Arrangement for the hermetically safe docking of a protective suit and for exiting a contaminated indoor area

Abstract

The invention relates to a passage arrangement and a method for removing a protective suit (1) and leaving a contaminated interior area into a non-contaminated exterior area. The arrangement comprises a partition wall (9) with a passage opening, a closable passage hose (10) which is directly or indirectly connected to this passage opening in the exterior area and is designed to receive a connecting hose (4) on the protective suit (1), a separating device for separating the interconnected sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10), and / or a combined separating-welding device (11) with at least one separating-welding element (15). A welding device is provided for connecting the nested sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10).The welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device (11) is / are equipped for at least temporary connection with a connecting hose (4) of a protective suit (1) inserted into the passage hose (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a passage arrangement for leaving a contaminated interior area into a non-contaminated exterior area, according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method for removing a protective suit, according to the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] Full-body protective suits are used by workers in contaminated hazardous areas, such as chemical, biological, or radioactively contaminated areas. They protect the person by covering the entire body from head to toe, with the suits being completely sealed. Neither moisture nor heat escapes through the suit material. When leaving the hazardous area, the goal is to dispose of the contaminated suit as controlled as possible and to prevent the contamination from spreading to the outside world, in accordance with the principle of not spreading hazardous substances. Various airlock systems and exit procedures are known for this purpose. For example, exit from the hazardous area leads via airlocks, where the person is exposed to a (water) mist, for example, to bind particles. After removing the suit, the breathing apparatus is placed in a small airlock in the next airlock and the underwear is removed.The hygiene shower is located in the next lock room.

[0003] WO 2019 / 101664 A1 discloses an arrangement for docking a protective suit and a method for safely removing a protective suit, such that upon leaving the contaminated area and further upon exiting the protective suit, a complete separation between the interior and exterior of a protective environment is achieved through a tube-like protrusion of the protective suit. The suit wearer can access the uncontaminated exterior area through the tube on the suit and a passage opening. The disclosed method also includes removing the protective cover from the contaminated area by turning the protective cover over the opening so that the interior of the contaminated suit is facing outward, and subsequently separating it from the safety cover with the contaminated side facing inward, and closing the opening.

[0004] WO 2019 / 149442 A1 discloses a passage arrangement for leaving a contaminated interior into a non-contaminated exterior, using a protective suit with a meltable connecting tube that can be separated, for example, from the interior. A passage tube made of flexible, hermetically sealed, and preferably weldable material is connected to a passage opening in the exterior area, the inner wall of which can be tightly connected to the outer wall of the connecting tube. For this purpose, the connecting tube connected to the passage tube can be separated in the connection area. The connecting tube is torn open from the inside of the protective suit, creating a passage opening. An exit tunnel is inserted between the passage opening and the passage tube, the section of which opposite the passage opening is made of flexible material.The passage tube is hermetically connected to the end section of the exit tunnel. The wearer of the protective suit can walk normally from the interior into the exit tunnel, where, after opening the passage opening, the end of the exit tunnel and the passage tube can be pulled over them in any position. To hermetically separate the connection to the contaminated interior, the passage tube can then be guided to a suitable device, regardless of the position and posture of the wearer of the protective suit. One embodiment provides for the passage opening and the end section of the exit tunnel to be guided along the suit wearer, and the protective suit is also removed in the process. The passage tube is welded behind the passage opening, and all protruding sections are preferably severed at the same time.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of designing an arrangement for docking a protective suit and a method for removing a protective suit and for easily passing from the contaminated to the non-contaminated area in such a way that the wearer of the suit can safely exit independently and without the assistance of assistants stationed in the non-contaminated external area and prepare the passage arrangement for a new exit procedure. To this end, it must be ensured that the complete separation between the interior and exterior of a protective environment is maintained at all times, thus preventing the spread of contamination to the external area.

[0006] This object is achieved by an arrangement having the features of independent claims 1 and 9.

