Transfer cell connection port including a flange and a door with an external door-operating system comprising at least one cam-to-groove connection

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connection port for a sealed transfer cell, this port including a flange (2) having an outer face (8) and an inner face (7) that carries a hinge (4) to which a door (3) movable between an open position and a closed position is attached, the hinge (4) including two fixed bearings that jointly carry a rotary element (11) 5 to which the door (3) is rigidly attached. The flange (2) is equipped with a manoeuvring system for opening and closing the door (3), including a manoeuvring rod (38) that passes through the outer face (8) of the flange (2) while being movable in translation, and a transmission (27) including at least one cam-groove connection (CR2, CR3) to movably link the rod (38) to the rotary element (11), so that a translation of the rod (38) causes a rotation 10 of the door (3).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Transfer cell connection port including a flange and a door with an external dooroperating system comprising at least one cam-to-groove connection

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure relates to the sealed transfer of components from a sealed container to a sealed cell, with a double-door connection system.

[0005] PRIOR ART

[0006] In various industrial sectors, it is necessary to perform tasks in a confined atmosphere, to protect the environment for example from radioactivity or toxicity, or to perform these tasks in an aseptic atmosphere, or both simultaneously.

[0007] The transfer of appliances or products from a container to a cell, without breaking the seal, is carried out with a double-door connection device, such a device being known for example from the documents FR2695343.

[0008] In such a device, the sealed transfer cell is equipped with a transfer port including a flange equipped with a door allowing closing or opening of the central opening of this flange. In practice, the door is located on the inner side of the flange, i.e. in the cell, by being connected to this flange by a hinge. The container is closed by a door mounted in a flange of this container to which it is connected by a bayonet connection. Two other bayonet connections allow the flanges to be connected to each other, and the doors to be connected to each other.

[0009] It is common to refer to the cell flange and door as alpha flange and alpha door, and to the container flange and door as beta flange and beta door.

[0010] The container is connected to the cell by applying the flange of the container against that of the cell, and by pivoting it on itself, which has the effect of:

[0011] - connecting the two flanges to each other by their bayonet connection;

[0012] - connecting the two doors to each other by another bayonet connection;

[0013] - disconnecting the bayonet connection connecting the container door to its flange. Once this connection is made, the cell door can be pivoted inwards around its hinge, so as to open the communication: the container door being rigidly connected to that of the cell by the corresponding bayonet connection, it opens together with the cell door.

[0014] Once the transfer of components or materials has been carried out from the container to the cell or vice versa, the cell door with the container door attached to it is folded down by pivoting around the hinge. The container is then pivoted on itself in the opposite direction, which has the effect of:

[0015] - securing the container door to the container flange;

[0016] - disconnecting the container door from the container flange;

[0017] - disconnecting the container door from the cell flange.

[0018] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a solution allowing an operator located outside the cell to close and open the door that is located inside the cell.

[0019] SUMMARY

[0020] For this purpose, the present disclosure relates to a connection port for a sealed transfer cell, this port including a flange having an outer face and an inner face that carries a hinge to which a door is secured that is movable between an open position and a closed position in which this door closes a central opening of the flange, the hinge comprising two fixed bearings rigidly attached to the flange which jointly carry a rotary element to which the door is rigidly attached, the flange being equipped with a manoeuvring system for opening and closing the door from the external face, characterised in that the manoeuvring system comprises a manoeuvring rod that passes through the external face of the flange while being movable in translation, and a transmission including at least one cam-groove connection for movably linking the actuating rod to the rotating element, so that a translation of the actuating rod causes a rotation of the door.

[0021] With this arrangement, the door is opened and closed from the outside of the flange by simply moving the slider, which can be done directly or via a lever or via a motorised actuator. The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, wherein the transmission includes a reduction gear including a small gear wheel rigidly secured to the rotary element and a large gear wheel which is carried by the flange while being meshed with the small gear wheel, and wherein the large gear wheel is movably connected to the actuating rod via at least one cam-groove connection.

[0022] The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, wherein the transmission includes a swing arm having a fixed end supported by the flange and a free end that is connected to the large gear wheel by a cam-groove connection, and wherein the manoeuvring rod is movably connected to this swing arm by a cam-groove connection located between the two ends of the swing arm, so that a translation of the manoeuvring rod causes a rotation of the swing arm about its fixed end.

