BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To achieve a better understanding of the present invention and its advantages, below is a detailed description of a preferred example of the formulation of the double cap presented herein, based on the attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the set of water-tight compartment cap (upper part) placed in the compartment itself over the corresponding flange.
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the set of barrel cap and water-tight compartment or closed cell cap.
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the set of barrel cap and compartment cap in contact position, prior to the coupling of the caps.
FIG. 4 shows detail view of section A of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 represents detail view of section B of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 shows the double cap system of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows detail view of section C of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 shows the activation mechanism for the coupling of the barrel and cell or water-tight caps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the set of water-tight compartment cap (upper part) placed in the compartment itself over the corresponding flange, and the vessel or barrel cap with the flanges fastening it to the corresponding barrel (lower part), prior to the contact of the barrel with the water-tight compartment, in accordance with a method of production of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the set of barrel cap and water-tight compartment or closed cell cap, where the water-tight compartment cap is represented apart from its flange and the cap of the vessel, in accordance with the method of production of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the set of barrel cap and compartment cap in contact position, prior to the coupling of such caps, in accordance with a method of production of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows detail A of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 represents detail B of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 shows the double cap system, uncoupled from the opening of the water-tight compartment or cell, which compartment has already the container or barrel coupled to it.
FIG. 7 shows detail C of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 shows the activation mechanism for the coupling of the barrel and cell or water-tight caps, and for the elevation of the double cap.
In the figures listed above, equal or equivalent components of the example of the invention execution correspond to equal reference numbers.
As shown in FIG. 4, the present invention comprises a double cap system wherein the coupling constitutes a metal-metal sealing by means of contact of 20, 20′ and 21, 21′ circular areas belonging to the water-tight compartment 4 cap, to the container or barrel 2 cap and flange 3 of the water-tight compartment cap. In addition, there shall be a metal-metal sealing between the lower surface (22) of flange 3, and the upper outer surface (22′) of flange 1a of the container or barrel “a”; and between the container or barrel cap (23′) and the upper inner surface (23) of flange 1a.
Also, FIGS. 1 to 7 show the use of flanges 1a and 1b placed in container or barrel “a”; flanges adaptable to any container “a”, including a standardized 200-litre barrel and flange 3 placed over the wedge surface of the water-tight compartment cap 4.
The barrel flange 1a and the cell or water-tight compartment cap 4 have microalveolar rubber gaskets housing 5 and 6, preferably square section, in order to achieve a hermetic seal among cap 4, water-tight compartment flange 3 and cap 2, and among barrel flange 1a, water-tight compartment flange 3 and container or barrel cap 2.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, metal-metal seals can be found between water-tight compartment cap 4 and flange 3 (contact area 20, 20′); between barrel flange 1a and water-tight compartment flange 3 (contact area 22, 22′), between barrel flange 1a and cap 2 (contact area 23, 23′) and between barrel cap 2 and water-tight compartment cap 4 (contact area 21, 21′).
The designs known in the prior art use rubber gaskets placed directly over the specially designed barrel, which consequently has the same diameter, and cannot be used with other containers. The container or barrel flange structures presented herein enable a safe transfer of hazardous materials without the need of special containers, so that standardized 200-litre barrels can be used for storing radioactive or dangerous waste.
The operation sequence of the double cap system is as follows:
- 1. Elevation of barrel “a” comprising flanges 1a and 1b, under the set of gate or cap 4 of the water-tight compartment or waste cell “b” comprising flange “3”;
- 2. Positioning of barrel “a” in flange 3 of the water-tight compartment or waste cell so that the lower part of rubber seal 5 placed on cap 4 of the compartment lies properly on the corresponding wedge of cap 2 of container or barrel “a”.
- 3. Coupling, by means of internal mechanisms of the water-tight compartment, of cap 4 to cap 2 of container or barrel “a” (segments 14 of cap mechanism 4 lock to wheels 15. When such segments are moved towards the center, cap 2 is opened and coupled to cap 4).
- 4. Elevation, with the subsequent opening of the double cap and free access to the inside of the barrel, for loading or unloading.
In the preferred embodiment, cap 2 of barrel “a” locks onto the barrel by means of six bolts (7) with springs (8) which, at the time of closing cap 2, are inserted in a notch existing on flange 1a of barrel “a”.
Bolts 7 are tightened onto cap 2 by means of a thread in the locking die (9). Three retainers (10) are used to seal the bolt outlet hole.
Once cap 2 of the barrel and barrel “a” itself have been coupled to flange 3 of the water-tight compartment, cap 2 of the barrel must be unlocked to be coupled to cap 4 of the water-tight compartment, and thus enable the caps to be elevated and removed from the opening of the compartment to freely communicate the container or barrel and the water-tight compartment.
This mechanism is made up of a central axis (11) with a disk (12) united to the latter. Twelve piston rods (13) are attached to the disk (12) by means of bolts (18) and each to a segment (14). Two pneumatic pistons (24), see FIG. 8, activate the sleeves (19), which are threaded to the central piece and which rotates jointly with the central axis (11). The piece (16) by means of which cap 4 is fastened is placed under the central axis (11) and makes both the disk (12) and the piston rods (13) rotate as well. When piston rods (13) rotate, the segments (14) move towards the center of the cap in a radial fashion. As the latter move, the segments are fitted to the tapered wheels (15) and move the locking die (9) and the bolt (7) towards the center of the cap compressing the spring (8) and releasing the bolt (7) from the notch in the barrel flange.
Thus, cap 2 is unlocked from container or barrel “a” and coupled to cap 4 of the water-tight compartment between the segments (14) and the tapered wheels (15).
Once caps 2 and 4 are coupled, they are raised by means of a pneumatic piston. As shown in FIG. 8, this piston activates the main piston rod (25) which makes the axis (26) placed over three bearings (27) rotate. The main hinges (28) are fixed to the water-tight compartment cap through the pieces (29) and connected to each other by means of the bar (32). The hinges rotate together with the axis (26) to elevate the double cap.
Cap 4 of the water-tight compartment comprises six bolts (30) placed equidistantly, as shown in FIG. 8, which, when closed, enable the correct positioning of the cap by means of the guides (31).
To ensure the correct order of operations, the air cylinders have sensors to indicate the position of the embolus. In addition, the system has sensors to indicate if the barrel is coupled to the flange of the water-tight compartment and if both caps are coupled to each other. All sensors are associated to an electronic logic, for example a PLC, to ensure that no step of the operation sequence is performed until the previous step is completed. Electronic logic prevents the cap from opening if the barrel is not coupled to the water-tight compartment, the water-tight compartment cap from opening if it is not coupled to the barrel cap, the barrel cap from uncoupling while the water-tight compartment cap is open, and the barrel from being removed while the double cap is open or when the barrel cap has not been locked to the flange thereof.
Any system operation can also be performed manually, for which purpose they have special pieces that enable this operation by means of telemanipulators.
Patent Application
20070284016