[0007] Further advantageous features of the invention are contained in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0008] The passage arrangement according to the invention comprises, in a known manner, a partition wall with a passage opening, further comprising a closable passage tube made of flexible, hermetically sealed, and weldable material, which is directly or indirectly connected to this passage opening in the external area, wherein the passage tube is designed to accommodate a connecting tube on the protective suit. The arrangement further comprises a welding device for connecting the nested sections of the connecting tube and the passage tube, as well as a separating device for separating the interconnected sections of the connecting tube and the passage tube and / or a combined separating welding device with at least one separating welding element.

[0009] According to the invention, this arrangement is characterized in that the welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device is equipped for at least temporary connection with a connecting hose of a protective suit inserted into the passage hose.

[0010] For this purpose, at least one permanent magnetic element or a complementary element to a permanent magnetic element of the connecting hose is preferably arranged on the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device.

[0011] Preferably, several elements are arranged along a straight, horizontal line, preferably parallel to the path of a welding bar, cutting bar, and / or cutting welding bar, in order to quickly and easily obtain a straight, flat arrangement of the nested hose sections. Since the welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting welding device are typically installed parallel to the partition wall in front of the partition wall, and the passage hose is extended by the wearer of the protective suit essentially perpendicular to the plane of the partition wall, the arrangement of the permanent magnetic elements or the complementary elements preferably runs perpendicular to the axis of the passage hose and / or parallel to the partition wall.

[0012] Preferably and in the sense of easy handling, it is advantageous if, according to a further feature of the invention, the elements are arranged along a lower support for the passage hose.

[0013] The optimal arrangement of the nested flexible sections of the connecting hose and the through-hose can be achieved particularly well and without the risk of wrinkling or the like if a further embodiment according to the invention is characterized in that the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or cutting-welding bars effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the nested sections of the connecting hose and the through-hose can be automatically displaced between a maximally open receiving position and a working position with clamping of the through-hose for clamping and / or welding and / or separating. The movement of the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or cutting-welding bars preferably occurs perpendicular to the axis of the through-hose and parallel to a lower support for the through-hose.

[0014] In order to enable operation without assistants, the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or separating welding bars are preferably automatically displaceable between at least the receiving position and a working position.

[0015] For the same purpose, a further optional embodiment is characterized in that at least one operating arrangement operable through the passage hose is arranged on the welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device.

[0016] To ensure safe operation by the wearer of the suit, the operating arrangement is preferably equipped with a two-hand switch.

[0017] A further preferred embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the welding device and / or cutting device and / or cutting-welding device as a whole can be automatically moved between a working position and a passage position and / or pivoted about an axis. Thus, after preparing the passage hose, the connecting hose, and opening the passage opening, there is sufficient space for the wearer of the protective suit to easily and safely exit the protective suit and pass from the contaminated side to the non-contaminated side of the partition.

[0018] The method underlying the present invention provides for a hermetically sealed connecting tube made of a fusible material, attached to the protective suit, to be deployed. This connecting tube preferably serves to allow a worker to exit the protective suit, but could also potentially be used to enter the protective suit. The connecting tube is connected in a connecting area to a through-tube, which hermetically seals the interior from the exterior, preferably by welding, and the protruding area is severed.After the connection of the connecting hose and the passage hose, a passage opening is created for the wearer of the protective suit, whereby the connecting hose is opened, preferably torn open, from the inside of the protective suit in such a way that a passage opening is created at the end of the passage hose through which the wearer exits the protective suit, after which the passage hose is welded behind the passage opening and thus the contaminated interior area is again hermetically separated from the exterior area.

[0019] This method is characterized in that, before the connection of the connecting hose and the passage hose is established, an at least temporary connection is established between at least the connecting hose, preferably also the passage hose, and the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device.

[0020] Preferably, the method takes place using an arrangement according to one of the preceding paragraphs.

