# US 5,347,557 A · Apparatus for decontaminating radioactively contaminated surfaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,347,557 A - Document ID: US5347557A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/034,689 - Filed: 1993-03-19 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1993-03-03 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Hermann Operschall; Karl-Heinz Hack; Klaus Hengelhaupt; Konrad Meier-Hynek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347557A ## CPC - G21F 9/005: {Decontamination of the surface of objects by ablation} - B08B 9/035: by suction - B08B 9/0433: {provided exclusively with fluid jets as cleaning tools} - B08B 9/057: the cleaning devices being entrained discrete elements, e.g. balls, grinding elements, brushes - G21F 7/065: {Remotely manipulated machinery} - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract An apparatus decontaminates a radioactively contaminated surface region of a pipe, connector or vessel being open at one end, with a dry mechanical blasting medium. The apparatus includes a processing bell to be mounted on the open end of the pipe, connector or vessel. A flexible dustproof duct is connected to the processing bell. A retaining device protrudes into the duct and is movable from outside in the interior of the pipe, connector or vessel. A blasting head is disposed on the retaining device. A blasting system is connected to the blasting head and has a continuous circulation of the blasting medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for decontaminating a radioactively contaminated surface region of a pipe, connector or vessel being open at one end, with a dry mechanical blasting medium, comprising: a processing bell to be mounted on an open end of a pipe, connector or vessel having a radioactively contaminated surface region to be decontaminated; a flexible dustproof duct connected to said processing bell; a retaining device protruding into said duct and being movable from outside in the interior of the pipe, connector or vessel; a blasting head disposed on said retaining device; and a blasting system being connected to said blasting head and having a continuous circulation of a dry mechanical blasting medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said blasting system includes a filter for separating material removed by suction into two fractions having differing particle size distributions and for continuously delivering one of the fractions having a larger mean particle size to said pressure tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said processing bell has a vent opening formed therein with a filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said retaining device on which said blasting head is disposed is a retaining pipe being axially displaceable and communicating with said pressure line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said processing bell has a course of curvature being opposite a curvature of the pipe or connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said processing bell includes a cylindrical part and a curved adapter ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said flexible duct is a bellows surrounding part of said retaining pipe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, including a rotatably supported spindle for axial displacement of said retaining pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said blasting head includes at least one blast nozzle being rotatable about a feed direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said blast nozzle supplies the blasting medium at an incline relative to the feed direction. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for decontaminating a radioactively contaminated surface region located inside a pipe, connector or vessel being open on one end, with a dry mechanical blasting medium, comprising: a) a processing bell to be mounted on an open end of a pipe, connector or vessel having a radioactively contaminated surface region to be decontaminated; b) a manipulator disposed on said processing bell; c) a flexible duct mounted on said processing bell; d) a retaining device protruding into said processing bell, being sealed off from the outside in a dustproof manner and being movable from the outside by said flexible duct; e) said manipulator having a blasting head being disposed on said retaining device and being movable in the interior of the pipe, connector or vessel; f) a blasting system having a closed circulation of a dry mechanical blasting medium, being closed off from the outside in a dustproof manner and having a pressure tank for operating said blasting system with compressed gas; g) a pressure line connected between said blasting system and said blasting head; and h) a suction line connected between the interior of the pipe, connector or container and said blasting system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said blasting system includes a filter for separating material removed by suction into two fractions having differing particle size distributions and for continuously delivering one of the fractions having a larger mean particle size to said pressure tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said processing bell has a vent opening formed therein with a filter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said retaining device on which said blasting head is disposed is a retaining pipe being axially displaceable and communicating with said pressure line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said processing bell has a course of curvature being opposite a curvature of the pipe or connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processing bell includes a cylindrical part and a curved adapter ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said flexible duct is a bellows surrounding part of said retaining pipe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, including a rotatably supported spindle for axial displacement of said retaining pipe. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said blasting head includes at least one blast nozzle being rotatable about a feed direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said blast nozzle supplies the blasting medium at an incline relative to the feed direction.