Receptacle with a transport case in a pipe

• US 5,562,591 A
• Filed: 09/07/1994
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA
• Original Assignee: Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA
• Inventors: Marchand, Robert, Herbreteau, Michel, Besnier, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US08/302,581
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 588/249, 588/259, 215/247, 215/249, 406/187-190, 604/244
• US Class Current: 588/259
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/06 Despatch carriers for tube mail
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0481 Pneumatic tube conveyors; Tube mails; "Rohrpost"

Abstract

A receptacle (59) is provided which includes a flask (22) surrounded by a casing (23) able to slide into a pipe by pneumatic means. A composite element (33, 40) formed of all of one piece is used to close both the openings of the flask and casing by means of screwing. These improvements and others render the receptacle extremely suitable for a large number of measurements carried out in shielded analysis boxes for dangerous samples, especially radioactive ones.

Claims

1. A receptacle comprising a flask for containing a substance and having an opening, a flexible stopper closing said opening of the flask and having a circular lip moulded onto the opening of the flask and a pricking surface for a needle in front of the opening of the flask, a casing surrounding the flask and having an opening, said casing adapted to slide in a transport pipe, and an inner capsule closing said opening of the casing and screwed to the casing, said inner capsule having an opening in front of the pricking surface of said flexible stopper, wherein said flexible stopper is embedded in said inner capsule.

2. Receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the flask has a small ring engaging a bearing surface surrounding the opening of the casing and fixed to the casing.

3. Receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the inner capsule and one of the flask and the casing have a brake for opposing unwanted unscrewing of the inner capsule from the casing.

4. Receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the brake includes a toothed crown on the inner capsule and another toothed crown on one of the flask and the casing, the toothed crowns being imbricated.

5. Receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the flask comprises moulded plastic.

6. Receptacle according to claim 5, wherein said flask comprises internally moulded plastic such that said opening of said flask has a surface finish sufficient to establish a vacuum seal between said circular lip of said flexible stopper and said opening of said flask.

7. Receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the stopper bears a drop catcher.

8. Receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the circular lip includes an external swelling located near a lower end of the circular lip beyond the drop catcher.

9. Receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the pricking surface is thicker than a length of a sloping edge of the needle for pricking the pricking surface.

10. Receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the flask and the casing have slugs nested inside one another.