A multi-functional sample rack suitable for use in a hot cell

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of radioactive hot cell equipment and instruments, and particularly relates to a multifunctional sample rack suitable for a radioactive hot cell, which comprises a rotatable tray system capable of placing sample bottles, rabbit bottles and waste liquid bottles, a sampling needle (24) for sampling operation on the sample bottles, the rabbit bottles and the waste liquid bottles, and a needle changing barrel (17) for replacing the sampling needle (24), and the tray system and the needle changing barrel (17) can be operated by a manipulator in the radioactive hot cell. The sample rack provided by the present application can accurately switch and position different bottle positions, the sampling needle (24) is liftable and replaceable, can be connected with other flow path equipment for subsequent sampling analysis, the whole bracket is made of full stainless steel material, has a simple structure, is firm and stable, is high in functionality, is simple to operate, and is more suitable for being operated by a manipulator in a hot cell environment with strong acid and strong radiation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of radioactive hot cell equipment and instruments, and particularly relates to a multifunctional sample rack suitable for use in a radioactive hot cell. BACKGROUND

[0002] When sampling and analyzing high-level liquid samples in a radioactive hot cell, the sample bottle is usually taken out from the rabbit tube and placed on a sample rack for subsequent operations such as sample bottle transfer, sampling, waste liquid collection, and use with other equipment. The commonly used sample rack is mainly a commercial centrifuge tube sample rack or a similar sample rack. This sample rack is too simple in structure, light in weight, and poor in stability. It is made of PP material and is not resistant to acid and radiation, so it cannot be used for a long time in a high-radiation and high-acid environment. It is also poor in functionality and can only be used for simple sample bottle placement. The analysis of samples in the hot cell is usually performed by a mechanical hand. The mechanical hand is heavy and has poor flexibility. If the sample is not stably placed, the sample bottle is easily knocked over, causing the high-level sample to spill. SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the defects of the existing sample rack, such as poor stability, poor acid and radiation resistance, unsuitability for radioactive sample operation, and too simple functionality, the present application aims to provide a multifunctional sample rack suitable for use in a radioactive hot cell and operated by a mechanical hand. The sample rack is made of stainless steel, has a stable base, can place sample bottles, rabbit bottles, and waste liquid bottles, and can accurately change the positions. The sample rack is designed with a sampling needle that can be replaced, lifted, and connected to other flow path equipment, thereby realizing subsequent operations such as sampling. The sample rack is stable in structure, resistant to acid and radiation, and strong in functionality, and is more suitable for use in a hot cell.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present application is a multifunctional sample rack suitable for use in a radioactive hot cell. The sample rack includes a rotatable tray system capable of placing sample bottles, rabbit bottles, and waste liquid bottles, a sampling needle for sampling the sample bottles, the rabbit bottles, and the waste liquid bottles, and a needle replacement barrel for replacing the sampling needle. The tray system and the needle replacement barrel can be operated by a mechanical hand in the radioactive hot cell.

[0005] Further, the tray system includes a device base, a rudder plate, a sample base, and a sample upper plate arranged coaxially from bottom to top, a rotating shaft vertically penetrating the center positions of the device base, the rudder plate, the sample base, and the sample upper plate, and a bottom end of the rotating shaft connected to the device base through a lower bearing. The tray system is fixedly connected and rotated by the rotating shaft.

[0006] Further, a support rod is arranged on one side of the tray system, the support rod is parallel to the rotating support rod, the tail end of the support rod is connected to the device chassis, and the device chassis, the rotating support rod and the support rod together constitute the main support component of the multifunctional sample holder; the support rod is a telescopic rod, and a sliding handle, a third gear, a second gear and a first gear are arranged on the rod body, the first gear is the lowest height gear, and the third gear is the highest height gear; the height of the support rod is adjusted through the sliding handle, the third gear, the second gear and the first gear, so as to adjust the height of the sampling needle.

[0007] Further, a flow path interface cross beam and a sampling needle fixing cross beam are arranged in parallel, one end of the flow path interface cross beam and the sampling needle fixing cross beam is located at the top end of the support rod, the other end of the flow path interface cross beam and the sampling needle fixing cross beam is located at the top end of the rotating support rod, and the flow path interface cross beam is located above the sampling needle fixing cross beam; the tail end of the sampling needle is arranged on the sampling needle fixing cross beam; the top end of the rotating support rod is provided with an upper bearing, and the upper bearing is located between the sampling needle fixing cross beam and the flow path interface cross beam; the flow path interface on the flow path interface cross beam can be connected with a flow path device for subsequent sampling analysis.

[0008] Further, a bottle blocking piece is arranged between the sample upper disc and the sampling needle fixing cross beam, one end of the bottle blocking piece is arranged on the rotating support rod, and the sampling needle passes through the other end of the bottle blocking piece; the bottle blocking piece is used to prevent the sample bottle from moving upward with the sampling needle when the sampling needle is retracted, and a bottle blocking piece adjusting rod connected to one end of the bottle blocking piece is further arranged, the other end of the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod penetrates through the flow path interface cross beam and the sampling needle fixing cross beam, and the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod is used to adjust the height of the bottle blocking piece.

[0009] Further, the needle changing barrel comprises a needle cylinder, a lower pull handle and a base provided with a spring inside, an opening is arranged at the top end of the base, the bottom end of the needle cylinder is arranged in the base and connected to the spring, the top end of the needle cylinder extends out of the base, a clamping groove is arranged on the side wall of the base, and the lower pull handle is connected to the needle cylinder through the clamping groove; the bottom end of the base is fixed on the upper surface of the rudder hand disc, and the top end of the needle cylinder penetrates through the sample bottom disc and the sample upper disc.

[0010] Further, the sample bottom disc is used to place the sample bottle and the rabbit running bottle, and the sample bottom disc is provided with a sample bottle base for fixing the sample bottle.

[0011] Further, the device further comprises a positioning needle and a positioning peg; the top end of the positioning needle is arranged on the sampling needle fixing beam, and the bottom end penetrates through the bottle blocking piece downward, and the sample upper disc is provided with a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the bottom end of the positioning needle; the positioning peg is arranged on the upper surface of the device bottom disc, and the edge of the rudder disc is provided with a plurality of clamping grooves corresponding to the positioning peg.

[0012] Further, the rudder disc is provided with a guardrail, and the guardrail is used for placing the waste liquid bottle; by rotating the rudder disc, the sample bottom disc and the sample upper disc fixed on the rotating support rod can be rotated simultaneously, so that the positions of the rabbit bottle, the sample bottle, the waste liquid bottle and the needle changing barrel are switched, and the clamping grooves, the positioning peg and the positioning needle are used for limiting the specific positions of the sample bottle, the rabbit bottle, the waste liquid bottle and the needle changing barrel.

[0013] Further, the materials of the positioning peg, the device bottom disc, the rudder disc, the sample bottom disc, the sample upper disc, the bottle blocking piece, the positioning needle, the rotating support rod, the upper bearing, the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod, the flow path interface beam, the sampling needle fixing beam, the sliding handle, the support rod, the spring, the base, the needle cylinder and the lower pulling handle are stainless steel.

[0014] The present application has the following advantages:

[0015] The sample rack can place the rabbit bottle, the sample bottle and the waste liquid bottle, the positions of different bottles can be accurately switched, the sampling needle can be lifted and replaced, other flow path equipment can be connected for subsequent sampling analysis, the whole bracket is made of full stainless steel, has simple structure, is firm and stable, has strong functionality, is easy to operate, and is more suitable for use in a hot cell environment with strong acid and strong radiation and mechanical hand operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a multifunctional sample rack suitable for a radioactive hot cell according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram (perspective view) of the needle changing barrel 17 according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram (cutaway view) of the needle changing barrel 17 according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0019] In the figure: 1-positioning peg, 2-device base plate, 3-rudder plate, 4-sample base plate, 5-sample upper plate, 6-block bottle piece, 7-positioning needle, 8-rotary support rod, 9-upper bearing, 10-bottle piece adjusting rod, 11-flow path interface crossbeam, 12-sampling needle fixing crossbeam, 13-sliding handle, 14-third gear, 15-second gear, 16-first gear, 17-needle changing barrel, 18-supporting rod, 19-spring, 20-base, 21-needle cylinder, 22-lower handle, 23-clamping groove, 24-sampling needle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and examples.

[0021] The application provides a multifunctional sample rack suitable for use in a radioactivity hot cell (see Figure 1 , referred to as "sample rack" for short), which comprises a rotatable tray system capable of placing sample bottles, rabbit bottles and waste liquid bottles, a sampling needle 24 for sampling the sample bottles, rabbit bottles and waste liquid bottles, and a needle changing barrel 17 for replacing the sampling needle 24, and the tray system and the needle changing barrel 17 can be operated by a mechanical hand in the radioactivity hot cell.

[0022] The tray system comprises, from bottom to top, a device base plate 2, a rudder plate 3, a sample base plate 4 and a sample upper plate 5 arranged coaxially in sequence, and a rotary support rod 8 vertically penetrating the center positions of the device base plate 2, the rudder plate 3, the sample base plate 4 and the sample upper plate 5, the bottom end of the rotary support rod 8 being connected to the device base plate 2 through a lower bearing, and the tray system being fixedly connected and rotated by the rotary support rod 8.

[0023] The multifunctional sample rack further comprises a supporting rod 18 arranged on one side of the tray system, the supporting rod 18 being parallel to the rotary support rod 8, the tail end of the supporting rod 18 being connected to the device base plate 2, and the device base plate 2, the rotary support rod 8 and the supporting rod 18 together constituting the main supporting components of the multifunctional sample rack; the supporting rod 18 is an extension rod, and a sliding handle 13, a third gear 14, a second gear 15 and a first gear 16 are arranged on the rod, the first gear 16 being the lowest level gear, and the third gear 14 being the highest level gear, the height of the supporting rod 18 being adjusted through the sliding handle 13, the third gear 14, the second gear 15 and the first gear 16, and the height of the sampling needle 24 being adjusted in turn.

[0024] The device further comprises a flow path interface beam 11 and a sampling needle fixing beam 12 arranged in parallel, one end of the flow path interface beam 11 and the sampling needle fixing beam 12 is located at the top end of the support rod 18, the other end of the flow path interface beam 11 and the sampling needle fixing beam 12 is located at the top end of the rotating support rod 8, the flow path interface beam 11 is located above the sampling needle fixing beam 12; the tail end of the sampling needle 24 is arranged on the sampling needle fixing beam 12; the top end of the rotating support rod 8 is provided with an upper bearing 9, the upper bearing 9 is located between the sampling needle fixing beam 12 and the flow path interface beam 11; the flow path interface on the flow path interface beam 11 can be connected with a flow path device for subsequent sampling analysis.

[0025] The device further comprises a bottle blocking piece 6, the bottle blocking piece 6 is located between the sample upper disc 5 and the sampling needle fixing beam 12, one end of the bottle blocking piece 6 is arranged on the rotating support rod 8, the sampling needle 24 passes through the other end of the bottle blocking piece 6; the bottle blocking piece 6 is used to prevent the sample bottle (with a rubber plug) from moving up with the sampling needle 24 when the sampling needle 24 is retracted, the device further comprises a bottle blocking piece adjusting rod 10 connected to one end of the bottle blocking piece 6, the other end of the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod 10 penetrates through the flow path interface beam 11 and the sampling needle fixing beam 12, the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod 10 is used to adjust the height of the bottle blocking piece 6.

[0026] The needle changing barrel 17 (see Figure 2 、 3 ) comprises a needle cylinder 21, a lower pull handle 22 and a base 20 provided with a spring 19 inside, the top end of the base 20 is provided with an opening, the bottom end of the needle cylinder 21 is arranged in the base 20 and connected with the spring 19, the top end of the needle cylinder 21 extends outside the base 20, the sidewall of the base 20 is provided with a clamping groove 23, the lower pull handle 22 penetrates through the clamping groove 23 and is connected with the needle cylinder 21; the bottom end of the base 20 is fixed on the upper surface of the steering disc 3, the top end of the needle cylinder 21 penetrates through the sample bottom disc 4 and the sample upper disc 5.

[0027] The sample bottom disc 4 is used to place sample bottles and rabbit running bottles, the sample bottom disc 4 is provided with a sample bottle base for fixing the sample bottles.

[0028] The device further comprises a positioning needle 7 and a positioning bolt 1; the top end of the positioning needle 7 is arranged on the sampling needle fixing beam 12, the bottom end penetrates through the bottle blocking piece 6 downward, the sample upper disc 5 is provided with a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the bottom end of the positioning needle 7; the positioning bolt 1 is arranged on the upper surface of the device bottom disc 2, the edge of the steering disc 3 is provided with a plurality of clamping grooves corresponding to the positioning bolt 1.

[0029] The steering disc 3 is provided with a guardrail, the guardrail is used to place waste liquid bottles; by rotating the steering disc 3, the sample bottom disc 4 and the sample upper disc 5 fixed on the rotating support rod 8 can be rotated simultaneously, so as to realize the position switching of the rabbit running bottle, the sample bottle, the waste liquid bottle and the needle changing barrel 17, the clamping groove, the positioning bolt 1 and the positioning needle 7 are used to limit the specific positions of the sample bottle, the rabbit running bottle, the waste liquid bottle and the needle changing barrel 17.

