Sealed emptying device and method for radioactive material storage container

Abstract

The invention provides a sealed emptying device and method for a radioactive material storage container. The sealed emptying device comprises a discharging device, a container fixing mechanism and a turnover mechanism. A container is fixed to the container fixing mechanism, the container fixing mechanism is connected with the turnover mechanism and communicated with the discharging device, and the turnover mechanism is rotationally connected to the discharging device. And the container is overturned through the overturning mechanism to pour the materials into the discharging device. The container fixing mechanism is used for fixing the container, the overturning mechanism is used for overturning the container fixing mechanism and the container until materials are poured into the discharging device, and then the container is overturned to be reset for replacement. Therefore, the radioactive atmosphere overflow level in the radioactive material transfer process can be effectively controlled, the positive effect on environmental dose level control is achieved, and the exposure dose level of maintainers is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of nuclear technology, and particularly relates to a sealing emptying device and method for a radioactive material storage container. BACKGROUND

[0002] A radioactive powder material transfer process is generally carried out inside a sealing fixed surface, a mechanical hand is used to remotely transfer the material storage container to a specified position, and it is ensured that the material in the container is completely emptied, the material in the container is poured into a discharge pipe through a corresponding device, and then the empty container is taken down, and during the process, it is necessary to ensure that the radioactive atmosphere is contained, and a sealing emptying device and method for a radioactive material storage container need to be designed for this requirement. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application aims to provide a sealing emptying device and method for a radioactive material storage container, which can solve the problem of radioactive atmosphere overflow during the transfer process of radioactive material. The present application provides a sealing emptying device for a radioactive material storage container, which comprises a discharge device, a container fixing mechanism and a turnover mechanism; the container is fixed on the container fixing mechanism, the container fixing mechanism is connected with the turnover mechanism and communicates with the discharge device, and the turnover mechanism is rotationally connected to the discharge device; the container is turned over by the turnover mechanism to pour the material into the discharge device.

[0004] Further, the discharge device comprises a fixed surface and a discharge pipe, and the discharge pipe is connected to the fixed surface.

[0005] Further, the container fixing mechanism comprises a material guiding pipe, one end of the material guiding pipe is rotationally connected to the fixed surface and communicates with the discharge pipe, and the other end of the material guiding pipe is provided with a container sealing port.

[0006] Further, the container fixing mechanism further comprises a lifting assembly and a tray, the lifting assembly is connected to one end of the container sealing port of the material guiding pipe, the tray is connected to the lifting assembly, and the container is placed on the tray; the tray is lifted by the lifting assembly, so that the container is lifted in the direction of the container sealing port and is sealed.

[0007] Further, the lifting assembly comprises a lifting motor, a lifting gear, a rack and a guide rod; the lifting motor is connected to the lifting gear, the lifting gear is engagedly connected to the rack, and the rack is connected to the tray through the guide rod.

[0008] Further, the material guiding direction of the material guiding pipe is inclined relative to the turnover direction of the turnover mechanism.

[0009] Further, the container sealing opening is provided with a sealing ring, a pressing ring is arranged between the sealing ring and the container sealing opening, and a plurality of pressing members are arranged around the container sealing opening and penetrate the container sealing opening, and the pressing ring is pressed against the sealing ring by moving the pressing members towards the inside of the container sealing opening.

[0010] Further, the turnover mechanism comprises a turnover driver and a turnover member, the turnover driver is connected with the turnover member and drives the turnover member to rotate, and the material guide pipe penetrates through and is fixed to the turnover member.

[0011] Further, the turnover driver comprises a turnover motor and a driving gear, and the turnover member comprises a driven gear engaged with the driving gear.

[0012] The application also provides a sealing emptying method, which adopts the sealing emptying device of the radioactive material storage container and comprises the following steps: S1, the lifting assembly lowers the tray, and the turnover mechanism is adjusted to a container receiving position; S2, the container loaded with the material is placed in the tray by the manipulator at a distance; S3, the lifting assembly drives the tray and the container to ascend by lifting the rack through the lifting gear, so that the container opening is in contact with the container sealing opening for sealing; S4, the turnover mechanism is started, the turnover member rotates with the material guide pipe and the lifting assembly, the container rotates along the axis by 180°, and is kept still for a period of time, so that the internal radioactive dust falls into the unloading pipe along the material guide pipe; S5, the turnover mechanism is started to rotate reversely by 180°, so that the material guide pipe, the lifting assembly and the container return to the initial position; S6, the lifting assembly drives the tray and the container to descend by lowering the rack through the lifting gear; S7, the container is taken away by the manipulator, and the next emptying is prepared.

