Radioactive sample digestion device

Abstract

The invention provides a radioactive sample digestion device which comprises a shielding box, and the shielding box is internally provided with a switch cover station frame which is provided with a station for placing a digestion tank; the linear module is arranged above the switch station frame; the linear module comprises a horizontal moving end; the cover opening and closing device is arranged at the horizontal moving end of the linear module, the cover opening and closing device comprises a vertical moving end, and the vertical moving end is provided with a clamping claw through a rotating structure; the cover opening and closing device is used for clamping a cover body of the digestion tank on the cover opening and closing station frame based on a clamping claw, and opening or closing the cover body by rotating the clamping claw through a rotating mechanism; the microwave digestion device is provided with a digestion station; the mechanical arm comprises an action tail end, clamping equipment is arranged at the action tail end, and the mechanical arm is used for holding the digestion tank based on the clamping equipment and moving the digestion tank to the digestion station of the microwave digestion device. According to the device disclosed by the invention, radiation suffered by workers can be reduced when a radioactive sample object is digested.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of performance inspection of radioactive materials after irradiation, and particularly relates to a radioactive sample digestion device. Background Art

[0002] In the performance inspection of nuclear fuel / materials after irradiation, solid radioactive nuclear fuel / materials need to be dissolved for subsequent separation and analysis experiments. The dissolution of radioactive solid samples is generally carried out in a glove box with a shielding function. Due to the limited field of view of the shielding glove box and the inconvenience of operating rubber gloves or manipulators, the difficulty of the experiment is much greater than operating outside the box. At the same time, the radioactive dose of some solid samples may be relatively high, and the radiation shielding capacity of commonly used rubber gloves is insufficient. The operation method using rubber gloves will increase the exposure dose of the operator. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a radioactive sample digestion device to solve the problem in the prior art that workers are easily exposed to radiation when digesting radioactive sample objects.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a radioactive sample digestion device, comprising:

[0005] A shielding box, wherein the shielding box is provided with:

[0006] The switch cover station frame is provided with a station for placing the digestion tank;

[0007] A linear module is arranged above the switch station frame; the linear module includes a horizontal moving end;

[0008] The switch cover device is arranged at the horizontal moving end of the linear module, and the switch cover device includes a vertical moving end, and the vertical moving end is provided with a clamping claw through a rotating structure; the switch cover device is used to clamp the cover of the digestion tank on the switch cover station frame based on the clamping claw, and rotate the clamping claw through a rotating mechanism to open or close the cover;

[0009] A microwave digestion device is provided with a digestion station;

[0010] A robotic arm is provided with a clamping device at the end of its movement. The robotic arm is used to hold the digestion tank based on the clamping device and move the digestion tank to the digestion station of the microwave digestion device.

[0011] Optionally, the switch cover station frame includes:

[0012] A gate-shaped bracket, wherein the horizontal portion of the gate-shaped bracket is provided with a station hole for placing a digestion tank and a sample bottle;

[0013] A plurality of clamping mechanisms are respectively arranged below each of the workstation holes and are used for clamping the body of the digestion tank or the body of the sample bottle.

[0014] Optionally, the microwave digestion device further comprises: a digestion tank cover placement station for temporarily placing a digestion tank cover, and a digestion tank plug placement station for temporarily placing a digestion tank plug;

[0015] The cover body placement station and the inner plug placement station correspond to the horizontal moving paths of the clamping claws respectively.

[0016] Optionally, the radioactive sample digestion device further comprises:

[0017] The digestion tank transfer rack is arranged in the shielding box, and the digestion tank transfer rack is provided with a station hole for placing the digestion tank.

[0018] Optionally, the radioactive sample digestion device further comprises:

[0019] The solution adding device is arranged above the digestion tank transfer rack, and the solution adding device is used to add a predetermined solution into the digestion tank on the digestion tank transfer rack.

[0020] Optionally, the radioactive sample digestion device further comprises: a liquid level meter for detecting the amount of solution injected into the digestion tank at the digestion station.

[0021] Optionally, a servo rotation mechanism is provided at the lower portion of the linear module, and the liquid level meter is provided at the rotation end of the servo rotation mechanism.

[0022] Optionally, the robotic arm is a multi-axis robotic arm.

