U.S. patent application number 12/445933 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-17 for radioactive waste storage container.
This patent application is currently assigned to AREVA NC. Invention is credited to Noel Lantheaume.
Application Number | 20110036836 12/445933 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37964556 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110036836 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lantheaume; Noel |
February 17, 2011 |
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE CONTAINER
Abstract
A container for the storage of radioactive waste comprising a
reversible lid having, on one hand, a first opening sealing portion
provided with a first delimiting surface of an inner space
wherefrom second gripping means project, said first portion being
designed so as to be able to be force-fitted in an end part of a
container body, and, on the other, a second sealing portion,
provided with a second delimiting surface wherefrom first gripping
means project, said second portion being designed so as to be able
to be fitted in the end part.
Inventors: |
Lantheaume; Noel;
(Vallerargues, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Nixon Peabody LLP
P.O. Box 60610
Palo Alto
CA
94306
US
|
Assignee: |
AREVA NC
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
37964556 |
Appl. No.: |
12/445933 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
October 25, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/061463 |
371 Date: |
November 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212.5 ;
220/260 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G21F 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212.5 ;
220/260 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/28 20060101
B65D025/28; B65D 17/50 20060101 B65D017/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2006 |
FR |
06 54556 |
Claims
1. Container for the storage of radioactive waste comprising a
container body having an end part forming an opening to an inner
container space, said container also comprising a removable lid
capable of sealing said opening, characterised in that said lid is
a reversible lid having, on one hand, a first opening sealing
portion provided with a first delimiting surface of said inner
space wherefrom second gripping means project, said first portion
being designed so as to be able to be force-fitted in said end part
forming an opening, and, on the other, a second opening sealing
portion, provided with a second delimiting surface of said inner
space, opposite the first delimiting surface, wherefrom first
gripping means project, said second portion being designed so as to
be able to be fitted effortlessly in the end part forming an
opening.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that said first
opening sealing portion has a circumferential enlargement, in that
said end part of the container body has a circumferential
contraction zone, and in that said contraction zone and said
enlargement cooperate together so as to create a snap-fastened
mechanical connection between said reversible lid and said
container body, when said first opening sealing portion is fitted
in said end part of the container body.
3. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that it is
designed such that said circumferential enlargement can pass
through the circumferential contraction zone of lesser diameter,
following mere manual pressure along a longitudinal direction of
said container, performed by an operator on the reversible lid
positioned on the end part of the container body.
4. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that said first
gripping means comprise a handle.
5. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that said
second gripping means comprise a gripping pin.
6. Container according to claim 4 characterised in that said second
gripping means comprises a gripping pin and said gripping pin
projects longitudinally from said first delimiting surface of said
inner space over a distance (d2), and in that said handle projects
longitudinally from said second delimiting surface of said inner
space over a distance (d1) greater than (d2).
7. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that said first
and second gripping means are respectively centred on the second
and first delimiting surfaces of said inner space.
8. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that said
container body is equipped with vent holes.
9. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that said
container body comprises a convex shaped base, curved towards the
inside of the inner space.
10. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that it is
made of polyethylene.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS or PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a national phase of International
Application No. PCT/EP2007/061463, entitled "RADIOACTIVE WASTE
STORAGE CONTAINER", which was filed on Oct. 25, 2007, and which
claims priority of French Patent Application No. 06 54556, filed
Oct. 26, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a container for
the storage of radioactive waste, such as gloves and sleeves used
for handling procedures in glove boxes.
[0003] Indeed, an advantageous application of the invention
consists of providing such a container intended to be installed in
the glove box to store the contaminated waste therefrom, in order
to prevent super-contamination of said waste liable to occur due to
the dusty environment of glove boxes.
[0004] However, it obviously would appear to be desirable for such
a container to have a design offering easy opening/closure of the
lid for the operator generally performing several successive waste
loading operations in the same container body, in that each of
these loading operations requires the lid to be opened each time,
followed immediately by the closure thereof after loading. In
addition, it is also desirable for the design of the container to
enable safe and easy handling of the container itself when said
container is to be moved by the operator in the glove box, for
example in order to remove it therefrom when it is filled with
waste. In particular, during the handling of the container filled
with waste, the lid must be locked on the container body so as to
prevent any accidental reopening of the container.