[0013] The technical scheme of the application fixes the container by adopting the container fixing mechanism, and turns over the container fixing mechanism together with the container to empty the material into the unloading device by adopting the turnover mechanism, and then turns over the container to reset and replace. Therefore, the radioactive atmosphere overflow level in the radioactive material transfer process can be effectively controlled, which has a positive effect on the environmental dose level control and reduces the exposure dose level of the maintenance personnel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the application or the technical scheme in the prior art, the drawings needed in the following specific embodiment or prior art description will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the application, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0015] Figure 1 Figure 1 is a schematic view of the overall device of the present application; Figure 2 Figure 2 is a schematic view of the side and discharge device of the device of the present application; Figure 3 Figure 3 is a schematic view of the container fixing mechanism of the present application; Figure 4 Figure 4 is a schematic view of the side and material guiding tube of the container fixing mechanism of the present application; Figure 5 Figure 5 is a schematic view of the deviation adjustment of the front of the overturning motor of the present application; Figure 6 Figure 6 is a schematic view of the deviation adjustment of the side of the overturning motor of the present application; Figure 7 Figure 7 is a schematic view of the container sealing port of the present application; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 - overturning motor; 2 - fixing surface; 3 - discharge tube; 4 - transmission shaft; 5 - driving gear; 6 - driven gear; 7 - rack; 8 - lifting gear; 9 - motor drag chain; 10 - guide rod; 11 - tray; 12 - container; 13 - lifting motor; 14 - material guiding tube; 15 - compression ring; 16 - steel surface flange; 17 - motor mounting seat; 18 - adjusting bolt; 19 - butterfly nut; 20 - sealing ring; 21 - compression ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The technical solutions of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the embodiments, obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0017] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0018] Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are used herein for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or an ordered sequence. Thus, features defined with "first", "second" or "third" can include one or more of the described features, either explicitly or implicitly. In the description of the application, the meaning of "a", "an" and "the" includes singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, the terms "mounting", "connected", "connecting" should be construed broadly, for example, can be fixed connection, can also be detachable connection, or integrally connected; can be mechanical connection, can also be electrical connection; can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through intermediate medium, can be internal communication of two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0019] Embodiment 1 As Figures 1-7 The application provides a sealing emptying device for radioactive material storage container, which comprises a discharging device, a container fixing mechanism and a turnover mechanism; the container 12 is fixed on the container fixing mechanism, the container fixing mechanism is connected with the turnover mechanism and communicates with the discharging device, and the turnover mechanism is rotationally connected on the discharging device; the container 12 is turned over by the turnover mechanism to pour the material into the discharging device.

[0020] Specifically, the device fixes the container 12 by the container fixing mechanism, and turns over the container fixing mechanism together with the container 12 to pour the material into the discharging device by the turnover mechanism, and then turns over the container 12 to reset and replace. Thus, the radioactive atmosphere overflow level in the radioactive material transfer process can be effectively controlled, which has a positive effect on the environmental dose level control and reduces the exposure dose level of the maintenance personnel.

[0021] Embodiment 2 The discharging device comprises a fixed surface 2 and a discharging pipe 3, and the discharging pipe 3 is connected on the fixed surface 2. The container fixing mechanism comprises a material guiding pipe 14, one end of the material guiding pipe 14 is rotationally connected with the fixed surface 2 and communicates with the discharging pipe 3, and the other end of the material guiding pipe 14 is provided with a container sealing port. The container fixing mechanism further comprises a lifting assembly and a tray 11, the lifting assembly is connected with the one end of the container sealing port of the material guiding pipe 14, the tray 11 is connected on the lifting assembly, and the container 12 is placed on the tray 11; the tray 11 is lifted by the lifting assembly to lift the container 12 to the direction of the container sealing port and be sealed. The lifting assembly comprises a lifting motor 13, a lifting gear 8, a rack 7 and a guide rod 10; the lifting motor 13 is connected with the lifting gear 8, the lifting gear 8 is engagedly connected with the rack 7, and the rack 7 is connected with the tray 11 through the guide rod 10. The material guiding direction of the material guiding pipe 14 is inclined relative to the turnover direction of the turnover mechanism.

