Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
~V~5~6
This invention relates to apparatus and method for
disposition of r~dioactive waste materials.
While the invention may be used for the packaging and
disposition of various types of radioactive or chemically danger-
ous wastes, it can be exceptionally advanta~eously employed in
the disposition of radioactive wastes as they occur in nuclear
electric power generating stations.
In known boiling water reactor plants, water is passed
.
through the nuclear reactor throuyh suitable conduits and is
heated and converted to steam by the heat of the reactor. This
steam passes through a turbine that drives an electric generator,
then is recondensed and returned to the reactor to be reheated ~ ~
. . ..
and converted into steam and so on. Thi$ is a closed system.
In pressurized water reactor systems, there is a first
closed conduit loop extending through the nuclear reactor and
then outside the reactor where it passes through a heat exchang- ~-
er. The body of water or other liquid in the first closed loop
is heated by the nuclear reactor, but the liquid i9 keptat such
a high pressure, usually several thousand pounds per square
, 20 inch, that it is not converted into steam or vapor. There is a
j second closed conduit loop carrying a body of water that ex-
tends through the heat exchanger out of contact with the liquid
.
in the ~irst loop. The water in this second circuit is heated
by transfer of heat from the li~uid in the first circuit and
thereby converted into steam which passes in the usual manner
through a turbine driving an electxic generator after which the
. steam is condensed and returned to the heat exchanger where it
:, .
¦ is again reheated.
In each ~uch system water of the greatest possible
, 30 purity is used. Nevertheless, minor amounts of i.mpurities are ~-
present in the water initially introduced into the conduits.
Further impurities appear because o~ the action of the water on
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the metal of pipes and conduits through which it passes. These
impurities may become radioactive, particularly in water that
passes through ~he reactor. Traces of ~obalt leached out o~
stainless steel piping are particularly troublesome, since
cobalt develops an intense form of radioactivity having a long
half life.
In both boiling water and pressurized water reactors,
it is a practice to subject the water to cleaning action by
passing it through beds of ion-exchange resins. Such resins are
of known composition. In general, they act similarly to natural
or synthetic materials used in commercial water treating equip-
ment. Through chemical and filtering action, they remove dis-
solved and suspended impurities, thus maintaining the water at
the desired high purity. Otherwise the accumulation of impuri-
ties could result in scaling on the heat transfer surfaces,
which would result in loss of efficiency or difficulty in oper-
~ation. Resin particles of one type widely used for this purpose
_~ .
are those approximately 20 mesh in size. Resin particles ofanother widely used type are much smaller, approximating 300
mesh in size.
The contaminated resins of either type are removed
from the water treating vessel by sluicing them out with water.
The resulting slurry or dispersion is collected in a waste tank
at the plant~ The apparatus disclosed thereafter is particular-
ly well adapted to disposition o this type of radioactive
slurry.
Another type of radioactive waste material that may be
handled by the present invention is known as "evaporator bottoms"
These include concentrated liquid wastes from the plant, such
~ 30 as solutions containing boric acid, borax~ sodium sulphate and
the like which are used in the control of the reactor or for
washdown of equipment for decontamination. Evaporator bottoms
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are also obtained from the collected water thak is used for
washing down portions of equipment or plant, wash water for em-
ployees, and chemical laboratory liquid wastes. This water
containing radioactive impurities is temporarily stored and
periodically portions of it are evaporated, leaving a solution
or dispersion containing reactive materials in water that are
known as "evaporator bottoms". ~ ;
Stringent laws, rules and regulations govern the dis-
position of radioactive wastes and their transportation over
highways, on railroads and by other modes of transportation.
In genPral, the material must be shielded so that radiations
emanating from the material do not exceed maximum levels estab-
lished by the laws and regu~ations. Furthermore, it is desired
that in a case oE 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 radio
active contamination. It has therefore been proposed to provide
a mixture of resin particles containing radioactive material, ;
cement as a solidifying agent, and water in a container such as
a steel drum, and to allow the mixture to solidify in the drum.
However, prior systems for putting radioactive mater-
ials into a drum or other container in general re~uire that
operators and maintenance personnel be exposed to radiation,
even though such system may be intended to protect personnel.
For example, the operators in many cases must go into areas con- .
taining radiation to open drums or close them or to insert noæ-
zles in the drums or to handle the drums in storage. In some
systems an operator may stand behind a shield wall, but must
extend his arms into a radioactive zone, and expose his head to
see, to connect pipes for feeding radioactive material. If
spills occur, the operator must go into the radioactive zone to
clean up spills. In prior operations where drums are stacked in
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multiple layers in decay storage ar~as, the operator must often
go into such areas to place planks between the layers. Main-
tenance men must go into radioactive areas to work on equipment
requiring maintenance at intervals, such as conveying equipment,
motors, and switches. The total amount of radiation to which
personnel can be safely exposed is limited by physiological
reasons; therefore, personnel 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 that can adversely affect health. Moreover,
in operation of the nuclear plant, if an emergency should arise
correction of which would require exposure of operators or main-
tenance men to radiation during a time when all available men .
had reached their limits of radiation tolerance, a shutdown of
the plant might be necessary or other adverse consequences might
result because of lack of operators or maintenance men having ;
safe radiation tolerances
Moreover, prior systems do not in general providedesired close control to insure that proper amounts of radio-
active material, cement, or water are put into the drum to in-
sure proper solidification of drum contents. It is imperative
to avoid improper loading of the drum or mixing of drum contents.
