Self-contained portable container habitat for use in radiological environments

A portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer container adapted for being portable and freestanding, said outer container comprising
• a plurality of exterior walls that are respectively connected to one another,
• an opening, and
• at least one door mounted for opening and closing said opening of said outer container;
• and
• a chamber structure positioned in said outer container, wherein
• said chamber structure extends at least partially around and at least partially defines an interior space adapted for being inhabited by the one or more humans,
• said interior space is positioned in said outer container,
• said outer container and said chamber structure are cooperatively configured so that said interior space is for being accessed by way of said opening of said outer container,
• at least a substantial portion of said chamber structure is adapted for attenuating gamma radiation more effectively than said outer container,
• said chamber structure comprises first and second subchamber structures;
• said interior space comprises first and second subinterior spaces that are respectively at least partially defined by said first and second subchamber structures;
• at least one of said first and second subinterior spaces is adapted for being inhabited by the one or more humans;
• said first subchamber structure is positioned between said opening of said outer container and said second subchamber structure, so that said second subinterior space is for being accessed by way of said first subinterior space;
• and
• said second subchamber is adapted for attenuating gamma radiation more effectively than said first subchamber structure,
• said first subchamber structure at least partially defines an opening to said first subinterior space;
• said opening to said first subinterior space is
• adjacent said opening of said outer container, and
• for providing access to said first subinterior space;
• and
• said second subchamber structure at least partially defines an opening for providing access from said first subinterior space to said second subinterior space.

In combination with a flatbed semi-trailer,

• a portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the apparatus comprising:
• an outer container adapted for being portable and freestanding, said outer container comprising
• a plurality of exterior walls that are respectively connected to one another,
• an opening, and
• at least one door mounted for opening and closing said opening of said outer container;
• and
• a chamber structure positioned in said outer container, wherein
• said chamber structure extends at least partially around and at least partially defines an interior space adapted for being inhabited by the one or more humans,
• said interior space is positioned in said outer container,
• said outer container and said chamber structure are cooperatively configured so that said interior space is for being accessed by way of said opening of said outer container, and
• at least a substantial portion of said chamber structure is adapted for attenuating gamma radiation more effectively than said outer container, wherein
• said outer container is an intermodal container, and
• said intermodal container is mounted on said flatbed semi-trailer.

A portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer container adapted for being portable and freestanding, said outer container comprising
• an opening,
• at least one door for opening and closing said opening of said outer container, and
• upright first and second walls positioned at opposite sides of said outer container;
• and
• a chamber structure positioned in said outer container, wherein
• said chamber structure extends at least partially around and at least partially defines an interior space adapted for being inhabited by the one or more humans,
• said interior space is positioned in said outer container,
• said outer container and said chamber structure are cooperatively configured so that said interior space is for being accessed by way of said opening of said outer container,
• said chamber structure comprises
• an upright first structural panel proximate and extending along said first wall,
• an upright second structural panel proximate and extending along said second wall, wherein said first and second structural panels are respectively positioned at said opposite sides of said interior space, and
• an upper structural panel spanning between and supported by each of an upper edge of said first structural panel and an upper edge of said second structural panel,
• at least one of said first, second and upper structural panels being configured for substantially attenuating at least gamma radiation,
• wherein each of said first, second and upper structural panels includes a layer comprising polymeric material and metal, and said metal is for attenuating radiation.

A portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer container adapted for being portable and freestanding, said outer container comprising
• an opening,
• at least one door for opening and closing said opening of said outer container, and
• upright first and second walls positioned at opposite sides of said outer container;
• and
• a chamber structure positioned in said outer container, wherein
• said chamber structure extends at least partially around and at least partially defines an interior space adapted for being inhabited by the one or more humans,
• said interior space is positioned in said outer container,
• said outer container and said chamber structure are cooperatively configured so that said interior space is for being accessed by way of said opening of said outer container,
• said chamber structure comprises
• an upright first structural panel proximate and extending along said first wall,
• an upright second structural panel proximate and extending along said second wall, wherein said first and second structural panels are respectively positioned at said opposite sides of said interior space, and
• an upper structural panel spanning between and supported by each of an upper edge of said first structural panel and an upper edge of said second structural panel,
• at least one of said first, second and upper structural panels being configured for substantially attenuating at least gamma radiation;
• wherein:
• said opening of said outer container is positioned between an end of said first wall and an end of said second wall;
• said at least one door of said outer container comprises first and second doors respectively pivotably mounted to said end of said first wall and said end of said second wall;
• said chamber structure includes a wall that
• is adjacent said opening of said outer container,
• is positioned in said interior of said outer container,
• extends crosswise to first and second walls of said of said outer container, and
• at least partially defines an opening to said interior space;
• and
• said chamber structure includes at least one door for opening and closing said opening to said interior space, and said at least one door of said chamber structure is pivotably mounted to said wall of said chamber structure.

A portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the apparatus comprising:

• an outer container comprising
• an opening, and
• at least one door for opening and closing said opening of said outer container;
• and
• at least one chamber structure positioned in said outer container, wherein
• said at least one chamber structure at least partially defines first and second interior spaces that are each positioned in said outer container,
• said first interior space is for being accessed by way of said opening of said outer container,
• said second interior space is for being accessed by way of said first interior space, and
• said at least one chamber structure extends at least partially around said second interior space and is adapted for attenuating gamma radiation more effectively than said outer container, so that second interior space is adapted for being inhabited by the one or more humans at any time when the apparatus is in the radiological environment,
• said at least one chamber structure at least partially defines an opening to said first interior space;
• said opening to said first interior space is
• adjacent said opening of said outer container, and
• for providing access to said first interior space;
• and
• said at least one chamber structure includes at least one door for opening and closing said opening to said first interior space.

A method of providing a portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the method comprising:

• obtaining a container that is configured for being freestanding and portable, wherein the container comprises
• a plurality of exterior walls that are respectively connected to one another,
• an opening, and
• at least one door mounted for opening and closing the opening of the container;
• then outfitting the container so that an interior space positioned in the container is suitable for being inhabited by the one or more humans at any time when the apparatus is in the radiological environment, wherein the outfitting comprises constructing a chamber structure within the container so that
• the chamber structure is mounted within the container for traveling with the container,
• the chamber structure extends at least partially around and at least partially defines the interior space,
• at least a substantial portion of the chamber structure is adapted for attenuating gamma radiation more effectively than the container, and
• the interior space is for being accessed by way of the opening of the container;
• and
• delivering the apparatus to the radiological environment, wherein:
• the container is a trailer;
• and
• the delivering comprises pulling the trailer with a tractor vehicle.

A method of providing a portable habitat apparatus for being used in a radiological environment and for being occupied by one or more humans, the method comprising:

• obtaining a container that is configured for being freestanding and portable, wherein the container comprises
• a plurality of exterior walls that are respectively connected to one another,
• an opening, and
• at least one door mounted for opening and closing the opening of the container;
• then outfitting the container so that an interior space positioned in the container is suitable for being inhabited by the one or more humans at any time when the apparatus is in the radiological environment, wherein the outfitting comprises constructing a chamber structure within the container so that
• the chamber structure is mounted within the container for traveling with the container,
• the chamber structure extends at least partially around and at least partially defines the interior space,
• at least a substantial portion of the chamber structure is adapted for attenuating gamma radiation more effectively than the container, and
• the interior space is for being accessed by way of the opening of the container;
• and
• delivering the apparatus to the radiological environment, wherein:
• the container is an intermodal container;
• and
• the delivering comprises transporting the intermodal container by at least one mode of transportation selected from the group consisting of
• mounting the intermodal container on a flatbed semi-trailer and pulling the flatbed semi-trailer with a tractor vehicle,
• mounting the intermodal container on a railroad car and pulling the railroad car with a locomotive, and
• mounting the intermodal container on a ship and operating the ship so that the ship carries the container.