Handling and deploying radioactive sources
US5342158A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/531
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A radioactive source is mounted at one end of a rod and a ball-shaped coupler is disposed at the other end of the rod. An apparatus for handling a plurality of radioactive sources respectively mounted at one end of a plurality of rods having a ball-shaped coupler disposed at the other end of each said rod includes a shaft having a canister at one end of the shaft and a clip at another position on the shaft. The canister defines a plurality of compartments for respectively receiving a plurality of said mounted radioactive sources. The clip defines a plurality of chambers for respectively receiving a plurality of the ball-shaped couplers. The rods are flexible and semirigid and the distance between the canister and the clip is such in relation to the distance between the radioactive source and the ball-shaped coupler on the rod that the rods must be flexed after the radioactive sources are received in the compartments in order to insert the ball-shaped couplers into the chambers of the clip. The shaft also is flexible and semirigid so that both the rods and the shaft will bend when the canister is inserted through a curved passageway leading to a given location in a shielded enclosur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.