Back to results
US 2002/0153498 A1Published application
Vessel for uranium hexafluoride transport
AssigneeThe Columbiana Boiler Company
InventorsThomas F. Dougherty, Trevor M. Rummel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeThe Columbiana Boiler Company
InventorsThomas F. Dougherty, Trevor M. Rummel
Estimating the term…
A vessel for the shipment of uranium hexafluoride includes a cylindrical wall closed by pair of approximately semi-ellipsoidal heads welded to form a sealed container. A service valve is located in one end. The valve is covered by a removable, watertight valve protection cover assembly. The vessel also includes a test port by means of which the integrity of the valve protection cover assembly may be tested after the cylinder has been filled with uranium hexafluoride and the valve protection assembly has been installed. The valve protection assembly is shaped so that it fits within the envelope of the standard 30B cylinders. The distal end of the valve protection assembly is recessed from a plane defined by the open end of the surrounding chime by at least one half inch, and preferably by ¾inch or more. Accordingly, the fits within an overpack already approved by the NRC and used by shippers of uranium hexafluoride.
A cylinder for the transport of substantially pure uranium hexafluoride in a conventional overpack, the cylinder comprising
In a conventional 30B cylinder for the transport of substantially pure uranium hexafluoride which has a valve for controlling the flow of material into and out of the cylinder, the improvement comprising a removable protective valve cover assembly means for providing an essentially impermeable cover over the valve, and means for testing a seal between the valve cover assembly means and the cylinder.
The improvement of claim of 27 including a pair of resilient seal elements, one within the other, positioned between the flange and the sealing surface, and the means for testing includes a passage from outside the protective valve cover assembly to a space between the resilient seal elements.
A method of shipping substantially pure uranium hexafluoride comprising providing a cylinder having a valve for controlling the flow of matter into and out of the cylinder and a removable cap over the valve,
In the combination of an overpack for a conventional 30B cylinder and a conventional 30B cylinder containing substantially pure uranium hexafluoride in the overpack, the improvement comprising a removable protective valve cover assembly, means for providing an essentially impermeable cover over the valve, and means for testing a seal between the valve cover assembly means and the cylinder.
The improvement of claim of 32 including a pair of resilient seal elements, one within the other, positioned between the flange and the sealing surface, and the means for testing includes a passage from outside the protective valve cover assembly to a space between the resilient seal elements.
A cylinder for the transport of substantially pure uranium hexafluoride fitting within an envelope having an overall length of {fraction (811/2)} inches plus or minus ½ inch and a diameter of 30 inches plus or minus ¼ inch, the cylinder enclosing a volume of at least 26 cubic feet, the cylinder comprising a closed steel vessel, a valve for controlling the flow of matter into and out of the vessel, a sealing surface connected to the vessel surrounding the valve, a removable cap over the valve, and fastening means for sealingly mounting the cap to the sealing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.