Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
lQ~10~2
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Th19 invention relatq~ to app~ratu~ and Irethod for
dlspostltion of radioactlve waste mat~rials.
While the invention may he used for the packlg~ng
and disposltion of various type~ oX radiozctiv~ or che.~ically
dangerou~ wastes, it can be excepti~nally advantageously
emp~oyed in th~ di~position of rad:ioactive wastes a~ they
occur in nuclear electric power generating station~.
In ~nown boiling wc~ter reactor plant~, water i5
passed through the nuclcar reactor through sui,able condui~s
and is heated and converted to steam by the ncat of the
reactor. This steam passes through a turbine that drives an
electric generator, ~hen is recondensed and returned to ~he
reactor to be reheated and converted into steam and so on.
This is a closed system.
In pressurized water reactor systems, ~here i~ 2
first closed conduit loop extending through the nuclear
reactor and then outside the reactor where it ~asses through
a hea' exc;.angcr. Thc body c water or other liqu-d in ~.he
first closed loop is hsated ~y the nuclear reactor, but the
liquid is kept at ~uch a high pressure, usually se~eral
thousand pounds per square inch, that it is not converte~
into steam or vapor. There i~ a second closcd conduit loop
carrying a body of water that extends through the heat
exchanger out of contact with the liquid in the first loop.
~he water in this second circuit is heated by transfer of
heat from the liquid in the first circuit and thereby -~
converted into steam which passes in the usual manner through
a turblne driving an electric generator after which the ~team
is conden~ed and returncd to the heat exchanger where it i8
agaln rcheated.
ln each ~uch system wat~r of the greatest pos3i~le
pur~ty i~ used. Neverthcles~, minor amounts of lmpurities
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ar~ present in the water initially introduced into the
condults. Further impurities appear bccau~e of the action
of the water on the metal of pipes and conduits through
whLch it p~sscs. These 1mpurities may become radioactive,
partlcularly ~n water that passes through the reactor
Traces of cobalt leached out of stainless steel piping are
particularly troublesome, since cobalt develops an intense
fonm of radioactivity having a long half life.
In both boiling water and pressurized water reac-
~Q tors, it i~ a practice to subject the water to cleaning
action by passing it through beds of ion-exchange resins.
Such resins are of ~nown composition. In general, they act
- similarly to natural or synthetic materials used in co~mer-
cial water treating equipment. Through chemicai and filter-
~ng action, they remove dissolved and suspended impurities,
thus maintaining the water at the desired high purity.
Otherwise the accumulation of impurities cou;d result in
scalil.y on tha hea~ tr~nsfer sur ac~s, which ~ould ~es-lt n
108~ of efficiency or difficulty in operations. Resin parti-
cles of one type widely used for this purpose are those
approximately 20 mesh in size. Resin particles of another
widely used type are much ~maller, approximating 300 mesh in
size.
; ~he contaminated resins of either type are removed
from the water treating vessel by sluicing them out with
water. The resulting slurry or di~persion is collected in
a waste resin tank at the plant. The apparatus disclosed
hereafter i5 particularly well adapted to disposition of
this type of radloactive slurry.
Another type of radioactive waste material that
mny be handled ~y the present invention is known a~ "evapor-
ator bottomsn. Thes¢ include concentrated llquid wastes
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o~i2
~rom the plant, su~h ag solution~ containing boric acid,
bor~x, 60dium ~ulphat~ and the like which are used ln the
control of the reactor or for washdown of equipment for
decontamination. Evaporator bottoms are also obtained from
the collected water that is used for washing down portion~
of equipment or plant, wash water for employce~, and chemi-
cal laboratory liquid wastes. This water containing radio-
active impurities i~ temporarily stored and periodically
; portions of it are evaporated, leaving a solution or disper-
sion containing react~ve materials in water that are known
a~ "evaporator bottom~
Stringent laws, rules and regulations govern the
di6position of radioactive wastes and their transportztion
over highways, on railroads and by other modes of transpor-
tation. ~n general, the mateLial must be shielded so that
radiations emanating from the material do not exceed ~axim~m
levels estaDlished by the laws and regulations. Furthermore,
~t ~s desirrd th2t in a case of an accident causing dumping
of a radioactive load, there should be no fluidic materials
that can penetrate the ground or mix with streams or ground
water and cause radioactive cor.-z~.ination. It has therefore
- been propos~d to provide a mixture of resin particles con-
taining radioactive material, cement as a ~olidifying agent,
and water in a container such as a steel drum, and to allow
the mixture to ~olidify in the drum.
~ owever, prior systems for putting radioactive
materials into a drum or other conta~ner in general require
:. i - ~ .
that operators and maintenance personnel be exposed to radia-
tlon, even though ~uch system may be intended to protect
personnel. For example, the operators in many cases mu3t
go lnt~ areas containing radlation to open drums or close
them or to insert nozzles in the drums or to handle the
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drum~ in sto_ag~. In some ~ystem~ an op~rator may ~t~nd
behind a ~hie~ld wall, but mu~t extend hl~ arms into a radio-
active zone, and expose hl~ head to see, to connect pipes for
feeding radioactive ~aterial. If 8pill8 occur, the operator
must go into the radioactive zone to clean up 8pill8. In
prior operation~ wnere drum~ are stacked in multiple layers
in decay ~torage areas, the operator must often go into such
areas to place planks between the layers. Maintenance men
must go into radioactive areas to work on equipment re~uir-
ing maintenance at intervals, such as conveying equipment,motors, and switches. The to~al amount of radiation to
which personnel can be ~afely exposed is limited by physio~
logical reasons: therefore, per~onnel must be controlled as
to their duties, and the amount of radiation to which they
are exposed frequently checked to avoid their exposure to
an excessive amount of radiation ~hat can adversely affec~
health. Moreover, in operation of the nuclear plant, if an
emergency should arise correction of which would require
exposure of operators or maintenance men to radiation during
a time when all available men had reached their limits of
radiation tolerance, a shutdown of the plant might be neces-
sary or other adverse consequences might result because o~
lack of operators or maintenance men ha~ing safe radiation
tolerances.
Moreover, prior system~ do not in general provide
desired close control to in~ure that proper amounts of
radioactive material, cement, or water are put into the
drum to insure proper solidification of drum c~ntents. It
i~ imperative to avoid im~roper loading of the drum or
mixing of drum content~.
Moreover, prior sy~tems can on occasion 8pill
radioactive material3 on the out~ide o~ the drums or on the
1(~4 ~
~loor. If the ~pill is on the dr~n, it i~ necessary to
decontaminate the drwn prior to shipm~nt. If the ~pill is
on the 100r, then a certain amount o~ dus~ can be generated
as the material dries. Such dust, ~which is radioactive,
could find its way through the plant and thus make the plant
unsafe because of radioactivity. Spilled materLals also can
collect in floor drains and clog them. Prior systems for
putting radioactive material into drums in general have
loaded drums in an open ~pace, so there was no way of con-
taining or ~aking care of the problems caused by spill~ o~radioactive material.
Some previous systems have numerous operating mechan-
ical parts requiring periodic maintenance, such as motor~ and
electrical switches, in radioac~ive areas. ~aintenance of
~uch equipment can expose personnel to considerable radiation.
Previous eg~ipment loads drwms containing radio-
active material onto truc'.~s or casks in a haphazard fashion,
and thus, not loading the truck or cask to full capacity,
would lose lading and could cause damage to the drums or drum
-- 20 enclosure.
Previou~ ~ystems, beca~se of los~ of electrical
: . . . ~,
power or air pressure or improper handling of the dr~m hand- `~
ling mean~, could topple a drum or cau~e irregularities in
operation which could cause spillage of radioactive material.
Previous system~ did not provide for an accurate weight of
re~in to a weight o cement ratio in order to insure that the
drum content~ would be properly colidified with the most
economical use of cement and with the lowest transportation
costs. In prlor systems that filter the resin in the drums
to remove water, costs are understandably higher for the
drum because o~ the added equipment contained therein.
Some prior ~y~tem~ mix radioact~ve re~ins, cement
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~4 LQ~2
and water in a mixture outside of a drum. This involves
exposure of considerable amounts of equipment to radioactivity
and possibilities of considerable exposure of personnel to
radioactivity. Moxeover, the mixer must be cleaned after each
use, which is difficult because the cement sticks to the mixer;
moreover, the mixer will become radioactive and hence unsafe in
time considerably shorter than the life of the plant, necessi- -
~tating replacement expense. Some prior systems mix these
materials in the drum; but if an open top drum is used, con-
siderable spillage occurs during mixing, and if the drum isrolled about its lengthwise axis to mix its contents a core
of poorly mixed materials is formed in the center of the drum.
Most if not all prior systems lack fail-safe features
to prevent unsafe conditions in the event of failure of
operations of any portion of the equipment.
It is a general object of the present invention to over-
come the above and other problems relating to the disposition
of radioactive waste materials. A further object is provision
of apparatus which can be easily repaired or maintained with
little if any exposure of personnel or surrounding environment
to hazardous radiation. Another object is to provide apparatus
that has fail-safe features that prevent the development of
dangerous or unsafe conditions in the event of failure of
operation of the apparatus as because of failure of power, air
pressure, or other energy source.
This application is a division of application Serial
No. 151,515, filed September 12, 1972.
To accomplish these and other objects, the parent invention
provides apparatus f~r packaging fluent material such as dan-
gerous or radioactive liquids or slurries without direct humanhandling, comprising movable supporting means controllable by
remote control for supporting and moving a container into any
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kam:J~
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of a plurality of preselected locations, the container having
an opening initially closed by removable closure means; means
controllable by remote control, while the container is in a
preselected location, for removing the closure means from
said container, retaining the closure means, and replacing the
closure means on the container to close the opening after the
container has fluent material introduced therein; means
controllable by remote control for introducing into the con- -
tainer an amount of the fluent material while the container
is in a different preselected location; and means controllable
by remote control for agitating the container to mix the con-
- tents of the container while the opening of the container is
closed by the closure means and while the container is in a
preselected location different from the one in which the ~
:~ closure means is removed and replaced, the movable supporting : '
means supporting the container at all times while it is so
moved and iocated in each of the preselected locations
`. and also while the container is being agitated.
The parent invention also provides a process of packaging :
20 fluent material without direct human handling, comprising ~-
moving a container into preselected locations, the container
having an opening initially closed by removable closure means;
: removing and retaining the closure means from the opening of
the container while the container is in a preselected location;
providing in the container through the opened opening while
` the container is in a different preselected location an
.~ . amount of the fluent material; closing said container by
replacing the same closure means to close the opening while ;
the container is in the preselected location in which the
- 30 closure means was removed and retained; agitating the container -
to mix the contents thereof while the container is in a pre-
selected location different from the one in which the closure
:
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wlth the accompa..~ylng drawin~ in whlch~
Figue 1 i3 a plan section along line 1-1 of
Figure 2, of a building and internal equipment embodying t~e
pre~ent invention and for carrying out proce~aes of the in- :
vention, the scale bcing much smaller than full si2e,
Figure 2 i~ a section along llne 2-2 of Fi~ure 1
. and to the ~ame 3cale,
; Figure 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Figure 1
and to the same ~cale;
Figure 4 i~ a plan section along line 4-4 of
Figure 2 and to a somewhat larger scale showing the over-
head crane apparatus, the crane being in a ~omewhat dif~er-
ent position than in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a section along line 5-5 of Figure 4
and to the same scale showing the crane apParatUS~ p~rtions
. of the apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3 being broken away for
the salce of clearness:
Figure 6 i9 a ~ectional view along line 6-6 of
Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a plan of the trolley of the crane
apparatus along line 7-7 of Figure 5 and to a considerably
larger scale;
Figure 8 i8 a detail, along line 8-8 of Figure 7,
~howing means for automatically limiting and hal~ing upward
movement of the grab carried by the trolley;
Figure 9 is a view from llne 9-9 of Figure 7 and
to the same ~cale;
Figure 10 i~ a view from line 10-10 of Figure 7
and to the ~ame scale;
Flgure 11 i~ a view to a con~iderably larger
cale o~ mean~ for dr~ving wheel~ of the trolley;
Figure 12 le a vlew along line 12-12 of Flgure 7
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means was removed, retained, and replaced; and thereafter
removing the container.
The present invention, on the other hand, complements
the parent invention by providing an apparatus for placing
a closure means having an axis and a coaxial thread at an
.opening of an object which opening has an axis and a matching
coaxial thread, which closure means has grasp means by which
the closure means may be grasped and turned, the apparatus
comprising wrench means having an axis and adapted to be
positively actuated to engage and grasp the grasp means of
: the closure means and to be positively actuated to release
the grasp means of the closure means, and means for moving
the wrench means relatively to the opening axially of the :::
opening along the axis of the wrench means and rotating th.e
wrench means so that its axial movement per revolution
. corresponds to the pitch of the threads at the opening and --
of the closure means, so the thread of the closure means will
,
engage and screw onto the thread at the opening and the -
closure means will close the opening.
These and other objects and features of the invention .
