Transnuklear Gmbh

Ortwin Knappe

Werner Botzem

Peter Srostlik

Reiner Laug

A transportation container for radioactive materials, especially for irradiated fuel elements, has a cylindrical body of a material to shield gammaradiation. The exterior of the body is provided with spaced cooling ribs. In order to avoid the continuation of the crack into the container body occasioned by damage to the cooling ribs, as by a fall, the body is provided with spaced flanges, of lesser height than the ribs, extending transversely of and to and between the ribs so that any cracking or breaking off of a cooling rib will not occur at its base.

Transportation and/or storage containers for radioactive materials

An improved cushioning or shock absorbing device attachable to the ends of a generally cylindrical container for transporting or storing radioactive material, especially spent nuclear fuel elements, has a substantially uniform dampening or cushioning characteristic even for different impact directions. The device is cap-shaped, having an annular part with a plug part in the outer end thereof. The annular part includes a strong rigid inner sleeve extending from the open end of the device partly between the two parts. The inner end of the plug part has a sheet metal disc-like inner cover secured to the sleeve for detachment on impact. Both parts are divided into a plurality of interior chambers by sheet metal plates, the chambers being filled with cushioning material. The container is provided with an exterior abutment surface spaced from and opposed to the inner end of the annular part, when the device is installed, so that the annular part is detached on impact and becomes effect to absorb shocks on engagement with the abutment surface.

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Hanau, Germany

Ortwin Knappe