Device for protecting against ionising radiation and containment enclosure provided with such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9524805-B2
Application number	US-201414769265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A protection device for providing protection against ionizing radiation passing through an orifice defined by a wall bushing structure. The device includes a structure for attenuating ionizing radiation passing through the orifice, which structure can cover, or close off, the orifice, and includes a fastener configured to ensure that the structure for attenuating ionizing radiation can be fastened releasably to the wall bushing structure. The structure for attenuating ionizing radiation includes a sleeve that is open at both ends, that is deformable under its own weight, and that is configured to be fastened to the wall bushing structure by the fastener at a first open end of the sleeve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A protection device for providing protection against ionizing radiation passing through an orifice defined by a wall bushing structure fitted with a glove comprising a sleeve, the protection device comprising:
a structure for attenuating ionizing radiation passing through the orifice, which structure for attenuating ionizing radiation is configured to cover the orifice;
fastener means configured to ensure that the structure for attenuating ionizing radiation can be fastened releasably to the wall bushing structure;
the structure for attenuating ionizing radiation including an attenuation sleeve that is open at both ends, that is deformable under its own weight, that is configured to be fastened to the wall bushing structure by the fastener means at a first open end of the attenuation sleeve, and that is configured to be turned inside out to extend, in part, inside the sleeve of the glove.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation sleeve presents a shape, dimensions, and stiffness to enable it to be turned inside out and to extend in part inside the wall bushing structure through the orifice and in part beyond the wall bushing structure, thereby reinforcing protection of an operator's arm engaged in the attenuation sleeve and in the orifice.

3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation sleeve presents a thickness in a range from 50 μm or 100 μm up to 500 μm, 1000 μm, or 2000 μm.

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation sleeve is made of an elastomer material containing a metallic filler.

5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener means is incorporated, at least in part, in the attenuation sleeve.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener means comprises a projection incorporated in the attenuation sleeve and extending along the first open end.

7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation sleeve includes at least one cylindrical portion and/or at least one flared portion.

8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation sleeve includes a first sleeve portion extending in a vicinity of the first open end of the sleeve, and presenting a first density, and the sleeve includes a second sleeve portion extending in a vicinity of the second open end of the sleeve, and presenting a second density greater than the first density.

9. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the attenuation sleeve includes ballasting and/or reinforcing means extending in a vicinity of the second open end of the attenuation sleeve.

10. A device according to claim 9 , wherein the ballasting and/or reinforcing means comprises a cuff formed on the attenuation sleeve at its second open end.

11. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the length of a portion of the attenuation sleeve that is suspended from the wall bushing structure is not less than the diameter of the orifice, the ratio of the length to the diameter lying in a range extending from 1 to 1.5 or 2.

12. A confinement enclosure comprising:
a wall pierced by a first orifice; and
a wall bushing structure engaged in the first orifice and defining a second orifice, the wall bushing structure being fitted with a glove comprising a sleeve and with a protection device providing protection against ionizing radiation passing through the second orifice,
the protection device comprising an attenuation structure for attenuating ionizing radiation passing through the second orifice, which attenuation structure is configured to cover the second orifice, fastener means configured to ensure that the attenuation structure can be fastened releasably to the wall bushing structure, the attenuation structure including an attenuation sleeve that is open at both ends, that is deformable under its own weight, that is configured to be fastened to the wall bushing structure by the fastener means at a first open end of the attenuation sleeve, and that configured to be turned inside out to extend, in part, inside the sleeve of the glove.

13. An enclosure according to claim 12 , wherein the attenuation sleeve is made of a material presenting a Young's modulus in a range from approximately 10 6 Pa to approximately 10 8 Pa.

14. An enclosure according to claim 12 , wherein the attenuation sleeve presents capacity for deformation that is sufficient to ensure that when the attenuation sleeve is suspended by its first end from the wall bushing structure, the second opening at the second open end becomes pinched, and a portion of the attenuation sleeve extending from the second end flattens, under effect of the weight of this portion of the attenuation sleeve; and
the attenuation sleeve presents a shape and dimensions such that, in this configuration, when the attenuation sleeve is suspended from the wall bushing structure, the attenuation sleeve extends over the entire second orifice to cover the second orifice and attenuate ionizing radiation passing through the second orifice.

15. An enclosure according to claim 12 , wherein the attenuation sleeve is configured to turn inside out to extend in part inside the enclosure.

Assignees

• Commissariat Energie Atomique

Inventors

• Mazaudier Fabrice
• Lamazere Guy

Classifications

• G21F3/035

  Gloves (mounting means on glove boxes G21F7/053) · CPC title

• G21F7/053 Primary

  Glove mounting means · CPC title

• G21F7/047 Primary

  Shielded passages; Closing or transferring means between glove-boxes · CPC title