Cell flange for double watertight door with pressurization channel

Abstract

Cell flange (200) comprising an annular flange body (201) with a main axis (AX) and which is provided with means for fixing it to a wall (100) of a cell, the flange body (201) defining an internal passage (202), the flange (200) having a cell door (15) which can selectively close the internal passage (202) and a set of external ears (203-206) projecting radially internally from a circumferential wall (208) of the flange (200) to delimit, with an external face (210) of the flange body (201), a groove (220) comprising at least one notch (213) separating two ears (203, 204) of the set of ears (203-206) in order to be able to form an external bayonet connection system, a ventilation channel (240) extends in the flange body (201) and has a first end (241) and a second end (242), the first end (241) opening through a first orifice (243) on the external face (210). Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Cell flange for double watertight door with pressurization channel Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the sealed transfer of objects from a sealed container to a cell, with a double-door connection system. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] In various industrial sectors, tasks are carried out in a confined atmosphere, to protect the environment, for example, from radioactivity or toxicity, or to carry out these tasks in an aseptic atmosphere.

[0003] The transfer of objects from a container to a cell, without breaking the seal, is ensured with a double-door connection device, known for example from documents FR2695343 and US8950624.

[0004] Such a device can be used for packaging drugs when using an isolator or an aseptic filling line. In this case, it is necessary to transfer small objects such as bottle caps to supply this line.

[0005] The confined enclosure or cell is equipped with a flange which is closed on the inside by a door mounted on a hinge fitted to this flange, commonly called the Alpha part, and the Beta part, such as for example a container or a bag, the mouth of which is provided with another flange fitted with another door. The flanges are provided with ears separated by notches. The shapes and dimensions of the ears of one of the flanges correspond to the shapes and dimensions of the notches of the other flange so as to be able to form a bayonet connection. A lip seal is generally carried by the container to ensure a watertight connection of the container to the cell.

[0006] The connection consists of engaging the container flange (Beta part) in the cell flange (Alpha part), and pivoting it on itself, which has the effect of: - secure the two flanges to each other by engaging a first bayonet connection called a flange-flange connection; - secure the two doors to each other by engaging a second bayonet connection called a door-door connection; - separate the container door from its flange by releasing a third bayonet connection called the flange-door connection.

[0007] After connection, the cell door is pivoted inwards to open it: the container door is then rigidly secured to that of the cell by the connection door holder, it is taken with the cell door to extract it from the container flange.

[0008] When the objects have been transferred, the cell door can then be folded down against this opening with the container door it carries.

[0009] The Beta part is then pivoted on itself in the opposite direction, which has the effect of: - securing the container door to the container flange; - separate the container door from the cell door; - separate the container flange from the cell flange.

[0010] When connecting the container to the cell, a volume of air is confined in substantially cylindrical boundary spaces delimited by an external face of the cell door, an external face of the container door, and their respective peripheral seals, and delimited by an external face of the cell flange, an external face of the container flange, and their respective peripheral seals. At the end of the container disconnection operations which bring the ears of the container flange opposite the notches of the cell flange, the operator must exert traction on the container to detach the Beta part from the Alpha part. The traction exerted on the container must be sufficient to overcome the suction effect that the expansion of the confined air volume between the external faces of the two doors, and / or between the external faces of the two flanges, exerts against a separation of the Beta and Alpha parts.Such traction is particularly important and difficult to apply for large container diameters and the fact that the separation occurs abruptly is a possible source of accidents.

[0011] Finally, such efforts exerted repetitively can tire the operators, which presents the risk of a loss of vigilance and therefore the occurrence of a connection fault of the container which could lead to breaking the isolation of the cell, which has significant consequences on the quality of production.

[0012] The aim of the invention is to provide a solution to overcome this drawback, without integrating filters like most current solutions on the market. Description of the invention

[0013] For this purpose, a cell flange is provided comprising an annular flange body with a main axis and which is provided with means for fixing it to a wall of a cell. The flange body defines an internal passage and the flange has a cell door which can selectively close the internal passage and a set of external ears projecting radially internally from a circumferential wall of the flange to delimit with an external face of the flange body a groove comprising at least one notch separating two ears of the set of ears in order to form an external bayonet connection system with a container. According to the invention, a ventilation channel extends in the body flange and has a first end and a second end, the first end opening through a first orifice on the external face.