: will be apparent from the following description of a pre-
f e rre d emb o d i~en t o f th e in v en t i on in c onn e c t i on
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and to a considerably larger scale showing the transmission box
for the driving means of the trolley;
Figure 13, on the same sheet as Figure 6, is a view
along line 13-13 of Figure 4 but to a smaller scale than Fig-
ure 12, showing driving means for wheels of the crane bridge,
parts being omitted for clarity;
Figure 14 is a view along line 14-14 of-Figure 7
. showing a portion of the means for hoisting the crane grab;
Figure 15 is a view of the means for hoisting the
grab, from line 15-15 of Figure 7;
Figure 16 is a section along line 16-16, Figure 7;
Figure 17 is a view from line 17-17 of Figure 7;
Figure 18 is a plan view of the grab of the over-
head crane, with the cover removed, the scale being consider-
ably larger than that of the preceding Figures;
Figure 19 is a section along line 19-19 of Figure
18;
Figure 20, on the same sheet as Figure 18, is a
section along line 20-20 of Figure 18 and to a larger scale
showing limit switch means for controlling rotational move-
- ment of a portion of the grab;
Figure 21, on the same sheet as Figure 18, is a
section along line 21-21 of Figure 1 showing limit switch means
for limiting vertical movement of a part for actuating the
fingers of the grab;
Figure 22, on the same sheet as Figure 19, is a de-
tail along line 22-22 of Figure 18 showing guide members on
the grab engaging guide members on the trol~ey to locate the
grab in its uppermost position laterally relative to the
trolley;
Figures 23 to 27 inclusive show how the television
camera on the grab can be used to locate the height of the
grab above a drum, figures 24 to 27 inclusive particularly
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showing the view on the television monitor screen;
Figure 28 is a view looking upwardly to show the in-
dicating means that is viewed by the television screen on the
trolley to locate the position of the trolley;
Figure 29 is an enlarged detail showing one of the
indicators of Figure 28;
Figure 30 is a view of drumming apparatus in the drum- :
ing station, from line 30-30 of Figure l and to a scale con-
siderably larger than that of Figure l;
Figure 31 is a side view of the drumming apparatus
of Figure 28, parts being broken away to show the interior
mechanism in the housing;
Figure 32 is a plan view along line 32-32 of Figure
30 and to a somewhat larger scale, parts, mostly piping, being
omitted for the sake of clarity;
Figure 33 is a side elevation of the lower portion
. of the drumming apparatus, in general corresponding to the side ~ :
: elevation of Figure 32;
Figures 34A and 34B show to an enlarged scale and in
plan the cradle frame and cradle, as well as associated appar-
atus for holding the drum in the drumming apparatus;
: Figure 35 is a detail to a still larger scale, show-
ing means for securing the cradle frame in each elevated pos-
ition, the view of the securing pin being generally from line
35-35 of Figure 34A;
Figure 36 is a section through the cap-handling means
for unscrewing a cap of a drum, holding it until it is desired
to insert it again, and for re-inserting and tightly screwing
in t~he cap of a drum, the scale being considerably larger than
that of Figures 30-33;
Figure 37, in the same sheet as Figure 33, is a sec-
tion along line 37-37 of Figure 36;
Figure 38, on the same sheet as Figure 33, is a
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~O~lQ~i~
section along line 38-38 of Figure 36;
Figure 39 is an enlarged plan view of the filler
nozzle for filling a drum while it is in the drumming apparatus;
Figure 40 is a section along line 40-40 of Figure
39;
Figure 41 is a sectional elevation along line 41-41
of figure 31 and to a considerably larger scale, of two liquid
level sensors for the decanting tank;
Figure 42 is a view along line 42-42 of Figure 41
and to the same scale;
Figure 43 is a section along line 43-43 of Figure
41 and to the same scale;
Figure 44 is an enlarged vertical section of one of
the metering pumps of the invention, along line 44-44 of Fig-
:: ure 45;
Figure 45 is an end elevation of the pump of Figure
: 41;
Figure 46 is an enlarged section of a portion of one
: of the valve mechanisms of the metering pump;
Figure 47 is a schematic piping diagram for a drum
: ming station;
Figure 48 is a face view of a record board for re-
cording the locations of drums in the equipment;
Figure 49 is an enlarged view showing one of the tags
that can be used on the record board to record information per-
` taining to a drum and its location;
: Figures 50 and 51 are side and front views of the
control console equipment, shown in Figure 1 in the control
station, for controlling the apparatus, these Figures being
to a larger scale than Figure l;
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Figure 52 1~ a plan from line 52-52 of Fisure S0;
Figure6 53 to 56 Lnclu~ive are views .~howing how
the gra~ of the lllu3trated crane apparatu~ can be u~ed ~o
grasp a drum even lf it should be lying on its ~ide rather
than standing upright on its end;
Figure 57 is a plan of a modified form of trolley
for the overhead crane apparatus, this trolley embodying a
heavy duty hoist capable of lifting heavy portions of the
apparatus, such a~ the shield wall or other equip;nent, out
of or into the illustrated apparatus, and
` Figure 58 is a side elevation showing the trolley
: of Figure 57 as used in hoisting a shield wall and associ-
ated equipment mounted on the shield wall.
General Arranqement: For illu~trative purposes,
the below descri~e~ em~odiment of the invention will be
described in connection with the disposition of radioactive
waste material in the form of resin particles containing
radiodetive materials like those desc~,bc~ -bo~o ~ ~r.- in t~e
form of evaporator ~ottoms, by putting the radioactive mater-
. 20 ial including water, and cement as a solidifying agent, into
a steel drum; mixing these materials in the drum: moving the
drum into storage; allowing the mixture to solidify and
- radioactivity to decay in storage; and then moving the drum
to a vehicle for transportation.
For convenience, the term "drum" is used here-
: ~fter to designate steel drums or barrels as such, as well
a8 sultable other types of containers for the indicated
purposes. While for convenience cement is disclosed as
the solidifying agent and water as the liquid, it i8 t~ be
understood t~at other suitable type~ of solidifying agents
such as asphalt or certain natural or ~ynthetic resin~, and
:: that suitable liquids other than water, may be used.
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The embodiment gcnerally ~hown in Figures 1-3
comE~rise~ a buildin~ 1 of rcctangular con~igurati~n in plan,
of which building upright w~ 2, 3, 4 and 5, the ceiling 6
and thc ~loor 7 are preferably formed of poured reinforced
concretc, of su~ficicnt thickness to prevcnt escape of harm-
ful radiation from the interior of the building. The huild-
ing interior is subdivided into an area 8, two drumminy
6tations 10 and 11, two storage vault~ or decay ~its 12 and
13, and a control station 14 in which an operator is located
to operate the system by remote control.
Area 8, which is free of radioactive materi~ls cr
radioactivity at all times except temporarily when radio-
active material~ are being shipped from the building, i9
~hown a~ used for storage of non-radioactive materials such
as drums D that contain no radioactive materia~s but may, and
in this illustrative embodiment do, contain accurately weighed
preloaded ~moun s of cement aj a solidifying agent. The area
8 has ~n wall ~ a vehicle doorway 16 ~aving a do~r 17 which
may be of conventional automatically controlled type. A
personnel doorway 18, having a conventional door 1~, is in
wall 4 near station 14.
;~ Each drumming station 10 and 11 is equipped, as
described beiow, with apparatus 21, operable by remote
control from apparatus 23, 24 in operator control station
14, for introducing radioactive materials and water into
drums D, each preloaded with accurately determined amounts
of dry cement as a ~olidifying agent, all in proper propor-
tions to permit these materials after t~orough mixing to
form in the drum a ~olid body of controlled weight, and
for then thoroughly mixing the6e ingredients.
A d~um D containing the resulting mixed radio-
active matcrial, cem~nt and water may then be ~tored ~n a
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~(~410~i2
~torago vault 12 or 13 to pcrmit solldificatLon of drum
: contents and decay of radi~tion until it~ intcnqity i~
reduced ~o ~hipa~lc limits. The drums ar~ individually
identified, and location of and time that each i~ placed
ln storage i5 recorded. After lapse of an appropriate time,
the drums are moved out of the storage vault onto a vehicle
V for transportation away from building 1 for suitable dis-
po~ition. If the radiation intensity of the drum content~
is initially 50 high that it is not reducible by sotrage ~or
a permis~i~le or reasonable time, the drum can be put into a
known type of radiation shielding cas~; that renders the dru~
~afe for shi~ent. ~f, on the other hand, the initial radia-
tion intensity is sufficiently low, the dr~m may be shlp~ed
immediately, without stora~e.
A drum D is picked up from area 8, put into a
selected drwmming station 10 or 11 then after proper filling
and mixing moved if desired into a selected storage vault 12
or 13; anl when desired moved onto vehicle V by remotely
controlled overhead crane apparatus 25 ~Figures 2, 3, 4) ~o
be described later.
These operations are performed by remote control
without actual vi~ual access, the opera~ions b2ing viewea
; through television screens and monitored by other means
described below.
Buildinq: The interior of the building 1 is sub-
dlvlded (Figures 1, 2, 3) ~nto the storage vaults 12 and 13
by a thick center interior wall 26 and transverse end walls
27 ~nd 28 that arc joined to wall 26 and extend into rela-
tlvely clo~e proximity to but stop ~hort of exterior side
walls 2 and 4. Transverse walls 29 and 30 longitudinally
- 8paced from lnterios walls 26 and 27, and stub walls 32 and
33 ~oined to outor side walls 2 and 3 and spaced from trans-
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verse wall~ 39 and 30 ~et off the ~recl 8 and station 14
from the vaults and drumming ~tat-on. Spac~d tlar.~v~rse
walls 27 and 29, and 28 and 30 toc;ether with a portion of
c~nter wall 2:~ an~ longitudinally cxtending intermediate
~tub walls 34 and 35 define the drumming stations 10 and
11.
An extension of wall 35 and a short transverse
wall 36 joined to it define the operator station 14.
Walls 34 and 35 together with overla?ping longi-
tudinal wall porti3ns 37 and 38 respectively fi~ed to trans-
verse walls 27 and ~8 and respectively s~aced from walls 7
and 34 and from walls 4 and 35, together with the transverse
walls 27 and 28 and walls 32 and 33, define abyrinthian
passages 39, 40, 41 and 42 that prevent lateral e~c~oe of
radiation from st~.rage vaults 12 and 13 ~d the ~.u~ming
~tations 10 and 11 into area 8 and control station 14,
while permitting access to the drumming sta~ion ~ld vaults
~urir.~ c~n~'_u_t,-r. ~nd later lf n~-ossary.
. All of the~e walls are of sufficient thickness
and formed of suitable material such as poured concrete,
to prevent passage through the walls of harmful radioactive
radiations.
The interior walls defining the control station,
drumming stations, storage vaults and labyrinthian passages .
extend to locations below ceiling ~ and are suitahly shaped
at their tops to permit clearance .or the overhead crane -
apparatus 24 so that it can move over and service the
entire interior areas of building 1. The labyrinthian
pa~sages and the control station have roofs-44, 45 for
safety and added shielding of personnel.
Crane Apparatus 2 The crane apparatus including
a system for lccatinq the drums is illustrated in Figure~ ;
:
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2 through 29.
The crane apparatus comprise~ a track 47 includ-
ing rail~ 48, 49 extending length~ise of the building, a
bridge 51 that travel~ on the tr~ck, a trolley 52 that
travels on the bridge and a ~rab 53, adapted to carry a drum
D, that iB carried by and xaised and lowered and manipulated
from the troll~y. A~ dcscribed bel~w, the grab is provided
with remotely controlled mean~ to mechanically grasp secure-
ly a drum D at it~ upper upstanding circumferential edge 50.
Indicating means 54 above the troll~y i~ provided
to aid the operator, by remote control from control station
14, in accurately locating and grasping a selected drum, or
accurately locating and placing a selected drum, or moving
it, in or out of storage area 8, a drumming station 10 or
- 11, or a storage vault 12 or 13.
The indicating means, to be de~cribed below, has
on it indicia 55 (Figures ~, 3, 28, ~9) marked, a~ ~y number
and letter combinations, that can ~e viewed and identified
by an upwardly directed television camera 56 (Figures 4, 7)
~0 on the trolley that tran~mits an image to a televi~ion
monitor screen 57 (Figure~ 1, 51) in control station 14.
By suitable movement of the bridge and the trolley on the
bridge the trolley can be moved to and accurately located
over a de~ired location for a drum by ~canning through the
television camera to find a desired indication on the ceil-
ing, the camera preferabl~ having cross hairs or other marX-
ings to aid location a~ described later.
The grab will al~o be provided with a downwardly
facing television camera 58 ~Figures 17, 19) tha~ _an ~ocus
on the center of the drum. Preferablv this camera has on
lt markings that, when the grab carrying the camera i~
lowered a ~uitable distance, coincide with markings or
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~tructural featur2s on a 3elected drum to lndica~e the
height of ~h~ grab relative to the drum on a second tele-
vision m~nitor screen 59 (Figures 1, 51) located in control
~tation 14. By thi~ means, the yrab can be accurately
located over the proper drum at th~ proper height, after
which the grab can be actuated to grasp and lift thc drum;
and the grab while carrying a drum can be located in a
proper location to place the drum.
Four adju~tablc surveillance television cameras
60, 61 ~Figures 3, 4) are mounted on the bridge 51 at suit-
able locations so they can scan dot~nwardly to vi~w other
; locations; these cameras can respectively show their viewed
scenes on monitor screens 62, ~3 in station 14 (Figures 1,
51).
As further indicated belo~, the grab is designed
to grasp the edge of a drum that may have toppled to turn
~ the drum so its top is UQ, or to remove the drum.
i The track rails 48, 49 are supported from
brackets 64 extending from the walls of the building; the
i 20 rai 18 extend substantially throughout the length of the
building so that ~he grab 53 carried by the trolley, by
~uitable manipulation of the br,dge and trolley can service
sub~tantially the entire internal area of the building
., .
between the rails. Suita~le control means, which may be
of known type, are provided in the control station 14 at
the monitor ~creens so that the crane and grab can be
operated by an operator at that ~tation. A record board 65
~Figure 48) will be provided on which tags will be hooked ~-
bearing location lndicia, date of filling and storage,
radiatlon level and other data for drums that have been
; filled and are stored in the storage area.
The lnterlor of the building is designed to
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provide a radiation-free area at one end in which mainten-
ance work may be carried out on the crane. Such area is
protectea by Yhi~ld ~alls from radiation from radioactive
materials in the storage vaults 12, 13 or in drumming
station~ 10, ll; area ~ may be used for such purpose in the
illustr2tcd embcdiment.
Bridge 51 compri~es beams 66, 67 fixed at each end
to carriage structures 68 and 69 each having flanged wheel~
71 and 72 that travel on one of the rails of the track. In
each carriage structure one of the wheels is power driven
as de~cribad later to move the bridge along the track as
desired. The bridge beams carry spaced parallel rails 75, 76.
At each side, the trolley 52 has two wheels 77 and
78 that travel on these rails 75 and 76. One 3~t of wheels
78 is freely rot~table; the wheels 77 of the other seS are
power-driven by electrically energizable drive means 79 on
the trolley, that is controlled by suicable known means
from the control ~tation 14.
Drive means 79 comprises (Figures 7-133 a trans-
mission unit 81 adapted to drive the wheels 77 of thepower-driven set from shaft 82 (Figures 11, 12) through
universal joints 83 conn~cted to the drive axles 84 on
which the wheels are rigidly fixed. Shaft 82 is rotated
by a gear 85 driven by pinion 86 mounted coaxial with and
rigidly connected to gear 87 which is rotated in turn by
pinion 88 rigidly mounted on the same shaft as gear 89.