Moreover, prior systems can on occasion spill radio-
active materials on the outside of the drums or on the 100r.
If the spill is on the drum, it is necessary to decontaminate
the drum prior to shipment. If the spill is on the floor, then
a certain amount o dust 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.
i 30 Spilled materials 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 space, so there was no way
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~)459~6
of containing ox taking care of the problems caused by spills o~
radioactive material.
Some previous systems ha~e numerous operating mechani-
cal parts requiring periodic maintenance, such as motors and
electrical switches, in radioactive areas. Maintenance of such
equipment can expose personnel to considerable radiation. ;~
Previous equipment loads drums containing radioactive
material onto trucks or casks in a haphazard fashion, and thus,
not loading the truck or cask to full capacity, would lose lad-
ing and could cause damage to the drums or drum enclosure.
Previous systems, because of loss of electrical power
or air pressure or improper handling o the drum handling means,
could topple a drum or cause irregularities in operation which ~;
could cause spillage of radioactive material. Previous systems
did not provide for an accurate weight of resin to a weight of
cement ratio in order to insure that the drum contents would be
properly solidified with the most economical use of cement and
with the lowest transportation costs. In prior systems that
filter the resin in the drums to remove water, costs are under-
! ~ ,
standably higher for the drum because of the added equipment
contained therein.
Some prior systems mix radioactive resins, cement and
water in a mixture outside of a drum. This involves exposure of
considerable amounts of e~uipment to radioactivity and possi-
bilities of considerable exposure of personnel to radioactivity.
Moreoever, 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 consider-
, ably shorter than the life of the plant, necessitating replace-
ment expense. Some prior systems mix these materials in the drum;
but if an open top drum is used, considerable spillage occurs
during mixing, and if the drum is rolled about its lengthwise
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1~5986
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 opera-
tions of any portion of the equipment.
It is a genexal object of the present invention to
overcome the above and other problems relating to the disposi-
- tion of radioactive waste materials. Another object is to
provide apparatus and methods for moving containers into the
filling and mixing location, moving the containers into storage
and accurately locating them there, moving them out of storage
to another location such as on a transportation vehicle and
locating them there, and for recovering a container if it should
be upset; and apparatus and methods that can eliminate undesired
radiation from areas in which personnel work. A further object
is to provide apparatus for carrying out such operations by
remote control so personnel need not be exposed to radiation
during operations and to very little if any radiation during
maintenance of equipment. 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 opera-
tion of the apparatus as because of failure of power, air pres-
sure, or other energy source.
This application is a division of Canadian Application
Serial No. 151,515 filed September 12, 1972
To accomplish these and other objects, the parent
invention provides apparatus for packaging fluent material such
as dangerous or radioactive liquids or slurries without direct
human handling, comprising movable supporting means controllable
. . . .
~IL0~5986
by remote control for supporting and moving a container into any
of a plurality o~ preselected locations, the container having an
opening initially closed by removable closure means~ means con-
trollable by remote control, while the container is in a pre-
selected location, for removing the closure means from said
container, retaining the closure means, and replacing the clos-
ure means on the container to close the opening after the con- :~
tainer has fluent material introduced therein; means controll-
able by remote control for introducing into the container an . ~.
amount of the fluent material while the container is in a differ-
ent preselected location; and means controllable by remote con-
trol for agitating the container to mix the contents of the
container while the opening of the container is closed by the
. closure means and while the container is in a preselected loca-
tion different from the one in which the closure means is remov-
ed and replaced, the movable supporting means supporting the con-
' tainer at all times while it is so moved and located in each of
the preselected locations and also while the container is being.
.:~ agitated.
The parent invention also provides a process of pack-
aging 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 o~ the
,~ container while the container is in a preselected locati.on, pro-
,, viding in the container through the opened opening while the
'~ container is in a different preselected location an amount of
,.1 .
: the ~luent material closing said container hy replacing the same
closure means to close the opening while the container is in the
: 30 preselected location in which the closure means was removed and
,~ retained; agitating the container to mix the contents thereof
while the container is in a preselected location different from
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~(~4~ 86
the one in which the closure means t~as removed, retained, and
replaced; and thcreafter removing the container.