[0030] The material of the positioning peg 1, the device base 2, the rudder plate 3, the sample base 4, the sample upper plate 5, the bottle blocking piece 6, the positioning needle 7, the rotating support 8, the upper bearing 9, the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod 10, the flow path interface crossbeam 11, the sampling needle fixing crossbeam 12, the sliding handle 13, the support rod 18, the spring 19, the base 20, the needle cylinder 21 and the pull-down handle 22 is acid-resistant and radiation-resistant stainless steel.

[0031] The practical application of the present application is as follows:

[0032] 1. Switching and positioning of different bottle positions

[0033] The rabbit running bottle, the sample bottle and the waste liquid bottle are placed in the respective positions, the mechanical hand is used to rotate the rudder plate 3, and the positioning peg 1 is pushed, so that the accurate switching and positioning of different bottle positions are realized; the sample rack can simultaneously place three rabbit running bottles, three sample bottles and one waste liquid bottle.

[0034] 2. Installation, replacement and sampling of the sampling needle

[0035] The sampling needle with the needle sleeve is placed in the needle cylinder 21 of the needle replacement barrel 17, the needle hole on the sampling needle fixing crossbeam 12 is roughly aligned with the position of the needle cylinder 21 by rotating the rudder plate 3 by the mechanical hand, the positioning peg 1 is pushed into the clamping slot opening on the rudder plate 3 by the mechanical hand, at this time, the positioning of the sampling needle is completed; the sliding handle 13 on the support rod 18 is pulled down to the second gear 15 by the mechanical hand, then the pull-down handle 22 on the needle replacement barrel 17 is pulled down to the bottom clamping slot 23, then the pull-down handle 22 is pulled to reset, the sampling needle is popped into the sampling needle installation interface on the sampling needle fixing crossbeam 12, the sliding handle 13 on the support rod 18 is rotated to reset by the mechanical hand, finally, the needle sleeve is half a circle by the mechanical hand, and then is screwed tightly, the needle sleeve is pulled out and directly placed in the needle cylinder 21 of the needle replacement barrel 17, at this time, the installation of the sampling needle is completed.

[0036] The positioning peg 1 is pulled out by the mechanical hand, the sample bottle is rotated to below the sampling needle by rotating the rudder plate 3, the positioning peg 1 is pushed into the clamping slot, the sliding handle 13 is pressed to the third gear 14, at this time, the sampling needle enters the sample bottle, if the sample rack has been connected to the sampling and subsequent analysis equipment, the subsequent sampling and analysis operation can be performed.

[0037] When replacing the needle, the needle sleeve is sleeved on the sampling needle, the needle sleeve is installed in the same way as the sampling needle, and then the needle is pulled out together with the needle sleeve by the mechanical hand.

[0038] The device described in the present application is not limited to the embodiments described in the specific embodiments, and other embodiments can be derived by those skilled in the art according to the technical solution of the present application, which also belongs to the technical innovation range of the present application.

Claims

1. A multi-functional sample rack suitable for use in a hot cell, characterized by: The application relates to a rotatable tray system comprising sample bottles, rabbit bottles and waste liquid bottles, a sampling needle (24) for sampling operation of the sample bottles, the rabbit bottles and the waste liquid bottles, and a needle replacement barrel (17) for replacing the sampling needle (24), wherein the tray system and the needle replacement barrel (17) can be operated by a manipulator in a radioactive hot cell. The tray system comprises a device base (2), a rudder base (3), a sample base (4) and a sample upper base (5) which are coaxially arranged from bottom to top, a rotating support rod (8) vertically penetrating the center positions of the device base (2), the rudder base (3), the sample base (4) and the sample upper base (5), and the bottom end of the rotating support rod (8) is connected with the device base (2) through a lower bearing, and the tray system is fixedly connected and rotated by the rotating support rod (8). The tray system further comprises a support rod (18) arranged on one side of the tray system, the support rod (18) is parallel to the rotating support rod (8), the tail end of the support rod (18) is connected with the device base (2), and the device base (2), the rotating support rod (8) and the support rod (18) jointly constitute main support components of a multifunctional sample rack; the support rod (18) is a telescopic rod, a sliding handle (13), a third gear (14), a second gear (15) and a first gear (16) are arranged on the rod body, the first gear (16) is the lowest height gear, the third gear (14) is the highest height gear, the height of the support rod (18) is adjusted through the sliding handle (13), the third gear (14), the second gear (15) and the first gear (16), and then the height of the sampling needle (24) is adjusted.

