US3686502A - Irradiation apparatus with a rotary lock and with cams to move objects to be irradiated - Google Patents

Irradiation apparatus with a rotary lock and with cams to move objects to be irradiated Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3686502A
US3686502A US858954A US3686502DA US3686502A US 3686502 A US3686502 A US 3686502A US 858954 A US858954 A US 858954A US 3686502D A US3686502D A US 3686502DA US 3686502 A US3686502 A US 3686502A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rotary lock
charges
chamber
lock
ram
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
US858954A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Adolf Sieber
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.)
Sulzer AG
Original Assignee
Sulzer AG
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 Sulzer AG filed Critical Sulzer AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3686502A publication Critical patent/US3686502A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
    • G21K5/00—Irradiation devices
    • G21K5/02—Irradiation devices having no beam-forming means

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT The goods to be irradiated are moved by fluid actuated rams into a rotary lock and then into a chamber where the goods are moved about a radiation source by other fluid actuated rams. The goods are moved from the rotary lock in a forward manner and then displaced therefrom for movement about the radiation source. The goods are returned to the rotary lock in a reverse manner.
  • This invention relates to an irradiation apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to an irradiation apparatus for radiating conveyed goods in a continuous manner.
  • irradiation devices for radiating conveyed goods.
  • devices have been constructed with a rotatable wheel mounted eccentrically in a shielded housing with a specimen holder at one point of the wheel so as to carry a specimen first from the outside of the housing to the inside for radiation and then back to the outside.
  • these devices have only permitted a single specimen to be subjected to a radiation treatment at any one time.
  • various conveyors have been used to move a series of goods about a radiation source. However, these conveyors have usually required rather large and expensive housings and conveyor actuating systems.
  • lt is another object of the invention to provide a portable irradiation apparatus.
  • the invention provides an irradiation apparatus which is constructed with a shielded irradiation chamber, a rotary lock in a wall of the chamber for receiving charges to be irradiated within a recess, means for conveying the charges in a path around a radiation source mounted within the chamber and means for moving the charges in a straight line between the recess of the rotary lock and the path.
  • a device is provided in the region of the rotary lock to move the charges in a direction perpendicularly of the straight line of movement between the recess and path so as to initiate movement about the irradiation source and to return the charges to position in front of the recess.
  • a device is provided in the region of the rotary lock to move the charges perpendicularly of the straight line of movement between the recess and path so as to initiate movement about the irradiation source while another device is provided to move the charges out of the path directly into the recess.
  • the means for moving the charges between the recess of the rotary lock and the path about the irradiation source is mounted within the rotary lock and includes a reciprocally mounted tray.
  • the tray is movable from a position within the recess to a position within the path and vice versa so as to deliver or receive a charge.
  • a transport means is also provided to move the charges into and out of the recess of the rotary lock when the recess is facing away from the irradiation chamber. Further, the transport means serves to move the charges into and out of the recess in the same line as the charges are moved into and out of the irradiation path within the irradiation chamber.
  • the apparatus requires only a very simple drive for the rotary lock as the lock need only occupy two positions in order to introduce charges into the irradiation chamber.
  • One of these positions will be when the recess faces away from the chamber.
  • the rotary lock may then be rotated through until the recess faces the chamber when the charge to be irradiated is placed on the path around the irradiation source and replaced in the recess by an irradiated charge.
  • the lock can be made of smaller diameter than would be necessary if the lock had a number of recesses.
  • the path of movement about the irradiation source is rectangular and the means for conveying the charges includes a device in the region of the rotary lock and three other devices, each being situated at each corner of the path.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a horizontal section through one embodiment of an irradiation apparatus according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a horizontal section through another embodiment of an irradiation apparatus according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a horizontal section through a third embodiment of an irradiation apparatus according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a view taken on line A-B of FIG. 3.
  • the irradiation apparatus has a block 1 of shielding material, for example, concrete, which encloses an irradiation chamber 2 containing a source of gamma radiation, for example Cobalt 60, which is in the form of a plate 3.
  • the material to be irradiated is moved in the form of charges 4 in two rows, one on each side of the radiation source 3, over a sliding surface which forms the floor of the chamber 2; each charge follows a rectangular path.
  • a ran 5a to 5d of a conveying means which is mounted in the block 1 and partly enclosed in lead by means of which the charges 4 are moved around the rectangular path.
