Patent US4401532A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4401532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radioactive decontamination apparatus and process
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-05-28
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-05-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for removing radioactive contamination from metal objects is disclosed, consisting of three of three separate pieces. The first is an electro-polishing tank, pump and filter assembly, ventilation duct and filter assembly, and DC power supply. The second is a rinse tank and a pump and filter assembly therefor. The third is a divot crane. The electro-polishing tank assembly and the rinse tank assembly are each separately mounted on pallets to facilitate moving. The filter systems of the electro-polishing tank and the rinse tank are designed to remove the radioactive contamination from the fluids in those tanks. Heavy items or highly contaminated items are handled with the divot crane constructed of stainless steel. The electro-polishing tank and the rinse tank are also made of stainless steel. The ventilation system on the electro-polishing tank exhausts acid fumes resulting from the tank heaters and the electro-polishing process. Inside the electro-polishing tank are two swinging arms that carry two stainless steel probes that hang down in the electrolyte fluid. These are negative DC probes and are electrically isolated from the tank and the rest of the system. Across the top center of the tank is a copper pipe, which is also electrically isolated from the tank. This is the positive side of the DC system. To decontaminate a metal object, it is suspended from the positive copper pipe, with good electrical contact, into the electrolyte fluid. The negative probes are then moved on their swinging arms to a close proximity to the object being decontaminated, without making contact.
Inventors
- 👤 Opha L. Jackson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:00
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25F; C25F3/00; C25F7/00; G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/001; G21F9/002; G21F9/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
Decontamination apparatus including an electro-polishing tank assembly, said assembly comprising: an electro-polishing tank for holding an electrolyte fluid, a pair of swinging arms attached to said electro-polishing tank but electrically isolated therefrom, a pair of metal probes detachably attached to said pair of swinging arms and extending down into an electrolyte fluid in said electro-polishing tank, a metal support extending across the top of said electro-polishing tank but electrically isolated therefrom, and a DC power supply having positive and negative terminals, said positive terminal being connected to said metal support and said negative terminal being connected to said pair of metal probes, whereby an object to be decontaminated is suspended, with good electrical contact, from said metal support into an electrolyte fluid in said electro-polishing tank and said pair of metal probes are then moved on said swinging arms to a close proximity to said object, without making contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
Decontamination apparatus including an electro-polishing tank assembly, said assembly comprising: an electro-polishing tank for holding an electrolyte fluid, a pair of swinging arms attached to said electro-polishing tank but electrically isolated therefrom, a pair of metal probes detachably attached to said pair of swinging arms and extending down into an electrolyte fluid in said electro-polishing tank, a metal support extending across the top of said electro-polishing tank but electrically isolated therefrom, and a DC power supply having positive and negative terminals, said positive terminal being connected to said metal support and said negative terminal being connected to said pair of metal probes, whereby an object to be decontaminated is suspended, with good electrical contact, from said metal support into an electrolyte fluid in said electro-polishing tank and said pair of metal probes are then moved on said swinging arms to a close proximity to said object, without making contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising as part of said electro-polishing assembly a pump and filter connected to pump out, filter and recirculate an electrolyte fluid in said electro-polishing tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claims 1 or 2 further comprising as part of said electro-polishing assembly a ventilation system positioned to exhaust fumes resulting from the electro-polishing process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said pair of metal probes are made of stainless steel and said metal support is made of copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claims 1 or 4 wherein said electro-polishing tank is made of stainless steel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said electro-polishing tank assembly is mounted on a pallet to facilitate movement of said assembly by a fork lift truck.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 1, said apparatus further including a rinse tank assembly, said assembly comprising: a rinse tank for holding a rinse fluid, and a pump and filter connected to pump out, filter and recirculate the rinse fluid in said rinse tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said rinse tank is made of stainless steel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said electro-polishing tank assembly and said rinse tank assembly are each separately mounted on pallets to facilitate moving by a fork lift truck.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Decontamination apparatus as recited in claim 7, said apparatus further comprising a divot crane for positioning between said electro-polishing tank assembly and said rinse tank assembly to facilitate the lifting of heavy or highly contaminated objects into and out of said electro-polishing tank and said rinse tank.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of decontaminating metal objects in an electro-polishing tank assembly including a tank for holding electrolyte fluid, a pair of swinging arms attached to said tank but electrically isolated therefrom, a pair of metal probes detachably attached to said pair of swinging arms and extending down into the electrolyte fluid, and a metal support extending across the top of said tank but electrically isolated therefrom, said method comprising the steps of: hanging an object to be decontaminated from said metal support into the electrolyte and making electrical contact between said object and said support, moving said swinging arms so that said metal probes are in close proximity to said object but not making contact therewith, and applying a positive and a negative voltage respectively to said metal support and to said metal probes for a predetermined time period to strip a microthin layer of metal, including any contamination, from said object and plate the same on said metal probes as a mock plating, and thereafter removing said object.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of decontaminating metal objects in an electro-polishing tank assembly including a tank for holding electrolyte fluid, a pair of swinging arms attached to said tank but electrically isolated therefrom, a pair of metal probes detachably attached to said pair of swinging arms and extending down into the electrolyte fluid, and a metal support extending across the top of said tank but electrically isolated therefrom, said method comprising the steps of: hanging an object to be decontaminated from said metal support into the electrolyte and making electrical contact between said object and said support, moving said swinging arms so that said metal probes are in close proximity to said object but not making contact therewith, and applying a positive and a negative voltage respectively to said metal support and to said metal probes for a predetermined time period to strip a microthin layer of metal, including any contamination, from said object and plate the same on said metal probes as a mock plating, and thereafter removing said object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: periodically hanging a waste metal rod from said metal support into the electrolyte and making the electrical contact between said waste metal rod and said support, moving said swinging arms so that said metal probes are in close proximity to said waste metal rod but not making contact therewith, and applying a negative and a positive voltage respectively to said metal support and to said metal probes for a predetermined time period to strip said mock plating from said metal probes and plate the same on said waste metal rod, and thereafter removing said waste metal rod.
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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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |