Patent classifications
G21F5/015
Biohazardous material transporting pig
A pig for transporting a container of biohazardous material, wherein the container comprises a bottle and a bottle closure. The pig includes a body comprising a compartment dimensioned to receive the container; a cap attachable to the body for closing the compartment thereby to shieldingly contain the biohazardous material in the container, the cap including: a collar sealingly engageable with the body and having an opening therethrough in communication with the compartment thereby to provide access to the bottle closure; a cap closure sealingly engageable within the opening of the collar to sealingly close the opening and cause the bottle closure to be gripped within the cap, wherein when the collar is disengaged from the body while the cap closure is engaged within the opening of the collar, the container remains gripped within the cap. A system for transporting and providing access to a biohazardous material includes the pig and an insert sealingly engageable within the opening of the collar while the cap closure is removed, the insert comprising an injection port extending fully therethrough in axial alignment with the compartment thereby to guide insertion of a syringe centrally through the container closure and into the container. A compression member for insertion into a pig for transporting a container of biohazardous materials is also provided. The compression member includes a flange; and spaced apart fingers supported by the flange and together forming a circle, the fingers each having a substantially vertical component extending upwards from the flange and a substantially horizontal component extending inwards from an end of the substantially vertical component distal from the flange, the spaced apart fingers resiliently compressible inwardly against the container by compressive engagement of a complementary annulus of the pig into which the compression member is dimensioned to be inserted.
Biohazardous material transporting pig
A pig for transporting a container of biohazardous material, wherein the container comprises a bottle and a bottle closure. The pig includes a body comprising a compartment dimensioned to receive the container; a cap attachable to the body for closing the compartment thereby to shieldingly contain the biohazardous material in the container, the cap including: a collar sealingly engageable with the body and having an opening therethrough in communication with the compartment thereby to provide access to the bottle closure; a cap closure sealingly engageable within the opening of the collar to sealingly close the opening and cause the bottle closure to be gripped within the cap, wherein when the collar is disengaged from the body while the cap closure is engaged within the opening of the collar, the container remains gripped within the cap. A system for transporting and providing access to a biohazardous material includes the pig and an insert sealingly engageable within the opening of the collar while the cap closure is removed, the insert comprising an injection port extending fully therethrough in axial alignment with the compartment thereby to guide insertion of a syringe centrally through the container closure and into the container. A compression member for insertion into a pig for transporting a container of biohazardous materials is also provided. The compression member includes a flange; and spaced apart fingers supported by the flange and together forming a circle, the fingers each having a substantially vertical component extending upwards from the flange and a substantially horizontal component extending inwards from an end of the substantially vertical component distal from the flange, the spaced apart fingers resiliently compressible inwardly against the container by compressive engagement of a complementary annulus of the pig into which the compression member is dimensioned to be inserted.
Nuclear fuel storage system with integral shimming
A nuclear fuel storage system includes an outer canister and fuel basket positioned therein. The basket is formed by orthogonally arranged and interlocked slotted plates which collectively define exterior side surfaces of the basket and a grid array of open cells each configured to hold a fuel assembly. At least some slotted plates comprise cantilevered plate extensions protruding laterally beyond the side surfaces of the basket to define various shaped peripheral gaps between the basket and canister. The plate extensions are configured to engage the shell of the canister. Vertically elongated reinforcement members are inserted in the peripheral gaps and fixedly coupled to the basket. Reinforcement members may comprise elongated reinforcement plates and/or tubular shimming members which may be fixedly coupled to the slotted plate extensions. The reinforcement members structurally strengthen the fuel basket. The plate extensions further act as fins to enhance heat dissipation from the basket.
Nuclear fuel storage system with integral shimming
A nuclear fuel storage system includes an outer canister and fuel basket positioned therein. The basket is formed by orthogonally arranged and interlocked slotted plates which collectively define exterior side surfaces of the basket and a grid array of open cells each configured to hold a fuel assembly. At least some slotted plates comprise cantilevered plate extensions protruding laterally beyond the side surfaces of the basket to define various shaped peripheral gaps between the basket and canister. The plate extensions are configured to engage the shell of the canister. Vertically elongated reinforcement members are inserted in the peripheral gaps and fixedly coupled to the basket. Reinforcement members may comprise elongated reinforcement plates and/or tubular shimming members which may be fixedly coupled to the slotted plate extensions. The reinforcement members structurally strengthen the fuel basket. The plate extensions further act as fins to enhance heat dissipation from the basket.