[0023] Optionally, a camera device is provided at the movement end of the robotic arm, and the camera device is used to capture the operation images of each device in the radioactive sample digestion device in real time.

[0024] A radioactive sample digestion device in the present application can realize automatic opening and closing of the digestion tank by arranging a linear module and a cover opening and closing device in a shielding box. By arranging a connecting robot arm in the shielding box, automatic transportation of the digestion tank can be realized, that is, the digestion tank is automatically moved to the microwave digestion device, and there is no need for manual opening and closing, closing and transportation operations of the digestion tank, thereby reducing manual operation of the staff and the radiation risk to the staff.

[0025] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present invention, it can be implemented according to the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present invention are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. Moreover, the same reference symbols are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components. In the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of a radioactive sample digestion device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 2 For this application Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the middle switch cover station;

[0029] Figure 3 For this application Figure 1 Schematic diagram of microwave digestion apparatus;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the location of the liquid level meter in the radioactive sample digestion device.

[0031] In the figure, 1-solution adding device; 2-opening and closing cover device; 21-gripping claw; 3-digestion tank transfer rack; 4-opening and closing cover station rack; 5-liquid level meter; 6-linear module; 7-column; 8-microwave digestion device; 9-device installation base plate; 10-auxiliary robot; 11-digestion tank cover body placement station; 12-digestion station; 13-digestion tank internal plug position; 14-three-claw cylinder clamp; 15-three-claw cylinder; 16-opening and closing cover rack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Various aspects and features of the present application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] It should be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the above description should not be considered as limiting, but only as an example of an embodiment. Other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present application will occur to those skilled in the art.

[0034] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the general description of the present application given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0035] These and other characteristics of the present application will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form of embodiment given as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] It should also be understood that although the present application has been described with reference to some specific examples, those skilled in the art will be able to readily implement many other equivalent forms of the present application.

[0037] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Specific embodiments of the present application are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the embodiments applied for are merely examples of the present application, which may be implemented in a variety of ways. Well-known and / or repeated functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid unnecessary or redundant details that obscure the present application. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details applied for herein are not intended to be limiting, but merely serve as a basis and representative basis for the claims to teach those skilled in the art to use the present application in a variety of ways with substantially any suitable detailed structure.

[0039] This specification may use the phrases "in one embodiment," "in another embodiment," "in yet another embodiment," or "in other embodiments," all of which may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments according to the present application.

[0040] In order to solve the problem that the digestion equipment in the prior art is manually operated and the workers are easily exposed to radiation, this embodiment proposes a radioactive sample digestion device, such as Figure 1 As shown, the radioactive sample digestion device includes a shielding box, the bottom of which is a device mounting base plate 9 made of a metal plate. The main components in the device can be detachably mounted on the device mounting base plate 9 to facilitate the disassembly and installation of each main component, and to facilitate subsequent maintenance and replacement. Specifically, a linear module 6 is arranged on the device mounting base plate 9, and the linear module 6 has a horizontal moving end. The switch cover device 2 is integrally mounted on the horizontal moving end. The switch cover device 2 has a vertical moving end, and the vertical moving end is provided with a clamping claw 21 through a rotating mechanism. A switch cover station frame 4 is arranged below the clamping claw 21, and the switch cover station frame 4 is arranged on the device mounting base plate 9; the switch cover station frame 4 is provided with a station for placing the digestion tank. Therefore, the linear module 6 can drive the switch cover device 2 to move horizontally. The opening and closing cover device 2 can drive the clamping claw 21 to move vertically to the digestion tank station of the opening and closing cover station rack, clamp the cover of the digestion tank and rotate / turn it, thereby opening the cover; or the opening and closing cover device 2 can drive the clamping claw to clamp the cover of the digestion tank, and then move vertically to the digestion tank station of the opening and closing cover station rack, place the digestion tank cover at the mouth of the digestion tank, and rotate it, thereby closing the cover.

[0041] In this embodiment, a microwave digestion device and a mechanical arm are also provided on the device mounting plate 9; the microwave digestion device is provided with a digestion station. The mechanical arm has a clamping device at the end of the mechanical arm, and the mechanical arm is used to hold the digestion tank based on the clamping device and move the digestion tank to the digestion station of the microwave digestion device.