[0021] Furthermore, an advantageous variant of the method provides that after pushing the connecting hose into the passage hose, its permanent magnetic element is brought closer to each other and coupled with at least one permanent magnetic element or a complementary element to the permanent magnetic element of the connecting hose.

[0022] A telescopic or rigid insert could also be arranged on the connecting hose, which, after welding, lies in the area to be severed and is cut away. This insert can be arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the connecting hose, thus ensuring the correct flat shape, so that the connecting hose can be easily and quickly inserted, secured, and processed in the cutting and / or cutting device or any other welding and / or cutting device. Alternatively or additionally, the insert could also be oriented longitudinally of the connecting hose to support the unfolding of the initially rolled or folded connecting hose and to be able to insert it safely into the working area of ​​the cutting and / or cutting device or any other welding and / or cutting device.

[0023] A further preferred variant of the method according to the invention is characterized in that before the at least temporary connection between at least the connecting hose and the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating welding device is established, a clamping bar and / or welding bar and / or separating welding bar effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the nested sections of the connecting hose and the passage hose is brought into a receiving position.

[0024] Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be characterized in that after the establishment of the at least temporary connection between at least the connecting hose and the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device, the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or separating-welding bars effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the nested sections of the connecting hose and the passage hose are automatically brought into a working position for clamping and / or welding and / or separating after actuation of an operating arrangement.

[0025] Preferably, for a simple and safe passage of the wearer of the protective suit, the welding device and / or cutting device and / or cutting-welding device is moved and / or pivoted between a working position for clamping and / or welding and / or cutting and a passage position in which the space in front of the passage tunnel is kept as free as possible, as soon as the connecting hose is connected in a connection area to a passage hose which hermetically seals the inner area against the outer area, preferably by welding, and the protruding area is separated.

[0026] For a better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0027] They show in a highly simplified, schematic representation: Fig. 1 shows a protective suit in perspective view according to the prior art; Fig. 2 shows a protective suit with an exit arrangement for use with the passage arrangement according to the invention in the same view as in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 the protective suit docked to a passage arrangement; Fig. 4 an exit arrangement for a protective suit, in a partially open state; Fig. 5 an exit arrangement as in Fig. 4in fully unfolded state; Fig. 6A-C the front ends of the passage hose and the connecting hose in vertical cross-section at various stages of the process, as well as the protective suit pulled outwards and severed at the end of the passage hose in vertical cross-section; Fig. 7 the exit tunnel in perspective view from the side; Fig. 8 the exit tunnel in perspective view from above, with a protective suit wearer exiting; Fig. 9A an embodiment of a device for cutting and welding in perspective view and in the working position; Fig. 9B an embodiment of a device for cutting and welding in perspective view and in the position pivoted to the side; Fig. 10A-B schematic plan view of a passage arrangement according to the invention with the device for cutting and welding in the working position and in the position pivoted to the side.

[0028] By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the variously described embodiments, identical parts are provided with identical reference symbols or component designations, whereby the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied mutatis mutandis to identical parts with identical reference symbols or component designations. Furthermore, the positional information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the directly described and illustrated figure, and in the event of a change in position, these positional information must be applied mutatis mutandis to the new position.

[0029] Figure 1shows a protective suit 1 of conventional design, preferably for single use and subsequent disposal. It consists of a protective cover 2 made of tear-resistant film, preferably made of a thermoplastic or polypropylene, which is completely enclosed around the wearer. In order to enable the wearer of the protective suit 1 to remove the protective suit 1 after completing their activity in the contaminated area, preferably by docking onto a specialized access device, an exit device 3 is arranged in the area of ​​the protective cover 2 that covers the front part of the body. The contaminated area is, for example, a treatment tent in medicine or chemistry, a mobile laboratory, or a shielded area in a hospital or on the move, which is shielded by a barrier from a clean, uncontaminated area, typically the outside world.However, situations are also conceivable in which an interior area is clean and an exterior area is contaminated. In this case, all statements made in this document apply mutatis mutandis, with the interior and exterior areas reversed.