[0014] According to other particular, non-exclusive and optional embodiments of the invention: - the second end opens through a second orifice on the external face; - the second orifice is located at the level of at least one notch; - the flange comprises an isolation device selectively capable of adopting a first isolation state in which the first end is fluidically isolated from the second end and a second connection state in which the first end is fluidically connected to the second end; - the isolation device comprises a piston valve type valve in which the head of a piston is held against a valve seat using a position return element; - the piston extends so that a piston tail opposite the head projects from the external face, preferably, the piston extends in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis; - the piston is mounted in a bore, one end of which opens through the second orifice; - the isolation device comprises a plate extending at least partially around the second orifice; - the channel comprises at least one of the following portions: a first portion extending substantially parallel to the main axis, a second portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the main axis.

[0015] The invention also comprises a method for detaching a container attached in an external bayonet connection from a cell flange as defined above and in which the container is provided with at least one container ear. The method comprises the following steps: - position at least one container ear in at least one notch; - put the first orifice and the second orifice into fluid communication; - exert a force substantially parallel to the main axis on the container.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment, the step of placing the first orifice and the second orifice in fluid communication is caused by the positioning of the at least one container ear in the at least one notch.

[0017] For the purposes of the present application, the terms “fluidically connect” are synonymous and freely interchangeable with the terms “establish fluid communication”.

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of particular non-limiting embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the figures which represent: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a cell provided with a flange according to the invention; - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a partial schematic detail view of the flange of the [Fig.l] ; - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of the detail of the flange of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of a device isolation of the flange of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a partial schematic view of detail in perspective of the isolation device of [Fig.4]; - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a partial schematic view of detail in perspective of the isolation device of [Fig.4]; - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a partial schematic detail view of the flange of the [Fig.l] ; - [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a schematic sectional view of a stage of connection of a container to the flange of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is an exploded perspective view of a container and its associated container door; - [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a schematic sectional view of a flange of container and a container door.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0021] With reference to figures 1 to 8, a wall 100 of a cell not shown is equipped with a cell flange 200. This cell flange 200 has an internal face 4 facing the interior of the cell that it equips, and an external face 210 facing the exterior of the cell that it equips.

[0022] The cell flange 200 comprises an annular flange body 201 with a main axis AX and which is provided with means for fixing it to the wall 100. The flange body 201 defines an internal passage 202. The flange 200 has a cell door 15, not shown, which can selectively close the internal passage 202. The cell flange 200 is provided on the inside of the cell with a hinge on which the cell door is mounted. The cell door can occupy an open position towards the inside of the cell to release the internal passage 202 of the flange 200. The cell door can also occupy a folded position over the internal passage 202 to close it. The flange 200 also comprises a set of four external ears 203 to 206 - which project radially from the inner periphery 207 of a circumferential wall 208 of the flange 200 and which are capable of forming an external bayonet connection. The external ears 203 to 206 extend at a non-zero axial distance from an external face 210 (i.e. facing the outside of the cell) of the flange body 201 to define four portions 223 to 226 of an external groove 220 - of which only the groove portions 223, 224 and 226 are visible in [Fig. 3]. The groove 220 comprises a first notch 213 which separates the ears 203 and 204. A second notch 214 separates the ears 204 and 205. A third notch 215 separates the ears 205 and 206. Finally, a fourth notch 216 separates the ears 206 and 203.

[0023] As more particularly visible in figures 2, and 8 a ventilation channel 240 extends in the body 201. The channel 240 has a first end 241 and a second end 242. The first end 241 opens through a first orifice 243 on the external face 210. The second end 242 opens through a second orifice 244 on the external face 210 at the level of the notch 213.

[0024] As indicated in [Fig. 3], the channel 240 comprises a first portion 240.1 which extends substantially parallel to the axis Ax which is connected to a second portion 240.2 extending in a direction orthogonal to the main axis Ax to join a third portion 240.3 of the channel 240 in the form of a bore 245 extending, here, substantially parallel to the axis Ax. The bore 245 has a free end 246 which opens into an oblong counterbore 209 made in the body of 201, slightly set back from the external face 210.

[0025] Visible in figures 3 to 8, an isolation device 250 comprises a plate 251 which is screwed into the counterbore 209, and which has a central cutout 252. The central cutout 252 comprises a central portion 253 substantially in the shape of a rectangle with rounded corners and which is bordered by two semicircles 244.1 and 244.2 which constitute, according to this embodiment, the orifice 244 as will appear in the remainder of the description.

[0026] The isolation device 250 comprises a valve 255 of the piston valve type and which comprises a piston 256 which extends in a direction A256. The piston 256 has a first end which comprises a head 257 and a second end which comprises a piston tail 258. The head 257 has an annular bulge 259 which has an upper surface 259.1 on which rests an O-ring 260. The tail 258 has a section substantially identical to the central portion 253 of the cutout 252. The free end of the tail 258 has a flat 261 which extends in a plane P261 which makes an acute angle with the direction A256.