  • the ram 5d is situated below the "floor of the chamber 2 and a plate 6 is mounted on its piston rod which projects into the irradiation chamber through a slot 7 in the floor.
  • a rotary lock 10 is situated in the wall of the shielding block 1 adjacent one of the short sides of the irradiation chamber 2.
  • This lock 10 consists basically of a circular plate having an upstanding annular wall 11, e.g., of lead, mounted thereon.
  • the wall 11 is provided with a gap at one part which extends over the entire height of the wall to form an opening 12 through which a charge 4 can be introduced into or removed from the recess so formed in the lock 10.
  • a transfer device in the form of a ram 13 is mounted in the recess of the lock 10 and is connected to a suitable actuating means (not shown) which actuates the piston of the ram 13 to move the charges forwardly out of the lock 10.
  • a suitable actuating means not shown
  • a toothed sector 79 is mounted below the circular plate of the lock 10 and is fixedly connected to the lock 10.
  • the sector 79 meshes with a correspondingly tooth rack 80 which forms an extension of a reciprocal piston rod 81 of a servo-motor 82 so as to be oscillated upon reciprocation of the rack 80 by the servo-motor 82.
  • the rotary lock 10 is thus driven through 180.
  • a transfer device in the form of a ram 14 is mounted between two rows of charges 4 in the chamber 2 opposite the ram in the rotary lock 10.
  • This ram 14 is actuated by a suitable means (not shown) to return an irradiated charge 4 into the recess of the rotary lock.
  • a ram transfer device in the form of a 15, situated outside the shielding block 1 and opposite the ram 13, serves to move a charge 4 into the rotary lock 10 from outside the shielding block 1.
  • the rams 13 to 15 are arranged in substantially the same vertical plane.
  • a transport means is disposed outside the wall of the shielding block 1 for moving the charges 4 to and from the rotary lock 10 when the lock 10 is positioned with the recess facing outwardly of the chamber 2.
  • This transport means includes a supply conveyor 16 to the right of the ram 15 as viewed on which the charges 4 to be irradiated are supplied and a roller conveyor 18 to the opposite side of the ram 15 on which irradiated charges are removed.
  • each of the rams 5a to 5d, 13, 14, 15 and 17 consists of a piston and cylinder and is operated by a pressure fluid, e.g., air, as is known.
  • a pressure fluid e.g., air
  • the feed lines for the pressure fluid and the control mechanism are omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity.
  • the apparatus operates as follows: The charges which are to be irradiated move one after the other along the supply conveyor 16 until they are in front of the ram 17, which displaces one charge at a time to the left as seen in FIG. I.
  • the rotary lock is rotated at the same time to a position 180 from the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the opening 12 faces the ram 15.
  • the charge is then pushed by the ram into the lock 10, which is then rotated by the servo-motor 82 into the position shown.
  • the ram 13 pushes the charge 4 out of the lock 10 into the position indicated by chain-lines in the irradiation chamber 2 in the path of movement about the radiation source 3.
  • the ram 5a then displaces the charge perpendicularly to the right as viewed until the charge is above the groove 7.
  • the ram 5b moves the left-hand row of charges one charge width so as to make room for a charge in front of the ram 5b.
  • the ram 50 then moves a charge from the right-hand row into the left-hand row.
  • the ram 5d then moves the right-hand row of charges one charge width.
  • the ram 5a moves the charge immediately in front of it into the position shown by chain-lines.
  • This charge which has been irradiated is pushed by the ram 14 into the rotary lock 10, which is then rotated by means of the servo-motor 82 so that the opening 12 faces the ram 15.
  • the irradiated charge is then pushed out of the lock 10 by the ram 13, and the ram 17 moves this charge onto the roller conveyor 18, on which it rolls away, and then brings a new charge in front of the opening 12.
  • the shielding block 1 is provided with an elongated irradiation chamber 2 which is disposed perpendicularly of the transport means for supplying and removing the charges 4.
  • rams 5a to 5d are provided adjacent the comers of the irradiation chamber 2, and the rotary lock 10 is situated at one comer in such a way that the ram 5d at the adjacent comer also serves to introduce the charges 4 into the lock 10'.
  • This arrangement has the advantage that the ram 14 provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be omitted. Also, there is no ram underneath the floor of the chamber 2, and the minimum distance between the two rows of charges is not determined by the width of the ram 14.
  • the rotary lock 10 whose basic construction is the same as that of the rotary lock 10, is smaller in diameter than the latter. In fact, the diameter of the lock 10 is less than the wall thickness of the shielding block 1 at this point. This reduction is possible because the ram 13' inside the lock is different in construction from the ram 13 inside the lock 10. The length of the casing of the ram 13' is shorter than the stroke of its piston, for example, due to a conventional telescopic construction of the piston.
  • a charge 4 which is to be irradiated is introduced into the lock 10' and then into the position as shown in the same manner as has been described with reference to FIG. 1.
  • the ram 13 pushes the charge out of the lock 10' to a position in front of the ram 5a.
  • the ram 5b then pushes a charge of the left-hand row which is in front of it in front of the ram SC on the right-hand side.
  • the ram 50 now pushes the left-hand row forwardly a half or a whole charge width.
  • the irradiated charge pushed into the lock by the ram 5d is then (after the lock 10 has rotated through transferred onto the roller conveyor 18 by means of the rams 13 and 17 as already described with reference to FIG. 1.