[0030] This exit arrangement 3 comprises a connecting tube 4 made of weldable material that extends the protective sheath 2 toward the front. For example, the connecting tube consists of two superimposed film web sections that are welded together at their free longitudinal sides and at the free front end. When using a film tube, its free end can be pressed together and then welded together at the resulting flat, straight front end. In both cases, the welded ends can be pulled apart to expose a through-opening 19. The front ends of the connecting tube 4 could also be provided with other closure arrangements that enable a gas-tight, secure closure and manual opening of the through-opening 19.

[0031] The distal end section 5 of the connecting tube 4 is hermetically sealed, preferably by welding the initially open end of the connecting tube 4. Its clear width is selected to allow the wearer of the protective suit 1 to pass through it. The opening can be cut manually or with pressure. The proximal end 6 of the connecting tube 4 forms an exit opening in the protective cover 2. While the protective suit 1 is worn, the connecting tube 4 is rolled up or folded in the ready state and stowed in the front area of ​​the body under a gas-tight cover of the protective suit 1 that can be opened or cut apart as needed, so that it lies as flat as possible on the front of the suit. The pocket for the folded connecting tube 4 is preferably closed using an adhesive strip or a similar closure method.

[0032] The protective suit 1 according to the Fig. 2is optimized for use in a passage arrangement according to the invention, which allows an automated process in which the wearer of the protective suit 1 can go through the exit process from the contaminated side to the non-contaminated side without outside assistance, passing through a partition wall 9 between the two sides. This protective suit 1 has a connecting tube 4, the proximal end section 7 of which is also hermetically sealed, but can be opened manually. Here, too, a weld 8 is preferably provided, preferably across the entire width of the connecting tube 4. For this purpose, the opposing circumferential sections of the connecting tube 4 are preferably pressed together and hermetically connected by welding or gluing. A peelable weld of the inner walls of the connecting tube 4 is preferably provided, at least in the proximal end section 7.Since the interior of the protective sheath 2 is usually under somewhat higher pressure than the ambient pressure, this prevents premature and disruptive inflation of the connecting tube 4 during unfolding, which can impede further handling. In an embodiment of the protective suit 1 according to the invention with partial connection of the opposing sections of the inner walls of the connecting tube 4, with continuous sections also being left open between the preferably welded sections, an improvement in the behavior during unfolding can already be achieved.

[0033] The exit arrangement 3 can be an integral part of the protective cover 2 of the protective suit 1, but can also be an arrangement manufactured separately from the protective cover 2.

[0034] This can subsequently be hermetically sealed to the protective cover 2 of various types of protective suits 1. For this purpose, the exit arrangement 3 has an edge strip 13 at the proximal end surrounding the proximal opening of the connecting tube 4, which can be hermetically sealed to the protective cover 2, preferably by welding, but can also be glued or similarly hermetically sealed.

[0035] To leave the contaminated environment and / or to remove the protective suit 1, the wearer of the protective suit 1 goes as in Figure 3shown and also known per se from the basic sequence, to a known passage arrangement, which is typically provided at the transition between the contaminated area and the non-contaminated area and which comprises a fixed or at most mobile and temporarily usable partition wall 9. This is followed by an arrangement which has at least one passage hose 10 which is directly or indirectly connected to the partition wall 9.The arrangement on the non-contaminated side further comprises a welding arrangement for the material of the passage hose 10 and the connecting hose 4, preferably a separating welding arrangement 11, which can tightly weld the materials of the two hoses 4, 10 together, but which can separate sections of the hoses 4, 10 located in front of and behind the active part of the separating welding arrangement 11, comprising at least one preferably vertically movable welding bar 15 and a support 16. Alternatively, the welding bar 15 could also be pivoted away from the support 16 about a horizontal axis.

