Patent GB-1198692-A (GB)
Title: An Apparatus for Fitting in a Conduit a Ring Type Clamping Device for a Flexible Sleeve.
IPC: G21F7/053
Filed: 1967-07-07
Abstract: 1,198,692. Glove boxes. COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE. 7 July, 1967 [1 Aug., 1966], No. 61426/69. Divided out of 1,198,691. Heading B4Q. [Also in Divisions E1-E2, F2] The invention provides an apparatus for fitting into a conduit 5 a device of the kind disclosed in Specification 1,198,691, and comprising two series of elements 2, 3, each element being pivoted at its ends to two adjacent elements to form a closed chain, two elements 3 of the second series, pivoted together, being inserted between each pair of adjacent elements 2 of the first series, the elements of the second series being convex outwardly on their sides on the outside of said chain, the ring being movable between a retracted condition and an expanded condition in which the periphery of the ring defines a continuous closed curve and in which the pivot between each pair of elements of the second series is in an over dead centre relationship with respect to the pair of pivots connecting the pair of elements of the second series to the adjacent elements of the first series, so that when the device is in said expanded condition within a said conduit of cross-section corresponding to the curve, the elements of the first and second series clamp a glove 4 uniformly around the wall of said conduit, the pivot between each pair of elements of the second series, in said retracted position of the device, being spaced nearer to the centre of the ring than the adjacent pivots connecting the pair of elements of the second series with the adjacent elements of the first series, so that the ring, with an expansible edge portion 7 of the glove therearound can be inserted in such a conduit with substantial clearance. The apparatus comprises a plurality of members 14 mounted on a support 10, the members being adapted to be inserted within the conduit and each member being adapted to engage a respective pair of the pivotally connected elements 3 of said second series in the region of their connecting pivot, the members being movable in synchronism mutually apart and outwardly away from a longitudinal axis of the support to move the device into its expanded condition in the conduit after the members have been inserted in the conduit with the longitudinal axis of said support aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit, and the support secured with respect to the conduit, means being provided for moving said members para-axially of said support. In the construction shown the support 10 comprises a hollow body adapted to be inserted in the conduit and said members are part of an assembly accommodated within the hollow body and itself movable axially in the hollow body by the screwing of a plug 21 in screw threaded engagement with an axial bore in the body 10. This plug is actuated by a hand wheel 11a; the assembly includes a casing 16 in which there is provided a central rear wheel 17 rotatable by means of a hand wheel 20 and four pinions 18 disposed around and meshing with the gearwheel 27, each pinion 28 being fixed to a different one of four rods 19, the rods carrying at their opposite ends the members 14; rotation of the hand wheel 20 causes the members 14 to pivot outwardly to expand the ring device. The hollow body 10 is carried by a sleeve 11 adapted to be bolted by a flange to an annular projection 9 fixed with respect to the wall 1 of a container which has the conduit 5 in its wall.