WO2011054847A1

WO2011054847A1 - Insulator

Info

Publication number: WO2011054847A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/066700
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Denk
Original assignee: Hecht Technologie Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-11-03
Filing date: 2010-11-03
Publication date: 2011-05-12
Also published as: DE102009046360A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an insulator for safe handling of materials, wherein the insulator comprises a main body defining an interior and made of a flexible material, and at least one access into the main body for performing certain actions in the interior, wherein the main body comprises at least one double-wall region.

Description

insulator

The invention relates to an isolator for the safe handling of certain substances and in particular a disposable isoiator formed of a flexible material.

Isolators are well known in the art and are e.g. B. in the pharmaceutical industry for the handling of substances that have toxic or harmful properties used. Such insulators are in the process! Glove interventions in a base body formed, for example, of metal, over which a user can perform certain activities in the interior of the insulator, without coming into direct contact with the handled materials, When changing the substance, the insulators are subjected to a complex washing and drying process, for cross-contamination, d. h, contamination of a substance with remaining in the isolator residual amounts of another substance to avoid.

In order to avoid such complicated washing and drying processes of the insulator, it is known in the prior art to produce isoiators from a flexible film material and to form them as disposable isoiators which are disposed of after the handling of a specific substance.

Disadvantage of such disposable insulators is that damage to the Foiienmateriales, from which the insulator is formed, easily occur and a user can come into contact with a potentially dangerous or healthy ^¬ hazardous substance. To avoid ei ^¬ nes such a contact, it is known from the prior art, the double-walled design isoiatoren to increase security. Such an insulator is known for example from US 3,265,059.

A disadvantage of such a flexible insulator is that the walls are not dimensionally stable. In the known from the prior art insulator, it is despite an inner wall and an outer wall arranged spacers readily possible that brought by mechanical action on the walls these in Appendix or the space between the inner and outer wall is closed. In that regard, in the insulator according to the prior art also the risk that the insulator is easily damaged and a dangerous or hazardous material can escape to the outside.

The object of the invention is to provide a safer disposable insulator made of a flexible material.

This object is achieved with an insulator according to the invention for the safe handling of materials, wherein the insulator has a base body which defines an interior and is formed of a flexible material _f and at least one engagement in the base body for carrying certain chains of action in the interior, wherein the Base body has at least one double-walled area.

By such a double-wall portion is prevented in the double-Be rich ^¬ a substance emerges and in case of damage of the base body to the outside comes into contact with a user.

The double-walled area is formed in the insulator according to the invention via a first flexible Wandeiement, which faces the outside environment and a second flexible wall element, which faces the interior formed.

Furthermore, in the double-walled region, the at least one engagement is formed.

It is advantageous here that occur with elbows and shoulders in the area where erfahrungsge ^¬ Mäss heavy use of the body due to movements of the user, the risk of damage of the insulator is reduced.

The invention is further configured such that the first flexible Wandeiement an outer shell and the second flexible Wandeiement is an inner shell, whereby the entire body is formed double-walled. The first flexible wall element is connected to the second flexible wall element via stability elements, and a gap between the first wall element and the second wall element is sealed in such a way that upon pressurization of the gap with gas, the double-walled area serves as a shape-stabilizing element of the base body.

By "sealed" is meant that the gap is completely closed except for necessary for certain purposes or functions connections.

This ensures that upon pressurization of the gap, a certain distance between the first and second wall element is ensured and the possibility / probability of simultaneous damage of the first and second wall element is greatly reduced.

In addition, this can greatly reduce the number of fasteners that are provided to set up the insulator. Depending on the dimensions, material or weight of the insulator, this can also be dimensioned such that no fasteners must be provided.

In the case of the insulator according to the invention, a plurality of independent sealed intermediate spaces are preferably formed between the first flexible wall element and the second flexible wall element, whereby the double-walled area serves as a shape-stabilizing element when the interspaces are pressurized with gas.

Preferably, the first flexible wall element has a connection for a gas supply, whereby the region between the first and second flexible Wandeiement is filled with gas. Preferably, a connection for a pressure measuring device for monitoring the pressure between the first and second wall element is provided on the first flexible wall element.

Further preferably, at least one connection for feeding and / or exhausting gas is formed into / from the inner space ^¬ on the base body.

Further preferred embodiments and further developments of the insulator according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the insulator according to the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an insulator according to the invention according to a first embodiment in a perspective view.