[0036] The passage hose 10 is typically made of hermetically sealed material, and at least its end facing away from the partition 9 is flexible. After unwinding the connecting hose 4, its distal end 5 is inserted into the passage hose 10 and pushed in as far as possible so that the passage hose 10 encloses the connecting hose 4. The connecting hose 4 is then welded on its outside to the inside of the passage hose 10 using the welding arrangement 11. After separating the end pieces of the two hoses 4, 10 facing away from the protective suit 1, also using the welding arrangement 11, the connecting hose 4 can be opened from the inside, creating a passage opening in the connecting hose 4 and in the passage hose 10, through which the wearer of the protective suit 1 can exit it.

[0037] In order to enable the wearer of the protective suit 1 to easily and quickly connect to the passage arrangement 8 without the assistance of assistants outside the contaminated area, the distal end section 5 of the connecting tube 4 is equipped for at least a temporary connection to the passage arrangement, in particular to the passage tube 10 and / or to the welding arrangement 11. Preferably, at least one permanent magnetic element 12 is arranged at the distal end section of the connecting tube 4, as shown in the Figs. 4 and 5This element 12 fixes the distal end section 5 of the connecting hose 4 within the passage hose 10 and preferably to metallic sections of the welding arrangement 11 or to correspondingly arranged elements 20 complementary to the permanent magnetic elements 12 on the connecting hose 4, which elements are preferably inserted into the support 16 or fastened thereto. Preferably, several permanent magnetic elements 12 are arranged in the lower circumferential section of the distal end section 5 of the connecting hose 4 and preferably also in a complementary arrangement in the welding arrangement 11.

[0038] The basic steps for safely removing the protective suit 1 are shown schematically in Figures 6A to 6D. The protective suit 1 is connected to the passage tube 10 via the connecting tube 4. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 6Ashown, the distal end 5 of the connecting tube 4 of the protective suit 1 is inserted into the end 14 of the passage tube 10 and in a connection area 17, the connecting tube 4 is welded on its outside to the inside of the passage tube 10. Within the connection area 17, the arrangement 18 of the outer end of the passage tube 10 with the end of the connecting tube 4 received therein is subsequently severed - as in Figure 6Bshown - and can be disposed of. The end of the connecting hose 4 located on the protective cover 2 of the protective suit 1 and the passage hose 10 remain connected to each other by welding. The connecting hose 10 and the passage hose 8 are still sealed together in the connection area 17 on both sides of the welded seam or the otherwise separated end sections, so that no exchange can take place between the contaminated interior and the uncontaminated exterior.

[0039] After the assembly 18 has been separated, the connecting tube 10 can be torn open from the inside by the wearer of the protective suit 1, creating a through-opening 19 in the distal end 5 of the connecting tube 4 and in the distal end 14 of the passage tube 10, through which the wearer of the protective suit 1 remaining on the contaminated side of the partition 9 can leave the suit and exit onto the non-contaminated side. To facilitate the tearing open of the connecting tube 4 to form the through-opening 19, a peelable layer can be provided on the inside of the connecting tube 4 in the connection area 17, or the latter can be made of an entirely peelable material.

[0040] Instead of a welded joint for hermetically sealing the connecting hose 4 or for connecting the connecting hose 4 and the passage hose 10, adhesive joints, positive connections of the surfaces, for example via complementary structures worked out therein, etc. can also be used.

[0041] Preferably, the welding of the through-tube 10 and the connecting tube 4 takes place simultaneously with the severing of the ends of these films, particularly advantageously by applying a separating weld seam. The separating-welding arrangement 11 preferably contains a combinable welding element and separating element, which can also be used separately. The separating element can be raised if necessary, creating a weld seam without simultaneously forming a separating seam, for example, to hermetically seal the end of the connecting tube 4 and / or the through-tube 10.

