Cell flange equipped with magnetic safety means preventing uncoupling of a container flange

Abstract

The subject matter of the present disclosure is a connection assembly for a tight transfer cell, comprising: - a cell flange (1) comprising a central opening (4), and an inner face (6) equipped with a door for sealing the opening (4); - a lock (13) borne by the inner face (6) of the cell flange (1) for locking the door; - a groove at the inner circumference of the opening for receiving outer lugs of a container flange in order to form a bayonet connection making it possible to couple this container flange; - a stop (31) movable in translation between an activation position wherein it protrudes into the groove to prevent uncoupling of the container flange, and a deactivation position wherein this movable stop releases the groove; - magnetic actuation means equipping the lock (13) and the movable stop (31) for deactivating the movable stop when this lock (13) switches to the locked state

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Cell flange equipped with magnetic safety means preventing uncoupling of a container flange

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure relates to the tight transfer of components from a tight container to a tight cell, with a double-door connection system.

[0005] PRIOR ART

[0006] In different industrial sectors, it is necessary to perform tasks in a confined atmosphere, to protect the environment for example from radioactivity or toxicity, or to perform these tasks in an aseptic atmosphere, or both simultaneously.

[0007] The transfer of devices or products from a container to a cell, without breaking the tightness, is carried out with a double-door connection device, such a device being known for example from document FR2695343.

[0008] In such a device, the cell is closed by a door of a flange of the cell equipping this cell, the door being located on the inner side of the flange, i.e. in the cell, being connected to this flange by a hinge. The container is closed by a door mounted in a flange of this container to which it is secured by a bayonet connection. Two other bayonet connections allow securing of the flanges to each other, and securing of the doors to each other.

[0009] It is common to refer to the cell flange and door as alpha flange and alpha door, and to refer to the container flange and door as beta flange and beta door.

[0010] The connection of the container to the cell is carried out by applying the flange of the container against that of the cell, and by pivoting it on itself, which has the effect of:

[0011] - securing the two flanges to each other by their bayonet connection;

[0012] - securing the two doors to each other by another bayonet connection;

[0013] - disconnecting the bayonet connection connecting the container door to its flange. Once this connection has been made, the door of the cell can be pivoted inwards about its hinge, so as to open communication: the door of the container being then rigidly secured to that of the cell by the corresponding bayonet connection, it opens together with the cell door.

[0014] Once the transfer of components or materials has been carried out from the container to the cell or vice versa, the cell door with the container door attached thereto is folded back by pivoting about the hinge. The container is then pivoted on itself in the opposite direction, which has the effect of:

[0015] - securing the container door to the container flange;

[0016] - disconnecting the container door from the cell door;

[0017] - disconnecting the container door from the cell flange.

[0018] The aim of the present disclosure is that of adding safety to such a system to ensure that the container flange cannot be uncoupled from the cell flange until the door is fully closed.

[0019] SUMMARY

[0020] To this end, the present disclosure relates to a connection assembly for a tight transfer cell, comprising:

[0021] - a cell flange delimiting a central opening, this cell flange comprising an inner face equipped with a door for sealing the opening;

[0022] - a lock borne by the inner face of the cell flange for locking the door when it is closed on the opening;

[0023] - a groove extending to the inner circumference of the opening for receiving outer lugs of a container flange in order to form a bayonet connection making it possible to couple this container flange to the cell flange;

[0024] - fixed stops extending into this groove, the outer lugs bearing against these fixed stops when the container flange is coupled to the cell flange;

[0025] - a stop movable in translation between an activation position wherein it protrudes into the groove to interfere with an outer lug of the container flange in order to prevent its rotation to prevent its uncoupling from the cell flange, and a deactivation position wherein this movable stop releases the groove;

[0026] - a return element tending continually to activate the movable stop;

[0027] - magnetic actuation means equipping the lock and the movable stop for deactivating this movable stop when this lock switches to the locked state.

[0028] With this arrangement, uncoupling of the container flange engaged in the cell flange is only possible when the cell flange door is closed and locked.

[0029] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the movable stop comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein the lock comprises another permanent magnet that is positioned facing the movable stop when this lock switches to the locked state.

[0030] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the movable stop is movable in translation along an axis parallel to an axis of revolution of the groove, and wherein the lock is rotary and comprises a radial arm ending with a magnetic end comprising the magnet of the lock.

[0031] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the return element is formed by a ferromagnetic part cooperating magnetically with the magnet of the movable stop.

[0032] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the movable stop is located in a cavity of the cell flange.

[0033] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the lock is equipped with a manoeuvring lever located on an outer face of the cell flange.

[0034] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the permanent magnet of the lock is mounted in the magnetic end.