[0022] Specifically, the fixed surface 2 is a chamber steel surface, the lifting assembly (the material guide pipe 14) is fixed to the steel surface flange 16 through the compression ring 15, the compression ring 15 is connected with the flange through bolts, and the compression ring 15 only restricts the horizontal movement and does not limit the rotary movement.

[0023] The lifting assembly is composed of a lifting motor 13, lifting gears 8, racks 7, guide rods 10 and trays 11. The lifting assembly is driven by the lifting motor 13 through the transmission shaft 4 to rotate the lifting gears 8 (two), and is driven by the gear and rack meshing transmission to drive the racks 7 (two) to rise and fall. Each rack 7 is connected with a guide rod 10 at the lower part, and the guide rod 10 is connected with the tray 11 at the lower part. The double-sided gear and rack 7 drive can ensure that the container 12 is kept as horizontal as possible during the lifting process. In order to ensure the integrity of the container 12 during the lifting process and in the fault condition, the lifting stroke is controlled by the motor encoder, and mechanical limit positions (upper limit position and lower limit position) are designed at the maximum stroke positions. In addition, the motor has a power-off brake function, which ensures that the container 12 will not fall when the equipment suddenly loses power.

[0024] Embodiment 3 Further, a sealing ring 20 is arranged in the container sealing opening, a compression ring 21 is arranged between the sealing ring 20 and the container sealing opening, and a plurality of compression members are arranged around the container sealing opening. The sealing ring 20 is pressed to the inside of the container sealing opening by the compression members, and the compression ring 21 is pressed to the sealing ring 20.

[0025] Specifically, a sealing device is arranged inside the lifting assembly (the container sealing opening of the material guide pipe 14), the sealing ring 20 in the container sealing opening is fixed by the compression ring 21, and the compression ring 21 is fixed by the four butterfly nuts 19 as compression members. When the sealing ring 20 is replaced, the four butterfly nuts 19 are removed, and the sealing ring 20 and the compression ring 21 can be automatically dropped, so that the sealing ring 20 can be quickly replaced. When the container 12 rises to the upper limit position, the container opening is tightly pressed with the sealing ring 20 in the device, so that a sealed cavity is formed between the container 12 and the discharge pipe 3 during the turning process. The sealing ring 20 has a hollow structure, so that even if the horizontal degree of the container 12 deviates or the coaxiality of the container 12 and the sealing ring 20 deviates greatly, the container 12 can still maintain a sealed state when it is at the upper limit position.

[0026] Embodiment 4 The turning mechanism includes a turning driver and a turning piece, the turning driver is connected with the turning piece and drives the turning piece to rotate, and the material guide pipe 14 penetrates through and is fixed to the turning piece. The turning driver includes a turning motor 1 and a driving gear 5, and the turning piece includes a driven gear 6 engaged with the driving gear 5.

[0027] Specifically, the overturning mechanism is composed of an overturning motor 1, a driving gear 5 and a driven gear 6. The overturning mechanism drives the driving gear 5 to rotate by the overturning motor 1, and then drives the driven gear 6 to rotate through the external tooth engagement, and then drives the lifting assembly (the container 12 is in a fixed and sealed state) and the material guide pipe 14 fixed on the driven gear 6 to rotate. After the motor drives the lifting assembly and the material guide pipe 14 to rotate 180°, the material in the container 12 is poured into the discharge pipe 3 through the material guide pipe 14, and then the container 12 is reset by being reversely rotated 180°.

[0028] The in-place signal of the overturning mechanism is also controlled by the encoder combined with mechanical limiting. The overturning motor 1 is installed on a special motor mounting seat 17, which is welded on the steel surface of the box chamber, and the meshing gap between the motor mounting seat 17 and the driven gear 6 can be adjusted by the adjusting bolt 18 on the side, so as to reduce the influence of the installation deviation on the gear meshing performance.

[0029] The device adopts a modular design idea. The motor is connected to the power supply by a motor drag chain 9, and is connected to the cable through a quick detachable electrical connector. In case of failure, the mechanical part and the motor of the device can be integrally removed from the hot cell for cleaning and maintenance.