[0042] Specifically. The switch cover device 2 in this embodiment is composed of a clamp cylinder, a rotating mechanism, and a lifting mechanism. The device shell is made of stainless steel. Except for the bottom where the clamp cylinder is exposed, the rest is completely closed. The lifting mechanism is specifically a servo driver, which adopts a position control method to achieve the lifting and lowering of the clamp cylinder position by sending pulses and directions; the clamp rotation is achieved by setting a rotating device.

[0043] The radioactive sample digestion device in this embodiment can realize automatic opening and closing of the digestion tank by arranging a linear module and a cover opening and closing device in the shielding box. By arranging a connecting robot arm in the shielding box, automatic transportation of the digestion tank can be realized, that is, the digestion tank is automatically moved to the microwave digestion device, and there is no need for manual opening and closing, closing and transportation operations of the digestion tank, thereby reducing manual operation of the staff and the radiation risk to the staff.

[0044] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiment, another embodiment of the present application provides a radioactive sample digestion device. In this embodiment, the cover switch station rack 4 is also provided with a sample bottle station for placing a sample bottle; the cover switch device is also used to: clamp the cover of the sample bottle on the cover switch station rack based on the clamping claw, and rotate the clamping claw through the rotating mechanism to open or close the cover of the sample bottle; the mechanical arm is also used to: clamp the sample bottle based on the clamping device, and pour the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle into the digestion tank.

[0045] Specifically, Figure 2 As shown, the switch cover station frame 4 in this embodiment includes: a gate-shaped bracket 17, the horizontal part of which is provided with station holes for placing digestion tanks and sample bottles; a plurality of clamping mechanisms, which are respectively provided below each of the station holes, for clamping the digestion tank body or the sample bottle body. Specifically, the horizontal part of the gate-shaped bracket is provided with 3 station holes; a clamping mechanism is provided below each station hole, and each clamping mechanism includes: a clamping cylinder and a clamp. The action end of the clamping cylinder is provided upward, and the clamp is provided at the action end of the clamping cylinder.

[0046] In this embodiment, the clamping cylinder is a three-claw cylinder 15, and the corresponding fixture is a three-claw cylinder 15 fixture 14. The three stations of the switch cover device 4 in this embodiment include at least one digestion tank station and a sample bottle station. The above-mentioned three-claw cylinders 15 are all installed on a switch cover rack 16 to maintain the height of the above-mentioned multiple stations. In other words, the switch cover station rack in this embodiment is composed of the three-claw cylinder 15 fixture 14, the three-claw cylinder 15, the switch cover rack 16, etc., and the clamping force of the three-claw cylinder 15 is adjusted by the air circuit throttle valve to protect the sample bottle and the digestion tank from damage.

[0047] like Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, the microwave digestion device 8 includes, in addition to the digestion station 12, a digestion tank cover placement station 11 for temporarily placing the digestion tank cover, and a digestion tank plug placement station 13 for temporarily placing the digestion tank plug; the cover placement station and the plug placement station correspond to the horizontal movement path of the clamping claw respectively.

[0048] In the specific implementation process of this embodiment, the linear module can be specifically set on the device installation base plate 9 through a column. That is, a column 7 is installed on the left and right sides of one side in the width direction of the device installation base plate 9, and the column 7 is made of a rectangular tube made of stainless steel, with flanges welded at both ends. The linear module 6 is installed at the upper ends of the two columns 7, and the two columns 7 have the same height, so the linear module 6 is horizontally arranged. Below the linear module 6, in the extension direction of the linear module 6, the switch cover device 4 and the microwave digestion device 8 are sequentially arranged from the first side to the second side, so the linear module 6 and the switch cover device 2 can carry out the cover body / metal cover through the clamping claw 21. For example, the digestion tank cover body is carried to the cover body placement station / metal cover placement station 11, or the digestion tank inner plug is carried to the inner plug placement station 13. The specific effective station on the switch cover device 4, the effective station on the microwave digestion device 8, and the clamping claw 21 are in the same vertical plane.

