Grapple and lift beams for high integrity containers for radioactive waste
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsHarold L. Newhouse, Charles W. Mallory
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a container assembly for the storage and disposal of material containing low-level nuclear wastes particularly suited for remote handling. A waste container has lifting lugs onto which a reusable grapple beam, made of rectangular tubing joined to form a polygon, is placed and attached to the lifting lugs by hooks. Screw jacks are used to tension the assembly and prevent inadvertent unlatching. The container is filled through the interior of the polygon into an opening in the container. The container may be filled, capped, handled, and the grapple beam removed by remote operations.
Claims4
A container assembly for the storage, handling, transport, and ultimate disposal of radio-active waste containing material, said container assembly comprising:
- a. a waste container having a plurality of lifting lugs associated therewith capable of bearing the weight of the container and its contents and having an opening in the top of said container for the insertion of waste material,
- b. a top for sealing the container opening after the waste material is inserted, and
- c. a grapple beam having means for attaching and holding the container lifting lugs, having tensioning means for applying continuously stress between the means for attaching and holding the container lifting lugs and the lugs to prevent inadvertent release, and having sockets that can be remotely engaged and latched to lifting a device for handling the container and its contents, the grapple beam comprised of at least three members joined at their ends forming a polygon of a predetermined size such that the top can be inserted into the polygon interior and secured to the waste container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.