Method of filling a metal vessel with a glass melt containing highly radioactive fission products and apparatus therefor

Apparatus for filling a metal vessel with a radioactive glass melt from a glass-melt furnace disposed in a cell of a nuclear facility, the furnace having a suction port communicating with a chamber of the furnace containing the radioactive glass melt, the metal vessel being provided with a suction tube mounted on the base wall thereof so as to communicate with the interior of the vessel, the suction tube being adapted to break off from the base in response to a predetermined load applied thereto, the metal vessel being evacuated so as to have a partial vacuum therein and the suction tube being sealed with a solid fused mass, the apparatus comprising:

• portable holding means for accommodating the evacuated metal vessel therein for movement in the vertical direction with respect to the furnace between a first position whereat the suction tube is above the suction port and a second position whereat the suction tube is in the suction port and dipped into the glass melt thereby melting the solid fused mass and causing the metal vessel to be filled with glass melt;
• retractable closure means for opening the suction port to permit movement of the suction tube into the suction port and the glass melt thereby permitting the metal vessel to become filled with glass melt and for closing the suction port after the suction tube has been withdrawn from the glass melt and the suction port;
• said closure means including carrying means for accommodating a cover for the metal vessel and for positioning the cover directly beneath the metal vessel when the suction port is closed and said metal vessel is again in said first position above the suction port;
• said cover being adapted to receive said suction tube thereagainst in response to a movement of said metal vessel toward said second position thereby causing the suction tube to break off and be pushed into the metal vessel and to cause said cover to thereafter engage the metal vessel for closing the same;
• and
• sealing means for hermetically sealing off the suction port with respect to the atmosphere of the cell when said holding means is positioned above the suction port and during the entire time that the suction port is open thereby preventing contaminants emanating from the furnace from reaching the atmosphere of the cell.