Systems and methods for autoclave cart loading and unloading system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10406252-B2
Application number	US-201715410017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A system for manufacturing radionuclide generators including an enclosure defining a radioactive environment, at least one autoclave sterilizer within the enclosure, and at least two loading and unloading elevators. The enclosure includes radiation shielding to prevent radiation within the radioactive environment from moving to an exterior of the enclosure. Each autoclave sterilizer includes a plurality of sterilization stations arranged vertically and at least two autoclave rails. One loading and unloading elevator is configured to load a cart into the autoclave sterilizer and one loading and unloading elevator is configured to unload the cart from the autoclave sterilizer. Each loading and unloading elevator includes at least two cart rails configured to support the cart and a plurality of loading elevator rails coupled to the cart rails. The loading elevator rails are configured to adjust the height of the cart rails.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loading and unloading elevator for an autoclave sterilizer in a radioactive environment, the loading and unloading elevator comprising:
a table top separating a processing space from a maintenance space;
an elevation system positioned within the maintenance space;
at least two cart rails configured to support a cart, the cart rails positioned within the processing space; and
a plurality of loading elevator rails coupled to the cart rails, the loading elevator rails extend from the elevation system within the maintenance space through the table top to the processing space, wherein the loading elevator rails are configured to adjust the height of the cart rails.

2. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 1 , wherein the elevation system is configured to adjust the height of the loading elevator rails and the cart rails.

3. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 2 , wherein the elevation system comprises a platform coupled to the loading elevator rails, wherein the platform is configured to adjust the height of the loading elevator rails and the cart rails.

4. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 3 , wherein the elevation system further comprises a motor coupled to the platform, wherein the motor is configured to adjust the height of the platform, the loading elevator rails, and the cart rails.

5. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of bearings extending through the table top, wherein the bearings guide the loading elevator rails through the table top.

6. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of bellow sleeves, each bellow sleeve surrounds one loading elevator rail and extends from the bearings to the cart rails.

7. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 6 , wherein the elevation system is configured to adjust a height of the cart to a plurality of predetermined heights.

8. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 7 , wherein the elevation system further comprises a programmable logic controller configured to control the motor, wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to adjust the height of the cart to each of the predetermined heights.

9. The loading and unloading elevator of claim 8 , further comprising a worm drive, two right-angle gearboxes, and two screws, the worm drive being coupled to the motor and to the two right-angle gearboxes, each right-angle gearbox being coupled to one of the screws, the screws being coupled to the platform, wherein a motor turns the worm drive, the worm drive turns the two right-angle gearboxes, each right-angle gearbox turns one of the screws, and the screws adjust a height of the platform.

Assignees

• Curium Us Llc

Inventors

• Graves Kevin B
• Petrofsky Bryan S
• Verma Sumit
• Schmitz John
• D'Hooge Michael J

Classifications

• G21G1/0005

  Isotope delivery systems (use of radioisotopes as tracers G21H5/02) · CPC title

• G21F7/00

  Shielded cells or rooms · CPC title

• G21F1/08

  Metals; Alloys; Cermets, i.e. sintered mixtures of ceramics and metals · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2/24

  Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation · CPC title