Closure device for containers for transporting radioactive substances

Abstract

A closure device for containers for transporting radioactive substances, having a first and a second component each with a comb-like portion, wherein the comb-like portions, with the closure device locked, has a bolt element passing through them. The bolt element has a head with an accommodating recess running transversally to the longitudinal axis of the bolt element, that one of the components has a through-opening which, with the bolt passing through the comb-like portions, is aligned with an accommodating recess.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism comprising: a first component having a first comb-like section; a second component having a second comb-like section; a bolt element comprising a head portion having a plurality of faces, and a shaft portion extending from a first face of the head portion; a recess in the head portion, said recess extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the bolt element; wherein the shaft portion is configured to pass through the first comb-like section and second comb-like section when the locking mechanism is in a locked position; wherein the first comb-like section and the second comb-like section form a common longitudinal plane when the locking mechanism is in the locked position; wherein the first face of the bolt element abuts a surface of the first comb-like section when the locking mechanism is in the locked position; wherein the first component comprises an opening that is aligned with the recess in the head portion when the shaft portion is disposed within the first comb-like section and second comb-like section; wherein the opening runs parallel to the common longitudinal plane; and a locking element configured to be disposed in the opening; wherein a portion of the locking element extends into the recess in the head portion when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

2. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises first and second opposing sections having a rectangular cross-section; and wherein said first and second opposing sections extend symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the bolt element, and project beyond a circumference of the shaft portion.

3. The locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first component comprises a first groove-like recess that is configured to receive the first opposing section having a rectangular cross-section; and wherein the second component comprises a second groove-like recess that is configured to receive the second opposing section having a rectangular cross-section.

4. The locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the recess in the head portion is in the first opposing section or the second opposing section of the head portion.

5. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises a second recess in the second opposing section.

6. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the locking element is a screw locking element.

7. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a head having an unconventional shape, such that a special tool is required to release the locking element.

8. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first comb-like section extends from a first longitudinal surface of a cuboid portion of the first component; and wherein the second comb-like section extends from a second longitudinal surface of a cuboid portion of the second component.

9. The locking mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the opening extends from an outer surface of the first component to the first longitudinal surface.

10. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are manufactured from steel.

11. In combination, the locking mechanism of claim 1 and a container for transporting a radioactive substance.

Description

(1) The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view onto a locking mechanism,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front view of the locking mechanism of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view onto the locking mechanism of FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 shows an isometric representation of the locking mechanism of FIG. 1, partially as an exploded view, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a transport container with locking mechanisms.

(8) FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a container 110 for transporting in particular radioactive substances, such as Uranium Hexafluoride, whereby the structure may be identical to the one that is disclosed in WO-A-2010/043534. The outside container 110 consists of two shells 112, 114, that can be locked during transport via locking mechanisms 116, 118, 120. The graphic representation shows the locking mechanisms being arranged on longitudinal sides of the container 110, without this limiting in any way the scope of the invention's teaching. It is also possible for fewer or more than the three locking mechanisms 116, 118, 120 to be provided on each longitudinal side.

(9) FIGS. 1 to 5 purely schematically illustrate the structure of the locking mechanisms 116, 118, 120, which all are of an identical design. The corresponding locking mechanism, which in FIG. 1 carries the reference label 10, consists of two block-like components 12, 14, which along one respective longitudinal side 16, 18 possess a section 20, 22 that is embodied in a comb-like manner, to create a comb-like structure. When the components 12, 14 are joined, the comb-like projections of the comb-like structures 20, 22 exhibit matching and aligned bores 24, through which passes a bolt 26 when the locking mechanism 10 is locked. The bolt 26 possesses a thread-less stem 28 and a head 30 with a rectangular longitudinal cross-section and possesses head sections 32, 34 that project beyond the circumferential surface of the stem 28, each of which possesses an accommodating recess 36, 38 that extends at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the bolt 26. Further, the head 30 is provided with an opening 40, to allow engagement of the bolt, e.g. by the means of a tool, in particular when it is being pulled from the locking mechanism 10.

(10) For the purpose of securing the bolt 26, in this embodiment example a trough opening 42extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis 27 of the bolt 26passes through the upper (in the drawing) block-like component or structural element 14also referred to as locking block, whereby the opening consists of an inner cylindrical section 44 with inside thread 46 and an outer cylindrical section 48 with a greater diameter that is freely accessible. The opening 42 extends in parallel to the front or back side of the block-like component 14.

(11) A safety bolt 50 can be screwed into the opening 42. The front end 52 of the safety bolt 50 engages into the groove-like recess 38 of the bolt head 30 when the locking blocks 12, 14 have been joined together, i.e. when the comb-like sections 20, 22 interlock and the stem 28 passes properly through the now freely accessible bore 24. To ensure a unique alignment of the bolt head 30, the locking blocks 12, 14, i.e. the longitudinal sides 16, 18 that possess the comb-like structures, possess groove-like recesses 54, 56, into which the head sections 32, 34 of the bolt head 30 engage in a guided manner.

(12) The graphic representation also shows that the bolt 50 possesses a head 58 with an unconventional shape, so that loosening of the bolt is only possible with a special tool.

(13) The locking mechanism 10 according to the invention is resistant against mechanical impact and shear stresses, since the bolt 26 extends within the contour outline of the components 12, 14 that in particular consist of heavy steel, i.e. extends within their comb-like structures 20, 22. The locking blocks 12, 14 with their comb-like sections 20, 22 and the bores 24, through which the bolt 26 passes, the bolt 26 itself as well as the groove-like accommodations 54, 56 for the bolt-head sections 32, 34 can be embodied with large tolerances without this affecting the function. This ensures an operation with low maintenance requirements. Furthermore, the safety bolt 50 has to be tightened with low torque only, since the main locking function is accomplished by the joining of the comb-like structure, i.e. the interlocking comb-like sections 20, 22 of the component 12, 14 and the bolt 26.

(14) The safety bolt 50 can be tightened and loosened by means of a simple hand tool. The bolt 26 can be manually inserted into or pulled out of the bore 24, whereby the opening 40 serves as a guide. Since the screw head 58 is provided with a unconventional shape it can only be loosened with a special tool.