GB833831A - Improvements in hoist systems for handling articles inside a fluidtight chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

833,831. Handling radioactive materials. COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE. Jan. 20, 1958 [Jan. 21, 1957], No. 1893/58. Class 39(4). [Also in Group XXX] An arrangement for inserting vessels 7 containing irradiated material in sockets 6 arranged in parallel rows in the floor 5 of a fluid-tight storage chamber 1, comprises a gantry 10 movable along runways 8 on the chamber side walls 3 and itself having runways 18 for the traversing movements of a hoist-carriage 20, the gantry 10 being driven by power means 15 situated on the chamber roof 4, the drive being transmitted through vertical shafts 14, gearing, and chains secured to the ends of the gantry, Fig. 1 (not shown). A drive shaft 74 is mounted in the roof 4 above each socket 6 and each shaft may be driven by either one of two power units 76, 77 displaceable on the roof, unit 76 serving to traverse the carriage 20 and unit 77 serving to operate the carriage hoist mechanism. The carriage 20 carries a ratchet, Fig. 2 (not shown), whereby it may be traversed by any one of a number of pinions 22 mounted at intervals along the gantry 10 on vertical spindles 24, the shafts 24 being driven through gearing 26 and shafts 27, 28 from a vertical shaft 30 and gearing 29. The upper end of the shaft 30 has a fork joint 31 which may be engaged by a shaft 74 when the latter is lowered whereby the drive is transmitted from the unit 76 to the carriage. The carriage 20 supports a casing 32 by means of two sets of recilinear rolling tracks 33, 34, whereby the casing may move in the carriage for limited distances in two directions mutually at right angles for the purpose of exactly centring the hoist over a socket 6. A sleeve 36 suspended by a ball joint 37 from a bar 40 secured at its ends to hoist chains 41, has pivotted thereto about axes 54 three 120 degree displaced levers 53 having hooks 55 at their lower ends. The hooks are simultaneously moved outwardly to engage under a flange 56 of a vessel 7 by rotation of disc 58 having cam slots, Fig. 6 (not shown), in which the upper ends 60 of the levers 53 engage. The chains 41 are driven to lower or raise the sleeve 36 through gearing, Figs. 8, 9 (not shown), situated in the top 35 of the casing 32, further gearing serving to rotate the disc 58 through a splined shaft 62 driving a pinion 61 meshing with the toothed edge of the disc. By coupling the unit 77 to the appropriate shaft 74 and by lowering shaft in three successive steps, the shaft makes driving engagement with various coupling means in the casing top 35 such that firstly, the hoist is centred, Figs. 10, 11 (not shown) ; secondly, the hoist chains 41 are operated ; and, thirdly, the hooks 55 are operated. Mechanical interlocks ensure that these operations take place in the correct sequence, Figs. 12-14 (not shown). The insertion of a vessel 7 in a socket 6 may open a valve to cause coolant air to enter the chamber 1 through channels 106. . . 108.