[0049] In addition, a digestion tank transfer rack 3 is provided at the first end of the device installation base plate 9 near the linear module 6, and the digestion tank transfer rack 3 is provided with a station hole for placing the digestion tank. A solution adding device 1 is provided at the first end of the linear module 6, located above the digestion tank transfer rack. The solution adding device 1 is used to add a predetermined solution into the digestion tank on the digestion tank transfer rack, and the predetermined solution is specifically an acidic solution.

[0050] Another embodiment of the present application provides a radioactive sample digestion device, such as Figure 4 As shown, the radioactive sample digestion device also includes a liquid level meter 5 for detecting the amount of solution injected into the digestion tank at the digestion station 12. A servo rotating mechanism (not shown in the figure) is provided at the lower part of the linear module 6, and the liquid level meter 5 is installed at the rotating end of the servo rotating mechanism. In this embodiment, the liquid level meter 5 is an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the liquid level depth in the digestion tank. In order to avoid position interference with the switch cover device 4, the liquid level meter is installed at the rotating end of the servo rotating mechanism. When working, it rotates to the position corresponding to the digestion station; after the work is completed, it rotates to the bottom of the linear module to leave space for the switch cover device 4 to work. In this embodiment, two limit switches are installed at the servo rotating mechanism of the liquid level meter 5, namely, the original position limit and the working position limit. When the ultrasonic lifting device rotary motor is in the original position and raised to the highest position, the switch cover device 4 can move left and right. When the ultrasonic lifting device rotary motor is not in the original position, the switch cover device 4 is prohibited from moving left and right.

[0051] In addition, the control hardware and software related to the radioactive sample digestion device are all outside the glove box or shielding box.

[0052] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a radioactive sample digestion device. The robot arm 10 in the present embodiment is a multi-axis robot arm. The multi-axis robot arm adopts a standard robot arm and adopts a common four-axis or six-axis robot arm on the market. The robot arm drive and control are integrated with the controller, and all circuits are wrapped inside the robot arm. The robot arm is fixed on a stainless steel mounting base. A camera device is provided at the end of the movement of the robot arm, and the camera device is used to take real-time operation images of various devices in the radioactive sample digestion device.

[0053] The microwave digestion device 8 is equipped with a digestion chamber, a magnetron, a cooling fan, a digestion tank outer tank, a cover, a cover installation fixing position, a digestion tank, a plug sealing tool, etc., and an infrared thermometer (placed at the bottom of the digestion chamber) and a pressure detector (placed at the top of the digestion chamber) are also in the digestion chamber. The inner cavity of the microwave digestion device 8 is provided with a digestion outer tank, and a digestion tank is placed in the digestion outer tank. The digestion outer tank can protect the digestion tank from deformation at high temperature.

[0054] The radioactive sample digestion device in this embodiment can realize automatic opening and closing of the digestion tank by setting a linear module and a switch cover device in the shielding box, and can realize automatic handling of the digestion tank by setting a connecting robot arm in the shielding box, that is, automatically moving the digestion tank to the microwave digestion device, without manual operation of the digestion tank switch, cover closing and handling operations, reducing manual operation of the staff and the radiation risk to the staff, and realizing the delicate operation of fully automatic dissolution of radioactive solid samples. In addition, the device in this application occupies a small space and has a high degree of automation, reducing manual operation of the staff and the radiation risk to the staff.

[0055] The use process of this radioactive sample digestion device is as follows:

[0056] S1. The sample bottle containing the radioactive solid sample is placed on the trolley track behind the sample transfer door on the back wall of the glove box / shielded box, and is taken to the switch cover station rack in the glove box / shielded box by the robotic arm, and the digestion tank is moved to the switch cover station rack 4 by the robotic arm;

[0057] S2 realizes the opening of the sample bottle and the digestion tank through the cooperation of the cover opening and closing device 2, the clamping claw 21, and the linear module 6, and places the metal cover of the digestion tank at the metal tube placement station 11, and places the inner plug of the digestion tank at the inner plug placement station 13;

[0058] S3 pours the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle into the digestion tank through the robotic arm; and moves the digestion tank to the digestion tank transfer rack 3 through the robotic arm;

[0059] S4 uses the solution adding device 1 to add the strong acid and other reagents required for dissolution into the digestion tank in proportion;

[0060] S5 uses a robotic arm to move the digestion tank from the digestion tank transfer rack 3 to the cover opening and closing station rack 4, and through the cooperation of the cover opening and closing device 2, the clamping claw 21, and the linear module 6, the digestion tank plug and the metal cover of the digestion tank are closed.