[0005] In order to meet these expectations, the invention proposes
a container for the storage of radioactive waste comprising a
container body having an end part forming an opening to an inner
container space, said container also comprising a removable lid
capable of sealing the opening. In addition, the lid is a
reversible lid having, on one hand, a first opening sealing portion
provided with a first delimiting surface of the inner space
wherefrom second gripping means project, said first portion being
designed so as to be able to be force-fitted in the end part
forming an opening, and, on the other, a second opening sealing
portion, provided with a second delimiting surface of the inner
space, opposite the first delimiting surface, wherefrom first
gripping means project, said second portion being designed so as to
be able to be fitted effortlessly in the end part forming an
opening.
[0006] In this way, the invention effectively proposes a reversible
lid which, according to the choice of face presented opposite the
end part of the container body forming the opening to the inner
space of said container, may either seal said opening by being
fitted effortlessly on the container body, or seal said opening by
means of force fitting on said container body. In this way, the
operator seeking to seal the opening of the container body after a
waste loading operation, for example in a glove box, has, on one
hand, the opportunity to position the lid effortless by orienting
the second sealing portion towards the opening, and, on the other,
the option to position the lid by means of force fitting by
orienting the first sealing portion towards said opening. In this
way, the first solution will preferentially be adopted by the
operator if he envisages immediate reopening of the container, for
example to carry out another waste loading information, said
reopening advantageously offering the possibility of being
performed easily and effortlessly, using only one hand gripping the
second gripping means projecting from the exterior of the
container. On the other hand, the second solution will be
preferentially adopted by the operator if he envisages obtaining a
rigid hold of the lid on the container body, for example with a
view to movement of said container requiring secure sealing due to
the contaminated nature of the waste contained therein. This second
solution, particularly adopted when the container is full and
therefore needs to be handled, may easily be implemented using only
one hand by an operator applying manual pressure on the
prepositioned reversible lid on the container body, for example via
the first gripping means.
[0007] Consequently, as part of the advantageous application of the
invention aiming to use the container in a glove box so as to
progressively store waste such as gloves and sleeves therein, the
operator located outside the glove box will preferentially choose
an opening followed by an effortless closure of the lid during the
successive waste loading operations, using the second sealing
portion of the lid, and therefore handling the lid easily using
only one hand with the gripping means provided for this purpose. On
the other hand, during the final loading of waste in the inner
space of said container, the operator will preferentially choose
closure by means of force fitting of the first sealing portion in
the container body, obviously to obtain the rigid and secure
sealing necessary to perform the subsequent removal of said
container filled with waste, from the glove box, preferentially by
means of a PVC sleeve. In this respect, it is specified that the
lid may be positioned easily by an operator using only one hand
applying manual pressure on the prepositioned reversible lid on the
container body, via the first gripping means. Then, in the
preferred case wherein the rigid, but reversible, mechanical
junction established between the lid and the container is designed
so as to be sufficiently secure, the operator may advantageously
envisage moving the entire container only using the first lid
gripping means, therefore with only one hand, without risking
accidental reopening of the container.
[0008] Preferentially, the first opening sealing portion has a
circumferential enlargement, the end part of the container body has
a circumferential contraction zone, and said contraction zone and
enlargement cooperate together so as to create a snap-fastened
mechanical connection between the reversible lid and the container
body, when the first opening sealing portion is fitted in the end
part of the container body. As such, it is noted that the type of
mechanical connection provided offers the advantage of allowing
easy positioning by means of force fitting of the lid, and
therefore more specifically by means of snap fastening, even using
only one hand. In addition, once obtained, said snap-fastened
mechanical connection makes it possible to ensure that the
container does not reopen accidentally, even when the operator is
required to move same only by gripping onto the first gripping
means.
[0009] Preferentially, the device is therefore designed such that
the circumferential enlargement can pass through the
circumferential contraction zone of lesser diameter, following mere
manual pressure along a longitudinal direction of the container,
performed by an operator on the reversible lid positioned on the
end part of the container body.
