Transport system, in particular for transporting silicon monocrystals through the tank of a research reactor

Abstract

The invention pertains to a transport system for transporting containers or products within and along an essentially vertical tube with concurrent rotation of the containers on the axis of the tube. In order to facilitate simple construction despite conditions of limited space, it is proposed that the tube be designed as a vertical rotary tube, to which a rotatably retained worm sleeve is connected at the end of the transport path. Provided within the rotary tube are longitudinal guide grooves, in which dogs carried by the containers engage. These dogs also engage in the screw thread of the worm sleeve. On their upper and lower sides, the containers have couplings, e.g., an end toothing, which, during the transport of a group of adjoining containers, impart a rotary movement from container to container but also make possible a separation of one container from another in the direction of the axis of the tube. During a rotation of the rotary tube, the containers are successively rotated through by the worm sleeve, which can accommodate least one container. The transport system is especially suited for transporting silicon monocrystals, which are enclosed within the containers, through the heavy water tank of a research reactor for doping said silicon monocrystals by way neutron bombardment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.