GB2264702A

GB2264702A - Liquid transfer apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2264702A
Application number: GB9303748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tetsuro Hina
Original assignee: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan
Current assignee: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan
Priority date: 1992-03-05
Filing date: 1993-02-24
Publication date: 1993-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-24
Also published as: JPH0780511B2; FR2688206A1; JPH0624494A; GB9303748D0; RU2041847C1; GB2264702B; DE4306821A1

Description

2264702 APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING A SOLUTION BETWEEN SEALED CONTAINERS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a solution in a sealed container into another sealed container, with the containers kept in a sealed state. The solution transfer apparatus is useful for emptying various kinds of solutions out of containers into another in the technical fields which employs, for example, a radioactive material, a poisonous substance, a harzardous substance, foods, medicines, etc.

For the purpose of clarification and appreciation of the invention, a transfer of a radioactive solution will be described as an example but it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto but can be applied to any other solutions.

In a spent nuclear fuel reprocessing factory, various kinds of analysis samples need be kept reliably for a predetermined period of time. A sample container is usually made of a synthetic resin, and is sealed with a rubber plug so as to prevent the evaporation of a solution, the entry of a contaminant into the solution, and variation of the composition of the solution during the time of storage thereof.

However, while a certain kind of solution is stored for a long period of time, the sample container is deteriorated due to the radiation from the interior or exterior thereof - 1 and broken to cause the leakage of the solution to occur. This makes it necessary to periodically carry out the transfer of the solution to a new container. There are instances where a solution in storage must be redispensed for the purpose of conducting various kinds of analysis. According to the conventional techniques, the rubber plug is removed from a sample container, the solution in the container is transferred to a new container and then a new rubber plug is fitted in the new container.

Especially, in the technical field of nuclear power, a radioactive solution is handled and, therefore, a remote control.operation using a manipulator is required, so that the operation efficiency of conventional solution transfer techniques becomes extremely low. Even when such a solution is handled in a glove box without using a manipulator, the problem of this low operation efficiency cannot be solved. Since in any case the rubber plug must be removed, contaminants may enter the container at that time. Especially, when an operation using a manipulator is carried out, it is difficullt to prevent the entry of contaminants into a solution, which will cause undesisrable variation in the composition of the solution.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for transferring a solution between sealed containers, with the containers kept in a sealed state, reliably preventing the entry of contaminants into the solutiuon in the containers and evaporation of the solution.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for transferring a solution in a first sealed container to a second sealed container, comprising:

cylindrical body having openings at opposite ends, partition wall provided at an intermediate portion of an interior of said tubular body to thereby form a first recess for receiving at least a part of said first sealed container and a second recess for receiving at least a part of said second sealed container, a first needle tube, projecting from said first recess to said second recess through said partition wall, for transferring a solution in said first sealed said second sealed container, a second needle tube, projecting from circumference of said cylindrical body into recess through said partition wall, outside said cylindrical body into container into an outer said f irst for feeding a gas said first sealed container.

In this apparatus, it is preferable that the first needle tube (i.e. a liquid transfer needle tube) passes diagonally through the partition wall, and that the portions of this tube which project into the recesses extend in parallel with the axis of the cylindrical body. It is also preferable to form this aparatus so that the second needle tube (i.e. a gas suction needle tube) has a gas (air) 3 - suction port which is opened in an outer circumference of the cylindrical body and the gas suction port is positioned in the bottom of a counter bore formed in the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body.

in use of the appratus, a solution transfer apparatus is pressed towards a sealed container (first container) containing a solution to be transferred, with one recess ofthe apparatus fitted around the container so that the container is snugly received in the recess, and the two needle tubes pierce thereinto, so that the interior of the sealed container communicates with the exterior thereof via the gas suction needle tube. A new sealed container (second container), which will receive the solution, is decompressed into a vacuous state or similar thereto in advance. When the solution transfer apparatus is pressed toward this new sealed container with the other recess thereof fitted around the new container, the liquid transfer needle tube pierces thereinto, so that both of the sealed containers communicate with each other. Owing to a difference between the external pressure and the pressure in the new sealed container, the solution in the first sealed container of an upper position is transferred to the second sealed container of a lower position through the liquid transfer needle tube. Thus, the solution in the first sealed container can be transferred to the new (second) sealed container without removing the plugs from both of the sealed containers.