[0010] Preferentially, the first gripping means comprise a handle,
and preferentially consist of said handle advantageously having
suitable ergonomics to favour a good grip when handling the
container. In addition, the second gripping means preferentially
comprise a gripping pin, and preferentially consist only of said
pin. As such, it is specified that providing two different and
easily distinguishable designs for the operator enables said
operator to rapidly choose the gripping means to grip, according to
the lid sealing portion he wishes to have cooperate with the
container body.
[0011] In such a case, it is envisaged that the gripping pin
projects longitudinally from the first delimiting surface of the
inner space over a distance d2, and that the handle projects
longitudinally from the second delimiting surface of the inner
space over a distance d1 greater than d2, the ratio between these
two values being greater than 2. This makes it possible to provide
first large gripping means suitable for being gripped onto with
only one hand by an operator seeking to apply pressure on the lid
so as to cause the snap fastening thereof, or seeking to move the
entire container by only gripping onto said first means with
suitable ergonomics. On the other hand, providing smaller gripping
means makes it possible not to congest the effective loading space
of the container, when said container is locked using the first lid
sealing portion.
[0012] Preferentially, the first and second gripping means are
respectively centred on the second and first delimiting surfaces of
the inner space, which favours the handling operations performed by
an operator using only one hand, very frequently encountered in the
case of work in glove boxes.
[0013] Also preferentially, the container body is equipped with
vent holes to prevent the closure of the lid being
obstructed/prevented by excessive pressure created inside the inner
space of the storage body. In this respect, it is noted that these
holes, preferentially produced in the base of the container body,
may also be used by the operator seeking to carry out container
handling operations.
[0014] Preferentially, the container body comprises a convex shaped
base, curved towards the inside of the inner space. This specific
feature makes it possible to envisage stacking a plurality of
containers on each other, the empty space formed by the outer
surface of the convex base being able to be used to house the first
gripping means of the next container in the stack. For this reason,
the shape of the first gripping means and that of the container
body base are closely linked.
[0015] Finally, it is envisaged that the container is made of
polyethylene, which particularly avoids the use of metal materials,
which are penalising in terms of contaminated waste management.
[0016] Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge
in the non-limitative detailed description below.
[0017] This description will be given with reference to the
appended figures wherein;
[0018] FIG. 1 represents a sectional view of a reversible
radioactive waste container lid, according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of a radioactive waste
container body, intended to receive the lid shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows the container body and the lid represented in
the previous figures, in an effortlessly fitted state; and
[0021] FIG. 4 represents a similar view to that shown in FIG. 3,
the lid and the container body being represented in a force-fitted
state.
[0022] With reference firstly to FIG. 1, it is possible to observe
a reversible lid 2 of a radioactive waste container 1, according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This lid 2 is
intended to be mounted in a removable/detachable fashion on the
container body 4, which will be described with reference to FIG.
2.
[0023] Preferentially, the lid 2 has a lid body 5 having a geometry
of revolution of longitudinal axis or axis of revolution 6,
intended to be merged with the longitudinal axis of the container
when said lid 2 is mounted on the container body. In addition, the
lid body 5, therefore roughly taking the form of a circular plate,
is equipped on the two opposing faces thereof respectively first
gripping means and second gripping means, as detailed
hereinafter.
[0024] More generally, the lid 2 comprises a first sealing portion
8 of a container body opening, provided with a first delimiting
surface 10 of the inner space of a container, wherefrom second
gripping means, in this case taking the form of a gripping pin 12
project. Therefore, the first delimiting surface 10 corresponds
overall to one of the opposing outer surfaces of the lid body 5,
and is preferentially situated orthogonally to the longitudinal
axis 6 of the lid wherein said surface 10 is centred. In this
respect, it is also envisaged for the gripping pin 12 to be centred
on the lid 2, and therefore on said axis 6.
[0025] In order to facilitate the gripping of said pin 12 by an
operator, it preferentially has a geometry of axis revolution 6,
substantially forming a sphere 14 connected to the first surface 10
via a refracted concave generatrix revolution zone 16, enabling the
housing of the operator's fingertips.