Gear 89 i9 rotated by a pinion 91 mounted on a ~haft 92
directly connected to an electric motor 93 of substantial
power. Shaft 92 is also adapted to be connected through
an electrically operated magnetic clutch 94 to shaft 95 of
an electric motor 96 of le~ power which drive~ shaft 94
at a ~ubstantially lower ~peed than motor ~haft 92, through
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41Q~Z
gear reducer 97 lnt~qr~l with motor 9S. Motor~ 93 and 96
may be o known type~.
When the clutch 94 i8 ~i~connected and the motor
93 i9 energiz~d and motor 96 preferably de-energized, the
trolley 52 can travel at a relatively high ~peed on the
bridge 51. When clutch 94 i.8 engaged and motor 93 i~ de-
energized while unit 96 is encrgized, the trolley 52 travels
at a substantially lower speed. Thexefore, while motor 96
~ energized for low speed operation of the trolley the
motor 93 is de-energized and is rotated from motor 96; while
motor 93 is energized for high s~eed operation of the trolley
motor 96 i8 de-energized and disconnected ~y clutch 94 from
the transmission unit and motor 96 to prevent damage to
motor 96 from oversDeeding. These dif~erences of speeds are
to enable the trolley to be moved along the bridge by motor
43 at a relatively high speed to within a ciose distance of
lt~ de6tination, and then to be moved slowly by motor 96 to
it~ final location. Moreover, ea~r. OI motor~ 93 and 9~
respect~vely has its own isolated power lines forming part
of known energizing and control means diagrammatically
lndicated at 93e and 96e (Figures 10, 50) connected to and
controlled from control ~tation 14. The clutch is also
energized and controlled from the control station 14 by
mean3 diagrammatically indicated at 94e which may be of
known type. Con~equently, in the event of Cailure of
either one of the motors or its power lineq, the trolley
c~n ~tlll be moved on the b~idge by the other motor to a
des~rea location on the bridge.
Two wheels 71 of the bridge are freely rotatable,
whlle the other two wheels 72 are driven ~Figures 5, 13) by
~ean~ ~imllar to that which drive~ th~ trolley. In thi~
ca~ ach wheel 72 Ln connect;d to a drLve ahaft 97 thet
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L~?~
1~ connect~d thr~ugh univerlal joint3 98 to th~ output shaft
9~ of a transmis~ion unit lnO sub~t~ntially id~n~ical with
the transmi~ion unlt ~1 th~t drive~ the trolley. Power i9
supplied to this transmission uniL by a motor 101 of ~ub-
3t~ntial power that i8 adapted to provide a relatively high
speed drive, and alternatively by geared down motor-102 of
lower power to drive the bridge at a relatively low 3peed.
The mechanism insid~ of transmi~ion unit 100 i5 essentially
i the same aq that of transmission unit 81 Oll the trolley and
includes a cl~tch adapted to be electrically eneryized and
controlled through rneans 103e frorn control station 14 by
known means to connect and disconnect motor 102 from trans-
mission ou~put shaft 99. Motors 101 and 102 are also adap-
ted to be electrically energized and controlled by known
mea~3 lOle and 102e from station 14. ln this case also,
higher speed motor 101 is adapted to move ~he bridg2 to the
vicinity of its final de4tination at a relatively high speed,
and then can be de-energized and lower speed motor 102 can
be energized to move the bridge slowly to its ~inal destina-
tion. Moreover, each of motors 101 and 102 has its own
isolated independent electrlcal pow_r supply mean~s and is
independently controlled from station 14, so that in the
event of failure of either o~ the motor units or it~ power
supply mean~, the other motor unit can be used to move the
bridge to area 8 as far away as possible from vaults 12 and
13 so maintenance can be safely performed.
Trolley 52 also contain~ grab hoisting means 104
~Figures 5-10, 14-17) which comprises a winch drum 105
adapted to wind on and unwind from it liftin~ cable~ 106,
107 and 108 that support and rai~e and lower the grab 53.
This three cable arrangement support~ the grab in a level
position with great ~tability 90 that tilting of the gra~
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~04LO~:;Z
i8 prevented and swinging 1~ elimirlated; it al~o helps
inRure accuracy o~ grab location~ and provides add~d ~afety.
The winch druM 105 is adapted to be rotated by a powcr unit
109 (Figure 7), and is also adapted by mean~ 110 to be moved
longitudinally a~ required to cause the cables to wind on
and-unwind from the drum without pilin~ up on the drum and
also to cau~e the locations ~here the cables wind on and
leave the drum to remain laterally fixcd with respect to the
trolley.
The power unit for rotating the drum comprise~ -
(Figures 7, 9, 10, 14, 15) a known commercial unit such as
the "Reuland Hydraulic Pump Mount Motor", manufacturea by
Reuland Electric Compar.y of Howell, ~sichigan and Industry,
California. This unit comprises a first relatively high
power, high speed electric motor 112, and a second relatively
low pcwer, lo~ speed electric motor 113 each directly con-
nected to a shaft 114 (~igure 14) that ~hrough a gear redu-
cer unit 115 rotates the shaft 116. An individually Plec-
trically operable brake unit 117 is also connected to sha~t
114. Each of motors 112 and 113 has its own isolated po~er
lines and is independently controlled from control statlon
14 by known means il2e and 113e (Figures 10, 50); brake unit
117 is also independently controlled as required from the
control station 14 by either of two isolated electrical
circuits 117e and 117e'. By this means motor 112 (operat-
lng for example at 1800 rpm) can cause the winch drum to
rotate at a relatively high speed for relatively high spe~d
operation to bring the grab into relatively close proximity
to its ultimate height level for its destination, and then
3Q motor 112 can b~ de-energized and the other motor 113 ~oper-
~ting fvr example at 450 rpm) can be energized to rotate the
drum relatively slowly to accurately locate the grab at its
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. 1(~4~0~Z
~ proper l~vcl. Moreover, thi3 arrangement makes po~ible a
safcty fe~tu~e in that if either O.e the mo~or3 ails OL' i~5
power supply unit fails, the other motor can be energized
to lower the grab or to r~ise it, with or without a drum D,
and enable the trolley to be moved and bridge to be moved
to a place where the falled unit can bc correc~ed.
The brake unit 117 i~ of the spring load~d type
that applie~ braking force to the shaft llG when the brake
unit is not energi7.ed, and must be energi~ed to release the
brake to allow the shaft to turn, wh-ch provid~s another
safety feature.
Sha~t 114 (Figures 14, 16) drives a wonm 118 thac
meshes with a worm wheel 119 rigidly mounted on a rotatable
axle portion 121 that slidably but non-rotatably carrie~
shaft 116 on which the winch drum 105 is rigidly mounted.
One end of shaft 116 is carriea by a bearing 122 in a sleeve
123 that rotatably and slidably support~ shaft 116. The
other end of ~haft 116 has an internal screw thread po tion
124 that meshes with an externall~ threaded screw 125 rigid]y
carried at the end of ~he housing reducer 115. As the worm
wheel 119 rotates, it rotates shaft 116 and the drum lG5 on
~t. Since screw 125 is 6tationary on the trolley, ~otztion
of shaft 116 causes the shaft and its winch drum to move
ax~ally by interaction of threadea portions 124, 125. The
thread pitch of these portion~ is such that they cau~e the
drum 50 to move axially that the cables 106, 107, 108 wind
on and off of the drum without lateral movement relative to
the trolley of the location where any cable wind~ on or
unwinds from the drum. The winch drum i~ of the same dia-
meter where the cable~ 106, 107, 108 wind on and off thedrum and the~e portions of the drum preferably have helical
grooves 126 for each cable to aid in insuring level unwind-
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L~;2
ln~ and wln~ing of thc cable~ and maintalning lateral posi-
tions of the cables rclative to thc trolley. Thcrefore all
cables w.wind and wind evenly and at the sa~e rate ~nd in
unchanged latcral position~ relative to the trol 12v to
prevent tilting of the grab, provide a stable level position
of the grab, simplify control of the grab, and contribute to
~afety. -
Because of the worm 118 and worm gear 119 andbrake 117, th~ winch is self braking and halts wh~n its
power supply is de-energized. The apparatus also includes
~Figure 14) a disk 127 fixed to the end of the worm, having
a notched periphery that passes through a proximity s~itch
,
128 that acts a~ a counter connected to known means 123e
comprising known indicating means in the control station 14
- to indicate the number of revolutions of the worm and hence
of the winch drum 105. The height of the grab can thus be
indicated in the control station.
The trolley also carries an upwardly directed
televieion camera 56 of known typa conn~cted by known m~ans
56e ~Figures 17, 501 to the monitor screen 56 and controls
~ in the control station, to show on the screen the scene that
`' i8 viewed by the camera, .ncludir.g locat ng ndicia 55.
Utilizing this means, and by suitable control of the bridge
and the trolley~ the trolley can be properly positioned to
enable the grzb 53 to be located over a drum or other item
~o be handled, as will be described later. Light fixtures
129 of known type may be mounted adjacent the television
camera to illuminate upwardly the scone viewed by the up-
wardly facing television camera. The~e light fixtures are
30 divided into two separate sets each ~et having its own ~
lsolated known circuit means 129e by which it i~ electric- ~-
ally energlzed and controlled from control station 14.
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L~
The trolley 52 ha3 an opening 130 th~ough which
the three cables 10~, 107 and 108 exten(l downward]y to
support the grab 53. Thesc cables are arranged so that
they support the grab at locations that are equidi~tantly
and equiangularly spaced around an axis A of ~he grab. To
accomplish th;s, cable 107 passes directly from winch drum
105 to the grab, while c2bles 106 and 108 pass from the
winch drum 105 over guide pulleys 131 and 132 fixed t~o the
trolley and under weighted pulleys 133 and 134 ~ixed ~o
10 supporting and tension sensing means 135. Means 135 oper-
ates so that if cable 106 or 108 becomes slack or lo~es
tension its weighted pulley 133 or 134 will lo~,~er and al~o
trip a known limiting device 13S (Fiyure 7) such aq a limit
~witch, the function of which will be later described.
Trolley 52 includes means for automatically limit-
ing and halting upward travel of the grab ~3. The illu~-
trated means cornpri;es tFigures 7, 8) duplicate limit
switches 137 mounted on the trolley and having a common
actuating lever 138, the free movable end of which extends
20 over trolley opening 130 so the end can be contacted and
moved by the top of the grab 53 when it reaches the upper
end of its travel. The lever 13P is affixed to duplicate
cams 139 that act:uate the limit qwitches to interrupt
electrical current to ~hichever of hoist motors 112 or 113
is operating; the circuitry is such that when the grab is
to be lowered, the circuits to the motors can be completed.
Thus the trolley has redundancy of power means
and controls so that if one power means that moves the
trolley or grab fails, another completely separate power
30 and control system is available, and if one set of lights
129 fails, the other i~ independsntly available.
Grabs The grab 53 ~Figures 9, 10, 18-22) which
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4 ~V ~4Z
~ - 18 adapte~ to be rai3ed and lowcsed by threo cables 106,
107 and 10~ eomprise~ a rigid frame 140 to which the lo~er
ends of ;hQ cab1e3 are connected, each through a leng~h
adju3ting mean~ 141 to permit the length of all of the
cable~ to be accurately equalized to support the grab in
the desired level horizontal position. Frame 140 is of
generally circular configuration an~ has a central axi~ A
about which the cables are equidistantly and equiangulaLly
located. Frame 140 rotatably ~upports by bearing structure
142 a subframe 1~3 that is rotatable about axis A. Subframe
143 carries, equidistantly and equiangula.ly about a:~is A,
three sets of clamping fingers 144 adapted to clamp the up-
standing edge 50 of each drum D. Each set of finger~ com-
prises ~Figures 9, 10, 19~ a finger me~ber 145 th2t is
pivotally supported. at its upper end from frarle 143 and has
a toothed jaw portion 146 rigidly joined to its lower end.
This finger member is limited against in~Jard tilting mo~e-
ment by its inwardly transverse lug 147 that bears against
a stop nut 148 adjustably mounted on a bol~ 149 threaded
~0 into subframe 1~3; and the finger mem~er is yieldably
limited against outward tilting movement by compression
spring 151 that bears against the other side of tr~sverse
lug 147 and against a nut 152 adjustably threaded on bolt
- 149.
Flnger member 145 pivotally casries near it~
lower end a cooperating finger member 153 that has a down-
wardly extending portion 154 carrying a jaw portion 155
adapted to cooperate with jaw portion 146 of member 145
- and a guide portion 156 that engages the outer ~ide of the
drum to assist alignment of the grab with the drum. Finger
member 153 ~ of bell crank shape and ha~ a transver~ely
extonding p~rtion 157 pivotally connected through yoke
_ 27 -
llnk 158, com~res~ion qpring 159 and bolt 160 to vertic-
ally movable actuating me~l~er 162. Actu~ting member 162
compri~e~ a lower portion 1~3 to which lin]~ 158 of each
~et of fingers is connected, and a gulde por~ion 164 that
engages a grooved guide member 1~5 fixed to rotatable sub-
frame 143 to prevent rotation of the actuating member rela-
tive to the ~ubframe.
Actuating member 162 ls moved vertically as re-
~uired by a gear member 166 rotatably but immovably axially
supported on subframe 143 and having external teeth 167 and
internal threads 168 that engage external threads 169 on
actuating member 162. Gear member 186 is sotated by a
pinion 171 non-rotably mounted on a ~haft 172 rotatably
carried by ~ubframe 143 and rigidly mounting a gear 173 that
is rotated as required (Figure 18) by either or both of gears
174 and 175 mounted on electric motors 176 and 1~7. Prefer-
ably only one of these motors will be energized at a time,
although both could be. Each of the motors has an indivi~-
ual isolated power supply and is individually controlled
from control station 14 by known means diagrammatically
indicated at 176e and 177e. Tnese two motors are provided
to in~ure that in the event of failure of either motor or
its power ~upply, the other mOtor could actuate the finger
sets 144. It i~ apparent that wher. either of the motor~
is actuated and gear member 166 i9 rotated to raise the
actuating member 162, the finger members 145 and 153 of
each set will close to grasp an edge of the drum~ and when
~ither of the motors is rotated to cau~e the actuating
member to move downwardly, the finger members of each set
are opened. Upward and downward movement of men~er 162 is
properly limited (Figure 21) by engagement of vertically
~paced ~top members 178 and 179 adju~tably mounted on the
- 28 -
upper end of actuating member lG2, with actuating meMbers
180 of duplicate electrical limit switches 181 that are
suitably connec~d to motors 176, 177. Known circuit mean~
181e makes this possible and also send~ ~ignals t~ control
station 14 giving information of the open or closed posi-
tions o the finger members 153. Operati~n of the finger
6ets 144 i9 also reported visually by came~ 58 to the control
etation.
