The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1987
Charles W Mallory, Severna Park, MD (US);
Ralph E Watts, Library, PA (US);
William S Sanner, Jr, Murrysville, PA (US);
Ralph R Disibio, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Arthur W Lilley, Finleyville, PA (US);
Steven J Winston, New Stanton, PA (US);
Billy C Stricklin, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
John E Razor, Morehead, KY (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A ground-disposable module for encapsulating radioactive waste contained within shipping containers is disclosed herein. Generally, the modules comprise a rigid outer container for providing a first radiation and water barrier for the waste, an inner container formed from the shipping container for providing a second radiation and water barrier, and a central layer of grout which forms still another radiation and water barrier and which provides the rigid outer container with a substantially solid interior which reinforces the compressive strength of the module. The rigid outer container may hold a plurality of shipping containers which have been compacted. Such compaction maximizes the number of containers which may be encapsulated into a particular module, and increases the overall compressive strength of the module by increasing the integrity and strength of the shipping containers and wastes grouted therein. In order to facilitate handling, the outer containers of the modules includes a pattern of grooves at its bottom portion for receiving the forks of a forklift, and a plurality of I-bolt anchors at its top portion which are detachably connectable to the hooks of a hoist. In the preferred embodiment, the outer containers of the modules are hexagonally shaped, right-angled prisms. The hexagonal prism shape of the outer container of the module allows the modules to form subsidence-free, solid arrays which have sufficient compressive strength to support an earthen-type trench cover, yet are flexibly conformable to changes in the shape of the trench which might occur from a seismic disturbance.