LONG TERM STORAGE CONTAINER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,734, filed Dec. 13, 2004, incorporated by reference as if wholly set forth herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a long-term storage container for storage of radioactive material to inhibit radioactive radiation therefrom, said container having a bottom and upright wall extending therefrom, the top of said container to be closed by a screw-on lid, said container having an integral inner container part of plastic material with a bottom and upright wall, an integral outer container part of plastic material with a bottom and upright wall, and radioactive radiation inhibiting material in an inter space between the walls and bottoms of said inner and outer containers. The invention also relates to long-term storage container for storage of radioactive material to inhibit radioactive radiation therefrom.

Further, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a radioactive radiation inhibiting lid suitable for fitting onto a top region of a long-term storage container for storage of radioactive material and inhibiting radioactive radiation therefrom. Also, the invention relates to a lid for use with such long-term storage container.

BACKGROUND

Long-term storage of radioactive material in a safe manner is an ever increasing environmental problem. Attempts have been made to have such material stored in metal barrels, but these are subject to rust or corrosion and therefore prone to leakage of the radioactive material.

To overcome such deterioration and possible leakage problem, there has been proposed to provide long-term storage containers of the type mentioned in the introductory part. Such container was essentially attempted made by inserting space members between the inner and outer container parts, and thereafter filling in liquid form the inter space with a radioactive radiation inhibiting material and leave it to solidify. However, tests proved that the inter space was not completely filled by the material, such as e.g. lead, thus leaving voids therein that would yield unacceptable radioactive radiation to the environment and cause serious health hazards to personnel handling such containers or moving about in storage rooms containing such containers filled with radioactive material. Further, such voids could only be spotted by carrying out expensive and time consuming tests, adding to the overall cost for each container, and destruction of unacceptable containers, as no means for repairs would be available.

In recognition of such defective manufacturing method, and also the urgent need for safer, long-term storage containers which are ready to use after manufacturing without necessity of subsequent radioactive radiation leakage tests, the present invention provides for a method and container having properties of an inter space container part made from a void free radioactive radiation inhibiting material, and being safe and simple to manufacture, thus providing a safe, reliable storage container not requiring subsequent reliability tests.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the invention the manufacturing method of such container comprises:

• • a) integrally casting in a first mold through injection molding a first container part having a bottom and a wall;
  • b) integrally casting in a second mold through injection or pressure molding an inter space container part of said radioactive radiation inhibiting material, said inter space container part having a bottom and a wall and forming a second container part;
  • c) removing a first part of the first mold which formed a first side wall;
  • d) face and a first bottom face of the first integral container part;
  • e) removing said inter space container part from the second mold;
  • f) placing said inter space container in fitting engagement with said first wall face and said first bottom face of the first container part to form a first assembly of container parts, and with the first container part in engagement with a portion of a second part of the first mold;
  • g) locating in a third mold the first assembly of container parts with said inter space container part in spaced relationship to a mold member of the third mold, so as to form a cavity between the member of the third mold and the inter space container part, the second part of the first mold having a portion inside the first container part to support it during molding of a third container part, and a top of the second part of the first mold closing off an open end of said third mold member;
  • h) through injection molding into said cavity integrally casting the third container part having a side wall and a bottom; and
  • i) releasing a second assembly of container parts formed by the first, second and third container parts from the said third mold to provide said storage container.

In a most preferred embodiment said first container part is said inner container part, said first wall face and said first bottom face of the first container part are exterior faces of said inner container, and said first side wall face and said first bottom face of the inter space container part are interior faces of the inter space container part. Said step g) provides in addition for threads on the outside of said outer container part, said threads dimensioned to enable fitting engagement with threads on a lid to be fitted by screwing onto the storage container.

Suitably, said plastic material is high density polyethylene, and the inter space container part forming the second container part is molded from a radioactive radiation inhibiting material which is selectable from one of: lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy.

The provision of threads on the outer container part also includes provision of locking means configured for non-releasable engagement with a locking member on said lid when said lid is fully screwed onto the container.

According to the invention the method for manufacturing the radioactive radiation inhibiting lid comprises:

• • a) casting in a first mold through injection molding of a plastic material an integral first lid member with a top part and a skirt depending therefrom, said casting providing on an inside of said skirt threads to enable fitting engagement with external threads on said storage container, and said casting further providing in said top part at least one recess;
  • b) releasing from the first mold said first lid member;
  • c) filling in liquid form a radioactive radiation inhibiting material in an inside region of said first lid member and said at least one recess; and
  • d) allowing said radioactive radiation inhibiting material to solidify to form a second lid member, material retained in said at least one recess in non-releasable way locking the second lid member to the first lid member.