[0035] The present disclosure also relates to an assembly thus defined, wherein the movable stop is located on the cell flange at a position opposite that of a hinge bearing the door of this cell flange.

[0036] The present disclosure also relates to a method for using an assembly this defined, comprising the steps of:

[0037] - coupling the container flange to the cell flange; - actuating the lock of the cell flange to switch this lock to the unlocked state and activate the movable stop;

[0038] - opening the cell door to connect the container to the cell.

[0039] The present disclosure also relates to a method of use thus defined, wherein a connection assembly, comprising a movable stop comprising a permanent magnet, and comprising a lock comprising another permanent magnet that is positioned facing the movable stop when this lock switches to the locked state, is used.

[0040] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] [Fig. 1] is an overall perspective view of a flange equipped with a door shown open according to the present disclosure viewed from inside the cell;

[0042] [Fig. 2] is a front view of a flange equipped with a door shown closed according to the present disclosure viewed from inside the cell;

[0043] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view showing the lock in the locked state and for deactivating the movable stop;

[0044] [Fig. 4] is a perspective view showing the coupling of a container flange to the cell flange viewed from outside the cell;

[0045] [Fig. 5] is a sectional view showing the movable stop in the activated state;

[0046] [Fig. 6] is a sectional view showing the magnetic end and the movable stop in the deactivated state;

[0047] [Fig. 7] is a local perspective view of the lock in the unlocked state with its radial arm away from the movable stop to activate this stop;

[0048] [Fig. 8] is a local perspective view of the lock in the locked state with its radial arm facing the movable stop to deactivate it;

[0049] [Fig. 9] is a local perspective view showing the movable stop with its rod extending into the inner groove in the activated state when the lock arm is moved away from the movable stop; [Fig. 10] is a local perspective view showing the movable stop with its rod extending into the inner groove in the deactivated state when the arm of the lock is facing the movable stop.

[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In Figure 1, a cell flange 1 supports a door 2 secured to this flange 1 by a hinge 3. This flange 1 is attached to an opening, not shown, of a cell wall, and has a revolving shape about an axis AX1, to delimit a circular central opening 4.

[0052] It comprises an inner face 6 extending inside the cell equipped with it, and an outer face 7 extending outside the cell equipped with it and to which a container flange 8, forming part of a container from which a transfer is to be made to the cell or vice versa, is coupled.

[0053] The opening 4 which is free in the status of Figure 1, can be closed by folding the door 2 back against the flange 1 by pivoting this door 2 about the hinge 3. This hinge 3 extends along an axis AY normal to the axis AX1 and spaced apart from it by a distance greater than the radius of the opening 4.

[0054] In Figure 1, a door 9 of the container is secured to the inner face of the door 2 by an invisible bayonet connection. The door 2 is connected to the hinge 3 by an arm 11 having a first end rigidly secured to a rotary element 12 of the hinge 3, and a second end rigidly attached to the door 2.

[0055] The cell flange 1 is equipped with a locking device comprising a rotary lock 13 and the door 2 is equipped with a cam 14, or plug, rigidly secured to the door 2 and protruding from it.

[0056] The rotary lock 13 is located opposite the hinge 3 relative to the axis AX1, and it protrudes from the inner face 6 while being able to pivot about an axis AX2 parallel to the axis AX1, this lock 13 comprising a roller 16 extending parallel to the face 6.

[0057] When the door 2 is folded back as in Figure 2, the cam 14 is located facing the lock 13, such that a pivoting of the lock 13 about its axis makes it possible to engage its roller 16 in the cam 14, so as to lock the door 2. Rotating the lock 13 in the opposite direction makes it possible to disengage its roller 16, to release the cam 14 and allow opening of the door 2.

[0058] This rotary lock 13 advantageously comprises a transmission shaft passing through the outer face 7 of the flange and allowing an operator to actuate it thanks to an outer lever 17 borne by this manoeuvring shaft. The operator can thus lock or unlock the door 2 which is internal, from outside the cell.

[0059] As indicated above, the hinge 3 comprises a rotary element 12, pivoting about the axis AY, this rotary element 12 being borne by bearings 18 and 19 which are rigidly attached to the inner face 6.

[0060] As illustrated in Figure 4, the coupling of the container flange 8 to the cell flange 1 first consists of placing its free end facing the opening 4 and engaging it therein. This container flange 8 comprises outer lugs 20 then engaging in notches 21 of the cell flange 1, then engaging by rotation in a groove 22 formed at the inner circumference of the cell flange 1 with which they form a bayonet connection.