  • the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 has the further advantage that the irradiation chamber 2 is smaller and the weight of the shielding block 1 is therefore reduced.
  • the irradiation apparatus has a rotary lock 10" containing a tray 20 which slides in two grooves 21 having triangular cross-sections.
  • the end of the tray 20 which is on the right in FIG. 4 carries two upwardly projecting lugs 22, each of which has a slot in which a pivot 24 is slidably mounted.
  • Each pivot 24 is mounted on a two-armed lever 25 which is mounted on a pin 26 carried in the annular wall of the rotary lock.
  • the upper ends of the two two-armed levers 25 are connected by a crosspiece 27 which has a knob 28 in the middle.
  • This knob 28 projects into a U- shaped guide 29 which is open at the bottom and at both ends and is attached to the end of a piston rod 30 of a ram 31.
  • each lever 25 pivots about the pin 26 to cause the sliding tray 20 to be displaced to the left along the grooves 21 out of the lock and onto to move the irradiated charge onto the roller conveyor 1 18, on which it rolls away, while at the same time a new and forwards, a straight groove 35 which opens downwardly is provided in the shielding block 1. Both ends of this groove 35 lead into an annular groove 36, again open downwardly, which has a rectangular crosssection and is arranged to be concentric with the rotational axis of the rotary lock 10'.
  • the lock 10 With the sliding tray in-the position shown by solid lines, the lock 10 can be turned while, the knob 28 (projecting sideways fromthe guide 29) moves in the annular groove 36.
  • This annular groove 36 therefore serves to guide the sliding tray 20 so that no relative motion occurs betweenthe sliding tray 20 and rotary lock 10" when the lock rotates.
  • Grooves 38 having triangular cross-sections and corresponding to the grooves 33 inside the irradiation chamber 2 are provided on the outside of the shielding block 1 so that the sliding tray 20 can still be extended when the lock 10" has turned through 180.
  • the lock 10" rests on a ball thrust bearing 39 and is set into the floor of the shielding block 1, to prevent gamma radiation from escaping under the end of the lock.
  • a shoulder 40 is provided at the upper end of the rotary lock which projects into the shielding block.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 operates as follows.
  • the rotary lock 10" is brought out of the position shown into a position rotated through 180.
  • the piston of the ram 31 is moved to the right, the latter beginning movement somewhat later than and ending somewhat earlier than the rotary lock 10".
  • the knob 28 can leave the guide 29 at the point shown and then re-enter the guide 29 when the guide 29 has moved to its right-hand position. It is therefore unnecessary for the ram 31 to be constructed so as to have an intermediate position between its two end positions.
  • the piston of the ram 31 is then moved to the left, and the sliding tray 20 comes out of the lock 10" along the grooves 38.
  • a charge for irradiation is pushed by the ram 17 onto the sliding tray 20, which is then withdrawn into the lock 10 by means of the ram 31.
  • the lock is turned through 180, the piston of the ram 31 again starting later and arriving earlier in' its left-hand position, so that the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 4 is reached.
  • the tray 20 runs onto the grooves '33, whereupon the ram 5a displaces the charge to be irradiated to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 so that it joins the right-hand row of charges.
  • the ram 5b then moves the left-hand row forward one charge width to bring an irradiated charge onto the tray 20.
  • the ram 31 withdraws the tray 20 into the rotary lock 10", so that the position shown by solid lines is reached again.
  • the lock 10" turns through charge is pushed onto the tray 20 in order to be irradiated.
  • the apparatus have been described as being of permanent construction; however, the apparatus can also be constructed in a portable or movable manner.
  • the shielding block might be of lead instead of concrete.
  • the shielding block might be built of separate, prefabricated elements light enough to be transported. By this means, an apparatus can be built which could be disassembled when required and reerected on another site. It is also possible for each charge 4 to be composed of several smaller charges.
  • An irradiation apparatus comprising a wall defining a shielded irradiation chamber for housing a radiation source therein at a radiation source station;
  • a rotary lock in said shield wall having a recess for receiving charges to be irradiated, said rotary lock having a single position in which said recess faces outwardly of said chamber to receive and unload a charge and a single position in which said recess faces inwardly of said chamber, to receive and unload a charge;
  • said means including at least two transfer devices situated in substantially the same plane for moving the charges in a straight line;
  • a device in the region of said rotary lock for moving charges within said chamber in a direction perpendicular to said straight line between said straight line and said path around said radiation source station.
  • An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a charge-receiving member connected to one of said transfer devices to be moved radially into and out of said rotary lock.
  • An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said one transfer device includes a piston rod movable in a fixed cylinder, said piston rod being arlock upon reciprocation of said rack.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
US858954A 1968-09-20 1969-09-18 Irradiation apparatus with a rotary lock and with cams to move objects to be irradiated Expired - Lifetime US3686502A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1414768A CH497027A (de) 1968-09-20 1968-09-20 Bestrahlungsanlage mit Drehschieber zum Ein- und Ausschleusen von Ladungen eines zu bestrahlenden Gutes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3686502A true US3686502A (en) 1972-08-22