[0023] The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, including a housing rigidly attached to the flange and protruding from the outer face, this housing bearing a rotary lever and containing a slider rigidly attached to an end of the manoeuvring rod, this housing containing a cam-groove connection movably linking the lever to the slider.

[0024] The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, wherein the lever is able to rotate about an axis that is parallel to the outer face.

[0025] The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, wherein each cam-groove connection includes a roller engaged in a corresponding oblong aperture.

[0026] The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, wherein the cam-groove connection movably connecting the actuating rod with the swing arm includes a roller that is attached to a sleeve surrounding the manoeuvring rod and rigidly secured thereto.

[0027] The present disclosure also relates to a port thus defined, wherein the transmission extends into a housing protruding from the inner face of the flange.

[0028] The present disclosure also relates to a method of using a port thus defined, including the operation of moving the manoeuvring rod to manoeuvre the door.

[0029] The present disclosure also relates to a method thus defined, wherein the transmission includes a reduction gear including a small gear wheel rigidly secured to the rotary element and a large gearwheel which is supported by the flange while being meshed with the small gear wheel, and wherein the large gear wheel is movably linked to the actuating rod via at least one cam-groove connection.

[0030] The present disclosure also relates to a method of using a connection port for a sealed transfer cell, this port including a flange having an outer face and an inner face that carries a hinge to which a door is secured that is movable between an open position and a closed position in which this door closes a central opening of the flange, the hinge comprising two fixed bearings rigidly attached to the flange which jointly carry a rotary element to which the door is rigidly attached, the flange being equipped with a manoeuvring system for opening and closing the door from the external face, characterised in that the manoeuvring system includes a manoeuvring rod that passes through the external face of the flange while being movable in translation, and a transmission including at least one cam-groove connection for movably linking the actuating rod to the rotating element, so that a translation of the actuating rod causes a rotation of the door, this method including the operation of moving the manoeuvring rod to manoeuvre the door.

[0031] The present disclosure also relates to a method thus defined, wherein the transmission includes a reduction gear including a small gear wheel rigidly secured to the rotary element and a large gearwheel which is supported by the flange while being meshed with the small gear wheel, and wherein the large gear wheel is movably linked to the actuating rod via at least one cam-groove connection.

[0032] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] [Fig. 1] is a view of the connection port according to the present disclosure depicted from the inner face side of the flange when the door is closed;

[0034] [Fig. 2] is a view of the connection port according to the present disclosure depicted from the inner face side of the flange when the door is open;

[0035] [Fig. 3] is a view of the connection port according to the present disclosure depicted from the side of the outer face when the door is closed; [Fig. 4] is a perspective and transparent view of the housing carrying the lever with the slider contained in this housing when the lever and the slider occupy a position corresponding to the closed state of the door;

[0036] [Fig. 5] is a perspective and transparent view of the housing carrying the lever with the slider contained in this housing when the lever and the slider occupy a position corresponding to the open state of the door;

[0037] [Fig. 6] is a partial perspective view showing the housing with the transmission contained therein;

[0038] [Fig. 7] is a partial perspective view showing the housing with the transmission that this housing contains but without the swing arm of this transmission;

[0039] [Fig. 8] is a partial side view showing the flange with its manoeuvring system when the door is closed;

[0040] [Fig. 9] is a partial side view showing the flange with its manoeuvring system when the door is open.

[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In figures 1 to 3, a connection port 1 for a sealed transfer cell includes a cell flange 2 supporting a door 3 secured to this flange 2 by a hinge 4. This flange 2 is attached to an opening, not shown, of a cell wall, and has a shape of revolution about an axis AX, to delimit a circular central opening 6.

[0043] It includes an inner face 7 appearing in Figures 1 and 2 and extending inside the cell it equips, and an outer face 8, marked in Figures 1 to 3, but appearing more clearly in Figure 3 and extending outside the cell it equips.

[0044] The opening 6, which is free in the situation in figure 2, can be closed as in figure 1, by folding the door 3 against the flange 2 by pivoting this door 3 around the hinge 4. The hinge 4 extends along an axis AY normal to the axis AX and spaced therefrom by a distance greater than the radius of the opening 6.

[0045] The door 3 is connected to the hinge 4 by an arm 9 having a first end rigidly attached to a rotary element 11 of the hinge 4, and a second end rigidly attached to the door 3. The rotary element 11 of the hinge is part of the arm 9, with which it forms a single one-piece part.

