Glovebox Transfer Port Sleeve and Caps for Safer Material Handling
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer ports for confinement gloveboxes are costly, wasteful, and pose risks due to human exposure to hazardous materials and environments, with cumbersome processes for deployment, replacement, and material transfer.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a flange and sleeve system with removable caps that secure within existing glovebox openings, enabling controlled passage and reducing exposure through airlock-style passages, internal receptacles, and automated interaction, facilitating easier handling and manipulation of objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional transfer ports are used for confinement gloveboxes, then material transfer can be achieved, but human exposure to hazardous materials increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transfer port system with a flange and sleeve configuration that acts as an intermediary mechanism between the external environment and the confined glovebox space. The removable caps seal the sleeve openings, creating a controlled interface that allows material transfer while preventing direct human exposure to hazardous materials inside the glovebox.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer port is divided into separate components: a flange secured within the glovebox wall, a sleeve with defined openings, and removable caps. This segmentation allows the transfer port to be deployed and replaced without removing the entire glovebox enclosure, enabling safer and more efficient material transfer operations.
2Ease of operation
If conventional transfer ports are used, then material transfer is possible, but deployment and replacement processes are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer port system is segmented into a permanently installed flange and a removable sleeve assembly with caps. This allows the flange to remain secured in the glovebox wall while the sleeve and caps can be quickly removed, replaced, or reconditioned without affecting the entire transfer port structure or requiring glovebox disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange is pre-secured within the glovebox wall opening, creating a prepared interface that accepts the sleeve assembly. This preliminary installation of the flange with its defined opening allows for rapid deployment of complete transfer port assemblies and facilitates quick replacement of sleeves and caps without requiring complex installation procedures.
3Productivity
If conventional transfer ports are used, then material transfer can occur, but costs and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve and cap components are designed to be removable and reconditionable. Instead of discarding entire transfer ports after use, the sleeve and caps can be recovered, cleaned, and reconditioned for repeated use, reducing material waste and associated costs while maintaining efficient material transfer capabilities through the flange and sleeve interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Transfer ports for confinement gloveboxes may include a flange sized and shaped to be secured within an opening in a wall of a glovebox. A sleeve may be secured to the flange and define a passage through the flange. A first cap may be removably secured to the sleeve on a first side of the flange and obstruct the passage on the first side. A second cap may be removably secured to the sleeve on a second, opposite side of the flange and obstruct the passage on the second side.