4 - Figure 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an apparatus for transferring a solution between sealed containers, embodying the present invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an explanatory view illustrating a practical use of the apparatus of the invention, and Figures 4A - 4D are explanatory views illustrating the steps of practical use of the apparatus of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring first to Pigs. 1 and 2, a solution transfer apparatus 10 has a cylindrical body 12,- a disc type partition wall 14 provided at an intermediate portion of the interior of the cylindrical body 12, a liquid transfer needle tube 18 extending through the partition wall 14, and a gas suction needle tube 20 communicating with an outer circumferentail portion of the cylindrical body 12. The cylindrical body 12 and partition wall 14 define on both sides thereof recesses 16a, 16b for receiving at least a part of sealed containers. The inner diameter of these recesses 16a, 16b corresponds to the outer diameter of a sealed container, which will described presently with reference to Fig. 3. and the inner surface of the cylindrical body 12 serves as a guide when the sealed containers are fitted into the recesses of the cylindrical body. The liquid transfer needle tube 18 is held by the partition wall 14, and both end portions thereof project in the opposite directions into the recesses 16a, 16b. The gas suction needle tube 20 is also held by the partition wall 14, and one end portion thereof projects into the recess 16a. The extended portions of these two needle tubes 18, 20 which are positioned in the two recesses 16a, 16b are perpendicular to the partition wall 14 and paralel to the axis of the cylindrical body 12.

The needle tubes 18, 20 in this embodiment are, for example, thin tubes of stainless steel having a diameter of around 1 mm, and are sharpened by forming diagonal free end surfaces so that the needle tubes 18, 20 can pierce easily through a rubber plug of a sealed container. The cylindrical body 12 and partition wall 14 are made of a transparent plastic, such as an acrylic resin, so that the condition of a fitted sealed container can be inspected visually from the outer circumferntial surface of the cylindrical body 10. The partition wall 14 functions as a stopper as well when a sealed container is fitted into the cylindrical body 10.

The liquid transfer needle tube 18 extending from one recess 16a to the other 16b has a middle portion which passes through the partition wall 14 and is inclined in the partition wall 14 as shown in Fig. 2. The axes of both end portions of the liquid transfer needle tube 18 are slightly staggered and parallel to each other. Accordingly, even 6 when an axial force is applied to the liquid transfer needle tube 18 during the piercing thereof through the rubber plug of a sealed container, the needle tube 18 is held firmly in the partition wall 14, and dislocation and come-out of the tube from the partition wall 14 can be prevented. A gas suction port 20 is formed in the outer circumferential portion of the cylindrical body 12 by forming a counter bore 22 having a diameter larger than that of the gas suction needle tube 20 on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 12 so that one end of the gas suction needle tube 20 is opened in the bottom portion of the counter- bore 22.

With reference to Fig. 3, sealed containers 30, 32 made of a plastic have rubber plugs 34, which are made of, for example,- neoprene rubber of a small thickness of about 1 mm. or less, and are fitted closely over the openings 30a, 32a thereof. The sealed container 30 in which a solution is held is fitted into one recess, as the recess 16a, in the solution transfer apparatus 10 with two needle tubes 18, 20 pierced into the sealed container 30. A new sealed container 32 opposed to the sealed container 30 is made vacuous or decompressed in advance. The new sealed container 32 is then fitted into the other recess 16b with the other end of the liquid transfer needle tube 18 pierced into the new sealed container 32. The cylindrical body 12 functions as a guide when the sealed containers 30, 32 are fitted into the recessses 16a, 16b. Accordingly the sealed - 7 containers 30, 32 are positioned easily and accurately. Since the needle tubes 18, 20 have a very small diameter and the plugs 34 of the sealed containers 30, 32 are made of thin neoprene rubber, the rubber restores its original condition when the needle tubes 18, 20 are withdrawn from the plugs 34, whereby the sealed state of the containers 30, 32 is maintained.

In the present invention, the free ends of the two needle tubes 18, 20 do not project beyond the ends of the cylindrical body 12 but are positioned on the inner side of the end surfaces of the cylindrical body 12. Therefore, even when the solution transfer apparatus 10 is placed as it is on a floor surface or the like, the needle tubes 18, 20 are not contaminated. When the solution transfer apparatus 10 is handled via a grip portion 36 of a manipulator, the grip portion 36 does not directly contact the gas suction port of the counter bore 22 since the gas suction port is positioned on the slightly inner side of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 10 as shown in phantom in Fig. 3. This prevents the contaminants and extraneous matters possibly sticking to grip portions 36 from entering the interior of the sealed container 30 via the gas suction port in the counter bore 22.

In the present invention, the quantity of a solution to be transferred can be controlled by merely varying the length of the projecting portion of the liquid transfer needle tube 18 in the recess 16a. When the length of the projecting portion is set large, a small quantity of solution is transferred, and this enables the quantitative dispensing of a solution to be carried out effectively. When the length of the projecting portion is set small to the lowest possible level, a substantial total quantity of solution can be transferred.