[0046] As indicated above, the hinge 4 includes a rotary element 11 through which a shaft 10 passes, to which it is rigidly connected, this shaft extending along the axis AY, and which is supported by bearings 13 and 14 which are part of the flange 2 and / or which are rigidly unsecured to its inner face 7, to allow the element 11 to pivot about the axis AY.

[0047] In practice, the rotary element 11 is traversed by the shaft 10, which is a rigid assembly comprising a spindle equipped in particular with two rings 12, one of which can be part of an element extending an end of the spindle itself. These two rings 12 are supported by the bearings 13 and 14 with respect to which they rotate with the element 11 and the arm 9, when the door is manoeuvred.

[0048] The door 3, which is located on the side of the inner face of the port 1, is manoeuvred by means of a lever 16 which is located on the outer side of the port 1, this lever 16 being coupled to the rotary element 11 of the hinge via a manoeuvring system 17.

[0049] As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the lever 16 is movable in rotation about an axis ARI parallel to the outer face 8 and perpendicular to the axis AX, so that this lever 16 is movable in a plane perpendicular to the outer face 8, this plane being located radially outside the opening 6.

[0050] Starting from the situation in Figure 1, for an operator located on the external side of the port 1, opening the door consists in pivoting the lever 16 a little more than a quarter of a turn about the axis ARI, by folding it towards the external face 8 as shown in Figure 2. Similarly, closing the door consists in manoeuvring the lever in the opposite direction, pulling it towards you to move it away from the external face 8.

[0051] As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the lever 16 is here of the crank type, it includes a hub 19 extended by a radial arm 21 terminating in a handle 22, the hub being rigidly secured to a rotary shaft 23 carried by a housing 24 and rotating around the axis ARI, this housing 24 is rigidly secured to the flange 2. The lever 16 is movably connected to the hinge 4 by a manoeuvring system 17 comprising the housing 24 visible in figures 3 to 5 protruding from the outer face 8 and bearing the lever 16, and a housing 26 carried by the inner face 7, this housing containing, as visible in figures 6 to 8, a transmission 27 connecting the housing 24 to the hinge 4. The manoeuvring system 17 thus makes it possible to manoeuvre the door 3 located on the inner side, thanks to the lever 16 that extends on the outer side.

[0052] The housing 24, which appears more clearly in figures 4 and 5, has a generally pa ra I le le pipeda I shape, having a face radially internal with respect to the axis AX, which is perpendicular to the face 8 of the flange 2, this face having an orthoradial orientation with respect to the axis AX.

[0053] This housing 24 includes a body 28 and a cover 29 covering the radially outer face of this body 28 and the face of this body 28 which is opposite the face 8 of the flange 2, and a plate 31 attached against the radially outer face of the cover 29.

[0054] The hollow body 28 includes two inner slides 32 parallel to the axis AX, in the form of two opposing U-profiles, and it contains a slider 33 generally parallelepiped which is guided by these slides into which the opposite sides of this slider are engaged. The body is fastened to the flange 2 by means of through screws 34 extending parallel to the axis AX, these screws being here two in number..

[0055] The plate 31 includes a central bearing, not visible in the figures, which carries the shaft 23 of the lever 16 guiding it in rotation, this shaft 23 passing through the plate and the cover 29, and rotating around the axis ARI. This shaft 23 carries, at its end opposite the hub 19, i.e. the one extending into the body 28, a first roller 36 the axis of rotation of which is parallel to the axis ARI but is off-centre with respect to this axis ARI.

[0056] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, this first roller 36 is engaged in a first aperture 37 formed in the slider 33 to form with this aperture a first cam-groove connection CR1. This aperture 37 has an oblong shape extending parallel to the outer face 8 and it passes through the slider 33 from one end to the other in order to open in its radially inner face to in its radially outer face.

[0057] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, a rotation of the lever 16 from its closed position in which it is away from the flange 2 as in Figure 4, to its open position in which it is folded against the flange 2 as in Figure 5, causes a translation of the slider 33 which brings it closer to the outer face 8.

[0058] Similarly, a rotation of the lever from its open position folded against the flange 2 to its open position away from the flange 2 causes a translation of the slider 33 which moves it away from the outer face 8.

[0059] In practice, a rotation of the shaft 23 carrying the lever 16 causes a rotation of the roller 36 about the axis ARI, to increase or reduce the distance separating this roller from the outer face 8. This makes it possible to move the slider 33 controlled in translation by the slides 32, thanks to the cam-groove connection CR1 connecting this roller to the slider 33, this slide connection being formed by the roller 36 engaged in the aperture 37.