[0027] The isolation device 250 also comprises a helical spring 262. The spring 262 has an upper end 262.1 which bears on the lower surface 259.2 of the bulge 259 which is opposite the surface 259.1. The lower end 262.2 of the spring 262 bears against the lower face 245.1 of the bore 245.

[0028] The plate 251 comprises a hollow cylindrical portion 265 which projects of a lower face 252.2 of the plate 251, opposite the upper face 252.1 which extends opposite the notch 213. The portion 265 is arranged to engage in the bore 245 and comprises an external groove 266 which accommodates an O-ring 267. The lower end 265.1 of the portion 265 provides a seat for the valve 255.

[0029] The piston 256 is slidably engaged through the portion 265 and into the cutout 252. The spring 262 holds the head 257 of the piston 256 against the seat 265.1. The O-ring 267 ensures the seal between the bore 245 and the plate 251.

[0030] Thus, the piston 256 is mounted in the bore 245, the end 246 of which opens onto the second orifice 244.

[0031] The isolation device 250 can selectively adopt a first isolation state, shown in [Fig. 4], in which the spring 262 holds the head 257 of the piston 256 against the seat 265.1 and the first end 241 of the channel 240 is fluidly isolated from the second end 242. The isolation device 250 can also adopt a second connection state, shown in [Fig. 3], in which the first end 241 of the channel 240 is fluidly connected to the second end 242.

[0032] As visible in figures 9 and 10, the container flange 3 comprises a straight cylindrical body of revolution along the axis AX, a cylindrical internal face 5 of which defines an internal passage 6. The internal passage 6 comprises four internal tabs 10 to 13 regularly distributed around a central main axis AX of the container flange 3. Two of these internal tabs 10 and 13 are visible in [Fig.9], these internal tabs 10 to 13 protrude radially towards the axis AX.

[0033] The body of the container flange 3 also comprises an externally projecting outer face 8 from which four container ears 3.1 to 3.4 come.

[0034] The container flange 3 is provided with a container door 30 which rests on a lip seal 30.1 shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0035] The container door 30 comprises a cylindrical body 31 of revolution along the axis AX projecting outwardly from which come four door lugs 48, 49, 50 and 51 (51 not visible) capable of forming a door bayonet connection with the internal tabs 10 to 13. The body 31 also defines a blind cylindrical housing 32 of axis AX and which is open on its front face 33. The housing 32 comprises a wall 34 projecting radially from which comes a set of four internal tabs 35, 36, 37 and 38 capable of forming the internal bayonet connection with internal ears of the cell door according to known methods.

[0036] The connection of the container flange 3 to the cell 200 consists of engaging the container ears 3.1 to 3.4 of the container flange 3 in the cell flange 200 so as to position the container ears 3.1 to 3.4 of the container flange 3 in the notches 213 to 216 of the flange 200.

[0037] The container 3 is then pivoted around the axis AX - here a rotation of sixty degrees clockwise according to the representation in [Fig.l] - to form the external bayonet connection and connect the container 3 to the cell flange 200, and during this rotational movement the following steps take place: - the container ears 3.1 to 3.4 engage in the portions 223 to 226 of the groove 220 - during rotation of the container flange 3 relative to the cell door, the internal tabs 35 to 38 of the container door 30 come into contact with the internal ears of the cell door to engage the internal bayonet connection, also called the door-to-door connection and not visible in the figures. The internal bayonet connection secures the container door 30 to the cell door; - the four door ears 48 to 51 are also positioned between the internal tabs 10 to 13 to separate the container door 30 from the body 31.

[0038] At the end of these operations, the coupling of the container door 30 with the cell door is completed. The opening of the cell door 15 then makes it possible to free the internal passage 202, taking with it the container door 30.

