A door arrangement attached to a first enclosed space to reduce the risk of contamination when a second enclosed space is connected to the first enclosed space.

Abstract

The invention relates to a door arrangement (1) for a first enclosed space, enabling a sealed connection between the first and second enclosed spaces, comprising a flange (2) defining an opening to the first enclosed space, a door (4) hingedly attached to the flange (2), and means for securing the flange of the second space against the flange of the first space, the means comprising locking catches (8) movable between an unlocked position recessed within the flange (2) and a locked position projecting radially from the flange (2) towards the opening, thereby locking the flange of the second space without rotating the flange (2) by engaging each catch with a notch provided on the outer periphery of the flange of the second space.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a door arrangement intended to be able to be attached to a first enclosed space and to allow a sealed connection of a second enclosed space to the first enclosed space.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a door arrangement for attachment to a first enclosed space, the door arrangement comprising a flange defining a passage opening to the first enclosed space, a pivot door hingedly attached to the flange so that the door moves between a closed position in which it closes the passage opening and an open position, and a fastening means capable of fastening and maintaining the flange of the second enclosed space against the flange of the first space.

[0003] In this application, "space" means any product, device, or installation that defines the space. It can therefore be an enclosure, insulator, receptacle, container, bag, etc.

[0004] "Enclosed space" is understood to mean a space isolated from the outside environment. This may in particular, but not exclusively, be a space for preparing, storing and / or handling products that must not come into contact with the outside or with the user.

[0005] The door configuration is intended to connect two enclosed spaces, particularly, but not exclusively, for the purpose of transferring product from one space to the other without breaching the containment. This may include, for example, the transfer of hazardous products such as certain biological, chemical, or radioactive products, the transfer of components such as stoppers, vials, plungers, syringes, etc., the transfer of environmental control devices such as media plates, particle counters, the transfer of cleaning systems, the transfer of liquids, powders, tools, the transfer of waste outside the enclosure, and / or the transfer of any element required for the production or maintenance of the production line.

[0006] prior art Moving products from one enclosed space to another without breaching the confinement of those spaces is a difficult problem to solve. To address this problem, double door sealing connection devices have been developed, including, for example, those described in patent applications FR2777822 and FR3036054.

[0007] These double door connection devices are formed by first and second door / flange assemblies, one for one of the spaces and the other for the other space. Traditionally, the enclosed space to be connected is a portable container or pouch-type receptacle, while the other enclosed space to which the receptacle is connected is typically a stationary handling enclosure. The receptacle is connected to the handling enclosure by mating and connecting the door / flange assemblies. This connection is generally achieved by what is referred to as an engaged bayonet system, where male lugs on the receptacle flange and door engage with notches on the handling enclosure flange and door, respectively, followed by rotating the receptacle to allow the receptacle flange to lock to the handling enclosure flange and the receptacle door to lock to the enclosure door, and the connected doors are unlocked by unlocking the doors from their respective flanges.

[0008] The friction that occurs between the flange and door during the rotational movements performed to lock the flange and door together, to unlock the door from the associated flange, or to unlock the spaces from each other, has the disadvantage of generating particles that can cause contamination within the enclosed space as well as cause damage to the seal of the connection.

[0009] The invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a door configuration that prevents or at least limits the release of particles liable to generate contamination of the enclosed spaces when they are connected.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a door configuration that limits turbulence under laminar flow when the door is opened, which turbulence is a source of contamination risk during the transfer process.

[0011] Subject of the Invention To this end, the invention proposes a door arrangement for a first enclosed space, enabling a sealed connection between the first enclosed space and a second enclosed space, comprising: a flange configured to define an access opening in the first enclosed space, the access opening defining an opening plane and an access axis perpendicular to the opening plane; a door hingedly attached to the flange such that the door moves between a closed position in which it closes the access opening and an open position; and fixing means capable of fixing and maintaining the flange of the second enclosed space against the flange of the first space, the arrangement being advantageous in that the fixing means comprises locking catches movable between an unlocked position in which they are recessed in the flange and a locked position in which they project radially from the flange towards the access opening, thereby locking the flange of the second enclosed space without rotational movement of the flange, by engaging each catch in a notch provided on the outer periphery of the flange of the second space.