[0026] The gripping pin 12 projects longitudinally from the first
delimiting surface 10 of the inner container space, over a suitable
distance d2 to enable gripping by the operator. The distance d2 may
be between 2 and 3 cm, and for example of the order of 2.5 cm.
[0027] As detailed hereinafter, one of the specific features of
said first sealing portion 8 is that it has a design enabling same
to be force-fitted by an operator in the container body, and
preferentially by means of snap-fastening. For this purpose, it
comprises on one longitudinal end of the lid body 5, i.e. from the
first delimiting surface 10, a circumferential enlargement 18
centred on the axis 6 and therefore having a greater diameter than
the mean diameter of the part of the lid body 5 forming the first
sealing portion 8. In this case, the enlargement 18 is provided to
form the male part of the sought snap-fastened connection with the
container body.
[0028] Moreover, the lid 2 also comprises a second sealing portion
20, opposite the first 8 with respect to the axis 6. More
specifically, the first and second sealing portions 8, 20 are
separated from each other by an intermediate lid portion 22,
preferentially taking the form of a shoulder 24 produced on the lid
body 5 and centred on the axis 6.
[0029] The second portion 20 is provided with a second delimiting
surface 26 of the inner space of the container, wherefrom first
gripping means in this case taking the form of a handle 28 project.
Therefore, the second delimiting surface 26 corresponds overall to
the other of the two opposing outer surfaces of the lid body 5, and
is preferentially situated orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 6
of the lid whereon said surface 26 is centred. In this respect, it
is also envisaged for the handle 28 to be centred on the lid 2, and
therefore on said axis 6. In other words, it is therefore envisaged
for the lid body 5, whereon the gripping means 12, 28 are attached,
to comprise the intermediate portion 22, the first and second
delimiting surfaces 10, 26, and the circumferential enlargement 18.
As an indication, the lid body may be made of a single piece,
preferentially in polyethylene, and optionally be made of one piece
with the gripping means 12, 28.
[0030] To facilitate the gripping of the handle 28, said handle has
suitable dimensions to enable easy gripping by the clenched hand of
an operator. As such, in the preferred embodiment described and
represented, the arch 30 forming the handle extends in a curved and
convex fashion on substantially the entire diameter of the second
delimiting surface 26, therefore on substantially the entire
diameter of the lid body 5. Moreover, the handle 28 projects
longitudinally from the second delimiting surface 26 of the inner
space of the container, over a suitable distance d1 to enable the
operator to insert his fingers between the arch 30 and the second
surface 26. In this way, the distance d1 may be between 4 and 6 cm,
and for example of the order of 4.8 cm.
[0031] As detailed hereinafter, one of the specific features of
said second sealing portion 20 has a design that enables same to be
fitted effortlessly in the container body, simply by being
positioned thereon. For this purpose, it comprises on another
longitudinal end of the lid body 5, i.e. on the second delimiting
surface 26, a side flank 32 having a cylindrical and circular
cross-section centred on the axis 6, and therefore having a
diameter slightly less than that of the part of the container body
wherein the side flank 32 is to be fitted effortlessly.
[0032] With reference now to FIG. 2 showing the container body 4
intended to receive the reversible container 2, it is possible to
observe that it defines an inner contaminated waste storage space
36, open at the top at one opening 38 and closed at the bottom via
a base 40. The body 4 also preferentially has a geometry of
revolution of axis of revolution or longitudinal axis 42, intended
to be merged with the axis 6 of the lid 2 when said lid is in
position on the body 4. It is also preferentially made of a single
piece made of polyethylene.
[0033] The opening 38 whereby the contaminated waste is intended to
be introduced into the inner storage space 36, is delimited by an
end part 44 of the container body 4. Said end part 44 has the
specific feature of defining a circumferential contraction zone 50
or circumferential neck, centred on the axis 42, therefore having a
slightly greater inner diameter than that of the side flank 32 of
the second sealing portion 20, and less than that of the
circumferential enlargement 18 of the first sealing portion 8. In
this respect, the circumferential contraction 50 is envisaged to
form the female part of the sought snap-fastened connection with
the lid 2. Indeed, the enlargement 18 and the contraction zone 50
are designed such that said enlargement 18 can pass through the
zone 50 following manual pressure along a longitudinal direction of
the container, applied by an operator on the lid 2 positioned on
the end part 44 of the container body 4. Once it has been passed
through by means of deformation, the contraction zone 50 makes it
possible to form an abutment forming a stop in translation of the
enlargement 18 upwards along the longitudinal axis 55 of the
container, merged with the abovementioned two axes 6, 42.