[0039] In the same way, when the transfer has been carried out, the cell door 15 is folded down before applying a rotation around the axis AX in the counterclockwise direction (as shown in [Fig.l]) to the container 3. This has the effect of disengaging the internal bayonet connection - which separates the cell door and the container door 30 - and engaging the door bayonet connection - which secures the container door 30 to the container flange 3. During this rotational movement of the container 3 relative to the cell flange 200, the lugs 3.1 to 3.4 engage respectively in the notches 213 to 216 until the lug 3.1 comes into contact with the flat 261. The continued rotation of the container 3 relative to the cell flange 200 brings the lug 3.1 overhanging of the plate 251 and causes the piston 256 to be pushed in to bring the isolation device 250 into its second connection state.The first end 241 of the channel 240 is then in fluid connection with the second end 242. More precisely, air can circulate through the semicircles 244.1 and 224.2 of the cutout 252 to flow successively into the portions 240.3, 240.2 and 240.1 of the . channel 240 and open substantially at the seal 30.1 of the container, bringing the volume of air confined between the cell flange and the container flange 3 to atmospheric pressure. The operator can then extract the container 3 from the cell flange 200 by exerting a tensile force on it in a direction substantially parallel to the axis Ax. Opening the ventilation channel 240 prior to removing the container 3 makes it possible to reduce the tensile force required to extract the container 3 from the cell flange 200. The tensile force is exerted in a direction parallel to the axis Ax and in a direction which makes it possible to move the container away from the cell flange 3.

[0040] A cell flange 200 is thus obtained, the particular arrangement of which allows a considerable reduction in the overall force to be applied by an operator to overcome the suction force exerted against extraction of the container 3 from the flange 200.

[0041] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0042] In particular, - although here the operations of connecting and disconnecting the container and the cell flange require a relative rotation of the container and the cell flange of an amplitude of sixty degrees, the invention also applies to other values ​​of the angular amplitude such as for example an amplitude of thirty degrees; - although here the external flange comprises a set of four external ears, the invention also applies to a flange whose set of external ears comprises a different number of ears such as two, three or more than four external ears; - although here the piston head is held in position against the valve seat by a helical spring, the invention also applies to other types of position return elements such as for example a magnetic, elastic element or an arrangement of the piston exploiting gravity to return it to the closed position; - although here the flange comprises four notches and a single channel and a single isolation device, the invention also applies to a flange having a different number of channels such as for example more than two; - although here the flange comprises an isolation device, the invention also applies to a flange comprising a channel which would be devoid of an isolation device; - although here the first end opens at a notch, the invention also applies to other locations of the first orifice such as for example at any other point in the groove.

Claims

Claims

1. Cell flange (200) arranged to be fixed to a cell wall (100), the cell flange comprising an annular flange body (201) of main axis (AX), the flange body (201) defining an internal passage (202), the flange (200) having a cell door (15) which can selectively close the internal passage (202) and a set of external ears (203-206) projecting radially internally from a circumferential wall (208) of the flange (200) to delimit, with an external face (210) of the flange body (201), a groove (220) comprising at least one notch (213) separating two ears (203, 204) of the set of ears (203-206) in order to be able to form an external bayonet connection system, characterized in that a ventilation channel (240) extends into the flange body (201) and has a first end (241) and a second end (242), the first end (241) opening through a first orifice (243) on the external face (210).

2. Cell flange (200) according to claim 1, in which the second end (242) opens through a second orifice (244) on the external face (210).

3. The cell flange (200) of claim 2, wherein the second orifice is located at the at least one notch (213).

4. A cell flange (200) according to any preceding claim, comprising an isolation device (250) selectively capable of adopting a first isolation state in which the first end (241) is fluidically isolated from the second end (242) and a second connection state in which the first end (241) is fluidically connected to the second end (242).

5. Cell flange (200) according to claim 4, wherein the isolation device (250) comprises a piston valve type valve (255) in which a head (257) of a piston (256) is held against a valve seat (265.1) using a position return element (262).

6. Cell flange (200) according to claim 5, in which the piston (256) extends so that a tail (258) of the piston (256) opposite the head (257) projects from the external face (210), preferably, the piston (256) extends in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis (Ax).

7. Cell flange (200) according to claim 5 or 6, in which the piston (256) is mounted in a bore (245) one end (246) of which opens through the second orifice (244).

8. Cell flange (200) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the isolation device (250) comprises a plate (251) extending at least partially around the second orifice (244).

9. Cell flange (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel (240) comprises at least one of the following portions: a first portion (240.1) extending substantially parallel to the main axis (Ax), a second portion (240.2) extending in a direction orthogonal to the main axis (Ax).

10. Method for detaching a container (3) attached in an external bayonet connection of a cell flange (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, the container (3) being provided with at least one container ear (3.1-3.4), the method comprising the following steps: - positioning at least one container ear (3.1) in at least one notch (213); - placing the first orifice (243) and the second orifice (244) in fluid communication; - exerting a force substantially parallel to the main axis (Ax) on the container (3).

11. A method of decoupling according to claim 10, wherein the step of placing the first orifice (243) and the second orifice (244) in fluid communication is caused by positioning the at least one container ear in the at least one notch.

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