[0060] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, a manoeuvring rod 38 passing through the flange 2 parallel to the axis AX has its external end rigidly secured to the slider 33 and its internal end extending in the housing 26 which protrudes from the internal face 7 of the flange 2, so that a rotation of the lever 16 results in a translation of the part of the rod 38 located in the housing 26.

[0061] The inner end of the rod 38 is movably connected to the transmission 27 housed in the housing 26, so as to cause a rotation of the door 3 when this rod 38 is moved in translation under the effect of a rotation of the lever 16.

[0062] More particularly, as can be seen in Figure 7, the inner end of the rod 38 carries a sleeve 39 rigidly secured to this rod, which itself carries a second roller 41 with its axis parallel to the axis AY and perpendicular to this rod 38.

[0063] As can be seen in Figure 6, the roller 41 is engaged in a second aperture 42 of an oscillating arm 43 of the transmission 27, to form with this aperture a second camgroove connection CR2.

[0064] This swing arm 43 extends perpendicularly to the axis AY while having a free end 44 close to the axis AY and a fixed end which is secured to an internal foot 45 of the housing 26 by a connection of the fixed pivot type with its axis parallel to the axis AY.

[0065] The aperture 42 of this arm 43 is closer to its fixed end than to its free end 44, and has an oblong shape extending parallel to the arm 43 while passing through it from one side to the other in order to open in its radially outer face and in its radially inner face.

[0066] In the example of the figures, this second aperture 42 is at a distance from the fixed end which is about one third of the length of the arm 43, and is at a distance from the free end 44 which is about two thirds of this length.

[0067] This swing arm 43 linked to the rod 38 by the connection CR2 makes it possible to amplify the movement of this rod 38, so that, when the rod 38 moves by a certain value, the free end 44 of the arm 43 moves by a value corresponding to approximately three times the movement of the rod 38.

[0068] As can be seen in Figure 7, the hinge 4 is contiguous with the housing 26, being arranged in such a way that the shaft 10 of this hinge extends partially inside the housing 26 while carrying a small gear wheel 46 located opposite the free end 44 of the arm 43. The portion of the shaft 10 extending in the housing 26 can be formed by an element including one of the rings 12 and extending the axis strictly speaking of this shaft 10.

[0069] This gear 46 is meshed with a large gear wheel 47 extending in the housing, so that these two gear wheels form a reduction gear. The large gear wheel 47 is connected to the housing by a connection of the fixed pivot type, and has a diameter that is about twice that of the small wheel 46, so that one revolution of this large wheel causes about two rotations of the small wheel.

[0070] The large gear wheel 47 is movably connected to the free end 44 of the swing arm 43 by a third cam-groove connection CR3. More particularly, a flange 48, having the form of a plate with an egg-shaped contour, is rigidly secured to a flank of the gear wheel 47 and carries a third roller 49 the axis of which is parallel to the axis AY and to the axis of rotation of the gear wheel 47 while being off-centre with respect to this axis of rotation.

[0071] This roller 49 is engaged in a third aperture 51 formed at the free end 44 of the swing arm 43 to form with it a third cam-groove connection CR3. This third aperture has an oblong shape extending along the main direction of the arm 43, while passing through it from one end to the other so as to open in its radially inner face and in its radially outer face.

[0072] Under these conditions, a movement of the lever 16 causes a translation of the rod 38, which causes a rotation of the arm 43 about its fixed end resulting in a movement of its free end 44 which, because it is connected to the wheel 47 by the connection CR3, causes a rotation of the wheel 47. This rotation of the wheel 47 causes a rotation of the wheel 46 and therefore of the shaft 10 of the hinge 4 to move the door 3.

[0073] In practice, the range of movement of the free end 44 of the swing arm 43 corresponds to a rotation of the large gear wheel 47 by just under a quarter of a turn, which makes it possible to manoeuvre the door 3 by just under a half-turn between its open position and its closed position.

[0074] As indicated above, the swing arm makes it possible to amplify the movement of the rod 38 by a factor of the order of three, to pivot the wheel 47 by a quarter of a turn when the rod is moved over its entire travel, and the reduction gear consisting of the wheels 46 and 47 makes it possible to double this rotation at the arm 9 carrying the door 3.