2. A multi-functional sample holder for use in a hot cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tray system further comprises parallel arranged flow path interface crossbeams (11) and sampling needle fixing crossbeams (12), one end of the flow path interface crossbeams (11) and the sampling needle fixing crossbeams (12) is located at the top end of the support rod (18), the other end of the flow path interface crossbeams (11) and the sampling needle fixing crossbeams (12) is located at the top end of the rotating support rod (8), and the flow path interface crossbeams (11) are located above the sampling needle fixing crossbeams (12); the tail end of the sampling needle (24) is arranged on the sampling needle fixing crossbeams (12); the top end of the rotating support rod (8) is provided with an upper bearing (9), the upper bearing (9) is located between the sampling needle fixing crossbeams (12) and the flow path interface crossbeams (11); flow path interfaces on the flow path interface crossbeams (11) can be connected with flow path equipment for subsequent sampling analysis.

3. A multi-functional sample holder suitable for use in a hot cell as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that: The device further comprises a bottle blocking member (6) located between the sample upper disc (5) and the sampling needle fixing beam (12), one end of the bottle blocking member (6) is arranged on the rotating support rod (8), and the sampling needle (24) penetrates the other end of the bottle blocking member (6); the bottle blocking member (6) is used to prevent the sample bottle from moving upward with the sampling needle (24) when the sampling needle (24) is retracted, and the device further comprises a bottle blocking member adjusting rod (10) having one end connected to the bottle blocking member (6) and the other end penetrating the flow path interface beam (11) and the sampling needle fixing beam (12), the bottle blocking member adjusting rod (10) is used to adjust the height of the bottle blocking member (6).

4. A multi-functional sample holder for use in a hot cell according to claim 3, characterized in that: The needle changing barrel (17) comprises a needle cylinder (21), a lower pull handle (22) and a base (20) provided with a spring (19) inside, the top end of the base (20) is provided with an opening, the bottom end of the needle cylinder (21) is arranged in the base (20) and connected with the spring (19), the top end of the needle cylinder (21) extends out of the base (20), the sidewall of the base (20) is provided with a clamping groove (23), and the lower pull handle (22) is connected with the needle cylinder (21) through the clamping groove (23); the bottom end of the base (20) is fixed on the upper surface of the steering disc (3), and the top end of the needle cylinder (21) penetrates the sample bottom disc (4) and the sample upper disc (5).

5. A multi-functional sample holder suitable for use in a hot cell as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that: The sample bottom disc (4) is used to place the sample bottle and the rabbit running bottle, and the sample bottom disc (4) is provided with a sample bottle base for fixing the sample bottle.

6. A multi-functional sample holder suitable for use in a hot cell as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that: The device further comprises a positioning needle (7) and a positioning pin (1); the top end of the positioning needle (7) is arranged on the sampling needle fixing beam (12), the bottom end penetrates the bottle blocking member (6) downward, and the sample upper disc (5) is provided with a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the bottom end of the positioning needle (7); the positioning pin (1) is arranged on the upper surface of the device bottom disc (2), and the edge of the steering disc (3) is provided with a plurality of clamping grooves corresponding to the positioning pin (1).

7. A multi-functional sample holder suitable for use in a hot cell as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that: The steering disc (3) is provided with a guardrail, and the guardrail is used to place the waste liquid bottle; the sample bottom disc (4) and the sample upper disc (5) fixed on the rotating support rod (8) can be rotated by rotating the steering disc (3), so as to realize the position switching of the rabbit running bottle, the sample bottle, the waste liquid bottle and the needle changing barrel (17), and the clamping groove, the positioning pin (1) and the positioning needle (7) are used to limit the specific positions of the sample bottle, the rabbit running bottle, the waste liquid bottle and the needle changing barrel (17).

8. A multi-functional sample holder suitable for use in a hot cell as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that: The material of the positioning peg (1), the device chassis (2), the rudder plate (3), the sample chassis (4), the sample upper plate (5), the bottle blocking piece (6), the positioning needle (7), the rotating support rod (8), the upper bearing (9), the bottle blocking piece adjusting rod (10), the flow path interface crossbeam (11), the sampling needle fixing crossbeam (12), the sliding handle (13), the support rod (18), the spring (19), the base (20), the needle cylinder (21) and the lower pull handle (22) is stainless steel.

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