[0030] Example 5 The application also provides a sealing emptying method using the sealing emptying device of the radioactive material storage container 12, and comprises the following steps: S1, the tray 11 is lowered to the lower limit position in advance in the equipment control system, and the driven gear 6 of the overturning mechanism is adjusted to the container 12 receiving position; S2, the container 12 containing the material is placed in the tray 11 by the mechanical arm at a long distance; S3, the lifting motor 13 is started, the lifting gear 8 of the lifting assembly is driven to rotate through the transmission shaft 4, and then the tray 11 and the container 12 are lifted to the upper limit position through the rack 7, and it is ensured that the container port is in a sealed state; S4, after confirming that the container 12 is fixed firmly, the overturning motor 1 is started to drive the driving gear 5 to rotate, drive the driven gear 6 to rotate, and make the container 12 rotate 180° along the axis, and stand still for a period of time to make the internal radioactive dust fall into the discharge pipe 3; S5, after completion, the overturning motor 1 is started to drive the container 12 to reversely rotate 180°, so that the lifting assembly and the container 12 return to the initial position; S6, the lifting motor 13 is started to lower the container 12 to the lower limit position; S7, the container 12 is taken away by the mechanical arm, and the next emptying is prepared.

[0031] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the above embodiments can be modified, or some or all of the technical features can be replaced by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A sealed emptying device for a radioactive material storage container, characterized in that The device comprises a discharging device, a container fixing mechanism and a turnover mechanism. The container is fixed on the container fixing mechanism, which is connected with the turnover mechanism and communicates with the discharging device, and the turnover mechanism is rotationally connected on the discharging device. The container is turned over by the turnover mechanism to pour the material into the discharging device.

2. A sealed emptying device for a radioactive material storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that The discharging device comprises a fixing surface and a discharging pipe connected on the fixing surface.

3. A sealed emptying device for a radioactive material storage container according to claim 2, characterized in that The container fixing mechanism comprises a material guiding pipe, one end of which is rotationally connected with the fixing surface and communicates with the discharging pipe, and the other end of which is provided with a container sealing port.

4. The sealed emptying device of a radioactive material storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that The container fixing mechanism further comprises a lifting assembly and a tray, the lifting assembly is connected with one end of the container sealing port of the material guiding pipe, and the tray is connected on the lifting assembly, and the container is placed on the tray. The tray is lifted by the lifting assembly to lift the container to the direction of the container sealing port and be sealed.

5. A sealed emptying device for a radioactive material storage container according to claim 4, characterized in that The lifting assembly comprises a lifting motor, a lifting gear, a rack and a guide rod. The lifting motor is connected with the lifting gear, the lifting gear is engaged with the rack, and the rack is connected with the tray through the guide rod.

6. The sealed emptying device of a radioactive material storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that, The material guiding direction of the material guiding pipe is inclined relative to the turnover direction of the turnover mechanism.

7. The sealed emptying device of a radioactive material storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that, The container sealing port is provided with a sealing ring, a pressing ring is arranged between the sealing ring and the container sealing port, a plurality of pressing members are arranged around the container sealing port, and the sealing ring is pressed against the container sealing port by the pressing members moving to the inner side of the container sealing port.

8. The sealed emptying device of a radioactive material storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that, The turnover mechanism comprises a turnover driver and a turnover member, the turnover driver is connected with the turnover member and drives the turnover member to rotate, and the material guiding pipe passes through and is fixed on the turnover member.

9. A sealed emptying device for a radioactive material storage container according to claim 8, characterized in that The turnover driver comprises a turnover motor and a driving gear, and the turnover member comprises a driven gear engaged with the driving gear.

10. A method of sealing an emptying, characterized in that, The sealing emptying device of the radioactive material storage container comprises the following steps: S1, the lifting assembly lowers the tray, and the turnover mechanism is adjusted to a container receiving position; S2, the container loaded with the material is placed in the tray by the mechanical hand at a distance; S3, the lifting assembly lifts the tray and the container to the position where the container port contacts and seals the container sealing port by the lifting gear; S4, the turnover mechanism is started, the turnover member rotates with the material guiding pipe and the lifting assembly, the container rotates along the axis by 180°, and is stationary for a period of time to make the internal radioactive dust fall into the discharging pipe along the material guiding pipe; S5, the turnover mechanism is started to rotate reversely by 180° to make the material guiding pipe, the lifting assembly and the container return to the initial position; S6, the lifting assembly lowers the tray and the container by the lifting gear; S7, the container is taken away by the mechanical hand to prepare for the next material pouring.

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