Subframe 143 carr~ing finger sets 144 and motors
176 and 177 ie adapted to be rotated on frame 140 as
required by an electric motor 183 on sub~rame 143 driving
a worm 184 engaging a worm gear 185 that drives through
~haft 186 and flexible coupling 187 a shaft 188 rotably
mounted on the subframe. Shaft 188 rigidly carries a drive
pinion 189 having external teeth that engage internal teeth
of an internal annular gear 190 bolted to frame 140. Motor
183 has its own independent power supply and is adapted to
be controlled as required from the control ~tation 14 by - ~ -
known mean~ 183e. By energization of motor 183, ~ubframe
143 carrying finger ~ets 144 can be rotated a~ required :
about axie A to locate the graD fingers properly to grasp
the de~ired drum or other object to be grasped, or to
orient the fingers or load carried by the grab to a desired
angular position about axis A to clear parts of the appara-
tUB or durms or other objects. In the illustrated embodi-
ment, the amount of rotation is controlled and limited by
enga~ement of the mova~le member 192 (Figures 18, 20) of
limit ~witch 193 mounted on subframe 143 with angularly
spacQd stops 194 and 195 fixed on frame 140. The angular
distance between stops 194 and 195 is somewhat over 120,
perm~tting the subframe and it~ fingere to be rotated ~o
that the sets of finger~ can cover a 360 c~rcmference.
4.1~0~
The finger~ thus can be turncd to engage any desired portion
of the clrcum~erential edge 50 of a drum D. The fingers can
readily gr~sp drums of varying ~$:e~ or out of round shapes,
because of the pivoted supports of generally parallel mcmbers
145 and 158 and the spaced pivotal connection4 to these mem-
bers of portLon 157 of member 153. These supports and connec-
tions permit the finger sets to move substantial distances
laterally and still be operative to grasp a drum edge. Guide
portions 156 of members 153 can move the finger sets to accom-
modate out of round or dif~erently sized drums.
Grab 53 also includes the television camera 5~ thatiB directed downwardly. This television camera is mounted
on a cover member 196 that is rigidly carried by main frame
140 of the grab, and i~ coaxial with ~he axis A 3f fr~me 140.
It is located within the actuating member 162 which is maae
tubular for the purpose. Cable 197 carries the necessary
~iring for the camera. Cover mem~er 196 completely enclose~
;~ the upper portion of the grab. The cover member and aeals
198 and 199 between the main frame 140 and the subframe 143
.-~ 20 insure against entrance of dust or other contamination to
the bearings and gears to reduce maintenance problems.
Electric power is supplied to the grab by cable~ one of
which is shown at 200; each of the cables is looped in a
housing 201 to provide a length of cable that maintains
electrical connections as portion 143 of the grab rotates;
the housing prevents snagging of the cable on other parts
of the grab apparatus. Downward illumination is provided
by lamp~ 202 connected to the subframe 143 around the lower
edge of television camera 62; the lamps are divided into
two sets each having its own individual isolated circuit
means 202e by which it i~ energized and controlled from
control station 14. Brackets 202a may be provided to
.~
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protcct th~ lp9 a~ln3t damagc.
Equi~ngularly ~paced annular ~uide~ 203 on thc
outer p~r~phery of the grab engage slotted guide brackets
204 tFigure~ 18, 22) on the trolley when the yrab is in it~
uppermo~t position, thu~ laterally qteadying thc grab and
~ts load when the trolley or bridge is accelerated or decel-
erated. -
It is apparent from Figures 23-27 that the tele-
vision camera 58 has, on or adjacent to its len~ where it
will ~how on the viewing screcn 59, cross hairs 205 and
markings 2~6, 207, 208, shown on the viewing screens illu5-
trated in Figures 24-27. The centers of the cross hairs
are located on axi~ A of the grab and the markings 206-208
indicate radial distances from the axis A. Cons~quently
- an operator at control station 14 viewi~g the monitor screen
53 connected to camera 58 can determine ~he distance o~ the
grab from the top of a selected drum after the grab has been
located cver the drum. Figures 23-27 illustrate how an
operator can determine the distance of the grab from drum D.
Reference numeral 58a indicates television camera 58 and
grab 53 at the farthest dis~ance from t~e drum, and Fisure
24 illustrates the corresponding view of the dr~m a~ shown
on screen 59. ~he next farthest camera and grab position
i8 indicated by 58b, while corresponding Figure 25 sh~ws
the drum D as larger. The next ~arthe~t position of the
camera and grab are indicated by 58c, while Figure 25
deplcts the corresponding view on screen 59 in which drum
D occupies almost the entire depth of the screen. The
c~osest position of the came~ and grab to drum D are
indicated by 58d and the view on screen 59 i8 representcd
~y Figure 27 showing the outline of the cap opening
~tructure C at the center of the top surface of the drum.
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1~?4 ~
Whell the cai~ op~nin~ ~tructure C iB of proper size on the
scre~n to corre~pond Wit}l markln~s 207 at the c~mera lens,
the o~erator knows that the grab is at the proper height
and properly aligned with the axis of the drum to enable
finger membcrs 1~5 and 153 of the gra~ to be actuated to
gra~p properly the top edge of the drum as shown in
~`igureq 8 and 9. When the grab is at the proper he~ght
a~ shown in Figure 27 on screen 59, he reduces the lowering
speed; as th~ fingcrs of the grab contact the top of the
10 drum, the cables 105, 107, 108 become loose, allowing
weighted pulleys 133, 134 to move down on the trolley and
trip limit switch 136, which through known circuit means
stops operation of the grab hoisting means 104. This limit
switch al50 serves as an interloc]i to prevent the fingers
~. ~
of sets 144 from opening when the drum D i9 in hoisted
position.
The trolley 52 and grab 53 can be readily properly
located with reerence to a drum to be pic~;ed up or deposi-
ted, by use of indicating means 54 (Figures 2, 3, 28, 29)
that is viewed by the upwardly directed television camera
56 on the trolley. The means j4 illustrated comprises
supporting frames 209 supported and extending near the
ceiling of the building to ~upport the location indicators
55 at predetermined locations, so they clear all parts of
the crane apparatus. One indicator 55 is provided for each
horizontal drum location. Indicators are therefore provi-
ded to locate all drums in each of the storage vaults, to
locate a drum for each posit~on in each drumming station
where the crane i~ to handle a drum, and to locate all
drums in the general storage location 8. Crosqing frame
portions 209 at each indicator provide a target for the
camera 56. Indicators bear an accurate relationship to
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- `. 104~0~2
the ~ ter position dcsirQd for a drum. By ~uitable con-
trol from station 1~, trolley 52 may be moved so an appro-
priate mark on or near the len~, and preferahly at the
- center of the lens, of telev~sion camcra 56 on the trolley
ls ali~ned with the taryet on the appropriate indicator 55
for the desired location. By ~uitable further control from
station 14 of trolley 52 and grab 53 the grab can be lowered
and caused to grasp the drum as previo~sly described, and
to be ra$sed to lift the drum and lower it and release it
in a desired loc~tion.
Preferably, each indicator 55 h~s two desiqnations,
one for a direction parallel to an X axis extendinq longi-
tudinally of the building and one for a direction parallel
to a Y axis extending across the buildin~; in the embodi- -
ment illustra~ed (Figure 29), each indicator 55 is made up
of two portions 55a and SSb fixed to frame 209 at the proper
location, portion 55a carrying a num~er designation and
portion 55h carrying letter designa~ion.
The indicators 55 and hence the drums are located
on centers a predetermined distance apart in the X and '~
directions in the storage vau_t and in general storage area ;~
8. The drums in the lowermost layer in che vaults and
storage area are equidistantly spaced in the horizontal X
and Y directions; the dru~s in the second layer are offset
by half the distance ~etween the centers of the drums in
the first layer in the horizontal X and Y directions, so
that each of the drums in the second layer is firmly 8Up-
ported by four drums below it in the lowermost layer; the
drums in the th$rd or top layer are also equidistantly
located $n the layer 80 that each drum i~ supported by
our drums b~ow it in the second layer and directly over
a drum $n the f$rst layer. ~he lndicatorq 55 on the
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indicating means 54 are properly located and identified to
provide for thi~.
When thc drums are stac~ed in tiers as in the
illustrated embodiment ~o that drum~ in a hiyher tier are
directly over drums in a lower tier, it is desirable to
have additional coded markings to indicate each location in
which a drum may be directly over another, to alert the
operator to watch the appropriate surveillance camera screen
to check which tier of dr~ns for which he is handling a drum;
he could then watch the yrab the grab elevation read out in
the control station to dece]erate and halt the grab ac the
proper level.
In the illustrated crane apparatus the various
wires for transmitting electrical energy for power and
control purposes are encased in cables, which are passed
through means that compensate for changes in len~th of the
ca~le due to movement of parts of the crane apparatus.
Thus, as shown in Figure 5, cable 210 passes through means
211 that compensates for changes in cable length as the
bridge 51 passes along the track 47; and as shown in Figure
6, cable 212 passes through me~ns 213 that compensates for
changes in the cable length as the trolley 52 travels on
the bridge. The length compensating means 211 and 213
shown are like that disclosed in British patent 97~,862
published January 6, 1965, but other types may be employed.
If desired, means may also be provided for the trolley to
; compensate for changes in length of cable between the
trolley and grab.
Drumminq Station
~ Drumminq Station: Each
drumming station (Figures 1, 2, 30-33) has substantially
identical apparatus; for convenience only the apparatus in
. .
- 34 -
.
, ~ :
,
. ~ lf~
drumming ~ta~ion 10 will be described, it belng under~tood
that the appa~atu~ in the other drumming station i8 identi-
cal except for situatio~s where ~?arts may b~ of the other
hand for convenience in lnstallation or operation. Corre-
sponding parts will have identica] reference characters in
both dru~ming stations.
The apparatus in each drumming station c~mprise~
substantially the same four basic components: a metal shield
wall 214, drumming equipment 215, a decanting tank 216 and
a set of metering pumps 217a,b,c. While the relative posi-
tions of these components could be changed the ~asic func-
tion of each remains the same, so the drumming station
apparatu~ can be installed in a right or left hand arrange
ment, if such positioning is required or desired.
Shield ~all: The shield wall 21~ serves as a
locating and anchoring means for the other components 215,
- 216, 217a, ~, c. It is formed of strong metal to suppor~
the other component~ and to serve as a barrier to stop the
escape of harmful radiation from the side of the shield
wall carrying the~e components, to the other side. The
shield wall may be of an~ of va~^ious thic~nesses, depend-
ing on the intensity of radiation expected to be encountered;
since it i~ formed of metal its thickness is substantially
less than conventional shielding such as concrete; moreover
the faces of the shield wall may be machined, drilled and
~ored to present accurate surfaces for equipment mounting
and uniform smooth ~urfaces for cleaning if required. U~e
of the metallic shield wall and its resulting lesser thick-
ne~s ~implif ies drive connections and maintenance work done
through the ~hield wall. A ~hield wall of steel approx-
imately 12 inches thick i8 advantageous for most u~es of
the invention.
,'
- 35 -
.. .
:
~ r
The ~hield wall iB rigidly but demount~bly
attached to the concreta building wall 29 or 30 by an accur-
ately machined, grouted in fr~me 218 (Figure~ 31, 32) sur-
roundlng wall opening 219 to which the shield wall i9
~ecured by bolts and nuts 220 on the safe ~ide o~ the ~hield
wall. Preferahly, the shield wall has a supporting eye 221
at its top~ Therefore, the shield wall can be demounted
with the other component6 still attachcd, and bodily re-
moved as by an overhead crane to a remote location for main-
tenance or repair; the cantilever mounting of the componentsmounted on the shield wall, as described belo~, facilitates
this; the cantilever supporting of components also eLiminates
~loor support~ and facilitates cleaning. The 3hield wall
preferably overlaps the opening 219 to provide an offset
joint that preven~s pos~ible radiation leakage around the
shield wall edges.
The shield wall may be divided into sections 214a,
214b, 214c, by transverse joint~ 2i4d to facilitate easier
handling and shipping. These joints are offset or stepped
as shown in Figure 31 to prevent radiation leakage outwardly
to the safe side of the shield wall outside of the drumming
station. As explained l~ter, parts ~uch as drives that pass
through the shield wall are also sealed to removable plugs,
as at 222, 223, 224 that form similar offset or stepped
joints to prevent radiation leakage. Where space or de~ign
does not permit sealing to an offaet or stepped plug, a
secondary shield 225 is provided to block radiation escape.
: _umming Equipment: The drumming equipment 215 il-
lu~trated a closed housing 226 supported from the side of
the shield wall facing into the drumming station. This
hou~ing ~Figures 30-33) has upstanding sides 227, 228
carrying detachably mounted acce~ plate~ 229. The top 231
- 36 -
:' '
, ~, JoY1~2
of the houDing ha~ a hatch openlng 232 6urroundcd by upward
flange 233, closcd by a h1nged hatch cover 234 ha~ing inncr
and outer downward flanges 235 t~at overlap flange 233 ln
the cloqed po~ition to prevent escape of radioactive mater-
ial. The housing and hatch cover when closed provide a
clo6ed enclosure in which drum loading and mixing occurs.
The hatch covcr permits access to the enclosure for intro-
duction or removal of drums, while preventing escape into
the atmosphere of air displaced by materials loaded into
the drum, and while preventing e~cape of radioactive mater-
ial due to splashing should the drum bcing processed develop
a leak or should material be accident211y spilled during
the loading operation. Hatch cover 234 can ~e moved to
- closed and opcn positions by a lever 236 pivotally supported
on housing 22~ and is rigidly secured to an arm 237 carrying
the hatch cover through a resilient connection 238. Lever
236 is actuated from the safe side of the shield wall by a
~nowr. flu d-o~eratcd cylinder 239 t the fluid ualves 240 of
which are controlled by known means 240e from the control
station 14. The cylinder is spring loaded to close the
hatch if the energizing fluid fails. for safcty; the spring
load can be overridden by hand or by mechanical means.