[0042] In Figure 7shows a further embodiment of a passage arrangement, in which the passage tube 10 is connected to a partition wall 9 between the inner and outer regions. The distal end section 14 of the passage tube 10, with its tightly closed distal end, is formed in this embodiment by a folded, rolled, or otherwise suitably compacted length of tubing material, which is accommodated in a storage cassette 22 and can be removed therefrom in the desired or required length. This storage cassette 22 is preferably circular in shape, and its clear width defines the passage opening 19. Figure 8shows the preferred implementation of the process step of stripping off the protective suit 1 and passing through the passage opening 19 by the wearer of the protective suit 1. To do this, the wearer passes through the passage opening in the partition 9 into the tunnel-like passage tube 10 and now slides over the torn-open passage opening 19 and the storage cassette 22 along his body, allowing him to reach the non-contaminated side of the partition 9 without the need for assistance. If the storage cassette 22 is not present, the connecting area 17 between the connecting tube 4 of the protective suit 1 and the passage tube 10 of the passage arrangement is simply slipped over or passed through.

[0043] The protective suit 1 can be packaged and disposed of in any manner after the wearer has exited the enclosure. For example, a protective cover could be placed around the protective suit 1 and tightly closed so that the suit can be disposed of safely and without the release of contaminated material.

[0044] Figure 9Ashows a possible embodiment according to the invention for a device for separating and welding 11 with a combined welding element and separating element, the separating welding bar 15 and its support 16, optionally supplemented by a separate cutting arrangement. With this device, film material, as is typically used for the connecting hose 4 or the through-hose 10, can be welded and separated simultaneously. For simple and rapid fixing of the ends of the hose sections, preferably complementary magnetic elements 20 or metallic sections to the magnetic elements 12 are arranged on the welding arrangement 11 shortly behind the welding bar 15 or a separating arrangement for the hose sections, ie on the side of the welding arrangement 11 facing away from the partition wall 9 and preferably embedded in the support 16 or fixed thereto.

[0045] In order to provide the wearer of the protective suit 1 exiting the contaminated area with as much space as possible for exiting and removing the protective suit 1 as well as the connecting hose 4 and the passage hose 10, the cutting and welding arrangement 11, or any type of welding device and / or cutting device and / or cutting and welding device, is automatically movable between a working position and a passage position and / or pivotable about a preferably vertical axis 23. Fig. 9B shows the arrangement of the Fig. 9A in such a position pivoted away from the passage area. If necessary, it may also be possible to move it in any direction relative to the partition wall 9, for example, guided on rails.

[0046] The Figure 10A shows an embodiment of a passage arrangement according to the invention in the working position, with the separating welding arrangement 11 in the working position. Fig. 10B is the arrangement of the Fig. 10A in the passage position, with the position pivoted away about an axis 23, after the connecting hose 4 and the passage hose 10 have been welded and torn open through the passage opening 19.

[0047] During the passage process between the contaminated area and the non-contaminated area through the fixed or temporary barrier 9 with simultaneous safe removal of the protective suit 1, when using the passage arrangement according to the invention, the connecting hose 4 present on the protective suit 1 is inserted into the end section of the passage hose 10 by the wearer of the protective suit 1 himself.Before establishing the tight connection between connecting hose 4 and through-hose 10, the wearer of the protective suit 1 then guides the interlocked hoses 4, 10 to the cut-and-weld device and places their ends on the support 16, where, by subsequently coupling the permanent magnetic elements 12 in the connecting hose 4 and the complementary elements 20 on the cut-and-weld device 11, an at least temporary connection is established between at least the connecting hose 4, and thus also the through-hose 10 surrounding this connecting hose 4, and the cut-and-weld device 11. The two hoses 4, 10 are thus securely fixed in place to the cut-and-weld device 11 without the need for auxiliary personnel.Before establishing the at least temporary connection between at least the connecting hose 4 and the welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device 11, a clamping bar and / or welding bar and / or cutting-welding bar 15, which acts to clamp and / or weld and / or separate the nested sections of the connecting hose 4 and the passage hose 10, is preferably brought into a receiving position, preferably automatically and triggerable by the wearer of the protective suit 1, if the wearer is not already in the open position after the previous passage process. The process described and further explained above can equally well be provided for any type of welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device.