Family

ID=4398373

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US858954A Expired - Lifetime US3686502A (en) 1968-09-20 1969-09-18 Irradiation apparatus with a rotary lock and with cams to move objects to be irradiated

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3686502A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE840644Q (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH497027A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1801498C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2022181A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1229375A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IL (1) IL32988A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6815084A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4864595A (en) * 1986-09-19 1989-09-05 Barrett Lawrence G Transport integrated food irradiator, canisters used with food irradiator, and method of irradiating food
US4981649A (en) * 1988-03-25 1991-01-01 Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd. Means for lid sterilization and temporal sealing
US5755894A (en) * 1993-02-26 1998-05-26 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Endoscopic cannulated instrument flushing apparatus for forcing a cleaning solution through an endoscopic cannulated instrument for removal of gross debris
US6437344B1 (en) 1999-08-25 2002-08-20 Mpr Associates, Inc. Product irradiation device and method of irradiating products using the same
US20050167613A1 (en) * 2002-02-28 2005-08-04 Ion Beam Applications Sa Apparatus and process for irradiating product pallets

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH582404A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1974-09-02 1976-11-30 Sulzer Ag
DE2543621C2 (de) * 1975-09-30 1984-11-22 Zinser Textilmaschinen Gmbh, 7333 Ebersbach Kannenwechseleinrichtung

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3142759A (en) * 1960-01-20 1964-07-28 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Monorail package irradiation plant
US3225203A (en) * 1961-06-05 1965-12-21 Cook Electric Co Atomic irradiator
US3411002A (en) * 1963-06-19 1968-11-12 Parsons Jurden Corp Apparatus for irradiating goods during movement past a radioactive source mounted ina shield enclosure
US3506825A (en) * 1965-10-05 1970-04-14 Sulzer Ag Orbiting type irradiation device with rotary sluice means