~ousing 226 has a venting conduit 225a preferably connected
to a closed venting system.
A fixed loading dock 241 is externally ~ounted
~ at one side of the housing 226 and i~ adapted to support
- a drum to be filled that i8 first deposited by the crane
on this dock. A fixed unloading dock 242 i8 externally
mounted on the othcr side of housing 226; a drum removed
from hou~ing 226 i8 set by the crane on thi3 unloading
dock, and the intensity of radiation emanating from the
drum 1~ mea~ured by known radiation monitor means 243 that
37
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1(~4 ~~'~
. .~..
sel~d~ by known means 243e elcctr1cal ~i~nal~ to the control
station 14 where the in~ormation i8 noted. Each of the
loadlng and unloading dock~ carrie~ a ~cale 244 connected
wlth known means for reporting the 6cale reading to the
control ~tation. The scales are adapted to be rcmoved from
and placed on their supporting stations by the grab, so if
necessary the ~cales can be serviced in a radiation free
area.
Inside of drumming equipment 216 is a drum posi-
tioncr cradle rnechanism 245 (Figures 31, 34a, 34b) aaapted
to carry a drum and move it IFigure 32) about a vertical
axis P from a drum loading and unloading position "I", then
to a first intermediate position "II" in which the drum is
clamped into its cradle in a vertical position, then to a
second intermediate position "III" in which the drum is
opened by unscrewing and removing its cap, then ~o a third
intermediate position "IV" where the drum is filled then
back to inter;nediate position "III ' in which the drum is
.- closed or capped,then to intermediate position "II" where
20 the drum i8 turned end-over-end to agitate and mix its
content~, from which position the cradle returns the drum
- . to location "I" under the hatch from where the drum can be
. removed by grab 53. The cradle mechani~m comprises a
vertical shaft 246 (Figures 30-32, 34a) on which a cradle .:
frame 247 is rigidly mounted; the shaft is rotatably and
vertically s1idably mounted in bearings 248, 249 mounted
at the tc~p and bottom of housing 226. A cradle 251 rotat-
.: ~bly supported in the cradle frame by bearings in two
spaced hub portion~ 252, 253 of the cradle frame for rota- .
30 tion about a horizontal axi~ H on its cradle frame which
thus forms a trunnion in which the cradle can be rotated :~
to impart to th~ drum the desired end-over-end motion to
: -- ~8 --
' ' .
.
',
thoroughly ~ix the centents of the drum, tumbling movement
of the loose mixing weights VW (Figue~ 5, 6, 31) in the drum
aiding t'.is mix~ng.
The cradle frame 247 i9 Moved to angular positions
I, II, III, IV indicated above by actuating mean~ (Figures
30, 31) comprising a lever arm 254 rigidly mounted on the
lower end of shaft 246 and pivotally connected to a rod 255 ~,
that may be reciprocated as required by a known mechanism
256 driven from an electric motor 257 energization of which
is controlled by known means 257e from control station 1~.
The linear travel provided by mechani~m 256 may be con~rolled
by known means accurately to stop the cradle in the various
angular positions as described above.
The cradle frame 247, its supporting shaft 246
;~ and cradle 251 carrying a drum can be raised and lowered as
required to permit movement of the cradle and performance of
nece~sary steps in the positions I-IV, by a known type of
scre~ jac:c mechanism 258 (Figures 30, 31,32) actuated by a
- drive shaft 259 extending through the shield wall to its
safe side. Shaft 259 is rotated as required by a gear box
electric motor combination 260, controlled by known me~ls
260e from the control station to raise the cradle to an
upper elevation referred hereafter as the "U" elevation in
positions III and IV, and to lower the cradle to a lower
elevation hereinafter referred to as the "L" elevation for
movement between the positions and for operating in posi-
tions I and II.
When the cradle frame 247 is raised to elevation
U in either o~ po8itions III or IV, an upwardly projecting
tapered dbwel pin 261 ~Figures 31, 34a, 35) fixed to the
top of the cradle ~rame engages in the opening 261a of the
- appropriate one of two hardened ~teel bushings 261b in the
~; . , .
- 39 -
. . .
, .
lQ~V~i~
top wall 231 of the houslng 226. Thi~ assures accurate and
po~itive locntion of the cradle in po~ition~ III and IV for
the fill.'ng and capping operations that are carried out in
these poRition~.
When th~ cradle frame 247 i3 ln any of position3
I, III, IV, cradle 251 can bc held in a verti.cal po~ition in
the cradle frame by a latch member 262 (Figure 34a) pivotally
mounted on the cradle frame and biased by compression spring
263 to latchlng position where the beveled free end 264 o
member 262 engages between a pair of spaced lugs 265 on the
cradle. The latch member can be released from the cradle by
the tapered end 265 of a pin 267 that extends through the
i shleld wall and is adapted to be axially inserted into a
flare-mouthed socket 268 on the cradle to a depth sufficient
to contact and release the latch member. When pin 267 i5
80 inserted, it secures frame 247 against angular or other
,. movement while the cradle is being rotated about its hori-
zontal a~.s H to agitate the contents of the drum. After
~ such cradle rotation has ceased and the cradle has been
-~ 20 properly located with the drum vertical and its cap side
up by ~uitable known means such a~ conventional electri~al ~-
interlocking means, pin 267 is withdrawn from socket 268,
and latch member 262 by the force of spring 263 re-engages
the cradle to lock it in the vertical po~ition with respect
to its framn 247. Pin 267 is moved axially as required by
. a double acting fluid energized cylinder 269 having control
valve~ that are actuated in a known manner from control
station 14 by know~ electrical means 269e (Figure 50).
Cylinder 269 is equipped with limit switche~ 270a
and 270b, operated by ~top 270c on the cyllnder rod to
$nterlock through suitable conventional circuit mean~ to ¦ ~
prevent starting of the below de~crlbed mean~ for rotating ~ :
- 40 -
the cradle whi~e the latch m~mb~r 2G2 engages the cradle.
The drum may be centered and firmly cla~ped in its
cradle 2~1 by clampin~ meanq a~ sho~n in Figure~ 34P., ~. Two
opposin~ cLamping arMs 271 and 272 pivotally carry cl~mping
members 273, 274 and are rigidly mounted on shafts 275, 276
pivotally mount~d in the cradle about axes parallcl to the
drum axis. These sh~fts rigidly carry arms 277, 278 havin~
rounded outcr ends 279 that ride in an ~xternal groove 281
of a memher 282 that i~ axially slidably mount~d in hub
portion 283 o~ ~he cradle in hub portion 253 o the cradle
frame nearest the shield wall when the cradle frame is in
position II-L. When member 282 moves axially away from the
drum carried by the cradle, the clamping arms 271, 272 move
toward the drum and their clamping members fir~l]y en~age the
drum. When the member 282 moves to~ard the drum, the clamp-
ing members release the drum.
Member 282 is so moved by engagement of an interrl-
ally thre~ed nut 284 rigidly mounted in member 282 with an
externally threaded screw 285 rotatably but axially immo~-
20 ably mounted on hub portion 283 of cradle 251. Screw 285
has a projecting end 286 that has a polygonaL preferabl~ -
hexagonal cross section. When, as will be described later,
this polygonal end portion is engaged and rotated relative
to the cradle, member 282 will move axially and, depending
on its direction of rotation, will clamp or unclamp the drum.
The clamping means of the cradle i8 actuated, and
the cradle itself may be rotated, provided that latch member
- 262 is released, by the means shown in Figures 34A, B which
comprises stepped plug 224 that fits through the shleld wall
and carries at the drumming statLon side an internal bearing
287 and its other a~de a removable gear box 288 carrying
- another bearing 289. These b~arings carry an elongated
- 41 -
member 291 for rotation abou~ an axi3 that i~ coaxial with
the axL~ H of the cradle when thc cradle i~ in drum rotating
po~ition II. Merllher 291 h~s a~ axial opening 292. On the
drumming station side, member 291 carrie3 a driving coupling
portion 293 adapted to cngage and drive a driven coupling
portion 294 on hub portion 283 of the cradle when the cradle
i5 ln position II.
Driven coupling portion 294 has axial and radial
dogs 295 adaptcd to fit loosely in c~rresponding slots 296
lQ of an intermediate coupling member 297 t~at is Ilexibly
mounted, as by bolts 298 threaded onto rubber mounts 299 on
driving coupling portion 293. Intermediate member 297 on
its side a~Jay from portion 293 has slots 3~0 alternati.ng
with and spaced 90 angularly from its slots 296. Driving
coupling portion 293 has radial and axial dogs 301 that cc~n
loosely fit in slots 300. The driving coupling member 297
thus flexibly mounted so it i~ capable of substantial but
- limited lateral movement, so the driven coupling member can
engage and so the cradle can be rotated even if there is
substantial misalignment of the two coupling portions 293
and 294. By suitable means of known type, the dogs 295 of
driven cradle coupling portion 294 and the slots 296 of
intermediate member 297 flexibly mounted on driving portion
293 will always be positioned to extend horizontally when
the cradle is not rotating, so that these dogs and slots
- can mate and engage when the cradle is swung into position
and to readily disengage when the cradle is moved out
of such po~ition. The power means for rotating the cradle
when it is ln position II-~ is electric motor 303 (Figure
31) controlled by known mean~ 303e from control ~tation 14,
that i9 adapted to rotate member 291 through suitable gears
304 in gear box 288.
;~ - 42 -
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.
-.
(P~'~
The hexagonal portion 2~6 for actuating the clamp-
ing arm~ can be engaged by a socket ~05 mounted on a shaft
306 that i8 rotatable and axialli movable in me~er 2~1.
Shaft 306 i9 movcd axially as required by a double acting
fluid operated cylinder 307 connected through bracket 308
to the end o~ the shaft on the safe ~ide of the shield wall
and controlled by conventional means 307e from station 14.
After its socXet i~ engaged with polygonal end portion 286,
the ~haft is rotated as required to clamp or unclamp the
10 drum, by an electric motor 309 (Fiyure 31) that rotates the
shaft through ~uita}:le gears 31Q in gearbox 311; motor 309
is controlled from station ;4 by suitable known m~eans 309e.
Means ~or insuring that the cradle cannot be rotated until
the drum is clamped in the cradle comprises a feeler rod
313 slidably coaxially mounl:ed in sha:Et 306 and biaqed
toward hexagonal portion 2~36 by ~pring 214, and limit
switches 315, 316 adapted to be actuated by a stop 317 on
; the other end of the rod as it mo~es. When the rod i~
retracted suf~iciently because of sufficient clamping travel
20 of screw 285, the limit switches through suitable conven-
. . tiona~ interloclcing circuit means 315e, 316e permit rotation
of the cradle; othe~lise they do not.
The drumsning station alsv includes cap handling
means 320 for remaving and replacing a screw cap 321 in the
top of a drum, (Figures 33, 36-38). After the drum is at
position III for cap removal, the cradle frame 247 is raised
to elevation U to raise the drum D carried by the cradle 251
so its cap 321 can be engaged by means 320.
When brought into the drumming station according ~ ~ -
30 to the illustrative proces~, each drum will contain a pre-
loaded accuxately determined amount of cement or other
.: solidifying agent Da and one or more freely movable mixing
- 43 -
~ eight6 Dw (Figure3 5, 6, 31) which may takc the form o
oblonq pieces o~ ~teel about 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 6" in dimen-
Bion9; a cap 321 close~ the drum.
The drum, which i9 ~f generally cylindrical form,
has (Figure 36) a cap opening structure C at the center of
the top wall 32Z o~ the drum, comprising a 3teel collar 323
having an int~rnal threaded opening 324, fixed in the top
wall 322 of the drum. Collar 323 has a radial flange 325
around the outer edge of which the top wall metal is crimped
at 326 to hold the collar securely in the drum; preferably a
sealing xing 327 i5 clamped between the drum metal and the
flange 325 to provide a fluid-tight seal between the collar
and the dru~. The internally threaded opening 324 is adapted
to be closed by cap 321 that has an external thread that
permit~ the cap to be screwed into the threaded opening.
The cap ha~ a central depression 328 of circular cross
~ection with vertical serrationq or other suitable gripping
surface, and an outward radial flarge 329; cap 321 also
carries a sealing ring 330 that forms a fluid-tight seal
between the cap and the drum.
Cap handling means 320 comprises frame ~tructure
331 rigidly mounted on housing 226, and a wrench 332 rotat-
ably and axially movably supported on the structure 331 to
grasp and remove and replace cap 321. The wrench is a
resilient expandable slotted collet that is resiliently
bia~ed to contract and ha~ an outer ~urface shaped to fit
inside depression 328 of the cap o that when the collet
~ is expanded it firmly gra~p~ the inner wall of the de-
; pression. The wrench i~ expanded by a pull rod 333 having
... .
an externally conical expanding portion 334 that bears
again~t a matching internally conical surface 335 in the
wrench, 80 that when the pull rod t 8 drawn upwardly it
- 44 ~
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;.
- . ~ . . .
3.,~ o~ 8r~d
expands the wrench to grasp the cap.
Th~ pull rod i9 clrawn upwardly and moved dOWII-
wardly as required by a cam 33G (Figures 37, 33) that i5
rotated about its horizontal axis to lift and lower a
follower 337 that i5 slidably mountcd on frcame structure
331, and supportq the pull rod for rotatable but no rela-
tive a~ial movement. ~he cam i~ connected to and rotated
(Figure~ 32, 33, 36) by a shaft 338 that extends through
shield wall 215 to a gearbox and electric motor unit 339
the motor being controllable by conventio~lal me~ns 339e
from the station 14. The cam is shaped to provide a pre-
determined amount of tension on the pull rod and collet
wrench 332 to permit the ca~ to be gripped with adequate
force to hold it securely for removal, but not ~o defor:n
it. When the cam 336 is turned so it moves the cam follow-
- er down, rod 333 is lowered, thus moving its conical por-
tion 334 downwardly of the collet wrench and allowing the
: wrench to contract to release the cap.