[0061] This groove 22 is delimited by a bottom 23 which is a cylinder portion coaxial with the axis AX1, by a ring-shaped flank 24 inscribed in a plane normal to the axis AX1, and by a front edge 26 protruding radially inwards. The front edge 26 comprises four beads 27 separated from each other by four notches 21 which allow engagement of the four outer lugs 20 of the container flange in the groove 22.

[0062] This groove comprises four inner fixed stops 29 for limiting the rotation of the four lugs 20, i.e. for stopping the rotation of the container flange 8 when it is coupled to the cell flange 1. Each inner stop 29 extends axially from one end of a bead 27 to the flank 24.

[0063] When the outer lugs 20 are engaged in the groove 22, the container flange 8 can then be pivoted about itself about the axis AX1 until the lugs 20 are positioned against the stops 29, to fully couple it to the cell flange 1.

[0064] Coupling of the container flange 8 to the cell flange 1 is carried out when the door 2 is closed and locked, and likewise uncoupling of the container flange 8 can only be carried out when the door 2 is closed and locked. Similarly, these operations can only be carried out if the flange 8 is equipped with its door. According to the present disclosure, the cell flange 1 is equipped with a movable stop 31 making it possible to lock the lugs in the groove 22 when the door 2 is open, so as to prevent a reverse rotation of the container flange 8 in order to prevent uncoupling of this container flange when the door 2 is open.

[0065] As can be seen in Figures 5, 6, 9 and 10, this movable stop 31 extends into the groove 22, circumferentially at a distance from a fixed stop 29 slightly greater than the circumferential length of a lug 20. When the container flange 8 is coupled to the cell flange 1, and the movable stop 31 is activated, the lug located between this movable stop and the nearest fixed stop is locked in rotation by this movable stop, to prevent uncoupling of the container flange 8 which is then locked in rotation in the groove 22.

[0066] As can be seen in Figure 5, this movable stop 31 which has a revolving shape about an axis AX3 parallel to the axis AX1, is housed in a cavity 32 of the flange 1 opening into the inner face 6, by being borne by a cap 33 closing this cavity 32. The cap 33 is attached to the cavity 32 by being for example screwed into an internal thread of the inner face of this cavity 32.

[0067] This movable stop 31 comprises a cylindrical body 34 wherein a permanent magnet 36 is housed, this body 34 being extended by a rod 37 sliding in a hole connecting the cavity 32 to the groove opening into its flank 24. The movable stop 31 is movable in translation along the axis AX3 by being able to slide in a cylindrical inner cavity of this cap 33.

[0068] A fixed magnetic steel ring 38, advantageously made of magnetic stainless steel, is housed in the bottom of the cavity 32 with the rod 37 passing through. The permanent magnet 36 and the ring 38 mutually exert a magnetic attraction, such that the movable stop 31 tends continually to move closer to the ring 38. This ring 38 thus forms a return means tending continually to return the stop 31 to its activation position.

[0069] When the movable stop 31 is activated, as in Figures 5, 7 and 9, its rod 37 which passes through the ring 38 extends up to into the groove 22 protruding therein via its flank 24 so as to form an obstacle locking a lug of the container flange in rotation, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 9. Under these conditions, if the container flange 8 is coupled to the cell flange 1, the lug located between this movable stop 31 and the nearest fixed stop is locked in rotation, to prevent uncoupling of the container flange 8.

[0070] Additionally, the lock 13 is equipped with a radial arm 39 ending with a magnetic end 41 arranged to come to face the movable stop 31 when this lock switches from its unlocked position to its locked position.

[0071] As can be seen in Figure 6, the end of the radial arm 39 extends along the axis AX3, and it ends with an internal hole 42 receiving a plug 43 bearing another permanent magnet 44, this plug 43 being for example screwed into the hole to close it.

[0072] When the lock 13 is in its locked state, which corresponds to the status of Figures 6, 8 and 10, the magnetic end 41 is located facing the movable stop 31, i.e. extending from this stop 31 along the axis AX3. The permanent magnets 36 and 44 then mutually exert an attraction on each other, which is greater than that exerted between the magnet 36 of the stop and the ring 38. Under these conditions, the stop 31 is attracted towards the magnetic end 41 to be positioned in a deactivated state wherein its rod 37 releases the groove 22, as can be seen in Figures 6 and 10.

[0073] As can be seen in the figures, the movable stop 31 is located on the flange 1 at a position opposite the hinge 3 relative to the axis AX1: it is very close to the lock 13, or even adjacent thereto. In general, the present disclosure ensures that the container flange cannot be uncoupled from the cell flange until the door is fully closed and locked.

[0074] Thanks to this positioning of the movable stop 31, it is actuated by the lock 13, such that the closed and locked state of the door makes it possible to deactivate the movable stop.