2 shows schematically the filling of the interior of an insulator according to the invention according to a second preferred embodiment with inert gas,

Fig. 3 shows schematically a pressurization of a gap in the double-walled region of an insulator according to the invention according to a third preferred embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows the insulator according to the invention according to the first preferred embodiment in a front view.

With reference to FIG. 1, the insulator 1 according to the invention in a first preferred embodiment, a base body 2, which is formed of a flexible material on. As a result, the insulator according to the invention can be folded up and easily transported to a possible place of use. Preferably, the main body 2 of the insulator 1 is made of a transparent Folienmateria! (Preferably, plastic) formed so that a user can see an interior 23, which determines the body 2. Depending on the use of the insulator 1, the base body 2 may also be made of other materials, such as. As textiles, be formed. If these materials are not transparent, a window may be provided in a suitable region of the base body 2.

The base body 2 comprises at least one, preferably two, interventions 24 in the base body 2, via which the user can perform certain activities in the interior space 23. The interventions 24 are preferably designed as gloves (not shown). The gloves 24 are preferably welded / bonded to the base body 2 such that a user can insert the entire arm into the gloves 24 and thus reach a desired area in the interior space 23. It follows that the basic body 2 formed as a cuboid in FIG. 1 in the x, y and z directions, which is shown in FIG. 1, is dimensioned in such a way that a user, when engaging in the inner space 23, over the Gloves 24 can reach a certain area of the interior 23 well.

Preferably, the insulator according to the invention with a frame 3, such. As a table, placed at a desired location. Preferably, the frame 3 also has fastening devices 31 to which the base body 2 can be fastened via fastening means 25. The Befestigungsmittei 25 are provided in the z-direction shown in Fig. 1 at upper corner regions of the base body 2, so that after associations of the fastening means 25 with the fastening device 31, the interior 23 of the insulator 1 is clamped. Preferably, the fastening means 25 eyelets 26 which are hooked into at least one hook member 32 of the fastening device 31.

The base body 2 is doppelwan- dig formed at least in a partial area, whereby the degree of security against damage of the main body 2 is increased. Preferably, the base body in the region 27, in which the interventions are 24, designed double-walled. Experience has shown that this region 27 is a mechanically stressed region because in it the user performs movements with the arms and shoulders.

The double-walled region is preferably constructed via a first wall element 21 and a second wall element 22, wherein both wall elements are formed from a flexible material. The interventions 24 or gloves 24 are connected or welded to both the first and second flexible Wandeiement.

In the embodiment of the insulator 1 shown in Fig. 1, the entire base body 2 is double-walled. For this purpose, the first flexible wall element 21 is designed as an outer shell and the second flexible wall element 22 as an inner shell. Depending on the dimensions of the inner and outer sheath 21, 22, a gap 28 is defined between them. In this intermediate space 28, at least one stability element 29 is preferably provided, which connects the inner shell 22 with the outer shell 21. Preferred areas in which the at least one stability element 29 is provided is z. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 Stabiiitätselemente 29 are provided both in these upper corner regions as well as halfway up a side wall of the base body 2.

About this connecting Stabiiitätselemente 29 advantageously a certain distance between the inner and outer shell 21,22 is guaranteed, so that damage to the inner shell 22 with z. B. a tool does not immediately lead to a simultaneous damage to the outer shell 21.

Preferably, the inner and outer sheath 21, 22 in a bottom portion 210 are connected to each other, for. B. welded that the Gap 28 is sealed against both the interior 23 and the outside environment.

Aligemein, the bottom portion in the interior 23 of the insulator may also be formed of a solid plate in order to store parts there.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, further preferred embodiments of the insulator according to the invention will be explained below. Elements which are identical to those of the first embodiment are given identical reference numerals.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the insulator according to the invention, which is shown in Fig. 2, this can be filled with preferably filtered air or inert gas. The filtering is preferably carried out with a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter). In Fig. 2, a filling of the inner space 23 with inert gas or filtered air is shown schematically. For such filling, the base body 2 preferably has a first connection 211 and a second connection 212, which extend through both the outer 21 and the inner cover 22. These terminals 211, 212 may be provided at suitable locations of the base body 2, wherein in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, these terminals are provided in an upper region of the base body 2. Further preferred areas in which the terminals 211, 212 can be provided are the side and / or the bottom area 210 of the insulator 1 or basic body 2.