[0012] This configuration of the fixing means therefore allows for the elimination of the rotational movements imposed on prior art joining devices to connect the flanges together, thus limiting the friction between the two spaces when they are connected together, and therefore the generation of contamination-generating particles.

[0013] Advantageously, each locking catch is driven by a micromotor formed on the outer surface of the flange.

[0014] Advantageously, the micromotor is associated with means for detecting the presence of a flange of the second space resting against the flange of the first space.

[0015] Advantageously, the door is secured to the flange by a double-articulated linkage comprising a first articulation configured to allow rotational movement about an axis perpendicular to the passage axis at up to 30 degrees relative to the plane of the passage opening, and a second articulation configured to allow rotational movement about an axis parallel to the passage axis.

[0016] Advantageously, the second articulation is configured to allow a rotational movement, preferably 180 degrees, relative to the plane of the passage opening.

[0017] Advantageously, the double articulated linkage is coupled to a micromotor located in the connecting arm. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a rear perspective view of a door arrangement according to the invention in a closed position. [Figure 2a] 2 shows a front view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in the closed position. [Figure 2b] 2 shows a top view of the door of the arrangement of FIG. 1 in the closed position. [Figure 3a] 2 shows a front view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in an intermediate open position. [Figure 3b] 2 shows a top view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in an intermediate open position. [Figure 4a] 2 shows a front view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in an intermediate open position. [Figure 4b] 2 shows a top view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in an intermediate open position. [Figure 5a] 2 shows a front view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in a fully open position. [Figure 5b] 2 shows a top view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in a fully open position. [Figure 6] 2 shows a front perspective view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in a closed position. [Figure 7a] FIG. 10 shows a detailed view of the flange locking catch in the flange unlocked state. [Figure 7b] 7b shows the flange locking catch of FIG. 7a in a locked state of the flange; [Figure 8] 2 shows a front perspective view of the door of the configuration of FIG. 1 in a closed position, in which the door is in a secured position to the door of the second enclosed space.

[0019] Hereinafter, the terms "rear view" or "view from the rear" refer to a view into or towards the interior space of an enclosed space defined by the door arrangement. Similarly, the term "front view" with respect to an enclosed space means being located outside the interior space of the enclosed space or facing away from the interior of the enclosed space defined by the door arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] 1 to 8, a door arrangement 1 for equipping a first closed space is described. This door arrangement is configured to allow the connection of a second closed space. According to a particular embodiment, the first closed space is a fixed enclosure and the second closed space is a transportable container. Of course, this is only one embodiment, and the device according to the invention is not limited to this type of closed space. When they are connected to each other, the door arrangement of the first space and the door arrangement of the second space form a sealed functional device that allows the transfer of products between the two closed spaces without breaking the confinement.

[0021] The door arrangement 1 according to the invention comprises a flange 2 and a door 4. The flange 2 is configured to delimit a passage opening 3 within the enclosure provided by the door arrangement 1, the opening 3 defining an opening plane and a passage axis perpendicular to the opening plane. The door 4 is hinged on the flange 2 so as to be movable from a closed position, in which the door 4 closes the passage opening 3, to an open position, in which the door 4 extends substantially parallel to the passage opening plane, and vice versa. To achieve this, the door is fixed on the flange by a double-articulation linkage 5. The latter thus comprises, on the one hand, a first articulation portion 6 configured to enable rotational movement about an axis A perpendicular to the door axis C (or to the axis of the passage opening), and, on the other hand, a second articulation portion 7 configured to enable rotational movement about an axis B parallel to the door axis C (or to the passage axis of the passage opening) (FIG. 1). In this description, the term "door axis" refers to the axis extending perpendicular to the door when the door is in the closed position. The axis of the door therefore corresponds to the passage axis of the passage opening 3. The axis C shown in Figure 1 subsequently denotes either the axis of the door in the closed position or the passage axis.

[0022] The two articulations 6 and 7 are configured to subject the door 4 to a rotational movement, firstly about axis A and then secondly about axis B, for opening the door. The first articulation 6 is in the form of a hinge, the fixed part of which is fixed to the second articulation 7, which in turn is connected to the door by a connecting arm 9.

[0023] The first articulation 6 is configured to allow a rotational movement of up to 30 degrees relative to the plane of the opening, while the second articulation 7 is configured to allow a rotational movement of at least 45 degrees, preferably 180 degrees, relative to the plane of the opening.