While the wrench is engaged in the cap, the cap
is rotated by the cap handling means 320 to unscrew the
cap to open the drum, and after the radioactive material
has been placed in the drum to ~crew the cap in the drum to
close it. For this purpose a hollow shaft 341 surrounds
and is coaxial with the wrench pull rod and is adapted to
support and rotate wrench 332. It is supported from frame
structure 331 for rotational and axial movement correlated
with the pitch of the threads of cap 321 and opening 324.
The shaft 341 is rotated by a worm gear 342 that drives a
worm wheel 343 rotatably but axially immovably supported
from frame 331. It is rotated (~igures 33, 36, 38) as
recIuired by a shaft 344 extend~ng through the shield wall
to a gearbox and electric motor unit 345 controlled from
; - 45 -
.,. ~ ' .
`- lQ41~2
station 14 by means 345e
Shaft 341 is slidably but non-rotatably connected
to worm gear 343 and has projecting dogs 346 at its lower
; end that engage shoulders 347 on the wrench 332 to rotate
it when shaft 341 is rotated. Vertical travel of the wrench
shaft and wrench are correlated with axial movement of the
cap as it screws in or out by a nut 348 rigidly carried by
frame 331 engaging a lead screw 349 fixed to shaft 341, the
nut and lead screw having threads of the same linear pitch
as the thread on the drum and cap, so as to retain exact
relationship between threads in the drum and on the cap to
facilitate recapping without crossthreading. The cap hand-
ling means is so designed that can 336 maintains and holds
tension on the pull rod that causes the wrench to grasp and
firmly hold the cap during the removal of the cap and in the
interim period while the drum is being filled. Sensing
means 350 embodying spring loaded feeler 350a and limit
- switch 350b senses when the drum is in the proper position
to have the cap removed or inserted, and through interlock
means permits the apparatus 320 to operate; otherwise it
prevents operation.
After the cap has been removed atposition III
the drum is ready to have the radioactive material put in
it. This is accomplished by locating the drum carrying
cradle 251 in the filling position IV and lifting the
cradle and drum to engage the opening 324 with the fill
nozzle 351 (Figures 32, 39, 40) in the top all 231 of
housing 226. Nozzle 351 comprises a mounting boss 352 -
fixed to the top wall 231 and rigidly detachably carrying
a nozzle portion 353 having a tapered lower end adapted to
project through opening 324 into the drum D, and carrying
several downwardly through openings 354a, b, c; 354a being
~ .
: - 46 -
.
. . . , - . -
., . ' ' , ' '
- .: , ' . .: .
0~;
for introduction into the drum of radioactive re~in di~per-
sion from the decanting tan]c, 354b for evaporator bottoms,
and 35~c boing for ~enting during filling, being connected
by conduit 354d to a closed venting system, not shown. The
nozzle portion al80 has a smaller opening 355 that may be
connected to mean~ 355a for sensing the level of liquid in
the drum, such as known mean~ for sensing back pres~ure
when the drum has been filled to the level of the bottom
opening o vent 355.
Nozzle portion 353 slidably carried a collar 356
that is biased downwardly by compression spring 357 and
downwardly limited by stop bolts 358. Collar 356 engages
the drum top and seals with collar sealing ring 359 around
the drum opening 324 to insure venting through the proper
passage and prevent splashing or leakage during the filling
operation. Openings 354a and 354b in the nozzle ~ill be
respectively connected to a decanting tc~nk and to a source
of evaporator bottom~ ~hrough mete:ing pumps to be des~
cribed later.
_ anting Tank: Decanting tank 216 (Figures 30,
31, 47; is a closed tank formed of corrosion resistant
durable metal, such as stainless steel, and is cantilever
; supported from shield wall 214. The tank has a frusto-
conical lower portion 360 to aid in emptyAng material from
the tank. A dispersion or slurry of radio~active resin
particles in water i8 ~upplied to the tank from a suitable
source such as a pipe 361 connected to a plant holding
tank, by pump 217b connected to pipe 362 opening into the
:-~ bottom of tank 216. The decanting tank ha~ an internal
mixer 363 for stirring the material in the tank when
desired. That shown comprlse~ three propellers 364
- mounted on a common shaft 365 rotatable a~out a ~ertical
- 47 -
.
-
~o~
axis aligned with the central axis of the tank. This
shaft is rotated through a gearbox 366 by a drive shaft
367 extending through the shield wall from an electric
drive motor 368 on the safe side of the shield wall. As
desired the motor can be energized and controlled from
control station 14 by conventional means 368e to cause
propellers 364 to mix thoroughly the material in the tank,
regardless of the level of materials in the tank.
Tank 216 also has means for providing an adequate
supply to the drumming station of a mixture of radioactive
containing resin and water in a predetermined proportion.
In general, the slurry supplied to the decanting tank con-
tains excess water; and the decanting tank includes means
for removing excess water by decanting.
A dewatering or decanting pipe 369 is pivotally
mounted in the tank at its inner end by a leakproof joint.
The outer end of the pipe carries a float 370 so that the
end of the pipe can rise and fall with the liquid level. A
conduit 371 connects the inner end of pipe 369 to one of the
metering pumps 217a the outlet of which is connected by pipe
372 through a fine strainer 373, such as 100 microns, to an
outlet pipe system 374 forming part of a plant equipment
' drain system.
The levels of the water and of the radioactive
resin particles in the decanting tank 216 are sensed by
;~ sensors 375, 376(Figures 31, 41-43) that transmit electric- ~ -
al signals giving information as to levels to the control
station 14. Both sensors are identical except for the
specific gravities of their floats, so only sensor 375 for -~
sensing the water level will be described in detail. This
sensor comprises a frame 377 having a lateral portion 378 ~-
that extends through an opening through a stepped plug 379
- 48 -
~n ~llield wall 21~ and through a housing 3~0 into th~ tank.
~rame 377 i~ pivotally mountcd between its end~ at the and
portion ~78 on a bracket 381 fixed outside of wall 214.
The outer end of framc portion 37a carries a
pullcy 382 ~ver which passes a ~trand 383 ~uch ~s a stain-
le88 steel cablc or wire, that at its free end suspends a
float 383a and extends along the frame and around intermed-
iate pulleys 384 to a winch drum 385 that is driven by a
motor 386 mounted on the inner end of frame 377. Frame 377
includes an up~ardly extending portion 3~7 adapt~d to bear
against an adjustable stop 388 on the outside of shield
wall 215 and carrying a rearward portion 389 on which the
~inch and motor are mounted. Portion 389 also carries ad-
- justable balance weight 391 threaded on support 392 extend-
lng above portion 389 to permit accurate balancing of the
pivotally mounted frame 377 and its associated apparatus.
Stop 388 when engaged by frame portion 387 lin;its tilting
of frame 375 about its pivot support in a direction tilat
- causes the outer end of frame portion 378 to move do~Jnwardly.
Frame 377 also rigidly carries a transversely extending
metal member 393 adapted alternataly to actuate pro~imity
switches 394 and 395, depending on the position of the
frame and hence of member 393.
As shown (Figures 41, 42) the other sensor unit
376 1~ substantially identical, except that its electric
` motor and winch extends in the opposite direction trans-
versely of frame member 377 to conserve space, and except
that its float 383b has a different specific gravity than
' float 383a of sensor 375.
Float 383b may have a specific gravity of about
0.5 and i8 used to determine the level of the ~urface of
the water in tank 216.
- 49 -
)4~
Float 3~3a ha~ a apcclfic gravity of approximately
: ,,05 80 that it will slnk in the water but will floa~ at the
surface of the reqin ln the tank.
Whcn tank 216 is filled, and also when the resin
and watcr are being mixed in the tank by agitator 363 both
float~ are raised to the top of their travel by their winch
drums 385 and motors 386. When the float of a sensor is in
it~ uppermost position with the float unsupported by liquid,
the wei~ht of the float causes the frame portion 378 to ti lt
10 downwardly until ~ra~e portion 387 contacts 5~0~ 388. This
causes member 383 to actuate upper switch 394. Circuitry is
provided so that if the circuit is enexgized from the control
station, actuation of upper switch 394 energizes the motor
386 of the sensor to rotate its winch to lower the float.
When the float floats, its ~ei~ht is removed from the frame
377, which then tilt~ the other way around its pivot suppcrt
- until member 393 actuates lower switch 395. This stops ~he
motor.
Each motor 386 has on its shaft a notched rotor
396 so designed that when its notches pass a conventional
electronic pickup 397 electrical pulses are generated that -~
are transmitted to tha control station through circuit me~ns
397 including conventional electronic counting ~.eans that
makes it possible to determine the distance down to the
float elevation and hence the level of the liquid on which
the float floats.
Both sensors operate in e~entially identical
manner, except that the float of which one has a specific
gravity such that it detect~ and senses the level of water,
while the other sense~ the level of the resin particle~
after they settle~
The operator at control station 14 can therefore
- 50 - :
.
; . . , ~ ~. " . .
la~(3~
determine, a~ from a predetermincd curve or chart, the amount
of watcr that should be left wil:h tho resin to provldc tho
de~ired Liroportion of radioactive resin particles to the
water. He can thcn actuate metering pump 217a to remove
excess water through the floating and of decanting pipe ~69,
conduit 371, pump 217a, strainer 273 and conduit 374 until
the desired level is reached, as indicated by the sen~ors
375, 376 to provide a dispersion in the tank of the desired
predetermined proportion of water to resin particlcs.
After the proper proportion has becn achieved, a
proper amount of the disperqion can be caused to pass
through conduit 362 from the bottom of tank 216 through
meterlng pwnp 217b and conduit 398 to port 35~la of filler
nozzle 351 into a drum D (Figures 31, 32, 40).
Preferably, spray heads 399 (Figure 30) are provid- -
ed Inside of the decanting tank to spray clear water to
cleanse the floats 383a and 383b when they are lifted to
their higl.e~t elevations; their val~res can be controllcd
by suitable means, as from proximity s.~itches 394.
Meterinq PUmD: While a pump of any of various
types may be employed to pump the dispersion of radioactive
particles in water from the decanting tank 216 through
filler nozzle 351 unto the dr~m D, the pump illustrated in
Figures 44-4i~ is exceptionally advantageous. It deliverq
accurately measured guantities of liquid and thus makes
possible accurate remote control of the amount of li~uid
passed ~rom the decanting tank into the drum. It al~o
makes possible the pumping of clean water for di~rupting
eedlmentation of the particles ln the tank or conduit~, the
use of clean watex for sealing purpo~es, and ha~ safety
features in malcing po~sible maintenance of the pump from
the safe side of the ~hield wall 214.
-- 51 --
~ ` 104 L(~;2
' Thc lllustrated pump 217b qhown in th~ above
Figurcs compr1qe~ a cylinder 400 made up o~ cylinder barrol
401, head 402 containing inlet port~ 403 and 404 and outlet
posts ~05, 406, and ~nother head 407 made up of lnternal
member 409 and that cloqe~ the end of the cylinder and a
surrounding member 409 that contains p~rti~ns of valve
actuating mechanism. ~he heads are ~ecured to thc ends of
barrel 401 by ~eing bolt~d to the ends of a flang~d cylinder
410 that surrounds barrel 401 ~d has inlet and ou~let con-
duits 411 and 412 for clear water flow.
The pump is mounted as by bolts 413 on a mounting
brac~et 414 that is itself mounted by through bolts 415 on
the shield wall 214. Braciet 414 has a drain opening 416
for e~cape of leakage if it might occur.
The pump also comprises a piston 417 fi~ed to .
piston rod 418 tha~ extends through head 407 and shield wall
! 214. The piston has scaling rings 419 and rod 418 se~led by
means 42C in head 407. The pis~on rod is recipro~-ated as ~ .
; reguired by an air cylinder 421 (Figure-31) supplied with
air from pipe 422 connected to suitable source and controlled
by an air valve system 423. The valve i8 controlled by suit-
able known means 423e from the control station 14 so that ~t
can cause a predetermined number of strokes of the pump, and
hence the pumping of a predetermined amount of slurry of
radioactive waste particles and water into the drum D.
Valve 424 for port 405 comprise~ a cylinder bar-
rel 425 that is rigidly connected and sealed to heads 402
and 407, and a movable member 426 including a closure member
42? adapted to bear against a valve seat 428 in head 402.
Mova~le member 426 also includes piston 429 carrying ~ealing
r~ngs 430 that seal against escape of liquid from the space
~n the side at wnich closure member 427 i8 located to the
., '
- 52 ~
;. ~ . ~,
.
t;;~
~~ Bpace on thc ot~cr ~ide of pi6ton 429. Movable m~mber 426
i8 actuated by a valvo rod 432 actuated by an air cylindcr
433 on the safe side of the shield wall and supplied with
air from source 422 under control of suitable valve~ in
system 423 remotely controlled from control 3tation 14 by
known electrical means 423eO
V~lve rod 432 is connectcd to closure m~mber 427
by a loose connection tYigure 46) comprising a stop nut 434
on the end of the rod and a compre~sion spring 435 operating
between clo~ure ~ember 427 and piston 429. AnGther compres-
sion ~pring 436 operatinb between piston 429 and a head 437
at the inner end of valve barrel 425 urges movable nlember
426 toward the position where it~ closure member 427 contacts
valve seat 428 in sealing engagement, except when the valve
i8 opened by air cylinder 433.
The air cylinder 433 positively opens the valve by
. pulling clo~ure member 427 away frol~ its seat 42~. Tne v21ve
is impositively closed by the force of the spring .36 as the
rod moves in the other direction; the preset force OI ~prin~
.- 20 435 also insures that closure member 427 will not strike
seat 428 with excessive force, thereby eliminating poss bil-
ities of chipping or spalling of the valve seat or the clo-
sure member and thus reducing maintenance problems.
All valves are similar in construction and opera-
tion. Each is operable independently of the piston 417,
and each can be operated a~ an outlet or as an inlet valve,
depending on how it is operated relative to the piston
operation.
Conduit 411 provide~ clean water fro~ a suitable
course such as an elevated tank or a pressurized tank, to
the ~pace between the outer housing 410 and the cylinaer
barrel 401 of the pump and the valve barrel~ 425s and
- :
through port~ 438 to th~ ~pace on th~ rod ~ide of pl~ton ~17
in cylinder ~00, and through port~ 439 to the npaces on the
rod ~ide o~ th~ pistorl 429 o cach valve.