[0061] S6: using a mechanical arm to move the digestion tank from the digestion tank station rack 4 to the digestion station 12 of the microwave digestion device 8, and the microwave digestion device 8 starts digestion according to the set program;

[0062] S7 After the first digestion is completed, the digestion tank is moved from the microwave digestion device to the digestion tank station rack 4 by the robot arm, and the metal cover and the inner plug of the digestion tank are opened by the cover opening and closing device 2, and the monitoring device is moved by the auxiliary robot 10 to observe the dissolution of the sample through the monitoring device, and the liquid level in the digestion tank is detected by the liquid level meter 5;

[0063] S8 If the sample is not completely dissolved, repeat the above steps S4 to S6 until the sample is completely dissolved, and use the robotic arm 10 to place the digestion tank in which the sample has been digested into the digestion tank transport rack 3, and the sample enters the next step.

[0064] The radioactive sample digestion device in this embodiment has a high degree of automation and can dissolve radioactive solid samples in a shielding box / glove box, effectively solving the risk of experimenters being exposed to radiation during experiments and the problem of large errors in digestion operations by experimenters.

[0065] The above embodiments are only exemplary embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. The protection scope of the present application is defined by the claims. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications or equivalent substitutions to the present application within the essence and protection scope of the present application, and such modifications or equivalent substitutions shall also be deemed to fall within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A radioactive sample digestion device, characterized in that: include: A shielding box, wherein the shielding box is provided with: The switch cover station frame is provided with a station for placing the digestion tank; A linear module is arranged above the switch station frame; the linear module includes a horizontal moving end; The switch cover device is arranged at the horizontal moving end of the linear module, and the switch cover device includes a vertical moving end, and the vertical moving end is provided with a clamping claw through a rotating structure; the switch cover device is used to clamp the cover of the digestion tank on the switch cover station frame based on the clamping claw, and rotate the clamping claw through a rotating mechanism to open or close the cover; A microwave digestion device is provided with a digestion station; A robotic arm is provided with a clamping device at the end of its movement. The robotic arm is used to clamp the digestion tank based on the clamping device and move the digestion tank to the digestion station of the microwave digestion device.

2. The device according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that The switch cover station rack is also provided with a sample bottle station for placing a sample bottle; The cover opening and closing device is also used to: clamp the cover of the sample bottle on the cover opening and closing station frame based on the clamping claw, and rotate the clamping claw through the rotating mechanism to open or close the cover of the sample bottle; The robotic arm is also used to: clamp the sample bottle based on the clamping device, and pour the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle into the digestion tank.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The switch cover station frame comprises: A gate-shaped bracket, wherein the horizontal portion of the gate-shaped bracket is provided with a station hole for placing a digestion tank and a sample bottle; A plurality of clamping mechanisms are respectively arranged below each of the workstation holes and are used for clamping the body of the digestion tank or the body of the sample bottle.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The microwave digestion device further comprises: a digestion tank cover placement station for temporarily placing the digestion tank cover, and a digestion tank plug placement station for temporarily placing the digestion tank plug; The cover body placement station and the inner plug placement station correspond to the horizontal moving paths of the clamping claws respectively.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The radioactive sample digestion device also includes: The digestion tank transfer rack is arranged in the shielding box, and the digestion tank transfer rack is provided with a station hole for placing the digestion tank.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that The radioactive sample digestion device also includes: The solution adding device is arranged above the digestion tank transfer rack, and the solution adding device is used to add a predetermined solution into the digestion tank on the digestion tank transfer rack.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The radioactive sample digestion device also includes: a liquid level meter for detecting the injection amount / remaining amount of the solution in the digestion tank at the digestion station.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that A servo rotating mechanism is arranged at the lower part of the linear module, and the liquid level meter is arranged at the rotating end of the servo rotating mechanism.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The robotic arm is a multi-axis robotic arm.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: A camera device is provided at the movement end of the mechanical arm, and the camera device is used to take real-time operation images of various devices in the radioactive sample digestion device.

Images