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:
Apr. 13, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1996
John A Kissinger, La Jolla, CA (US);
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A container which is particularly useful for shipping fuel assemblies is provided herein. The portable container includes a first end, enclosed second end and a tubular wall which cooperates with the first end and the second to define a selectively sealed inner chamber for receiving the fuel assemblies containing the radioactive material. The tubular wall includes a tubular, substantially sealed liquid section which substantially encircles the inner chamber. A divider separates the liquid section into a main reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir which are substantially side by side. A transfer passage is provided through the divider near a lower portion of the liquid section. The transfer passage connects the main reservoir in fluid communication with the auxiliary reservoir and allows for the transfer of liquid between the main reservoir and the auxiliary reservoir to maintain the main reservoir substantially full of liquid. The container detailed herein is designed to be within the guidelines established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and, when loaded with radioactive spent fuel and carried by a tractor-trailer, to be within the legal truck shipping weight.