A filling of the interior with inert gas is z. B. in Fälien necessary, in which a substance is present in the interior space 23, which shows undesirable reactions with air. In the filling, for example, inert gas is introduced via the first port 211 into the interior 23, wherein at the same time the air located in the interior 23 is sucked through the second Anschiuss 212. Preferred gases are z, B, nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon,

Regardless of the filling of the interior 23 with inert gas or filtered air, the first end 211 may be at least partially closed, i. the throughput of gas through the Anschiuss 211 be reduced, while on the second Anschiuss 212 in the inner space 23 targeted a negative pressure is generated. By generating a negative pressure in the inner space 23, the safety is further increased before an exit of a substance present in the inner space 23. The negative pressure generated in the interior 23 can preferably be generated by pumping through a filter and measured or monitored via a pressure measuring device 10.

In Fig. 3, a further preferred embodiment of the insulator 1 is shown. Elements that are identical to those of the first or second embodiment sform are provided with identical reference numerals.

In this embodiment of the insulator 1 shown in FIG. 3, the main body 2 has either a third attachment 213 in addition to the first and second attachment 211, 212 or exclusively. This third Anschiuss 213 passes through the outer shell 21 and opens into the space 29 between the inner and Außenhülie 21, 22. About this Anschiuss 213, the gap 29 can be filled with a certain gas. Since the gap 29 is sealed off both from the outside environment and the interior 23, increases with the gas supply via the third Anschiuss 213, the pressure in the gap 28, This forms the main body 2 stable side walls. In other words, in this embodiment, the fastening means 25 on the main body 2 may not be necessary because the inner space 23 is spanned by the gap 28 filled with gas between the outer or inner sleeve 21, 22. For stabilizing These prevent ball-like biases of the insulator and thus serve for the dimensional stability of the base body 2, by the sealing of the intermediate space 28 and the pressurization is in addition to the stability elements for a certain distance of the first wall element provided to the second wall element.

Preferably, a plurality of mutually independent sealed intermediate spaces 29 can be defined via the inner and outer sheath 21, 22, wherein in each space a third Anschiuss 213 opens to Druckbeaufschiagung.

Depending on the dimension, material or dead weight of the insulator, as mentioned, the fastening means 25 may not be necessary. However, these may preferably be provided. This is particularly useful when a pressurization of the gap 28 is made, which is not sufficient for a placement of the insulator without fasteners.

Further preferably, the pressure in the intermediate space 28 can be measured via a pressure measuring device 5. Does it come z. B. to a sudden pressure drop in the gap 28, this is an indication that either the inner or outer shell 21, 22 has been damaged ^¬ be. The user can after splitting of such a pressure drop z. B. be informed about a warning signal. Such a warning signal z. B. a control unit, which is connected to the pressure measuring device 5, from.

Depending on the activities to be performed in the inner space 23 of the intermediate space 28 can be ge ^¬ filled with various gases. For example, in sterile applications, hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the interspace.

With reference to FIG. 4, a connection ^device for introducing certain substances or articles into the ^{interior of} a building is shown below. nenraum 23 will be explained. This attachment device can be an element of all embodiments with reference to FIGS.

As shown in Fig. 4, at the bottom portion 210 symmetrically below the gloves 24, a connection device 6, which extends through both the outer and inner sheath 21, 22, is provided. Referring again to Fig. 1, the connecting device 6 has two joined elements 62, 63, via which the connecting device is connected to the main body 2. Both elements 62, 63 of the connection device 6 are assembled in such a way that both the inner and outer sheaths 21, 22 are clamped sealed between them. Suitable seals may be provided between the elements 62, 63 of the connection device 6.

Preferably, the connection device 6 can also be designed in one piece. In this case, the first and second wall elements 21, 22 are preferably connected or welded to the connection device.

Preferred materials of both variants of the connecting device 6 are plastic or metal. Kunststoffmateriaiien are particularly suitable for the connection device when the insulator is used as a disposable insulator and disposed of after use.