In Figs. 4A to 4D showing a process of using the solution transfer apparatus 10, the sealed container 30 holding a solution 31 to betransferred is placed upright as shown in Fig. 4A, and the solution transfer apparatus 10 is positioned thereon. The upper portion of the sealed container 30 is fitted into one recess 16a, into which the two needle tubes 18, 20 project, with the cylindrical body 12 of the solution transfer apparatus 10 utilized as a guide for insertion of the sealed container 30. During this time, the two needle tubes 18, 20 pierce into the rubber plug 34 easily and accurately (Fig. 4B), so that the interior of the sealed container 30 communicates with the exterior thereof via the gas suction needle tube 20. Next, a new sealed container 32 to which the solution 31 is to be transferred is made vacuous- (decompressed) in advance as shown in Fig. 4C. The resultant solution transfer apparatus 10 is positioned upside down with the other recess 16b being positioned at a lower position and is put on the sealed container 32 set upright. The upper portion of the sealed container 32 is fitted into the recess 16b. The other end portion of the liquid transfer needle tube 18 extends through the rubber plug, so that the two sealed containers 30, 32 communicate with each other. As shown in Fig. 4D, air 38 enters the gas suction port opened in the outer side surface of the solution transfer apparatus 10, and flows into the sealed container 30 through the gas suction needle tube 20. The solution 31 in the sealed container 30 is transferred to the sealed container 32 owing to a difference in air pressure between the sealed container 30 and the other sealed container 32. The solution transferred is designated by reference numeral 33. Thus, the solution in the sealed container 30 can be transferred to the sealed continer 32 without removing the rubber plugs 34 therefrom.

The solution transfer apparatus 10 is then removed from the sealed container 32 to complete the solution transfer operation. The needle tubes 18, 20 have a very small diameter, and the rubber plugs 34 have a very small thickness and a high elastisity as described above. Therefore, when the needle tubes 18, 20 are withdrawn from the plugs, the needle holes in the rubber plugs 32 are naturally closed, and the sealed condition of the container is maintained.

The cylindrical body 12 and partition wall 14 can be molded out of a plastic integrally. Although the needle tubes 18, 20 are preferably combined with the cylindrical body 12 and partition wall 14 during the molding thereof, they may be prepared separately from the cylindrical body 10 and partition wall 14 and bonded therewith by using a - suitable adhesive. The liquid transfer tube 18 may be formed linearly but, in such a case, it is desirable to work on it so that the dislocation thereof is prevented. It is unnecessary that the gas suction needle tube 20 extends up to the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10. It is possible to form a hole as a gas suction passage in the partition wall and connect the gas suction needle tube 20 thereto. The shapes of the cylindrical body 10 and recesses 16a, 16b defined thereby may be varied suitable in accordance with that of a sealed container. For example, are of square bottle type, the formed to have a square cross when sealed containers cylindrical body is also section.

As described above, the apparatus for transferring a solution between sealed containers in the present invention has a liquid transfer needle tube and a gas suction needle tube in a cylindrical body having a partition wall in the intermediate portion of the interior thereof. Accordingly, it is not necessary to remove the plugs from sealed containers during the transfer of a solution, so that there is not the possibility that the solution be contaminated by other substances. Since the removing and fitting of plugs is not required, the operation efficiency becomes high., and the operation time can be reduced. According to the present invention, a preparation for a solution transfer operation is completed by merely fitting the cylindrical body of a solution transfer apparatus to the sealed containers.

Therefore, a solution transfer operation can be carried out irrespective of the level of skill of operational personnel even when a remote control operation is employed by using a manipurator.

In the case where the liquid transfer needle tube extends diagonally through the partition wall as in the embodiment of Fig. 3, there is not the possibility that the needle tube is dislocated or comes out when it is inserted into the sealed contaiher. Even when the solution transfer apparatus is placed on a floor surface, the free ends of the needle tubes do not contact the floor surface since these ends are positioned within a recess, on a inner side of the end surface of the cylindrical body, and therefore, the contamination of the needle tubes can be prevented. When the length of the liquid transfer needle tube, which is inserted and projected into the solution to be transferred, is-varied, the quantity of the solution to be transferred can be controlled, and both the full transfer and dispensing (or partial delivery) of the solution can be carried out.

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Claims

What is claimed is: 1. An aparatus for transferring a solution in a first

sealed container to a second sealed container, comprising:

cylindrical body having openings at opposite ends, partition wall provided at an intermediate portion of an interior of said tubular body to thereby form a first recess for receiving at least a part of said first sealed container and a second recess for receiving at least a part of said second sealed container, a first needle tube, projecting from said first recess to said second recess through said partition wall, for transferring a solution in said first sealed container into said second sealed container, a second needle tube, projecting from circumference of said cylindrical body into recess through said partition wall. for feeding a gas outside said cylindrical body into said first sealed container.

an outer said f irst
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first needle tube extends diagonally within a thickness of said partition wall and projects in the opposite direction into said first and second recesses in par allel with an axis of said cylindrical body.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a counter bore having a diameter larger than a diameter of said second needle tube is formed on an outer circumferential surface of said cylindrical body and one end of said second needle tube is opened at a bottom of said counter bore.

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