Procedure for transferring objects without breaking confinement

Procedure for transferring an object along an axis from a contamination and radioactive zone A to a clean zone B where said object will be contained in a movable enclosure, said two zones A and B being separated by a slab containing a plug in line with the transfer axis, the object to be transferred being coupled to said slab plug and the uncontaminated zone B being kept clean throughout the transfer and transport operations in terms of both contamination and radiation, involving the following steps:

• (a) set up a pre-enclosure having two plugs, on opposite sides thereof and both located on the transfer axis, on and surrounding the slab plug;
• (b) set up a in a sealed manner on the pre-enclosure a movable enclosure also equipped with a plug such that said plug is in contact with the plug of the pre-enclosure opposite the slab plug;
• (c) couple together the plugs which are in contact with one another, to form two fast pairs the first of which pairs consists of the slab plug and the pre-enclosure plug in immediate contact with it and the second of which pairs consists of the single plug of the enclosure and the pre-enclosure plug in immediate contact with it;
• (d) remove said second pair of plugs sideways inside the pre-enclosure;
• (e) secure said first pair of plugs and the object to be transferred to a hoist and transfer them all to the enclosure;
• (f) refit said second pair of plugs along the transfer axis, in the respective plug holes of the enclosure and pre-enclosure, then uncouple the two plugs from one another and secure them individually in their holes;
• (g) remove the enclosure containing said first pair of plugs and the object to another location.