The present invention, on the other hand, complements
the parent invention by providin~ apparatus for preparin~ a .
mixture of particles of a predetermlned proportion of finely :
divided particles in a liquid without human handling, compris ;~.
ing a container adapted to contain a dispersion of finely di-
vided particles i.n a liquid ~hich after settling of the dis- ~.
persion in the container segregates so there is a first level
of a mixture of said finely divided particles and said liquid
and above said first level a second level of said liquid that
is essentially free of said particles and of a specific gravity :~
less than the specific gravity of the mixture of particles and
liquid that has settled; means for introducing said`dispersion :
of said particles in said liquid into said container prior to
such settling of the dispersion in the container; means for
sensing the vertical height location of said first level of
said mixture of particles and l.iquid in said container and for ~ :
sensing the vertical height location of said second level of
said liquid in said container; means .for adjusting the amount :.
of the liquid in said container-by removing from said container
from between said first and second levels, liquid that is essen~
tially free of said particles, in accordance with the sensed
heights oE said Eirst and second levels to achieve a desired
proportion of total liquid to total particles in said container; ~ ~.
means for mixing the resulting mixture of particles and liquid . .
to provide a mixture of a predete~mined proportion of said ~:
Einely divided particles in said liquid in said container; and
means for removing said last-named mixture out of said con-
tainer.
The present invention also complements the parent
invention by providing a process of preparing a dispersion of
a predetermined proportion of finely divided particles in a
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4~9~6
liquid comprisin~ introduciny a disperslon of said particles
in said liquid into a container; allowing said dispersion to
settle so that in the container there is a first level of a
mixture of said finely divided particles and said liquid and
above said first level a second level o said liquid that is
essentially free of said particles and of a specific gravity
less than the specific gravity of the mixture of particles and
liquid that has settled; sensing the vertical height locatlons
of said first level of said mixture of particles and liquid in
said container, and of said second le~el of said liquid in
said container; adjusting the amount of the liquid in said
container by removing from between said first and second levels,
bxcess liquid that is essentially free of said particles, in
accordance with the sensed heights of said first and second
levels to achieve a desired proportion of total liquid to total
particles in said container; and mixing the resulting mixture
of particles and liquid to provide a mixture of a predetermined
proportion of said finely divided particles in said liquid. ~.
These and other objects and features of the invention
will be apparent from the following description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which: ,
Figure 1 is a plan section along line 1 1 of Figure 2,
of a bu.ilding and internal equipment embodying the present in-
vention and for carrying out processes of the invention, the
scale being much smaller than full size;
Figure 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Figure 1 and . , .
to the same scale; :~
Figure 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Figure 1 and
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~ L5986
to the s ame sca le;
E~igure 4 .is a plan section along line 4-4 of Figure 2
and to a somewhat larger scale showing the overhead cra~ appara-
tus, the crane being in a somewhat different 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, portions of the
apparatus of Figures 1, 2 and 3 being broken away for the sake
of clearness,
Figure 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Figure
4;
Figure 7 is a plan of the trolley o the crane appara- :
tus along line 7-7 of Figure 5 and to a considerably larger
scale;
Figure 8 is a detail, along line 8-8 o Figure 7,
showing means ~or automatically limiting and halting upward
movement of the grab carried by the trolley;
Figure 9 is a view from line 9-9 of Figure 7 and to
the same scale;
Figure 10 is a view from line 10-10 of Figure 7 and to
the same scale;
Figure 11 is a view to a considerably larger scale o
means for driving wheels o the trolley;
Figure 12 is a view along line 12-12 of Figure 7 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 Figure
: 12, showing driving means for wheels o the crane bridge, parts
being omitted for clarity;
Figure 14 is a view along line 14-14 of Figure 7 show- ~ :
,... .
ing a portion of the means for hoisting the crane grab; ~ :
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4S~6
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 lin~ 17-17 of Figure 7;
Figure 18 is a plan view of the grab of the overhead ~ ;
crane, with the cover removed, the scale being considerably :: :
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 sec- ;
tion along line 20-20 of Figure 18 and to a larger scale showing
limit switch means for controlling rotational movement 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 detail
along line 22-22 o~ Figure 18 showing guide members on the grab .
engaglng guide members on the trolley 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 2~ to 27 inclusive particularly showing
the view on the television monitor screen;
Figure 28 is a view looking upwardly to show the indi-
; cating 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 1 and to a scale consid-
erably larger than that of Figure l;
t~ ~"
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Figure 31 is a side view of the drumming apparatus of
Figure 28, parts being broken away to show the interior mechan-
ism 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 appara- ~
tus for holding the drum in the drumming apparatus; -
F~gure 35 is a detail to a still larger scale, showing
means for securing the cradle frame in each elevated position, :
the view of the securing pin being generally from line 35-35 of :;
Figure 34~;
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 the 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 section
along line 37-37 of Figure 36;
Figure 38, on the same sheet as Figure 33, is a sec-
tion along line 38-38 of Figure 36;
Figure 39 is an enlarged plan view of the filler noz- `
æle 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~
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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 o~ the invention, along line 44-44 of
Figure 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 far a drumming
station;
Figure 48 is a face view of a record board for record-
ing the locations of drums ln 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 viewsof the con-
trol console equipment, shown in Figure 1 in the control station,
for controlling the apparatus, these Figures being to a larger
~: 20 scale than Figure l;
Figure 52 is a plan from line 52-52 of Figure 50; .
