a closed, vacuum type vessel is illustrated.

Suitable knobs

42, 44 and their respective associated gearing are shown for moving the block 33 up and down and right and left. respectively, within the limits of frame 37. Block 33 is inserted into an aperture in the wall of the closed vessel so that the shoulders of the block abut against the external Wall face. A suitable frame 37, having thin inner edges and thicker outer edges surrounds the block and clamps it vacuum-tight against the vessel wall by means of screws 38, which fasten to the wall. A raised boss portion 39 receives the carrier 1 and a knurled, threaded and gasketed cap 40 fits overa flange 41 on the carrier` and the correspondingly threaded boss portion 39 to form a gas-tight seal. Arm 31 and handle 30 extend outward from the face of block 33 through Wilson seal 32 for easy operation of the cam 34, as shown in Figure 2.

In the sectional view of Figure 2, the block 33 is secured to a plate 36 by countersunk, flat-head screws, a ring gasket being provided to insure a vacuum-tight seal. The plate is provided with an entrance aperture 43 registering with the axis of a bore through boss 39 and the block 33. A channel 45 in the front face of the block receives the sliding gate 3S and also the .cam 34. The cam is mounted on arm 31, which extends out through a bore in the block 33 and a Wilson seal 32 and terminates in a handle '30. When the body of carrier 1 is inserted as shown, the end cap 25 lits in a firs-t of two parallel slots formed in the inner surface of a rectangular, sliding gate 35. Two leaf springs, not shown, are placed between the ga-te and the top ofrecess 45, so that a vacuum-tight, sliding seal is obtained between the gate and plate 36. Movement of the handle 30 will rotate arm 31 and cam 34, sliding gate 35 to the rig-ht in t-he ligure, pulling cap 2'5 across the face of the carrier and exposing the center aperture or mouth which registers with the corresponding opening 43 in the plate 36. It is Iapparent that .boss 39 could take the form of a counteribore in block 33 to receive the closure member 40, but the boss supports the member 40 where it can be grasped readily. A port 48 is provided near the'corner of recess 45, and is connected through a flexible metal tubing to an auxiliary vacuum and gas supply system.

yReferring now to Figure 1, the sample carrier may comprise a body member 1 of preferably tubular configuration, counterbored at one end to receive a Wilson seal 2 its inner face, a normally closed aperture in said face communicating with said recess, and a passageway from the outer face to said recess and aligned with said aperture; a detachable member having a hollow body portion disposed within said pass-ageway, a moveable cap at the inner end of said body, a handle, and axially extendable forceps mounted within said handle; a closure member engaging said body and said block for sealing said passageway; means for opening said aperture to said recess;

means for removing said cap to expose said hollow body to said apertures; and means for extending and manipulating forceps through said aperture into said vessel.

2. Means for entering a closed vessel through one Wall thereof comprising a loading block mounted in said Wall and provided with an aperture in its inner face, a recess in the inner portion communicating with said aperture, a boss portion, and a passageway between said boss and said recess and aligned with said aperture; a rectangular gate provided with irstand second parallel slots in its inner face slidably mounted in said recess and adapted to seal said aperture in its normal position; an eccentric cam disposed in said iirst slot of said gate and provided with a shaft extending externally of said block for cam rotation, said rotation sliding said gate to uncover said aperture; a detachable member having a hollow body portion disposed within said passageway, a removable cap, and a handle portion, said cap being disposed in said second slot and moveable thereby; a detachable closure mem ber disposed about said boss and said body for sea-ling said body and passageway from the external atmosphere; said carrier member being provided with forceps and means for extending and retracting said forceps axially thereof through said aligned block aperture into said vessel.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said loading block inner face comprises an apertured plate secured to the recessed end of said block and wherein said rectangular slidable gate is provided with a central portion between said slots contacting the end wall of said recess and an outer surface portion forming a metal-to-metal seal with said plate to effectively seal said aperture.

4. A device of the character described comprising a hollow body portion; a hollow positioner rotatably mounted axially of said body and extending from the rear thereof, the front portion of Vsaid positioner being provided with a helical groove; a longitudinally moveable operating rod disposed coaxially within said grooved .portion and carrying a collet thereon; a front rod carried by the forward end of said operating rod; a hollow clutch rod adapted to receive said operating rod therein; a sleeve carrying a lug which engages said groove and adapted to extend axially from the forward end of said body; a plug carried by the forward end of said sleeve and provided with an axial passage for said front rod; forceps carried by the forward portion of said plug and provided with a hinge pin extending through said front rod; a anged clutch sleeve disposed coaxially about said clutch rod and provided with a tapered forward end to receive said collet and lock said clutch and operating rod-s together; a spring disposed about said clutch r-od and bearing against the rear ange on said clutch sleeve; an annular spring retainer disposed about said clutch rod; a pin through said clutch rod rearward of said retainer, whereby said clutch rod is urged rearward, an end cap detachably coupled to said positioner and contacting the rear end of said clutch rod to prevent rearward motion thereof; means for sealing said positioner within said body while permitting rotational motion; means for sealing said clutch rod within said positioner While permitting rotational motion; and a detachable closure member adapted t-o seal the forward end of said body member.

'5. In a device of the character described, a hollow body member provided with a mouth at its forward end; a hollow positioner having a forward internally threaded portion disposed coaxially within said body and a rear handle portion; means for sealing said body and positioner while permitting relative rotational motion; a sleeve member carrying at one end two forceps members and at the opposite end ,a lug adopted to engage said threaded portion to move the sleeve axially within the positioner responsive to rotation of the positioner handle; a forceps `operating rod disposed along the axis of said sleeve and fastened to said forceps to move with said sleeve; a vcollet clutch xed to said rod; a clutch sleeve to receive and close said collet disposed coaxially within said positioner handle; means normally urging said collet rearward into said sleeve, and a cap over the rear end of said rod engag ing said positioner and urging said rod forward to prevent engagement of said clutch.

No references cited.

Claims

1. MEANS FOR ENTERING ONE OR MORE CLOSED VESSELS WITHOUT LOSS OF VACUUM COMPRISING LOADING BLOCKS MOUNTED IN VACUUM-TIGHT RELATION IN EACH VESSEL TO BE ENTERED, SAID BLOCKS EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH A RECESSED PORTION NEAR ITS INNER FACES, A NORMALLY CLOSED APERTURE IN SAID FACE COMMUNICATION WITH SAID RECESS, AND A PASSAGEWAY FROM THE OUTER FACE TO SAID RECSSS AND ALIGNED WITH SAID APERTURE; A DETACHABLE MEMBER HAVING A HOLLOW BODY PORTION DISPOSED WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY, A MOVEABLE CAP AT THE INNER END OF SAID BODY, A HANDLE, AND AXIALLY EXTENDABLE FORCEPS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HANDLE; A CLOSURE MEMBER ENGAGING SAID BODY AND SAID BLOCK FOR SEALING SAID PASSAGEWAY; MEANS FOR OPENING SAID APERTURE TO SAID RECESS; MEANS FOR REMOVING SAID CAP FOR EXPOSE SAID HOLLOW BODY TO SAID APERTURES; AND MEANS FOR EXTENDING AND MANIPULATING FORCEPS THROUGH SAID APERTURE INTO SAID VESSEL.