PRESS-FIT SPECIAL FORM CAPSULE
A capsule for maintaining containment of a substance within a predetermined volume includes a housing having a tubular shape and walls with an inside surface. The housing has at least one open end. A cap is configured to be assembled coaxially to the housing. The cap includes a top and a plug configured to be inside the housing when the cap is assembled to the housing through the open end. An outer surface of the plug is dimensioned to engage an adjacent inside surface of the housing in an interference fit of the cap with the housing. A method for sealing a capsule is also disclosed.
Radioactive waste repository systems and methods
A hazardous material repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean zone that includes a geologic formation, where the drillhole includes a vertical portion and a non-vertical portion coupled to the vertical portion by a transition portion, the non-vertical portion includes a storage volume for hazardous waste; a casing installed between the geologic formation and the drillhole, the casing including one or more metallic tubular sections; at least one canister positioned in the storage volume of the non-vertical portion of the drillhole, the at least one canister sized to enclose a portion of hazardous material and including an outer housing formed from a non-corrosive metallic material; and a backfill material inserted into the non-vertical portion of the drillhole to fill at least a portion of the storage volume between the at least one canister and the casing.
Radioactive waste repository systems and methods
A hazardous material repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean zone that includes a geologic formation, where the drillhole includes a vertical portion and a non-vertical portion coupled to the vertical portion by a transition portion, the non-vertical portion includes a storage volume for hazardous waste; a casing installed between the geologic formation and the drillhole, the casing including one or more metallic tubular sections; at least one canister positioned in the storage volume of the non-vertical portion of the drillhole, the at least one canister sized to enclose a portion of hazardous material and including an outer housing formed from a non-corrosive metallic material; and a backfill material inserted into the non-vertical portion of the drillhole to fill at least a portion of the storage volume between the at least one canister and the casing.
CONTAINERS FOR A SMALL VOLUME OF LIQUID TARGET MATERIAL FOR IRRADIATION IN A CYCLOTRON
Devices, systems, and methods for efficiently preparing and containing a small volume of liquid target material for irradiation by a cyclotron are provided. In various embodiments, a device includes a housing having a chamber and the housing has a top surface that is substantially flat. The chamber has a substantially flat base and a wall having a first portion extending from the base with a first radius of curvature and a second portion extending from the first portion having a second radius of curvature that is less than the first radius. The chamber also includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and a lip having a second surface that is substantially flat and recessed from the first surface. In various embodiments, the device includes a heat sink including a plurality of parallel fins disposed around the chamber.
CONTAINERS FOR A SMALL VOLUME OF LIQUID TARGET MATERIAL FOR IRRADIATION IN A CYCLOTRON
Devices, systems, and methods for efficiently preparing and containing a small volume of liquid target material for irradiation by a cyclotron are provided. In various embodiments, a device includes a housing having a chamber and the housing has a top surface that is substantially flat. The chamber has a substantially flat base and a wall having a first portion extending from the base with a first radius of curvature and a second portion extending from the first portion having a second radius of curvature that is less than the first radius. The chamber also includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and a lip having a second surface that is substantially flat and recessed from the first surface. In various embodiments, the device includes a heat sink including a plurality of parallel fins disposed around the chamber.
Radioactive source removing and introducing tooling, smart cart and source removing and introducing system
A radioactive source removing and introducing tooling includes a first support frame, a shield door disposed on the first support frame, a shield cover located on the shield door, and a first pull rod device. The shield door includes a movable first shield block. The shield cover is able to be separated from the shield door, and the shield cover includes one opening and one accommodation space. The first pull rod device includes a pull rod and a first connection portion disposed on the pull rod, and the pull rod is able to extend into the shield cover and drive the first connection portion to move inside the accommodation space of the shield cover.