Figures 53 to 56 inclusive are views showing how the
grab of the illustrated crane apparatus can be used to grasp a
drum even if it should be lying on its side 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 as the shield wall or other equipment, 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 associated
n . 12
1~5~
equipment mounted on the shleld wall.
General A-rrangem~nt: For illustratlve purposes, the
_ _
below descrlbed embodlment of the invention will be described
in connection wlth ~he di~positlon of the radioacti~e waste ~-
materlnl in the form of resln particles containing radioactive
materlals like those described above, and in the form of
evaporator bottoms, by putting the radioactive material including
water, and cement as a solidifying agent, into a steel drum;
mixing these mz~erials 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 hereafter to
designate steel drums or barrels as such, as well as 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 is to be understood that other suitable
types of solidifying agents such as asphalt o~ certain natural
or synthetic resins, and that suitable liquids other than water,
may be used.
The embodiment generally shown in Figures 1-3 com-
pri~es a building l of rectangular configuration in plan, of
which building upright walls 2, 3, 4 and 5, the ceiling 6 and
the floor 7 are preerably ormed of poured reinforced concrete,
of sufficient thickness to prevent escape of harmful radiatlon
from the interior of the building. The building interior is sub-
divided into an area 8, two drumming stations 10 and 11, two ~ -~
storsge vaults or decay pits 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 materials or
- radioactivity at all times except temporarily when radioactive -~
materials are being shipped from the building, is shown as used
f~r storage of non~radioactive materials such as drum~ D that
- 13 ~
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1~459~6
corl~ain no ra~ioactive materials but may, and in this illustra-
tive embodiment do, contain accurately weighed preloaded amounts
of cement as a solidifying agent. The area 8 has in wall 2 a
vehicle doorway 16 having a door 17 which may be of conventional
automatically controlled type. A personnel doorway 18, having
a conventional door 19, is in wall 4 near station 14.
Each drumming station 10 and ll is equipped, as de
scribed below, with apparatus 21, operable by remote control
from apparatus 23, 24 in operator control station 14, for intro-
ducing radioactive materials and water into drums D, each pre-
loaded with accurately determined amounts of dry cement as a
solidifying agent, all in proper proportions to permit these
materials after thorough mixing to form in the drum a solid body
of controlled weight, and for then thoroughly mixing these in-
gredients.
A drum D containing the resulting mixed radioactive
material, cement and water may then be stored in a storage vault
12 or 13 to permit solidification of drum contents and decay of
radiation until its intensity is reduced to shipable limits.
m e drums are individually identified, and location of and time
that each is placed in storage is 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 disposition. If the radiation intensity of the drum
; contents is initially so high that it is not reducible by
storage for a permissibIe or reasonable time, the drum can be
put into a known type of radiation shielding cask that renders
: . :
, the drum safe for shipment. If, on the other hand, the initial
radiation intensity is sufficiently low, the drum may be shipped
immediately, without storage.
A drum D is picked up from area 8, put into a selected
drumming station 10 or 11 then after proper filling and mixing
~,
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986
moved i~ desired into a selected storage vault 12 or 13; and
when desired moved onto vehicle V by remotely controlled over- :
head crane apparatus 25 (Figures 2, 3, 4) to be described later. `~
These operations are performed by remote control with-
out actual visual access, the operations being viewed through :
television screens and monitored by other means described below.
Buildinq: The interior of the building 1 is subdivid- ::
ed (Figures 1, 2, 3) into the storage vaults 12 and 13 by a
thick center interior wall 26 and transv.erse end walls 27 and 28 ~.
that are joined to wall 26 and extend into relatively close
proximity to but stop short of exterior side walls 2 and 4.
Transverse walls 29 and 30 longitudinally spaced from interior
walls 26 and 27 t and stub walls 32 and 33 joined to outer side
Jwalls 2 and 3 and spaced from transverse walls 29 and 30 set off
the area 8 and station 14 from the vaults and drumming station.
Spaced transverse walls 27 and 29, and 28 and 30 together with .
a portion of center wall 26 and longitudinally extending inter-
mediate stub walls 34 and 35 define the drumming stations 10
and 11.
An extension of wall 35 and a short transverse ~all
36 joined to it define the operator station 14. ;
Walls 34 and 35 together with overlapping longitudinal
wall portions 37 and 38 respectively fixed to transverse walls ~:
27 and 28 and respectivel~ spaced from walls 2 and 34 and from
walls 4 and 35, together with the transverse walls 27 and 28 .~ `.
and walls 32 and 33, define labyrinthian passages 39, 40, 41 and ,.
42 that prevent lateral escape o radiation from storage vaults
12 and 13 and the drumming stations 10 and 11 into area 8 and
control station 14, while permitting access to the drumming ~.
30 station and vaults during construction and later if necessary. :~
All of these walls are of sufficient thickness and
formed of suitable material such as poured concrete, to prevent
59~6
passage through the walls of harmful radioactive radiations.
