Abstract: An air lock system for the transfer of large containers into a containment comprises a set of horizontally and vertically slidable doors adapted to define a variable opening for the passage of containers. The set of doors cooperate with a further preceding set, which can be a single slidable door, to form an airlock. Ventilation means in the containment provide an inward air flow through the opening into the containment.

Abstract: A sphincter seal, to accommodate variations in diameters of drums, is employed at a posting port into a containment. The seal comprises an annular assembly of inner and outer brush seals between which are sandwiched rings of resilient material. An elastic garter is secured to the resilient rings to resist deformation of the rings through use.

Abstract: Waste material is passed from a cell 10 through a port 12 into drum 48 which has a mouth 49 with a removable lid 54. A port door 28 includes an electromagnet 54a to hold the lid to the door 28 and both are moved into the cell to allow loading of the drum and after re-closure of door and lid swaging tools 34 operate to deform the lid to form one or more lips which engage under the margin around mouth 49 to resist separation of the lid from the drum.Seals 30, 32, 52 are provided.

Abstract: Radioactive waste is loaded from a cell 10 into a drum 16 by sealing the drum about a port 12 in the cell, attaching the drum lid to the port door by clamp jaws 30 engaging a boss 76, withdrawing the port door and drum lid 69 into the cell in back-to-back fashion, loading the drum and replacing the lid. The lid has an annular lip 72, and the lid is deformable from a first state in which the lip engages the underside of the drum rim 65 and the lid engages the outer surface of the rim, and a second state in which the lip is free from engagement with the rim, thereby allowing removal of the lid.The jaws are moved into clamping engagement by initial movement of the jaws relative to the door.

Abstract: The slave arm (15) in a sealed containment (12 or 210) is arranged to be replaceable by forward displacement by a new arm (115 or 215). The new arm is preceded by an intermediate sealing body (101 or 201) sealed on the new arm by a flexible bag (103 or 203) which is removable into the sealed containment once the new arm is located in the sealed containment. Preferably the sealed containment (12) is spaced from a shield wall (10) to provide an interspace (13) accessible to a protected operator and the linking part (16) of the manipulator has a demountable coupling (24) in the interspace so that the new arm can be inserted from the interspace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging radioactive waste into a disposable steel drum having a plug type lid. The drum is sealed to a waste dispenser and the dispenser closure and lid are withdrawn into the dispenser in back-to-back manner. Before reclosing the dispenser the drum is urged closer to it so that on restoring the dispenser closure to the closed position the lid is pressed into the drum opening.