In the illustrated ~mbodiment (Figures 30, ~7)
- thi~ clean w~ter is supplied to such spaces in all pumps
217a, 217b, 217c from an elevated tank 440 throu~h an expan-
sioo tank 441 and conduit 411. rrherefore, as is preferab]e,
the clean water in these spaces at all times is at a pres
sure higher than the mixture of wa~er and radioactive
particles at the piston sides of the pUMp .~nd its valves.
Consequently, any leakage that may occur past a pi~ton pack- -
ing in the pump or a valve will be leakage of clean wa~er
into the portion of the apparatus containing the radioactive
materials, and not the rever~e. Consequently there is much
less opportunity for the parts includin~ sealing rings, to
pic~ up radioactive material and thereby make the entire
assembly ra~ioactive. This is another feature that greatly
reduces maintenance problems.
Preferably, the piping may be arranged so that one
valve of each pump is connected to a clean water source such
as line 450, and the valves are operable either as inlet or
outlet valves, so that clean water may be pumped from the
source by each pump. Thus pump 217b can be used to pump
clean water when desired back through conduit 362 into the
decanting tank. This is advantageous since such back flush-
; lng can break up any mass of re~in particles that may tend
to ~ettle in the decanting tank to form a cake that i~ diffi-
cult to ~tart with the agitator 363. Any settling of resin
particle~ that tends ~o occur, between drum fillings, in
conduit 362 can also be readily disrupted to prevent clog-
ging by pumping a small amount of liquid such as clean
water back through conduit 362 by the pu~p. Such back pump-
54
. ~
." ' I
:, : : : ; - :
.. - . - :
Lng o clean wa~er can al~o provide addition~l liquid for
agitation in tank 216.
~ 11 of the piston and valve rod~ for each pump 21~
pass through a stepped plug 223 that fits into a correspond-
ing opening in the shield wall, thc ~teps providing a laby-
- rinthian joint between the shield wall and plug that pre-
; ven~s pas3ag0 of radiation or radioactive materials. This
. . .
plug can be removed from the safe side of the shield wall.
The design is such that after the piston and
valve rods are disconnected from their air cylinders and
plug 223 is removed, it is possible to remove head 408 that
closes the end of pump cylinder 400 and members 437 that
close the ends o~ the valve barrels. This permits removal
of the piston or movable valve portions for maintenance, as
for examination, lubrication, replacement of packings, from
the safe side of shield ~lall 214 without removing the pump
as a whole. If there should be any radioactivity in these
parts, tnen by means of long handled wrenches and mirrors a
- maintenance man can inspect or take corrective action wi~h-
out exposing himself to radiation.
~ rac]cet 414 as indicated has opening 416 through
which any liquid leaking from the p~mp apparatus into the
housing will drip out into a small tank 444 (~igure 30).
If the operator finds liquid in this tank he will know tnat
there is a packing leak somewhere and take corrective action~
The small tank can be drained into the overall drain system.
Pump 217c may be identical to that described
above. ~his pump is adapted to accept liquid carrying evap-
orator bottom~ (Figure 47) from a suitable source, ~uch as
conduit 445 connected to a holding tank not ~hown and dis-
charge through conduit 446 a measured quantity of ~uch
liquid through fill nozzle 351 into a drum in the drumming
'
- 55 -
,. ~. ~ . ; .
Z
~ station.
-: Ch~micals ln the evaporator bottoms may llave a
tendency to cry~:allize out of solution ~ and if 60 it is
;- preferal~le thclt: the pump 217c together with i~:3 valve and
the piping associated therewith be provided with heating
mean~:, such as wound heating element;s, to prevent crystal-
lization at lower temperatures.
Pump 217c also is adapt~d to flush clean water
through the pump back t:hrough the evaporator bottoms line
in order to clean the puJnp and line at the end of a dr~un-
ming session.
Pump 217a which removes excess water from the
decanting tan}; may, if desired, be identical with pump 217b
and filled with clean sealirlg wa~er in the same manner as
that described above, although it is not n~cessary that: it
be a measuring pump. Preferably the excess water removed
from the decanting tan1c by this pump passes eventually to
the nuclear plant system that supplies evaporator botkor
to the drurruning station.
By 6uitable operation of the proper pump~ 217a,
b, c, clean water can also be flushed through other lines
to clear blockages or clean the system, such as the lines -
that discharge into the drum; clean water can also be added,
as to the decanting tank if desired. This is facilitated
because all valves of each pump are identical and indepen-
dently operable so each can be used as an inlet or outlet
valve, and the pi~ton is operable independently of the
valve37 these capabilities provide features of safety and
redundancy for maintenance of operations.
In each of the illustrated drumming stations, two
types of radioactive waste products, slurries of radioactive
resin partlcles and liquid3 containing evaporator bottoms,
-- 56 --
.
LUt;2
:
~ay be alternately put into drum~, or if d~red, both may
be put into a ~ngle drum in proportlonal quantities. If
. .
desired, the system can be modified to handle more than two
waste m~terial~ alternately or put all 3imultaneously in a
; drum.
Drummin~ ~tation Cl~aninq System: Spray heads 449
~Figure 31) connected to cle~n water source 4~0 and controlled
from station 14, are provided inside of drumming equip~ent
enclosurc 226 to wash down the walls and equip~ent in the
enclosure if desired. The spray water used flushes down the
sloped bott~m 451 of enclosure 226 and drains out through a
bottom opening 452 into a sump tank 453 (~igures 30, 31, 33).
This sump tank has internal baffles 454, 455 to provide a
settling tank for fines that migh~ be in the flush water,
- thus trapping solids tha~ might be radioactive and that other-
wise could contaminate downstrea~ e~uipment if they entered a
plant drain system. Excess water free of ines flo~s out
through an overflow gate 456 into a drainage soout 457 dis-
charging into a drain 458 located in the dru~ming station
floor and connected to plant equipment drain system ~S9 th~t
.~ . .
if desired may discharge into the system for producing evap-
orator ~ottoms. The sump tank is so designed that it can be
moved laterally on rollers 460 on a track 4Sl to a location
where it can be removed by the crane. It can ~e placed by
` the crane for disposal into a drum, having a completely
removable top, which top can be replaced after the sump tank
and its radioact~ve cor.tent~, water and cement or other solid-
ifying agent if desired, are placed in the drum.
Another drain in each drumming station floor forms
part of a plant floor drain system 462 to remove liq~ids or
wastes that may have collccted on the floor, as from drum
leakage or washdown of the drumming station.
.
-- 57 ~
.' ~.
i . . , ~ , . . ~ . ,
The conduit sy~tcm of Figure ~7 i8 ~hown for a
~lngle drurMling ~tation, but it can be duplic~ted. In ~uch
case lines 361, 445, 450, 459, 462 and 463 as well as other
:-.
lines, can be common to two or more drw~ning stations.
A~ di~closed above, the illustr~tive embodiment
ha~ separate piping for each type of radioactive wa~te to
and in the drummlng station equipment, for safety and contin-
uity of operation. The drumming apparatus 215 is completely
enclosed and sealed to al]ow no escape of liquids, solids or
ga~ses except through conduits planncd and provided for such
purposes. Thus, a vent system 463 removes and cleanse~ by
known m~ans, air or gases from decanting tank 215 through
vent conduit 216a, and from drumming housing 226 throu~h vent
- conduit 226a, as well as from other locations. The interior
of housing 226, and the equipment in it, can be washed down
by remotely controlled spray heads ~9 for decont~mination
purposes if neressary.
Materials such as radioactive-containing solids
- washed out of the housing 226 are removed in the described
remo~able sump by remote control. The above disclosed
- filling means i8 also designed to eli~inate the possibility
of radioactive waste material being s~illed on the ex~erior
of the appratus of the drumming station by error or accident.
As discloscd, two separate and independent means
are used to determine the amount of material in the drum and
to prevent overfill; one means comprises metering pumps that
pump accurately determined amounts of fluids into the drums,
the other means comprises the li~uid level sensing system
lndicated.
In the illu~trative apparatu~ and proce~s, the
solid~fying agent, cement for example, and mixing weight~
are placed in the drum~ before they enter th~ ~y~tem, and
- 58 -
- '
~ 104~(~6~
~` the drums are immediately sealed. Each drum remains sealed
until the drum is opened in the drumming station immediately
prior to introduction of radioactive material, after which
the drum is immediately closed. This prevents entrance into
the drum of undersired moisture or other contaminants that
could harmfully affect the solidifying agent or other mater-
ials in the drum.
Operation of Drumming Station: A typical cycle ~f
operations of the drumming station is as follows, assuming
that the cradle frame 247 is located so its cradle 251 is
properly located in position I under the hatch cover 234,
the cradle being locked by latch 262 in the cradle frame to
receive a drum in the vertical position; the hatch cover 234
is open; and a capped drum D containing cement and mixing
; weights Dw is on the loading dock 241 of the drumming station
to be operated as shown in broken lines in Figure 30. The
operator in control station 14 then controls the overhead
crane 25 and its drum grab 53 to pick up the drum from the
- loading dock and load it into the cradle. The operator thencauses the hatch cover to close and the cradle frame 247 to
move to position II. The clamping members 271, 272 are then
actuated by engaging socket 305 on shaft 306 with polygonal
clamp actuating portion 286 of the cradle and rotating the
shaft as described above, to clamp the drum. The socket 305
is then disengaged and the cradle frame angularly moved to
locate the drum at position III for cap removal. The cradle
frame is then raised to cause its pin 261 to enter the
socket 261a for position III, and to raise the drum so its
cap 231 can be engaged by the wrench 332 of cap handling
means 320, which is then caused to operate to remove the
drum cap. The cradle frame 247 is then lowered, and moved
angularly to the drum filling position IV.
. ;~ .
- 59 -
."
~ 0 ~ 2
; Th~ cradlc fr~me 18 h~re raiscd to cause its pin
261 to ent~r thc sockct 261a for position III, and to raise
the drum so the fill nozzle 351 cxtend~ into the drum. The
filling cycle is thcn carrled out as d~cribed prcvl~usly by
supplying a metered amount of a di~per3ion of radioactive
particles in water from decanting tank 2l6 or from evapora-
tor ~ttoms ~upply line ~S.
~ fter the proper pr~determined amount of thc dis-
persion of radioactive particles in the proper proportion of
water ha~ been put into the drum, the cradle frame is then
;lowered and moved angularly to the cappin~ position III where
the cradle frame will a~ain rais~ the drum ~o it is in cap-
ping relation to the cap handling means 320 the ~rench or
which is still holding the cap in a position so tha~ when
.... .
; rotated the cap moves downwardly and engages the threads
in the drum. The cap is then reinserted and screwed tight
` as describcd above. The wrench of the cap handling means
is then rcieased and the cradie rrame îowered.
The cradle frame is next moved to position II tc
- 20 locate the closed drum for mixing. As the cradle frame moves
into po~ition II, the clutch portions 293 and 294 engagc as
described above. The tapered pin 267 is pushed in to secure
the cradle ~rame against movement and to release the cradle
for rotation. The drive motor 303 for rotating the cradle
i8 then started and the drum is rotated end-o~cr-end about
~;axi~ ~ to mix the drum contents thoroughly, the freely mov-
able mixing weights Dw in the drum greatly aiding thorough
mixing. During the latter part o~ the mixing cycle, the
drum may be washed a~ it is rotating by water sprayed ~rom
head~ 449 80 that drum and the interior of thc drum hou~ing
226 can be thoroughly washed down. When the mixing cycle
has been completcd, the mixer stops with the drum in an
. '
-- 60 -
..
~ ' ' ' ''' ~ ' .
upright vertical position a~ de~eribcd. Soclcet 305 on shaft
306 i8 then cngaged with polygonal cnd portion 2~6 of the
elamp mechanism on the cradl~, an~ shaft 306 is rotatcd to
unclamp the drum in the cradle. After the drum is unclamped
and shaft 306 i5 retracted, pin 267 is also retracted to
secure the cradle to the er~dle frame with the drum in its
upright vertical position and to release the eradle frame
from the housing so that it may be angularly moved to po~i-
tion I for unloading.
Hateh cover 234 is then opened and drum gr~b 55
lowered through the hatch into the housing 226 to pick up
the drum. Th~ drum is then placed on thc unloadin~ dock 242
where its weight is cheeked by scale 24~ and its radiation
level is monitored by monitor 243 and the information trans-
mitted electrically to control station 14 for reeording.
The operator plaees another drum with its prede-
termined guar.tity of dry eement on the loading dock 241 as
~hown in Figure 3G while ~h~ drum ~eing fil 2~ ~ ,r. housln~
226 in its filling eycle. The seale 244 on the loading dcc~
is used to verify the eement quantity in the drum, and the
drumming apparatus is ready for the next eyele.
After the operator 103ds the next dru~ into the
eradle and starts the drum~ing eyele, he then places the
- proeessed drum in one of the decay vaults 12, 13 for stor-
age and brings another drum into position on the loading
doek. Modi~ications may be made in this illustrative
proeess of operations.
9~ ol St~ion: ~uipment in the eontrol sta-
tion 14 is shown in Figures 1, 50, 51 and 52.
~he control station includes a control console 23
at wh~eh the operator will sit and from which hc ean eontrol
the operation of the apparatu~ ~y remote eontrol. The
- 61 -
,-, ,-,, ', ~ ': .' :
~ ~o~
control ~t~lon also inclu~e~ un:Lt 24 spa~ed rearwardly from
the control con~ole and cont~ining o~her apparatuq and the
~elevi~ic~ monitor ~crecns 57, 59, 62 and 63, 80 that they
are at a d~stance from the operator to avoid eyestrain.
As indLcatcd pLeviously, screen 57 is connccted
to the television camera 56 on the trolley and is u~ed to
locate th~ trolley wLth reference to the indicators 55 on
the indicating means 54. As also indicated previoucly,
screen 59 shows what is viewed by thc camera 58 mo~lted on
the grab 53 and particularly to indicate the dis~ance o~ the
gra~ from thc top~ of drums as indicated below~ Telcvision
~creens 62 and 63 are ad~ted to be connected to selected
;; surveillance television cameras 60, 61, mounted on the
bxidge 51 of the overhead crane.