The interior walls defining the control station, drum-
ming stations, storage vaults and labyrinthian passages extend
to locations below ceiling 6 and are suitably shaped at their
tops to permit clearance for the overhead crane apparatus 24 so
that it can move over and service the entire interior areas of
building 1. ~he labyrinthian passages and the control station
have roofs 44, 45 for safety and added shielding of personnel.
Crane Apparatus: The crane apparatus including a sys-
tem for locating the drums is illustrated in Figures 2 through
29.
The crane apparatus comprises a track 47 including
rails 48, 49 extending lengthwise of the building, a bridge 51
that t.ravels on the track, a trolley 52 that travels on the
bridge and a grab 53, adapted to carry a drum D, that is carried
by and raised and lowered and manipulated from the trolley. As
described below, the grab is provided with remotely controlled
means to mechanically grasp securely a drum D at its upper up-
standing circumferential edge 50.
Indicating means 54 above the trolley is provided to
aid the operator, by remote control from control station 1~, in
accurately locating and grasping a selected drum, or accurately
locating and placing a selected drum, or moving it, in or out o~
storage area 8, a drumming st~tion 10 or 11, or a storage vault ~
12 or 13. .
The indicating means to ~e described below, has on it
indicia 55 (Figures 2, 3, 28, 29) marked, as by number and letter
combinations, that can be viewed and identified by an upwardly
directed television camera 56 (Figures 4, 7) on the trolley that ~.
transmits an image to a television monitor screen 57 (Figures 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
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104598~
accurately located over a desired location for a drum by scan-
ning through the television camera to find a desired indication
on the ceiling, the camera preferably having cross hairs or
other markings to aid location as described later.
The grab will also be provided with a downwardly fac-
ing television camera 58 (Figures 17, 19) that can focus on the
center of the drum. Preferably this camera has on it markings
that, when the grab carrying the camera is lowered a suitable
distance, coincide with markings or structural features on a
selected drum to indicate the height of the grab relative to the
drum on a second television monitor screen 59 (Figures 1, 51)
located in control station 14. By this means, the grab can be
accurately located over the proper drum at the proper height,
after which the grab can be actuated to grasp and lift the drum;
and the grab while carrying a drum can be located in a proper
location to place the drum. :!
Four adjustable surveillance television cameras60, 61
(Figures 3, 4) are mounted on the bridge 51 at suitable loca-
tions so they can scan downwardly to view other locations; these
20 cameras can respectively show their viewed scenes on monitor `;
screens 6~, 63 in station 14 (Figures 1, 51). ;
As further indicated below, the grab is designed to
grasp the edge of a drum that may have toppled to turn tha drum
so its top is up, or to remove the drum.
The track rails 48, 49 are supported from brackets 64
extending from the walls of the building; the rails extend sub-
stantially throughout the length of the building so that the ` `
grab 53 carried by the trolley, by suitable manipulation of the
bridge and trolley can service substantially the entire internal ;
area of the building between the rails. Suitable control means,which may be of known type, are provided in the control station
14 at the monitor screens so that the crane and grab can be
17
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~)459~36
operated by an operator at that station. ~ record board 65
(Figure 48) will be provided on which tags will be hooked ~ear-
ing location indicia, date of filling and storage, radiation
level and other data ~or drums that have been filled and are
stored in the storage area.
The interior of the building is designed to provide a
radiation-free areaat one end in which maintenance work may be
carried out on the crane. Such area is protected by shield
walls from radiation from radioactive materials in the storage
vaults 12, 13 or in drumming stations 10, 11; area 8 may be used
for such purpose in the illustrated embodiment.
Bridge 51 comprises beams 66, 67 fixed at each end to
carriage structures 68 and 69 each having flanged wheels 71 and
7~ that travel on one of the rails of the track. In each car-
riage structure one of the wheels is power driven as described
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 set of wheels 78 is
freely rotatable; the wheels 77 of the other set are power-
driven by electrically energizable drive means 79 on the trolley, ;
that is controlled by suitable known means from the control
station 14.
Drive means 79 comprises (Figures 7-13) a transmission
; unit 81 adapted to drive the wheels 77 of the power-driven set
from shaft 82 ~Figures 11, 12) through universal joints 83 con- . `
nected to the drive axles 8~ 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
! 30 rotated in turn by pinion 88 rigidly mounted on the same shaft
as gear 89. Gear 89 is rotated by a pinion 91 mounted on a
shaft 92 directly connected to an elec~ric motor 93 of substan-
. ~ ' .
-18-
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1~5g86
tial power. Shaft 92 is also a~ap~ed to be connected through ,
an electrically operated magnetic clutch 94 to shaft 95 of an
electric motor 96 of less power which drives shaft 94 at a sub- i
stantially lower speed than motor shaft 92, through gear reducer
97 integral with motor 95. Motors 93 and 96 may be of known -~
type.
