TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE HANDLING

摘要

A system and apparatus are described for the transportation of a load within an unmanned area. The apparatus comprises: an elongate conduit following a predetermined desired route in said unmanned area; the interior of the conduit being sealed from the environment in said unmanned area; shuttle means movable within said elongate conduit and having integral on-board drive means to propel said shuttle means along said conduit; slave bogie means outside said elongate conduit, said bogie means being for carrying a payload thereon; said shuttle means having magnetic coupling means to said slave bogie means to move said bogie means substantially coterminously with said shuttle means relative to said elongate conduit; and said shuttle means being accessible from a manned area without the need for decontamination thereof.