[0048] The ends of the connecting hose 4 and the through-hole hose 10 are connected in a limited area, preferably by welding, as already known, and the protruding area is severed using conventional, likewise known, cutting methods and can be safely disposed of. The wearer of the protective suit 1 can initiate this welding process or any necessary cutting or cutting-welding process in the device 11 by operating the operating arrangement 24 without assistance, preferably using a safe two-hand control. To initiate the hazardous movement, e.g., lowering the cutting-welding bar 15 onto the support 16, both operating elements must be operated simultaneously with the hands. Releasing one of the operating elements stops the movement or—if this does not pose a hazard—reverses the direction of movement.This ensures that the hands are outside the danger zone, namely at the control elements 24, during the hazardous movement. Actuation of both control elements 24 with one hand or with other body parts is prevented by sufficient distance, partition walls, or other design measures.

[0049] Preferably, after the at least temporary connection between at least the connecting hose 4 and the cutting-welding device 11 has been established, the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or cutting-welding bars 15 which are effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the sections of the connecting hose 4 and the passage hose 10 which are pushed into one another are automatically moved from the receiving position into a working position for clamping and / or welding and / or separating after actuation of a two-hand control 24.

[0050] After connecting the connecting hose 4 and the passage hose 10 as explained above, the wearer of the protective suit 1 can then open a passage opening 19 by tearing apart the overlapping foils of the connecting hose 4. The connection between the front edge of the passage hose 10 and the front edge of the connecting hose 4 remains intact around this opening, ensuring a secure seal between the contaminated area and the non-contaminated area. The wearer of the protective suit 1 can now safely and easily exit the protective suit 1 through the passage opening 19 without the need for additional assistance and enter the non-contaminated area.

[0051] Finally, the wearer of the protective suit 1 can carry out the further steps to end the penetration process, for example, supply the protective suit 1 and in any case at least securely close the penetration tube 10 and the penetration opening 19 again so that the contaminated area remains hermetically separated from the non-contaminated area and preferably the penetration arrangement is prepared for a next penetration process.

[0052] As can be seen from the Fig. 10A and 10B As can be clearly seen, after fixing the hoses 4, 10 and cutting off the protruding sections, the cutting and welding device 11 is moved from the working position assumed for clamping and / or welding and / or cutting - see Fig. 10A - into a passage position as in Fig. 10Bin which the space in front of the partition wall 9 and the passage hose 10 is kept as free as possible. For this purpose, the cutting and welding device 11 can be moved, for example, on rollers or rails in any direction and / or pivoted about a preferably vertical axis 23 as soon as the connecting hose 4 is connected to the passage hose 10, which hermetically seals the inner area from the outer area, and the protruding area is severed.

[0053] The two jaws 15, 16 of the cutting-welding element 11 can be moved apart and towards each other in a parallel arrangement, preferably automatically and motor-driven, and can also be subjected to a force towards each other in order to clamp the material to be processed between them and exert pressure on it. The cutting-welding bar 15 can also be pivoted open and closed about a preferably horizontal axis.

[0054] The embodiments show possible embodiments, whereby it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiments with one another are also possible and this possibility of variation lies within the skill of the person skilled in the art in this technical field due to the teaching of technical action by means of the objective invention.

[0055] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and drawings must be used to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the various embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The problem underlying the independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

[0056] For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, in order to better understand the structure, some elements have been shown out of scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. Reference symbol list

[0057] 1Protective suit 2Protective cover 3Exit assembly 4Connecting tube 5Distal end section 6Proximal end 7Proximal end section 8Welding 9Partition wall 10Pass-through tube 11Separation welding assembly 12Magnetic element 13Edge strip 14End of the pass-through tube 15Welding bar 16Support 17Connection area 18Separated assembly 19Pass-through opening 20Complementary magnetic elements 21Exit tunnel 22Storage cassette 23Pivot axis 24Operating assembly

