High energy radiation emission shelter and method of making the same

A method of fabricating a shelter with a working cell in which a source of high energy radiation emissions and objects to be irradiated by said source are housed comprising the steps of

• determining a locus of points at a distance through the sand of a MPD Distance from the source and fixing a position at which the source is to be located;
• erecting a substantially a substantially horizontally disposed and open top first frame structure of frame grids and abutting panels so that the first structure is located at distances from the source greater than the locus of points at a majority of points along a perimeter defined by the first structure;
• erecting within the perimeter of and spaced from the first structure a substantially enclosed second structure defining said work cell for housing said source and into which objects can be introduced and irradiated by said source, the first structure having a top and a front opening co-extensive with the first opening, said second structure having a horizontal height less than said first structure;
• placing radiation diminishing structures along the front opening of the second structure and adjacent the second structure in a line of sight between the position of the source and points at the outer perimeter structure is closer to the source than the MPD Distance, said radiation diminishing objects having radiation attenuating characteristics sufficient to attenuate high energy radiation emissions to the MPD immediately exterior to the radiation diminishing objects placed along the opening and immediately exterior to the second structure at the points at which the outer perimeter structure is closer than the MPD Distance;
• stringing and attaching wire ties between interior surfaces of the first structure and the exterior surfaces of the second structure;
• and
• filling an interior spaced formed between said first and second structures with sand to a level above the top of the second structure, said sand having sufficient thickness to substantially attenuate emissions across the thickness of the sand to the MPD wherein said first and second structures and said wire form ties collectively have sufficient strength to with stand pressure exerted by the sand against the respective interior and exterior surfaces of the first and second structures.

A structure for housing and shielding a high energy radiation emitting source comprising:

• a first wall defining a working cell substantially enclosing and housing said source, said working cell having a front opening providing access into said cell to said source and a roof;
• a second wall substantially enclosing and spaced from said first wall, said first and second walls forming an interior space therebetween with an open top, said second wall having a greater height than said first wall,
• a movable high energy radiation attenuating structure positioned across said opening to provide access to said source through said opening,
• said first and second walls including a frame structure of vertically and horizontally disposed rails and a plurality of abutting panels horizontally positioned against an interior side formed by said rails, said rails of said first and second walls each having a footing to support said first walls in said vertical positions, said first and second walls further being connected by support wire form ties extending horizontally within said interior space thereby providing structural integrity against pressure being exerted inwardly on said first wall and outwardly on said second wall,
• a predetermined quantity of sand filling said interior space and covering said roof, said sand having sufficient thickness to attenuate energy emanating from said source to a level not exceeding the maximum permissible dosage at points adjacent to an exterior surface of said second wall;
• a tunnel positioned in said sand and defining a serpentine path therethrough, said first wall having an opening in direct line of sight between said source and a predetermined position within said tunnel;
• and
• a conveyor belt positioned in said tunnel for carrying product to said predetermined position thereby exposing the product to emissions from said source along said direct line of sight.