Switches 4iS and 476 are used to select the sur-
- veillance cameras to be used and to til. the selected sur-
veillance television cameras, which may be of kno~n types
t~ltable b~ remote control. The switches are of the t~pe
having control levers that if moved down will cause the
camera to tilt downward a~d if moved up will cause the
` camera to tilt upward ~o a desired degree. The surveilLance
cameras may be provided with zoom lenses, and these can be
controlled by switches associated with the switches 477 and
478.
!' Control console ?3 i8 provided with camera control
~nob~ 479 for properly focusing and controlling the cameras
to provide a good image on the televi~ion monitor screens.
The control console also has electronic counters
481 and 482, 483 and 484. Counter~ 481 and 482 are connec-
ted to the scale~ 244 in the drummlng stations and used torecord the wsight~ of the drums as they go ~nto th~ drum-
- ming station~ and thc welght~ of-the drum~ as they come out
- 62 -
.
, ~ .
LO~;Z
o~ the drummintJ statlons. Counter~ 483 and 4~ indica~e the
grab clcvation, ~nd are actuatcd by thc proximity ~witch 127
that count~ ~he rotations o~ thc winch druM 105. ~y this
mean3 the elevation of thc grab can be determined without u~e
; of the line~ on the gr~b camcra screens, a~ when it is
desired to d~ter~inc or ch~ck the elcvation of thc grab in
locatios-~ or at timcs other than when it is used to graso
drum. Push button3 485 and light~ at the cerlter of thc
console ~re used to control the various operations of the
dr~ing station manually if desired as indicated above.
Switch ~86 is usod to control the movement of the trolley
on the ~ridge of the crane; switch 487 is used to move the
bridge itself. A switch 48Z is used to control the grab
hoisting means 104 on trolley 52 to move the gra'o 53 up and
down. Switch 489 is used to open and close ~he grab i~gers,
- while switch 490 is used to control the rotation of the sub-
~rame 143 and grab fingers around 2XiS A of the gra~
switch 491 is provided to eontrol a heavy duty h~i~
used (Figure 47).
The switches 486 and 487 ~or moving the crane
bridge and the trolley on the cLane bridge aLe f ive position
~wltches of known type operatLnq in an "~" pattern, in ~hich
the fifth position is the neutral (off center position).
W~en each of these switches is moved in the forward direction
it will move the bridge or the trolley controlled by the
switch in a glYen direction; when it is moved in the reverse
direction it will move the bridge or trolley in the opposite
direction. When the switch i~ moved to the left it will
provlde high speed control; when it is moved to the right it
wlll provido low speed control. These ~witches are 30 de-
8igned that the 3wltch must go through all po3itions 80 that
there 18 no posslbility of energizing a low speed mo~or when
- 63 -
1(~4~0~2
; ` a hlgh ~p~ed motor i~ cnergi~d, or the revcrs~ ~ituation.
Th~ switchcs 48~ and 4~9 us~d for controllillg the
raising and lowering of the grab and for controlling opening
~nd closing of the yrab fingers are similar.
A record board 65 ~Figure 48) showing the plan of
the buildi~g and havin~ hooks 492 for drum locations will be
mounted in th~ control station at a location readily access-
ible to the operator. On these hooks, tag~ 493 illustrated
in Figure 4~ will be hung. Each of these tags 2refera~]y is
marked with a drum number identifying the drum, and ha~ a
placc for the operator to mark the radiation level and the
date. The operator thus can readily Xeep track of all of
the locations and duration in storage of all drums that have
been handled. For convenience only a portion cf the hooks
and tags are shown in ~igure 47, but a hook will be provided
for each drum position, and tags will be used ~herever a
drum is located.
By a suita~le drum log, ~t is also possible ~or
the operator to keep a rccord of each drum to identify it ~y
number, indicate it~ weiqht before filling with radioactive
material and water, the weight after filling wi~h radioac~ive
material and water, the type of radioactive material, the
start and completion time of the drummling operation, the
radiation intensity of the drum i.~mediately after it has
left the drum~ing station, and the radiation intensity of
the drum at the tLme of shipment, together with the date of
shipment and the destination.
Lights 494 are preferably on the control box 24
to indicate that the crane circuitry in the drumming sta-
tion circuitry i~ ready for operation. Control box 24 mayalso contain disconnect switch~s to shut down the plant.
: It is apparent that various-modi-
-!
'
10~o~iz
~ ~`~
fication~ m~y be m~<le in thc i]lu~trated 3yst~m, ~pp~r~t~r.e~
and proce~se3, ~nd ~130 th~t 30me 0~ all portion~ of the
illu~tra~ed apparatu~ may bc u3ed for purpo3e3 other than
those indicated.
For cxamplc, it is possible that, in the course of
operation, ~ drum containing radioactive material could be
inadvertcntly causcd to be in a horizontal or tilted position.
Should the radiation be such that it w~uld not ~e advisahle
for a pcrson to approach the drum, the ~rum c.~n be advanta-
geously retrievLd by the previously described drum grab 53,
trolley 52, and crane bridge 51. Fisures 53-~6 illustrate
~ step-by-step pr~cedure whereby this can be accom~lished.
The first step, illustratea in Figure 53 is to al;gn one
of the grab supp~rt cables, in this illustrative case cabl~
106, with one of the grab finger sets 144. The grab is then
aligned and lo~ered until the end portion 154 of finger nem-
ber 153 contacts the top side of the dr~m adjacent its top
edge 5~ at it~ uppermost portion when the drum i~ on it~
side. The operator ~hen (~igure 54) continues to lo~er the
grab 53 with the portion 154 of finger member 153 acting as
pivot. The cable 107 is then slacX and the grab i5 SUp- .
ported between fin~er member 153 and cables 106 and 108.
When the view from the center of television cam2ra 58 on
:, ,.
screen 59 appears to be centered on a point midway hetween
the drum closure portion C and the drum rim 50, the drum
finger sets are actuated to cause the finger set contacting
the drum edge 50 to grip it firmly. The grab is then raised
a3 shown in Figure 55, after the fingers have gripped the
edge 56 to lif_ the drum toward a vertical po~ition, Figure
55. It i~ not nece6sary to llft the drum clear of the floor
but only to a point where its center of gravity ~"C.G.",
Figurcs 55, 561 i9 located between the fingers gripping the
.
'
- . ,............ ~ . .. . .
; ~
6~
drum and the lower edge of the drum resting on the floor.
m e grab is then lowered to allow the drum to settle to a
normal upright position. m ereafter the grab can be con-
trolled to grasp the drum normally by the three sets of
fingers, and the drum can be hoisted and moved to and de-
, posited at a desired location.
: Another modification can be the addition of a
second heavy duty hoist 496 constructed and powered by con-
ventional means, to the crane trolley (Figures 57, 58). The
trolley 497 shown in these figures is otherwise similar to
trolley 52 previously described. Hoist 496 which would be
controlled as indicated previously from the control station
14, makes it possible to move considerably heavier articles
than could be lifted by the grab 53 and its hoisting appara-
tus. For example, this heavy duty hoist makes it possible
to remove the entire shield wall 214 and all of the equip-
ment mounted on it, including the decanting tank 216, drum-
ming equipment 215, and pumps 217a, 217b, 217c and their
drives from the drumming station to another area for main-
tenance, as shown in Figure 58. Furthe~more, if any part
or all of the unit made up of the shield wall and its asso-
ciated apparatusr should become unusuable due to radiation
or other causes, it can be removed by the hoist for disposal
as by burial. It is apparent that when such a heavy duty
hoist adapted to carry a large load is provided, the crane
bridge 51, the trolley 497, and the track structure 47
should be designed and made to support and carry the addi-
tional loads.
As a further example of modification, while in
the illustrated embodiment the decanting tank 216 is located
above the drumming equipment 215, the decanting tank may be
located in other locations and even outside of the drumming
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station; or a common decanting tank such as a power plant
; radioactive waste storage tank could be used as a decanting
- tank for one or more drumming stations.
In the illustrated embodiment two drumming stations
are shown in the buildingi they provide added capacity and
reliability if one station should be inoperative for any
reasons. It is apparent that for smaller installations or
. ~ where the reliability of two stations is not desired one
drumming station may be used. For larger installations more
, . .
10 than two drumming stations can be used.
While the illustrative embodiment discloses advan-
tageous process and apparatus in which excess water is de-
canted from a tank to provide in the tank a proper proportion
of water and radioactive particulate material which proper
proportion is introduced in a predetermined amount into a
drum by a metering pump, it is apparent that desired amounts
of a mixture of radioactive material, solidifying agent and
liquid in proper proportions may be introduced into drums or
other containers by other means; and that a solidifying agent
be added at a time other than as disclosed above. Moreover,
drums may be loaded or filled with predetermined amounts of
radioactive materials in the form of liquids or slurries,
without use in the drums of solidifying agents, and the
drums may be handled and shipped with liquid contents. Since
it appears that present regulations do not require shipment
of radloactive wastes in solid form, it may be desirable to
; ship drums containing wastes in liquid or slurry form, and
the inventive apparatus and process may be used for such
purpose.
The term "fluent material" is intended to cover
slurries or dispersions of particulate materials in liquids;
liquids not containing particulate materials; and other
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~low~bla m~terfal~ that may be handled ~ccording to the
apparatus and proces3 of thc invention. The p~rticulate
material~ may be o~ ~izes differcnt from tho~c indicated
above, as ~ub~tantially largcr.
;~ While the containcr has been di~clo~ed as a s~eel
, . ...
; drum, it i~ apparent that other type~ of contais:ers m~y be
used.
Furthermore, although the invention has heen
discus~ed above in connection with the radioacti~e wa~tes
resulting from beiling water or pressure wa~er plants, the
process and apparatu~ of the invention may be employcd in
connection with the disposition of other types of radio-
active wastes, or radioactive wastes frem other types of
nuclear plants, such a3 those utilizing sodi~m or heavy
water as heat transfer fluid; and the invention ma~ be em-
ployed in connection with the handling of dangerous wastes
or chemicals from other types of plants.
- Pu-the~mo~e, it is apparcnt that thc o.. rh^ad -
crane apparatus disclosed, in whole o~ in part or with mod-
ifications within the scope of the invention, may be used
for purposes other than that disclosed; such other purposes
~ay for example include the handling of other dangerous
wastes or radioactive materials or bodies such as radio-
active fuel elements.
From the above disclo~ure, it is apparent that
the invention provides process and apparatus in which, by
remote control, radioactive waste or other dangerous mater-
ials may be handled, put into containers which are sealed,
and the containers handled and moved, without exposure of
personnel to dangerous radioactivity or other dangers aris-
~ng from the materials. Wherever neces~ary, all portions
of the system are fail ~afe, 80 failure of electrlc supply
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4~0~;Z
or onergy f ].uid ~uch a~ pre3~urized air w~ll not cau3e d~mag~
; or un~afc condition3. ~11 po~sible drivc~, fluid cylinder~,
control~, and ~witche~ are located in safe areaa, usually on
the safe side o~ a ~hield wall. All equipmcnt f~r handling
radioactive wa~te mat~rial can be moved ~rom areas of high
radiation to areas of little or no radiation. For these
reasons routine as well as essentially all major mair.tenance
or repair wor~ can bc done ~afely with little if any exposure
of maintenance or other personnel to any radiation.
Wherever the metal ~hield ~Jall 214 that carries
the operative drumming apparatus is penetrated by a dri-~e,
the drive is by means of a rotating or reciprocating shaft
in such a manner that the operation is accurately performed
and escape of radiation is prevented; this makes for relia-
bility and safety.
To insure that the apparatus performs satisfactor-
ily with the utmo~t safety to personnel and ~he environ~ent,
the apparatus of the in~ention ha~ a high aegree or redun-
dancy or dualism in drives, controls, viewing means, lights,
and monitoring means. ~or example, the apparatus is de-
~igned to avoid completely any spills of radioactive mater-
- ial during placement of the radioactive ma~erial in the
drums, closing the drums and rotating them. But if a spill
should occur during any of these steps, it i~ contained in
the housing of the drumming equipment. Sprays are provided
to wash the spills ~nto a movable container or sump at the
bottom of the housing; these sprays also cleanse the inside ~-
of the housing and equipment in it to deter radioactive
contamination. Th~ movable container i~ designed to cause
the ~olid material to settle out and to be discharged ~nto
thc plant drain. Also, the crane apparatuq i~ pro~ided
with double drives and circu~ts for the bridge, ~rolley,
~ ~ 69 --
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., ~ .
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~ ~04~0~Z ~:
. . .
grab hoi~tin~ means, and ~r~b fln~ers, 90 lf th~re is a
fallure of one drive of a doub]c, the cran~ apparatus can
. be opcrated wi~h thc o~l-er driven
. . ~11 necc~3ary lightin~ in arcas cx~osed to radia-
tion is provided on thc crane apparatus on the trollcy and
grab, and the lights and ligh~iny circuits are duplicated
for safety and maintenance of operations: and if light fi~-
~ tures or buIbs or television cameras must be replac~d or
; repaircd, the movable crane portions can be moved to radia-
tion free area~ for such purpose. ~he only fix~d ligllting
; that need be supplicd i5 in the control ~tation 14, wllere
~t is in a radiation ~ree area.
Where necessary for a high degree of fail safe
characteristics, fluid actuated drive cylinders are s~ring
loaded to clo~e in the event of electrical or fluid power
failure; ex~mples are the cylinders for the drum~ing station
hatch, and the decanting tank valves includin~ those on the
p~mps. Tha sPring loa~ may ~e overr-d~en rildnually OL y
external mechanical means if necessary.
~ro~ the above, it is also apparent the grah ~nd
its finger sets and actuating mechanisms will work with out-
of-round or out of size drums, or drums in which the top head
or gripping surface are not completely in a horizontal plane.
~ Moreover, the grab can be used to grasp and move articles
other than drums. If necesaary or desired, other grab means
than that disclosed can be used, particularly for grasping
article~ other than drum~.
~ he television camera on the grab i8 designed and
located to view the finger~ at least in their grasping rela-
tion ~o that the operator can ~e certain the finger~ are inproper gra~ping positlon before hoisting; this provldes a
mcans ~n addition to the limit switch mean~ previously
;~. ,,
~ 70 _
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:~ :
10~
described, for indicating the position and operability o~
the fingers.
m ese and other modifications may be made in the
apparatus or process disclosed, and other modifications,
advantages, and modes of operation will become apparent
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
:
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