US3940628A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process for handling dangerous fluent material
Assignee: SPX Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-25
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Granted: 1976-02-24
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Expires: 1993-10-25
Abstract
Abstract Systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed for disposing of radioactive waste materials by placing them into a container such as a steel drum, together with cement or other solidifying agent and water or other suitable liquid in amounts sufficient to provide eventually a solidified mixture of predetermined amounts of cement or other solidifying agent and radioactive material, closing the drum, agitating the mixture in the drum for mixing the contents, and then storing the drum for at least a period of time sufficient to permit partial decay of radioactive materials or to await available time for shipment. Also disclosed are remotely controlled apparatus for handling both empty and filled drums, for placing the drums in and removing drums from enclosed drumming equipment where they have been filled and agitated, for accurately placing the drums containing radioactive material in storage, and for removing the drums from storage and loading them on a vehicle for transportation. All of these operations are done by remote control with a high degree of safety to the operators and maintenance personnel from radiation and freedom of the ambient from radiation pollution.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J. Stock
- 👤 Donald E. Christofer
- 👤 Joseph E. Brinza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B3/00; B65B3/04; G; G21; G21F; G21F7/00; G21F7/06; G21F7/067; G21F9/00; G21F9/04; G21F9/20; G21F9/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S422/00; Y10S422/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive material comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; means, supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said radioactive material, for handling radioactive material, said handling means including supporting means for supporting and moving a container adapted to contain radioactive material between a position at which radioactive material is introduced into said container through an opening thereof and a position at which closure means is placed to close said opening of said container, while said container is adjacent the side of the shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity, said handling means also including means at said last mentioned position operable to place closure means to close said opening of said container after radioactive material has been introduced therein; power means for operating said handling means located on the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said radioactive material; and movable means for driving said handling means, including said supporting means and said closure-placing means, which movable means extends through said shield wall to operate said supporting means and said closure-placing means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive material comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; means, supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said radioactive material, for handling radioactive material, said handling means including supporting means for supporting and moving a container adapted to contain radioactive material between a position at which radioactive material is introduced into said container through an opening thereof and a position at which closure means is placed to close said opening of said container, while said container is adjacent the side of the shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity, said handling means also including means at said last mentioned position operable to place closure means to close said opening of said container after radioactive material has been introduced therein; power means for operating said handling means located on the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said radioactive material; and movable means for driving said handling means, including said supporting means and said closure-placing means, which movable means extends through said shield wall to operate said supporting means and said closure-placing means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said shield wall is formed in sections, abutting sections of said shield wall joining in a joint formed of abutting surfaces of such sections that are offset to eliminate a straight joint through said shield wall, and in which said handling means is supported from one of said sections of said shield wall, which section of said shield wall is adapted to be moved as a unit with said handling means supported from said shield wall section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising means for demountably supporting said shield wall, which shield wall is adapted to be removed from said supporting means and moved as a unit with said handling means supported from said shield wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantial passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; means, supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, for handling said radioactive fluent material, said handling means comprising pump means for introducing said fluent material into a container through an opening thereof while said container is adjacent said side of said shield wall exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, said handling means also including means operable to place closure means to close said opening of said container after fluent radioactive material has been introduced therein; power means for operating said handling means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said handling means, including said pump means and said closure placing means, which movable means extends through said shield wall to operate said pump means and said closure placing means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantial passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; means, supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, for handling said radioactive fluent material, said handling means comprising pump means for introducing said fluent material into a container through an opening thereof while said container is adjacent said side of said shield wall exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, said handling means also including means operable to place closure means to close said opening of said container after fluent radioactive material has been introduced therein; power means for operating said handling means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said handling means, including said pump means and said closure placing means, which movable means extends through said shield wall to operate said pump means and said closure placing means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said power means is supported from said other side of said shield wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to a human operator; operable means for controlling flow of said fluent material comprising pump means for pumping said fluent material supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, said pump means comprising operable valve means; power means for operating said pump means and for operating said valve means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said pump means and for driving said valve means extending through said shield wall to operate said pump means and said valve means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to a human operator; operable means for controlling flow of said fluent material comprising pump means for pumping said fluent material supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, said pump means comprising operable valve means; power means for operating said pump means and for operating said valve means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said pump means and for driving said valve means extending through said shield wall to operate said pump means and said valve means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; operable means for controlling flow of said fluent material comprising operable valve means that is supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; power means for operating said flow controlling means including said valve means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said valve means extending through said shield wall to operate said valve means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; operable means for controlling flow of said fluent material comprising operable valve means that is supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; power means for operating said flow controlling means including said valve means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said valve means extending through said shield wall to operate said valve means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said power means is supported from said other side of said shield wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; means, supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, operable to place closure means to close the opening of a container adapted to contain said fluent material; power means for operating said operable closure-placing means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said closure-placing means which movable means extends through said shields wall to operate said closure-placing means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for handling radioactive fluent material capable of emitting radioactivity comprising a rigid shield wall of material and thickness sufficient to reduce substantially passage of radioactivity through said shield wall to a level that is not harmful to human operators; means, supported from one side of said shield wall that is exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material, operable to place closure means to close the opening of a container adapted to contain said fluent material; power means for operating said operable closure-placing means located at the other side of said shield wall that is not exposed to radioactivity from said fluent material; and movable means for driving said closure-placing means which movable means extends through said shields wall to operate said closure-placing means from said power means without such harmful passage of radioactivity through said shield wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said power means is supported from said other side of said shield wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-23 | 1979-08-25 | 1980-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-23 | 1983-08-25 | 1984-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-23 | 1987-08-25 | 1988-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |