Radioactive material storage canister and method for sealing same
AssigneeHoltec International
InventorsKrishna P. Singh, John D. Griffiths, Joseph Albert Meckley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A canister for storing radioactive materials includes a base plate, side wall and a top plate. The top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel, and with a channel set in from the top edge. The top plate is sealed to the sidewall by a weld formed between the beveled top edge and the top of the side wail. The base plate is sealed to a bottom of the sidewall, so that a sealed vessel is formed.
Claims23
A canister for storing radioactive materials, the canister comprising:
- a base plate;
- a side wall having a bottom sealed to the base plate;
- and
- a top plate including a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with an annular channel set in from the top edge, wherein a weld is formed between the beveled top edge and a top of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall, and
- wherein the base plate, side wall, and top plate form a sealed vessel.
The canister of claim 0, wherein the base plate, side wall, and top plate form a hermetically sealed vessel.
The canister of claim 0, wherein the circumferential channel is deeper than the bevel extends below the top surface.
(canceled)
The canister of claim 0, wherein at least one of the ports is disposed in the channel.
A method of forming a sealed canister, the method comprising
- placing a top plate on a top opening of a side wall, a bottom of the side wall being sealed to a base plate, wherein the top plate includes a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with an annular channel set in from the top edge;
- and
- forming a weld between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall.
The method of claim 0, further comprising:
- placing a first probe in the channel and a second probe opposite the first probe and adjacent the side wall, such that the weld is disposed between the two probes;
- activating the first and second probes to determine an integrity of a volume of the weld between the probes;
- and
- moving the first and second probes synchronously around the top plate to determine the integrity of an entire volume of the weld.
The method of claim 0, wherein the base plate, side wall, and top plate form a hermetically sealed vessel.
The method of claim 0, wherein the circumferential channel is approximately as deep as the bevel extends below the top surface.
The method of claim 0, wherein the circumferential channel is deeper than the bevel extends below the top surface.
(canceled)
The method of claim 0, wherein the first and second probes comprise ultrasound probes.
A method of storing radioactive materials, the method comprising:
- placing radioactive materials in a cavity formed by a side wall having a bottom sealed to a base plate;
- placing a top plate on a top opening of the side wall, the top plate including a top surface with a top edge having a bevel and with an annular channel set in from the top edge;
- forming a weld between the beveled top edge and the top opening of the side wall to seal the top plate to the side wall, so that the cavity is sealed;
- placing a first probe in the channel and a second probe opposite the first probe and adjacent the side wall, such that the weld is disposed between the two probes;
- activating the first and second probes to determine an integrity of a volume of the weld between the probes;
- and
- moving the first and second probes synchronously around the top plate to determine the integrity of an entire volume of the weld.
The method of claim 0, wherein the circumferential channel is approximately as deep as the bevel extends below the top surface.
The method of claim 0, wherein the circumferential channel is deeper than the bevel extends below the top surface.
(canceled)
The method of claim 0, wherein the cavity is hermetically by the formed weld.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.