[0034] In addition, the end part 44 has an upper edge 52 whereon
the lid 2 may rest, said edge 52 centred on the axis 42 being
preferentially orthogonal to said axis.
[0035] With respect to the base 40, it has a convex shape, curved
towards the inside of the inner space 36. This specific feature
makes it possible to envisage stacking a plurality of containers on
each other, the empty space 54 formed by the outer surface of the
convex base 40 being able to be used to house the handle 28 fitted
on the next container in the stack, and projecting upwards outside
said container. For this reason, the shape of the handle 28 and
that of the base 40 of the container body 4 are closely linked,
such that it is possible for example to envisage that said base 40
is convex along the longitudinal axis 42 over a distance d3
substantially equal to the abovementioned distance d1 relating to
the handle 28.
[0036] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the base 40 is equipped with vent
holes 56 to prevent the closure of the lid 2 being
obstructed/prevented by excessive pressure created inside the inner
storage space 36. Moreover, the purpose of the vent holes 56 is
also to enable reopening of the locked container. Indeed, the holes
form a grip that can be used particularly by a remote handling
device, i.e. of the articulated arm type enabling handling via a
glove box.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 3, it is possible to see the
container assembly 1 with the container body 4 and the lid 2
represented in an effortlessly fitted state, i.e. with the second
sealing portion 20 of the lid 2 simply resting on the end part 44
of the container body 4. More specifically, it is possible to see
that the side flank 32 of the lid 2 is housed with play in the neck
50 of the body 4, the lid being held in position only by the
contact between the intermediate lid portion 22 and the end part
44, and more specifically by the support of the shoulder 24 on the
edge 52. In this way, the waste (not represented) stored inside the
space 36 remain isolated from the external atmosphere, possibly
being for example a dusty inner glove box atmosphere, but the next
opening of the lid 2 may in any case be carried out easily and
effortlessly by the operator with only one hand gripping the pin
12, by means of the play provided between the side flank 32 of the
lid 2 and the neck 50 of the body 4.
[0038] Consequently, this first closure option with the second
sealing portion of the lid is preferentially adopted by the
operator when the container is not filled entirely, and if he knows
that a subsequent contaminated waste loading operation is highly
likely to be carried out with said container.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 4, it is possible to see the
container assembly 1 with the container body 4 and the lid 2
represented in a force-fitted state, i.e. with the first sealing
portion 8 of the lid 2 snap-fastened 44 of the container body 4.
More specifically, it can be seen that the snap-fastened mechanical
connection provided by the contact of the enlargement 18 and the
neck 50 makes it possible to lock the lid in upward translation
along the longitudinal axis 55 of the container, whereas the
locking in downward translation is carried out by the contact
between the intermediate lid portion 22 and the end part 44, and
more specifically by the support of the shoulder 24 on the edge
52.
[0040] Such a container closure configuration, that can be
considered to be locked, may simply be obtained by means of manual
pressure along a longitudinal direction 55 of the container,
performed on the lid 2 by an operator gripping only the handle 28,
in the direction of the body 4 resting on the base 40 thereof
[0041] In this way, the waste (not represented) stored inside the
space 36 remains isolated from the outer atmosphere, and the risks
of accidental reopening of the lid are significantly minimised by
the presence of the snap-fastened mechanical connection.
[0042] Consequently, said second closure option with the first lid
sealing portion is preferentially adopted by the operator with the
container 1 is entirely filled with waste, and said container must
be handled without risking accidental opening, for example for the
removal thereof outside the glove box. As an indication, this
handling of the container 1 with the lid 2 locked may
preferentially be carried out only using the handle 28.
[0043] Naturally, various modifications may be made by those
skilled in the art to the invention described above, only as
non-limitative examples.
* * * * *