Claims

1. A passage arrangement for removing a protective suit (1) and for leaving a contaminated interior area into a non-contaminated exterior area, comprising: a) a partition wall (9) with a passage opening, b) a closable passage hose (10) made of flexible, hermetically sealed and weldable material, which is directly or indirectly connected to this passage opening in the exterior area, c) the passage hose (10) being designed to receive a connecting hose (4) on the protective suit (1), d) a welding device for connecting the nested sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10) being arranged and designed, and e) a separating device for separating the interconnected sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10), f) and / or a combined separating welding device (11) with at least one separating welding element (15) being present is,characterized in that g) the welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device (11) is equipped for at least temporary connection to a connecting hose (4) of a protective suit (1) inserted into the passage hose (10).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one permanent magnetic element (20) or a complementary element to a permanent magnetic element (12) of the connecting hose (4) is arranged on the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device (11).

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that several elements (20), preferably along a straight, horizontal line, preferably parallel to the course of a welding bar, separating bar and / or separating welding bar (15), are arranged.

4. Arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in thatthe elements (20) are arranged along a lower support (16) for the passage hose (10).

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or separating welding bars (15) effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the pushed-in sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10) are automatically adjustable between at least one receiving position for the passage hose (10) and a working position with clamping of the passage hose (10).

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one operating arrangement (24) which can be actuated through the passage hose is arranged on the welding device and / or the cutting device and / or the cutting-welding device (11).

7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating arrangement (24) is equipped with a two-hand control.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the welding device and / or cutting device and / or cutting-welding device (11) as a whole can be automatically moved between a working position and a passage position and / or pivoted about an axis (23).

9. A method for removing a protective suit (1) when exiting a contaminated interior area shielded from an exterior area, wherein a) a hermetically sealed connecting tube (4) made of a fusible material is attached to the protective suit (1), which serves for a worker to enter and exit the protective suit (1), and wherein b) the connecting tube (4) is connected in a connecting region to a through-tube (10) hermetically sealing the interior area from the exterior area, preferably by welding, and the projecting region (18) is severed, wherein c) after the connecting tube (4) and the through-tube (10) are connected, a through-opening (19) for the wearer of the protective suit (1) is created, d) wherein the connecting tube (4) is opened, preferably torn open, from the inside of the protective suit (1), such that the said through-opening (19) is created at the end of the through-tube (10),through which the wearer exits the protective suit (1), after which e) the passage tube (10) is welded behind the passage opening (19) and thus the contaminated inner area is again hermetically separated from the outer area, , characterized in that f) before the connection of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10) is established, an at least temporary connection is established between at least the connecting hose (4), preferably also the passage hose (10), and the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device (11).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized by the use of an arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8.

11. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in thatafter pushing the connecting hose (4) into the passage hose (10), its permanent magnetic element (12) is brought closer to and coupled to at least one permanent magnetic element (20) or a complementary element to the permanent magnetic element (12) of the connecting hose (4).

12. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that before the at least temporary connection between at least the connecting hose (4) and the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device (11) is established, a clamping bar and / or welding bar and / or separating-welding bar (15) effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the nested sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10) is automatically brought into a receiving position.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in thatafter the at least temporary connection has been established between at least the connecting hose (4) and the welding device and / or the separating device and / or the separating-welding device (11), the clamping bars and / or welding bars and / or separating-welding bars (11) which are effective for clamping and / or welding and / or separating the sections of the connecting hose (4) and the passage hose (10) which are pushed into one another are automatically brought from the receiving position into a working position for clamping and / or welding and / or separating after actuation of an operating arrangement (24).

14. Method according to claim 9, characterized in thatthe welding device and / or separating device and / or separating welding device (11) is moved and / or pivoted between a working position for clamping and / or welding and / or separating and a passage position in which the space in front of the passage tunnel (10) is kept as free as possible, as soon as the connecting hose (4) is connected in a connection area to a passage hose (10) which hermetically seals the inner area against the outer area, preferably by welding, and the projecting area (18) is severed.

Images