Patent · US Expired

Transportation and storage cask for spent nuclear fuels

US5406600A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
6References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 1993
Grant dateApr 11, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 8, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a cask (10) for transport and short-term storage of spent nuclear fuel. The cask 10 includes a structural shell (14) defining a cavity (40) for receiving spent nuclear fuel. The shell is formed from an upper shell portion (16) formed of a first metal-and a lower shell portion (18) formed from a second metal. The first metal utilized to form the upper shell portion has a higher load bearing strength than the second metal utilized to form the lower shell portion. A bearing surface is defined on the upper shell portion by trunnions (30) mounted within sleeves (32) secured to the upper shell portion. The trunnions (30) each define a bearing projection (160) that is engageable to enable hoisting of the cask, with the tensile and shear loads of hoisting the cask being transferred from the trunnions to the trunnion mounting sleeves, and thus to the upper shell portion of the structural shell. The cask further includes a bottom closure plate (20) secured to the bottom end of the shell, and a top closure plate releasably securable to the top end of the shell. A neutron radiation absorbing shield jacket (28) is formed about the exterior of the structural shell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.