[0075] The transmission 27 thus makes it possible to transmit the movement of the slider 33 (moved by the lever 16) to the door 3 while amplifying this movement, since a quarter of a turn of the lever results in a little less than half a turn of the arm 9 carrying this door 3.

[0076] This transmission 27 is housed in the housing 26 which protrudes from the external face 8 while having its face opposite this face 8 which is open. This housing 26 is advantageously closed by a cover 52, visible in figures 1 and 2, to enclose the transmission 27. This cover 52, which is here fastened to the housing by three screws, thus ensures that the transmission 27 cannot pollute the internal space of the cell, for example due to dusts that may be generated by the reduction gear of this transmission. This cover also seals the space on the inner side of the flange with respect to the manoeuvring system and the space on the outer side of the flange.

[0077] It should be noted that embodiments different from that of the figures are envisageable without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the system could not have the lever, while then providing that the rod constitutes a sliding-type actuator of the door: the operator pushes the outer end of this rod to close the door and pulls it towards him to open it, this end then advantageously being provided with a suitable knob. Furthermore, in the example of the figures, the movement of the rod is transmitted to the movable element in particular via the swing arm 43. But the rod could also be movably connected directly to the wheel 47, by a cam-groove connection, or even directly to the shaft 10 by a cam-groove connection.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Connection port (1) for a sealed transfer cell, this port (1) including a flange (2) having an outer face (8) and an inner face (7) which carries a hinge (4) to which is attached a door (3) movable between an open position and a closed position in which this door (3) closes a central opening (6) of the flange, the hinge (4) including two fixed bearings (13, 14) rigidly attached to the flange (2) which jointly carry a rotary element (11) to which the door (3) is rigidly joined, the flange (2) being equipped with a manoeuvring system (17) for opening and closing the door (3) from the outer face (8), characterised in that the manoeuvring system (17) comprises a manoeuvring rod (38) that passes through the outer face (8) of the flange (2) while being movable in translation, and a transmission (27) including at least one cam-groove connection (CR2, CR3) for movably linking the manoeuvring rod (38) to the rotary element (11), so that a translation of the manoeuvring rod (38) causes a rotation of the door (3).

2. Port according to claim 1, wherein the transmission (27) includes a reduction gear including a small gear wheel (46) rigidly connected to the rotating element (11) and a large gear wheel (47) which is carried by the flange (2) while being meshed with the small gear wheel (46), and wherein the large gear wheel (47) is connected in motion to the actuating rod (38) via at least one cam-groove connection (CR2, CR3).

3. Port according to claim 2, wherein the transmission (27) includes a swing arm (43) having a fixed end carried by the flange (2) and a free end (44) which is connected to the large gear wheel (47) by a cam-groove connection (CR3), and wherein the manoeuvring rod (38) is movably connected to this swing arm (43) by a cam-groove connection (CR2) located between the two ends of the swing arm (43), so that a translation of the manoeuvring rod (38) causes the swing arm (43) to rotate about its fixed end.

4. Port according to claim 2, comprising a housing (24) rigidly secured to the flange (2) and protruding from the external face (8), this housing (24) carrying a rotary lever (16) and containing a slider (33) rigidly secured to an end of the manoeuvring rod (38),this housing (24) containing a cam-groove connection (CR1) movably linking the lever (16) to the slider (33).

5. Port according to claim 2, wherein the lever (16) is movable in rotation about an axis (ARI) that is parallel to the outer face (8).

6. Port according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each cam-groove connection (CR1, CR2, CR3) includes a roller (36, 41, 49) engaged in a corresponding oblong aperture (37, 42, 51).

7. Port according to claim 3, wherein the cam-groove connection (CR2) movably connecting the actuating rod (38) with the swing arm (43) includes a roller (41) which is secured to a sleeve (39) surrounding the manoeuvring rod (38) and rigidly secured thereto.

8. Port according to claim 1, wherein the transmission (27) extends in a housing (26) protruding from the inner face (7) of the flange (2).

9. Method for using a port according to claim 1, including the operation of moving the actuating rod (38) to manoeuvre the door (3).

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the transmission (27) comprises a reduction gear including a small gear wheel (46) rigidly connected to the rotating element (11) and a large gear wheel (47) which is carried by the flange (2) while being meshed with the small gear wheel (46), and wherein the large gear wheel (47) is movably connected to the manoeuvring rod (38) via at least one cam-groove connection (CR2, CR3).

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