It is important in a safe manner to be able to lift the storage container with its contents, and according to an embodiment of the lid manufacturing method the first mold is configured to provide at a lower end of the skirt a lifting or engagement face suitable to co-operate with a container lifting device when such device is made to engage a container having a fitted lid.

As soon as a storage container has been fully filled by radioactive substances and other material, it is important to be able to secure that the lid when fully screwed onto the storage container cannot be removed from the container. Therefore, the step of casting said lid threads includes providing a locking member for non-releasable engagement with locking means on the outside of the storage container when the lid is fully screwed onto the container.

Suitably, said plastic material in the lid is high density polyethylene, and said radioactive radiation inhibiting material is selected from lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy.

The storage container comprises an integral inner container part of plastic material with a bottom and upright wall, an integral outer container part of plastic material with a bottom and upright wall, and a radioactive radiation inhibiting material in an interspace between the walls and bottoms of said inner and outer storage container part, respectively. According to the invention, the radioactive radiation inhibiting material is in the form of an injection or pressure molded, integral inter space container having a bottom and an upright wall extending therefrom. In a preferred version the outer container part is a storage container part molded onto the outside of the inter space container when the inter space container is fitted onto the outside of the inner container.

According to an embodiment of the storage container the storage container has on an outside face of the outer container part threads configured to engage threads on said lid, and wherein the outer container part has locking means for non-releasable locking engagement with a locking member on said lid when said lid is fully screwed onto the storage container.

Further, said radioactive radiation inhibiting material is one of: lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy, and said plastic material is high density polyethylene.

The lid to be used with the storage container has an injection molded, integral first lid member of plastic material with a top part and a skirt depending therefrom, an inside of said skirt having threads to enable fitting engagement with external threads on said storage container, and at least one recess in said top part, and a second lid member provided in the form of a solidified radioactive radiation inhibiting material located in an inside region of said first lid member and said at least one recess, said material retained in said at least one recess non-releasably locking the second lid member to the first lid member. The lid has a portion of said skirt configured to be able to engage a container lifting device.

Suitably, the first lid member of said lid is made of a plastic material, e.g. high density polyethylene, being the same as that of the inner and outer container parts, and said radioactive radiation inhibiting material is one of: lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy.

The invention is now to be described with reference to the attached drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows in vertical section and perspective view a typical storage container, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows schematically in cross-section a storage container according to the invention with a fitted lid.

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the lid indicated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating major steps in the method for manufacturing the storage container.

FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of major steps of a preferred embodiment for manufacturing the storage container.

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating major steps in the method for manufacturing the lid to be used with the storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows in vertical section and perspective view a half of storage container 1 according to the invention, having an inner container part 2, an outer container part 3, and an inter space container part 4.

It is noted that the inner container part 2 has integral bottom and upright wall. Also, the outer container part 3 has integral bottom and upright wall. An interspace between the inner container part 2 and the outer container part 3 is defined by an interspace container part 4 having a bottom and upright wall integrally made from a radioactive radiation inhibiting material through injection molding or pressure molding.

The inner and outer container parts 2, 3 are suitably made from a plastic material, e.g. high density polyethylene, through injection molding, and the radioactive radiation inhibiting material is suitably one of: lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy.

As shown on FIGS. 2 and 3 there is at an upper, outside region of the outer container part 3 provided threads 5 configured to engage threads 6 on a lid 7, and wherein the outer container part has locking means 8 for non-releasable locking engagement with a locking member 9 on said lid when said lid is fully screwed onto the storage container. Said locking means and locking member are merely indicated without illustrating any details. However, it will be visualized that a resilient member and a hook-like member could provide such locking, i.e. a sort of snap function.

The lid 7 has an injection molded, integral first lid member 7′, 7″; 7′″ of plastic material in the form of a top part 7′ and a skirt 7″ depending therefrom, an inside of said skirt 7″ having said threads 6 to enable fitting engagement with the external threads 5 on the storage container. There is in addition at least one recess 10; 11 in said top part, and a second lid member 12; 13 is provided in the form of a solidified radioactive radiation inhibiting material located in an inside region of said first lid member and said at least one recess, said material retained in said at least one recess 10; 11 non-releasably locking the second lid member 12; 13 to the first lid member 7′, 7″; 7′″.

A bottom end 14; 15 portion of the skirt portion of said first lid member 7′, 7″; 7′″ is configured to be able to engage a container lifting device (not shown). Similarly to the storage container parts 2 and 3, the first lid member 7′, 7″; 7′″ is suitably made of a plastic material, e.g. high density polyethylene. The manufacturing of the first lid member is suitably through an injection molding process. The radioactive radiation inhibiting material is suitably one of lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy.

