Method and apparatus for the packaging of radioactive wastes

Claim 1

An apparatus for forming a radioactive waste package comprising a horizontal hydraulic press having a substantially horizontal pressing chamber, a ram hydraulically displaceable through said chamber from one end of said press toward an opposite end thereof, a retractable wall at said opposite end forming an anvil, an inlet for radioactive waste opening from above into said chamber at a location spaced from said wall by a distance sufficient to accommodate a collapsible steel container in which waste introduced into said chamber upstream of said container can be compressed, said ram being displaceable to drive said waste into said container, to crush said container and to compress said waste within said container and the container itself against said wall by crushing the container, and to displace the crushed and compressed container and the compressed waste contained therein out of said chamber upon retraction of said wall, and a cover disposed between said opening and said ram in said chamber when said ram is positioned toward the end of said chamber opposite the end holding said container, whereby the driving by said ram of said waste into said container applies said cover to said container.

Claim 2

An apparatus for forming a radioactive waste package comprising a horizontal hydraulic press having a substantially horizontal pressing chamber, a ram hydraulically displaceable through said chamber from one end of said press toward an opposite end thereof, a retractable wall at said opposite end forming an anvil, an inlet for radioactive waste opening from above into said chamber at a location spaced from said wall by a distance sufficient to accommodate a collapsible steel container in which waste introduced into said chamber upstream of said container can be compressed, said ram being displaceable to drive said waste into said container, to crush said container and to compress said waste within said container and the container itself against said wall by crushing the container, and to displace the crushed and compressed container and the compressed waste contained therein out of said chamber upon retraction of said wall, and a cover disposed between said opening and said ram in said chamber when said ram is positioned toward the end of said chamber opposite the end holding said container, whereby the driving by said ram of said waste into said container applies said cover to said container.

Claim 4

A method of packaging radioactive waste which comprises the steps of: (a) disposing an open end sheet steel container in a horizontal hydraulic press chamber against a retractable anvil-forming wall; (b) introducing from above compressible radioactive waste through an opening into said chamber ahead of the open end of said container; (c) positioning a cover in said chamber at an opposite side of said opening from said container; (d) hydraulically advancing a ram through said chamber from behind said cover to advance said cover and drive said waste into said container while collapsing the wall of said container in a harmonic pattern to thereby compress said waste and form a compressed canister of radioactive waste in which the steel container and the waste therein are compressed and sealed by said cover; and (e) retracting said wall and advancing said ram to displace said canister from said chamber.

Claim 5

A method of packaging radioactive waste which comprises the steps of: (a) disposing an open end sheet steel container in a horizontal hydraulic press chamber against a retractable anvil-forming wall; (b) introducing from above compressible radioactive waste through an opening into said chamber ahead of the open end of said container; (c) positioning a cover in said chamber at an opposite side of said opening from said container; (d) hydraulically advancing a ram through said chamber from behind said cover to advance said cover and drive said waste into said container while collapsing the wall of said container in a harmonic pattern to thereby compress said waste and form a compressed canister of radioactive waste in which the steel container and the waste therein are compressed and sealed by said cover; and (e) retracting said wall and advancing said ram to displace said canister from said chamber.