When the clutch 94 is disconnected and the motor 93 is
energized and motor 96 preferably de-energized, the trolley 52
can travel at a relatively high speed on the bridge 51. When
10 clutch 94 is engaged and motor 93 is de-energized while unit 96
is energized, the trolley 52 travels at a substantially lower
speed. Therefore, while motor 96 is energized for low speed
operation of the trolley the motor 93 is de-energized and is
rotated from motor 96; while motor 93 is energi7ed for high speed
operation of the trolley motor 96 is de-energized and disconnect-
ed by clutch 94 from the transmission unit and motor 96 to pre-
vent damage to motor 96 from overspeeding. These differences of
speeds are to enable the trolley to be moved along the bridge by
. . . .
motor 93 at a relatively high speed to within a close distance ~
:,
of its destination, and then to be moved slowly by motor 96 to
its final location. Moreover, each of motors 93 and 96 respec- ~;
.: . .
tively has its own isolated power lines forming part of known
energizing and control means dia~rammatically indicated at 93e
and 96e (Figures 10, S0) connected to and controlled from con-
trol station 14. The clutch is also energized and controlled ~`~
I from the control station 14 by means diagrammatically indicated
j at 94e which ma~ be of known type~ Consequently, in the event
of failure of either one of the motors or its power lines, the
trolley can still be moved on the bridge by the other motor to a
desired location on the bridge.
Two wheels 71 of the bridge are freely rotatable, whilethe other two wheels 72 are driven (Figures 5, 13~ by means
-19-
... .. . . . . ~ .. ,~ ~ .
~0~5g86
similar to that which drives the trolley. In this case, each
wheel 72 is connected to a drive shaft 97 that is connected
through universal joints 98 to the output shaft 99 of a trans-
mission unit 100 substantially identical with the transmission
unit 81 that drives the trolley. Power is supplied to this
transmission unit by a motor 101 of substantial power that is
adapted to provide a relatively high speed drive, and alterna-
tively by geared down motor 102 of lower power to drive the
bridge at a relatively low speed. The mechanism inside of trans-
mission unit 100 is essentially the same as that of transmissionunit 81 on the trolley and includes a clutch adapted to be elec-
trically energized and controlled through means 103e from control
station 14 by known means to connect and disconnect motor 102
from transmission output shaft 99. Motors 101 and 102 are also
adapted to be electrically energized and controlled by known
means lOle and 102e from station 14. In this case also, higher
speed motor 101 is adapted to move the bridge to the vicinity
of its final destination 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 final destination. Moreover,
each of motors 101 and 102 has its own isolated independent
electrical power supply means and is independently controlled
from station 1~, so that in the event of ~ailure o~ either o~
the motor units or its power supply means, 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 contains grab hoisting means 104
(Figures 5-10, 14-17) which comprises a winch drum lOS adapted
j to wind ~n and unwind from it lifting cables 106, 107 and 108
that support and raise and lower the grab 53. l'his three cable
arrangement supports the grab in a level position with great
stability so that tilting of the grab is prevented and swinging
-20-
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4~6
is eliminated; it also helps insure accuracy of grab locations
and provides added safety. The winch drum 105 is adapted to be
rotated by a power unit 109 (Figure 7), and is also adapted by
means 110 to be moved longitudinally as required to cause the
cables to wind on and unwind from the drum without piling up on
the drum and also to cause the locations where the cables wind
. ~ .
on and leave the drum to remain laterally fixed with respect to
the trolley.
The power unit for rotating the drum comprises ~Fig~
ures 7, 9, 10, 14, 15) a known commercial unit such as the
"Reuland Hydraulic Pump Mount Motor", manufactured by Reuland
Electric Company of Howell, Michigan and Industry, California.
This unit comprises a first relatively high power, hiyh speed
electric motor 112, and a second relatively low power, low speed
electric motor 113 each directly connected to a shaft 114
(Figure 14) that through a gear reducer unit 115 rotates the
shaft 116. An individually electrically operable brake unit 117
is also connected to shaft 114. Each of motors 112 and 113 has
its own isolated power lines and is independently controlled
from control station 14 by known means 112e 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 toperating
for e~ample at 1800 rpm) can cause the winch drum to rotate at
a relatively high speed for relatively high speed operation to
; bring the grab into relatively close proximity to its ultimate ~;
height level for its destination, and then motor 112 can be de-
energized and the other motor 113 (operating for example at 450
rpm) can be energized to rotate the drum relatively slowly to
accurately locate the grab at its proper level. Moreover, this
arrangement makes possible a sa~ety feature in that if either of
the motors fail or its power supply unit fails, the other motor
_21-
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:., . ,, . . . , . ~ .. . ..
4598~
can be energized to lower the grab or to raise it, with or with-
out a drum D, and enable the trolley to be moved and bridge to
be moved to a place where the failed unit can be corrected.
The brake unit 117 is of the spring loaded type that
applies braking force to the shaft 114 when the brake unit is
not energized, and must be energized to release the brake to
allow the shaft to turn, which provides another safety feature.
Shaft 114 (Figures 14, 16) drives a worm 118 that `
meshes with a worm wheel 119 rigidly mounted on a rotatable axle
portion 121 that slidably but non-rotatably carries shaft 116
on which the winch drum 105 is rigidly mountedO One end of
shaft 116 is carried by a bearing 122 in a sleeve 123 that
rotatably and slidably supports shaft 116. The other end of
shaft 116 has an internal screw thread portion 124 that meshes
with an externally threaded screw 125 rigidly carried at the end `
of the housing reducer 115. ~s the worm wheel 119 rotates, it
rotates shaft 116 and the drum 105 on it. Since screw 125 is
stationary on the trolley, rotation of shaft 116 causes the
shaft and its winch drum to move axially by interaction of
threaded portions 124, 125. The thread pitch of these portions
is such that they cause the drum so 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
winds on or unwinds from the drum. The winch drum i5 of the
same diameter where the cables 106, 107, 1~8 wind on and off the
drum and these portions of the drum preferably have helical
grooves 126 for each cable to aid in insuring level unwinding
and winding of the cables and maintaining lateral positions of
the cables relative to the trolley. Therefore all cables unwind
and wind evenly and at the same rate and in unchanged lateral
positions relative to the trolley to prevent tilting of the
. .
~ grab, provide a stable level position of the grab, simplify ~ ~
; ~'
~ -22- ~
.,~. I
10~5986 ~ ~
control of the grab, and co~tribute to safety.
Because of the worm 118 and worm gear 119 and brake
117, the winch is self braking and halts when 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 periph-
ery that passes through a proximity switch 128 that acts as a ;;
counter connected to known means 128e comprising known indicat-
ing 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 tele-
vision camera 56 of known type connected by known means 56e
(Figures 17, 50) to the monitor screen 56 and controls in the
control station, to show on the screen the scene that is viewed
by the camera, including locating indicia 55. Utilizing this
means, and by suitable control of the bridge and the trolley,
the trolley can be properly positioned to enable the grab 53 to
be located over a drum or other item to be handled, as will be
described later. Light fixtures 129 of known type may be
mounted adjacent the television camera to illuminate upwardly
the scene viewed by the upwardly facing television camera.
These light fixtures are divided into two separate sets each set
having its own isolated known circuit means 129e by which it is
;1 electrically energized and controlled from control station 14.
' The trolley 52 has an opening 130 through which the
three cables 106, 107 and 108 extend downwardly to support the
. grab 53. These cables are arranged so that they support the
grab at locations that are equidistantly and equiangularly
spaced around an axis A of the grab. To accomplish this, cable
30 107 passes directly from winch drum 105 to the grab, while
cables 106 and 108 pass from the winch drum 105 over guide
pulleys 131 and 132 fixed to the trolley and under weighted
.:
~ 23-
. : . .,
~598~ `
pulleys 133 and 134 fixed to supporting and tension sensing
means 135. Means 135 operates so that if cable 106 or 108 be-
comes slack or loses tension its weighted pulley 133 or 134 will
lower and also trip a known limiting device 136 ~Figure 7) such
as a limit switch, the function of which will be later described.
Trolley 52 includes means for automatically limiting
and halting upward travel of the grab 53. The illustrated means
comprises (Figures 7, 8) duplicate limit switches 137 mounted on
the trolley and having a common actuating lever 138, the free
movable end of which extends 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 tra~el. The lever 138 is affixed
to duplicate cams 139 that actuate the limit switches to inter-
rupt electrical current to whichever 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 and control system
is available, and if one set of lights 129 fails, the other is
;~ independently available.
:: .
Grab: The grab 53 (Figures 9, 10, 18-22) which is -
adapted to be raised and lowered by three cables 106, 107 and
108 comprises a rigid frame 140 to which the lower ends of the
cables are connected, each through a lengt~ adjusting means 141 `~
to permit the length of all of the cables to be accurately equal-
ized to support the grab in the desired level horizontal posi-
tion. Frame 140 is of generally circular configuration and has `
a central axis A about which the cables are equidistantly and
.
equiangularly located. Frame 140 rotatably supports by bearing
structure 142 a su~frame 143 that is rotatable about axis A.
Subframe 143 carries, equidistantly and equiangularly about axis
~; ' '` '
-24-
, .:, . :
:, ., . .;: . ,: . -
,, :
1al4S~8~
A, three sets of clamping fingers 144 adapted to clamp ~he up-
standing edge 50 of each drum D. Each set of fingers comprises
(Figures 9, 10, 19) a finger member 145 that is pivotally sup-
ported at its upper end from frame 143 and has a toothed jaw
portion 146 rigidly joined to its lower end. This finger me~ber
is limited against inward tilting movement by its inwardly
transverse lug 147 that bears against a stop nut 148 ad~ustably
mounted on a bolt 149 threaded into subframe 143; and the finger
member is yieldably limited against outward tilting movement by
compression spring 151 that bears against the other side of
transverse lug 147 and against a nut 152 ad~ustably threaded on
bolt 149.
