Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

9 – Nuclear operating resources in the repositoryFigure 9.3.11Illustration of the pusher robot operation principleA gripper situated at the head of the robot allows the packages to be withdrawn if necessary.• The fixed equipment attached to the transfer caskThe fixed equipment attached to the transfer cask consists of a return winch and a hydraulic unit thatpowers the jacks of the robot. The return winch allows the robot to be brought back in the event of abreakdown. This equipment is connected to the robot by a cable and flexible hydraulic pipes.The shielded container is equipped with a moveable sleeve containing the packages and the pusher.This sleeve can move over about 80 cm to ensure a physical continuity with the cell sleeve which isitself connected to the shielded trap door installed at the head of the disposal cell.• The fixed equipment attached to the head of the cellThe head of a disposal cell consists of a shielded trap door itself composed of a fixed part connected tothe cell sleeve and a sliding door operated by the door of the transfer cask when this is docked. Thisshielded trap door provides the cell's radiological protection, plus supplementary protection when thetransfer cask is docked. This protection is similar to that of the transfer cask walls.DOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM355/495