[0075] More particularly, the lock 13 comprises an inner body 46 of cylindrical shape bearing, on its peripheral face, the roller 16 which extends radially, connected by the transmission shaft to an outer body that is also cylindrical, which bears the lever 17 extending radially relative to this outer body. The inner body protrudes from the inner face 6 of the flange 1 while the outer body protrudes from the outer face 7 of this flange. As can be seen in Figures 3, 7 and 8, the arm 39, which is borne by the inner body 46, protrudes radially from this inner body 46 and comprises an end oriented parallel to the axis AX1 ending with the magnetic end 41.

[0076] When the door 2 is open, the lock 13 is necessarily unlocked as in Figures 5, 7 and 9, and the magnetic end 41 is moved away from the movable stop 31, such that it is returned by the ring 38 to its activated position. Under these conditions, and as can be seen in Figures 5 and 9, the rod 37 protrudes into the groove 22 to form an obstacle preventing the movement of the lugs, to prevent uncoupling of the container flange 8.

[0077] When the door 2 has been closed again, and the operator has actuated the lever 17 by pivoting it by 90° to place the lock 13 in the locked state, the magnetic end 41 comes to face the stop 31 to attract it so as to deactivate this movable stop 31, which corresponds to the status of Figures 6, 8 and 10.

[0078] In this status, the rod 37 is retracted, such that the outer lugs of the container flange 8 are free to slide in this groove 22, in order to allow uncoupling of the container flange 8.

[0079] In other words, thanks to its radial arm 39, the lock 13 magnetically attracts the stop 31 when this lock 13 is placed in the locked state. The 90° angle of rotation of the lever depends on the roller / cam system for locking.

[0080] In general, the arrangement according to the present disclosure makes it possible to uncouple the container flange 8 from the cell flange 1 only when the door 2 is closed and locked by the lock 13. This is ensured thanks to the movable stop 31 which is located in the vicinity of the lock 13 to be actuated by this lock 13 by means of the magnetic end 41 of its arm 39.

[0081] The actuation of this system can be carried out either using the lever 17, in the case of an opening from outside the cell, or by handling the body 46 or the arm 39 directly from inside the cell, the operator then accessing inside the cell thanks to a glove equipping the wall thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A connection assembly for a tight transfer cell, comprising:- a cell flange (1) delimiting a central opening (4), this cell flange (1) comprising an inner face (6) equipped with a door (2) for sealing the opening (4);- a lock (13) borne by the inner face (6) of the cell flange (1) for locking the door (2) when it is closed on the opening (4);- a groove extending to the inner circumference of the opening (4) for receiving outer lugs (20) of a container flange (8) in order to form a bayonet connection making it possible to couple this container flange (8) to the cell flange (1);- fixed stops (29) extending into this groove (22), the outer lugs (20) bearing against these fixed stops (29) when the container flange (8) is coupled to the cell flange (1);- a stop (31) movable in translation between an activation position wherein it protrudes into the groove (22) to interfere with an outer lug (20) of the container flange (8) in order to prevent its rotation to prevent its uncoupling from the cell flange (1), and a deactivation position wherein this movable stop (31) releases the groove (22);- a return element (38) tending continually to activate the movable stop (31);- magnetic actuation means equipping the lock (13) and the movable stop (31) for deactivating this movable stop (31) when this lock (13) switches to the locked state.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable stop (31) comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein the lock (13) comprises another permanent magnet that is positioned facing the movable stop (31) when this lock (13) switches to the locked state.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable stop (31) is movable in translation along an axis (AX3) parallel to an axis of revolution (AX1) of thegroove (22), and wherein the lock (13) is rotary and comprises a radial arm (39) ending with a magnetic end (41) comprising the magnet of the lock (13).

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the return element is formed by a ferromagnetic part cooperating magnetically with the magnet of the movable stop (31).

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable stop (31) is located in a cavity (32) of the cell flange (1).

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lock (13) is equipped with a manoeuvring lever (17) located on an outer face (7) of the cell flange (1).

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet of the lock is mounted in the magnetic end (41).

8. The assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable stop (31) is located on the cell flange (1) in a position opposite that of a hinge bearing the door (2) of this cell flange (1).

9. A method for using a connection assembly according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:- coupling the container flange (8) to the cell flange (1);- actuating the lock (13) of the cell flange (1) to switch this lock (13) to the unlocked state and activate the movable stop (31);- opening the door (2) of the cell (1) to connect the container (8) to the cell (1).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a connection assembly comprising a movable stop (31) comprising a permanent magnet, and comprising a lock(13) comprising another permanent magnet that is positioned facing the movable stop (31) when this lock (13) switches to the locked state, is used.

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