Floatable-submersible vessel container

Claim 2

A vessel-container for storing or disposing of materials in the sea, the vessel-container comprising, in combination: a shell member; a pair of end covers adapted for sealing to opposing ends of the shell member to form an enclosure; a keel member supported by said shell member; primary portal means within the shell member for receiving material; flood valve means for passing water to the interior of the shell for flooding said enclosure; vent valve means for venting said enclosure and leading between the interior and exterior of the enclosure; and check valve means for equalizing the pressure between the interior and exterior of said enclosure after being submerged.

Claim 3

The vessel-container of claim 1 and further including primary containment means positioned within said enclosure and in which said material is directly contained.

Claim 4

The vessel-container of claim 2 in which the primary containment means is in the form of a large individual container within said enclosure, the container including primary portal means for receiving the material in bulk.

Claim 5

The vessel-container of claim 2 in which the primary containment is in the form of a bag of a radiation resistant membrane material and having a throat member adapted for receiving said material through the primary portal means.

Claim 6

The vessel-container of claim 4 in which the throat member is of conical shape; and in which a floatable sealant member is supported within the membrane, the member having a maximum diameter exceeding the minimum diameter of the throat such that as the membrane is filled with said material, the sealant member is wedged within the throat to seal the throat.

Claim 7

The vessel-container of claim 5 and further including basket means supported adjacent the throat of the membrane and enclosing the sealant member, the member floating within said basket responsive to the level of said material within said enclosure.

Claim 8

A vessel-container for storing or disposing of materials in the sea, the vessel-container comprising, in combination: a shell member; a pair of end covers adapted for sealing to opposing ends of the shell member to form an enclosure; a keel member supported by said shell member; primary portal means within the shellmmember for receiving material; flood valve means for passing water to the interior of the shell for flooding said enclosure; vent valve means for venting said enclosure and disposed between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; check valve means for equalizing the pressure between the interior and exterior of said enclosure after being submerged; and primary containment means positioned within said enclosure for containing said material, said primary containment means being in the form of individual drums, each of said drums storing respectively said material.

Claim 9

A vessel-container for storing or disposing of materials in the sea, the vessel-container comprising, in combination: a shell member; a pair of end covers adapted for sealing to opposing ends of the shell member to form an enclosure; a keel member supported by said shell member; primary portal means within the shellmmember for receiving material; flood valve means for passing water to the interior of the shell for flooding said enclosure; vent valve means for venting said enclosure and disposed between the interior and exterior of said enclosure; check valve means for equalizing the pressure between the interior and exterior of said enclosure after being submerged; and primary containment means positioned within said enclosure for containing said material, said primary containment means being in the form of individual drums, each of said drums storing respectively said material.

Claim 10

The vessel-container of claim 7 in which the shell member and the end covers comprise radiation resistant material.

Claim 11

The vessel-container of claim 7 and further including a stand-up support base joined to one of the end covers and securing the shell in a vertical pOsition; and in which the other end cover is removable from the shell to form the primary portal means through which the individual drums are received.

Claim 12

The vessel-container of claim 7 in which the flood valve means and vent valve means comprise corrosive member means for holding the flood valve means and vent valve means open, the corrosive member being responsive to sea salt water within said enclosure thereby eroding to close the valves.

Claim 13

A vessel-container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said drums are disposed in said enclosure with the axes thereof in parallel relation.

Claim 14

A vessel-container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said shell member is of a configuration to include an axis and wherein said drums are disposed in said enclosure with the axes thereof parallel to the axis of said shell.