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DD50491A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) *
US2545888A (en) * 1947-12-02 1951-03-20 Gen Electric Article feeding apparatus
FR1286598A (fr) * 1961-04-25 1962-03-02 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Installation d'irradiation d'empaquetages
DE1257673B (de) * 1966-01-25 1967-12-28 Rheinmetall Gmbh Vorrichtung zum schrittweisen Vorschub von Werkstuecken, Foerdermitteln u. dgl.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3142759A (en) * 1960-01-20 1964-07-28 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Monorail package irradiation plant
US3225203A (en) * 1961-06-05 1965-12-21 Cook Electric Co Atomic irradiator
US3411002A (en) * 1963-06-19 1968-11-12 Parsons Jurden Corp Apparatus for irradiating goods during movement past a radioactive source mounted ina shield enclosure
US3506825A (en) * 1965-10-05 1970-04-14 Sulzer Ag Orbiting type irradiation device with rotary sluice means

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4864595A (en) * 1986-09-19 1989-09-05 Barrett Lawrence G Transport integrated food irradiator, canisters used with food irradiator, and method of irradiating food
US4981649A (en) * 1988-03-25 1991-01-01 Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd. Means for lid sterilization and temporal sealing
US5755894A (en) * 1993-02-26 1998-05-26 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Endoscopic cannulated instrument flushing apparatus for forcing a cleaning solution through an endoscopic cannulated instrument for removal of gross debris
US6437344B1 (en) 1999-08-25 2002-08-20 Mpr Associates, Inc. Product irradiation device and method of irradiating products using the same
US20050167613A1 (en) * 2002-02-28 2005-08-04 Ion Beam Applications Sa Apparatus and process for irradiating product pallets
US7274026B2 (en) * 2002-02-28 2007-09-25 Ion Beam Application S.A. Apparatus and process for irradiating product pallets

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2022181A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-07-31
IL32988A (en) 1972-04-27
DE1801498B1 (de) 1970-03-12
DE1801498C2 (de) 1970-11-19
CH497027A (de) 1970-09-30
BE840644Q (fr) 1976-08-02
NL6815084A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-03-24
IL32988A0 (en) 1969-11-30
GB1229375A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-04-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3686502A (en) Irradiation apparatus with a rotary lock and with cams to move objects to be irradiated
US3844428A (en) Tray storage and handling system for scintillation spectrometers and the like
US3068987A (en) Conveyor system
CN101960333B (zh) 用于人员筛查的多重图像的收集和合成
US3822006A (en) Apparatus for dividing moving objects into rows
US3142759A (en) Monorail package irradiation plant
EP2701751B1 (en) Electron beam sterilisation device and sterilisation method
EP4345509A1 (en) Inspection system and method
US3889380A (en) Automatic measuring machine for checking similar workpieces with at least one dimension different
EP4368977A1 (en) Inspection system and method
EP3255418B1 (en) Inspection apparatus
BR9400086A (pt) Aparelho para revestir com produto
US3728822A (en) Apparatus for handling parts
US1311590A (en) Feed mechanism.
US3506825A (en) Orbiting type irradiation device with rotary sluice means
EP3710814B1 (en) Computed tomography (ct) security inspection system with enhanced x-ray shielding
US3411002A (en) Apparatus for irradiating goods during movement past a radioactive source mounted ina shield enclosure
US3543908A (en) Transfer mechanism for container sticks
US3759366A (en) Device for cutting into slabs a block of not yet entirely solidified cellular concrete or another plastic material
US3640026A (en) Workpiece transfer mechanism for centerless grinder or the like
US4047209A (en) Film transport
US3502191A (en) Device for moving logs and similar goods
US2870663A (en) Work feeding and transfer mechanisms
ES344882A1 (es) Procedimiento y dispositivo perfeccionados para la irradia-cion de objetos por exposiciones sucesivas.
US3463296A (en) Device for feeding plastic containers in pairs