Depending on the field of application of the insulator 1, this connection device or its opening may be of different diameters. For closing the connecting device 6, this has a fastening device 61 outside of the insulator 1. This fastening device 61 is preferably formed via two grooves. When introducing a substance into the insulator 1, for example, a sealed container containing the substance is connected via a tubular film. The connection of the container is preferably carried out such that the tubular film is fastened on the one hand to the container and on the other hand to the outer groove with an O-ring. About the interventions 24, the user can then the container through the connection device. 6 through and remove this a certain amount of substance. After the desired removal of the substance, the container is closed again via the interventions 24 through the attachment device 6 and the tubular film between the container and the connection device 6 is tied off twice from the outside and severed between the luting parts. The bonding can be accomplished for example via cable ties. For a subsequent removal of substance another container containing the substance to be removed, in turn via a tubular film which is attached on the one hand to the inner groove of the fastening device 61 with a Q ~ ring and on the other hand to the container connected. The film, which is still attached to the outer groove of the fastening device 61 with an O-ring is withdrawn via the interventions 24, wherein then the tubular film is attached to the inner groove fixing O-ring is moved to the outer groove. After a further desired removal, the tubular film is tied again twice and severed between the Abbindestellen.

For example, if desired, certain items, such as. As tools to introduce into the interior 23, these can preferably be placed in a foil bag and attached to the inner groove via an O-ring. By means of the interventions 24, the film closing the connection device 6, which is fastened to the outer groove, can then be removed from the attachment device 6, as a result of which the objects located in the film bag are accessible via the interventions 24. After removal, however, the O-ring attaching the foil bag is displaced as quickly as possible from the inner to the outer Nu, so that the area between the inner and outer groove is not contaminated with residual amounts that are in the interior 23 of the insulator. This applies to the connection of a container via a tubular film as well. Preferably, the insulator according to the invention may also have an attachment for a balance (not shown). Such a connection is designed in such a way that a weighing goods receptacle! in the interior 23 of the base body 2 and the weighing line outside the base body 2 is located. In general, the Anschiuss for connecting a balance is designed as a membrane. This allows the user a desired amount in the Wiegegutaufnahmetei! transfer and read a measurement result outside of the main body 2 on the load cell. By such an integration of the balance in the main body 2 of the insulator 1, the weighing process is independent of pressure conditions within the main body. 2

If the insulator according to the invention is to be removed, this can preferably be evacuated with a connected pump, so that the main body 2 contracts. As a result, the insulator can be easily disposed of. The connection device 6 is preferably cleaned and reused when setting up another insulator according to the invention.

It should be noted that the embodiments presented above are not independent of each other. In other words, features of one embodiment may be combined with features of another. In particular, in an insulator according to the invention, both the inner space 23 with inert gas or filtered air and also its intermediate space 28 can be filled with a compliant gas. In addition, an isolator according to the invention can both have pressure measuring devices for measuring the pressure inside the interior 23 and the intermediate space 28. Furthermore, the main body 2 may be formed of different materials or consist of a uniform. As is apparent from the above description, in an insulator made of a flexible material and usable as a disposable isoiator, safety can be increased.

Claims

claims

1, isolator for the safe handling of substances, wherein the insulator has a double-walled base body defining an interior and is formed of a flexible material, and at least one engagement in the body for performing certain activities in the interior, wherein the body in the double-walled region, a first flexible wall element facing the outside environment and a second flexible wall element facing the interior, wherein the first flexible wall element is an outer shell and the second flexible wall element is an inner hub, whereby the entire base body is double-walled is formed, characterized in that the first flexible wall element is connected to the second flexible wall element via stability elements and a gap between the first wall element and the second wall element is sealed, whereby upon pressurization of the gap m it serves gas the double-walled area as a shape-stabilizing element of the body.

2, insulator according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of independent sealed spaces between the first flexible wall element and the second flexible wall element are formed, whereby upon pressurization of the interstices with gas, the double-walled area serves as a formstabiiisierendes element.

3, insulator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one engagement is formed in the double-walled region of the main body,

4. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flexible wall element has a connection for a gas supply, whereby the area between the first and second flexible wall element with gas is fulibar.

5. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flexible wall element has a connection for a pressure measuring device for monitoring the pressure between the first and second wall element,

6. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body has at least one connection for supplying and / or suction of gas in / from the interior.

7. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body has a Anschiussvorrichtung for connecting a container.

8. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Anschiussvorrichtung is formed of plastic and the first and second wall element are welded to the connecting device.

9. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body has a lock device, can be slid over the objects in the interior.

10. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or second flexible wall element is formed of a transparent Foiienmaterial.

11. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body has fastening devices, via which the insulator can be suspended.

12. Insulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body has a Anschfuss, via which a balance is connected to the insulator such that a receiving element of the balance for receiving a weighing good in the interior and a weighing cell of the balance outside of Interior is located.