[0024] 2 to 5 show the rotational movement of the door 4 as it moves from the closed position to the open position. The opening movement of the door 4 is thus achieved by rotation from its closed position (FIG. 2) around the axis A of the hinge (first articulation 5), which in the illustrated example follows a stroke of approximately 20 degrees (FIG. 3). The door 4 is then in a partially open position. The door 4 then moves in rotation around the axis B of the second articulation 7 over a stroke of approximately 180 degrees, passing through an intermediate opening position that provides full clearance of the passage opening 3, before reaching the final open position shown in FIG. 5 (FIG. 4 shows the door in the intermediate opening position). In the final position, the door extends in a plane diametrically opposite to its closed position and parallel to the plane of the passage opening.

[0025] According to an advantageous embodiment, the door is advantageously motorized. To achieve this, the first and second articulations 6 and 7 are each coupled to a motor, for example of the stepper type. It is of course clear that the invention is not limited to motorized doors, and that the latter movement can also be performed manually by actuating a control lever carried by the door, which control lever can be provided inside and / or outside the enclosed space.

[0026] As mentioned above, the door arrangement according to the invention allows the coupling of a second space provided with a second flange in a second enclosed space and defining a passage opening closed by the second door. For this purpose, the flange 2 advantageously has an outer surface 20 provided with fastening means against which the flange of the door of the second enclosed space can be fastened and maintained. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening means of the flange comprise a magnetic locking catch 8. This is an exemplary embodiment and it is of course clear that other locking means, such as, for example, an actuator, can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0027] Each locking catch 8 is provided with a locking lug 10 which is movable between a position in which the lug is recessed into the flange and a position in which the lug projects radially from the flange 2 towards the passage opening, thus locking the flange in the second enclosed space. Furthermore, each locking catch 8 is associated with a micromotor which can drive them in rotation to progress from an unlocked state to a locked state. Figures 7a and 7b show the catches in the unlocked and locked positions.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the flange is provided with four locking catches 8 arranged at 90 degrees. Of course, this is an exemplary embodiment and the number of locking catches can vary according to the dimensions of the door. The flange therefore advantageously comprises at least two locking catches located diametrically opposite each other.

[0029] According to Figure 8, the door 4 performs a rotation (advantageously 60°) about the axis C to unlock the door of the second enclosed space from its flange and to fix the door of the second enclosed space together with the door 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the door is driven by a motor located on the connecting arm 9.

[0030] The invention has been described above by way of example, and it is understood that those skilled in the art will be in a position to produce various variant embodiments of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A door arrangement (1) for a first enclosed space, which allows a sealed connection between said first enclosed space and a second enclosed space, a first flange (2) configured to define a passage opening in said first enclosed space, said passage opening defining an opening plane and a passage axis perpendicular to said opening plane; a first door (4) hingedly attached to the first flange (2) so that the first door (4) can move between a closed position, in which it closes the passage opening (3), and an open position; - fixing means for fixing and maintaining the second flange of the second enclosed space against the first flange of the first enclosed space, The fastening means comprises a plurality of locking catches (8) movable between an unlocked position recessed in the first flange (2) and a locked position projecting radially from the first flange (2) towards the passage opening, so that when the first and second enclosed spaces are connected to each other, each locking catch is engaged in a notch provided on the outer periphery of the second flange of the second enclosed space, thereby locking the second flange of the second enclosed space without any rotational movement of the second flange.

2. 2. A door arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each locking catch (8) is driven by a micromotor formed on the outer surface of the first flange (2).

3. 3. The door arrangement (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the micromotor is associated with means for detecting the presence of the second flange of the second enclosed space, which is fixed and maintained on the first flange of the first enclosed space.

4. 4. The door arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first door (4) is fixed to the first flange (2) by a double-articulated linkage (5) comprising a first articulation (6) configured to allow a rotational movement about an axis (A) perpendicular to the passage axis and at an angle of up to 30 degrees relative to the plane of the passage opening (3), and a second articulation (7) configured to allow a rotational movement about an axis (B) parallel to the passage axis.

5. 5. The door arrangement (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the second articulation portion (7) is configured to allow a rotational movement of more than 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees along the plane of the passage opening (3).

6. 6. The door arrangement (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the double articulated linkage (5) is coupled to a micromotor located in a connecting arm (9).

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