FIG. 4 shows the major steps of the method for manufacturing the long-term storage container for storage of radioactive material to inhibit radioactive radiation therefrom, as disclosed in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The method comprises:

• • a) in step 21 integrally casting in a first mold 31, 31′, 32 (FIG. 5a) through injection molding via an inlet 33 (FIG. 5a) a first container part 34 (FIG. 5a) having a bottom 34′ and a wall 34″;
  • b) in step 22 integrally casting in a second mold 35, 36 (FIG. 5b) through injection or pressure molding via an inlet 37 (FIG. 5b) an interspace container part 38 of said radioactive radiation inhibiting material, said interspace container part 38 having a bottom and a wall and forming a second container part;
  • c) in step 23 (FIG. 5c) removing a first part 32 (FIG. 5a) of the first mold 31, 31′, 32 (FIG. 5a) which formed a first side wall face 34′ (FIG. 5a) and a first bottom face 34″ (FIG. 5a) of the first integral container part 34 (FIG. 5c);
  • d) in step 24 (FIG. 5d) removing said inter space container part 38 from the second mold 35, 36,
  • e) in step 25 (FIGS. 5c and 5d combined) placing said inter space container part 38 in fitting engagement with said first wall face 34′ (FIG. 5a) and said first bottom face 34″ (FIG. 5a) of the first container part 34 (FIG. 5c) to form a first assembly of container parts 34, 38, and with the first container part in engagement with a portion 31′ of a second part 31, 31′ of the first mold;
  • f) in step 26 (FIG. 5e) locating in a third mold 39 (FIG. 5c); 52, 53 (FIG. 6c) the first assembly of container parts 34, 38 (FIG. 5e) with said inter space container part 38 in spaced relationship to a mold member 40 (FIG. 5c) of the third mold 39, so as to form a cavity 41 between the member 40 and the inter space container part 38, the second part 31, 31′ of the first mold having a portion 31′ inside the first container part 34 to support it during molding of a third container part, and a top 31 of the second part of the first mold closing off an open end of said third mold member 40;
  • g) in step 27 (FIG. 5f) through injection molding via inlet 42 into said cavity 41 integrally casting the third container part 43 (FIG. 5f) having a side wall and a bottom; and
  • h) in step 28 (FIG. 5g) releasing a second assembly of container parts formed by the first, second and third container parts 34, 38, 43 (FIG. 5g) from the said third mold 39 (FIG. 5c), however noting that also the mold member 31, 31′ is removed.

It is observed that in FIG. 5 the first container part 34 is said inner container part, and that the inter space container part 38 forms the second container part and fits onto the outside of the container part 34.

Suitably in the injection molding process of the inner and outer container parts there is used a plastic material which is e.g. high density polyethylene.

The inter space container part 38 forming the second container part is molded from a radioactive radiation inhibiting material selectable from one of: lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy.

Following the procedure according to FIG. 5, step 27 (FIG. 5f) in addition provides for threads 5 on the outside of said outer container part, said threads dimensioned to enable fitting engagement with threads on a lid to be fitted by screwing onto the storage container.

Further, the provision of threads on the outer container part also includes provision of locking means configured for non-releasable engagement with a locking member on said lid when said lid is fully screwed onto the container.

With reference to FIG. 6 the method for manufacturing the radioactive radiation inhibiting lid which is suitable for fitting onto a top region of a storage container for long term storage of radioactive material and inhibiting radioactive radiation therefrom, comprises:

• • a) in step 51 casting in a first mold through injection molding of a plastic material, e.g. high density polyethylene, an integral first lid member with a top part 7′ and a skirt 7″ depending therefrom, said casting providing on an inside of said skirt threads 6 to enable fitting engagement with external threads 5 on said storage container 1, said casting further providing in said top part at least one recess 10; 11;
  • b) in step 52 releasing from the first mold said first lid member 7′, 7″; 7″ in step 53 filling in liquid form a radioactive radiation inhibiting material in an inside region of said first lid member and said at least one recess; and
  • c) in step 54 allowing said radioactive radiation inhibiting material, suitably selected from lead, lead alloy, tin and tin alloy, to solidify to form the second lid member 12; 13, material retained in said at least one recess 10; 11 non-releasably locking the second lid member to the first lid member.

The first mold is configured to provide at a lower end 14; 15 of the skirt a lifting or engagement face suitable to cooperate with a container lifting device (not shown) when such device is made to engage a container having a fitted lid.

Step 51 also includes in casting said threads 6 provision of a locking member 9 for non-releasable engagement with locking means 8 on the outside of the storage container when the lid is fully screwed onto the container.