Finger member 145 pivotally carries near its lower end
a cooperating finger member 153 that has a downwardly extending -
portion 154 carrying a jaw portion 155 adapted to cooperate with
jaw portion 146 of member 145 and a guide portion 156 that en-
gages the outer side of the drum to assist alignment of the grab
with the drum. Finger member 153 is of bell crank shape and has
a transversely extending portion 157 pivotally connected through
yoke link 158, compression spring 159 and bolt 160 to vertically
movable actuating member 162. Actuating member 162 comprises a
lower portion 163 to which link 158 of each set of fingers is
connected, and a guide portion 164 that engages a grooved guide
member 165 fixed to rotatable subframe 143 to prevent rotation
of the actuating member relative to the sub~rame.
Actuating member 162 is moved vertically as required
by a gear member 166 rotatably hut immovably axially supported
on subframe 143 and having external teeth 167 and internal
threads 168 that engage external threads 169 on actuating member
30 162. Gear member 166 is rotated by a pinion 171 non-rotatably
mounted on a shaft 172 rotatably carried by subframe 143 and
; rigidly mounting a gear 173 that is rotated as required (Figure
, 25
, ?~
` ' '`
i' :: ' , . . , ; ' : '
1~59~6
18) by either or both of gear~ 174 and 175 mounted on electric
motors 176 and 177. Preferably only one of these motors will be
energized at a tlme, although both could be. Each of the motors
has an individual isolated power supply and is individually con-
trolled from control station 14 by known means diagrammatically
indicated at 176e and 177e. These two motors are provided to
insure that in the event of failure of either motor or its powex
supply, the other motor could actuate the finger sets 144. It
is apparent that when either of the motors is actuated and gear
10 member 166 is 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 either of the motors is rotated to
cause the actuating member to move downwardly, the ~inger mem-
bers of each set are opened. Upward and downward movement of
member 162 is properly limited (Figure 21) by engagement o ver-
tically spaced stop members 178 and 179 adjustably mounted on
upper end of actuating member 162, with actuating members 180 of
duplicate electrical limit switches 181 that are suitably con-
nected to motors 176, 177. Known circuit means 181e makes this
20 possible and also sends signals to control station 14 giving
information of the open or closed positions of the finger mem-
` bers 153. Operation of the finger sets 144 is also reported
visually by camera 58 to the control station.
; Subframe 143 carrying finger sets 144 and motors 176
and 177 is adap~ed to be ro~ated on frame 140 as required by an
electric motor 183 on subframe 143 driving a worm 184 engaging
a worm gear 185 that drives through shaft 186 and flexible
coupling 187 a shaft 188 rotatably mounted on the subframe.
Shaft 188 rigidly carries a drive pinion 189 having external
30 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 ~ -
C 26_
S9516
control station 1~ by known means 183e. By energization of
motor 183, subframe 143 carrying finger sets 1~4 can be rotated
as required about axis A to locate the grab fingers properly to
grasp the desired 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 apparatus or
drums or other objects. In the illustrated embodiment, the
amount of rotation is controlled and limited by engagement of
the movable member 192 ~Figures 18, 20) of limit switch 193
mounted on subframe 143 with angularly spaced stops 194 and 195
fixed on frame 140. The angular distance between stops 194 and
195 is somewhat over 120, permitting the subframe and its fin-
gers to be rotated so that the sets o fingers can cover a 360
circumference. The fingers thus can be turned to engage any
desired portion of the circumferential edge 50 of a drum D. The
fingers can readily grasp drums of varying sizes or out of round
shapes, because of the pivoted supports of generally parallel
members 145 and 158 and the spaced pivotal connections to these
members of portion 157 of member 153. These supports and con-
nections permit the finger sets to move substantial distanceslaterally and still be operative to grasp a drum edge. Guide
portions 156 of members 153 can move the finger sets to accommo-
date out of round or differently sized drums.
Grab 53 also includes the television camera 58 that ic.
directed downwardly. This television camera is mounted on a
cover member 196 that is rigidly carried by main frame 140 of
. the grab, and is coaxial with the axis A of frame 140. It is
located within the actuating member 162 which is made tubular
for the purpose. Cable 197 carries the necessary wiring for the
camera. Cover member 196 completely encloses the upper portion
of the grab. The cover member and seals 198 and 199 between
the main frame 140 and the subframe 143 insure against entrance
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: . , . : :: ,: ~
1~45986
of dust or other contamination to the bearings and gears to
reduce maintenance problems. Electric power is supplied to the
gra~ by cables 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 lamps 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 is energized and ccntrolled from control station 14O
Brackets 202a may be provided to protect the lamps against dam~
age.
E~uiangularly spaced annular guides 203 on the outer ~ -
periphery of the grab engage slotted guide brackets 204 (Figures
18, 22) on the trolley when the grab is in its uppermost position,
thus laterally steadying the grab and its load when the trolley
or bridge is accelerated or decelerated.
It is apparent from Figures 23-27 that the television
camera 58 has, on or adjacent to its lens where it will show on
the viewing screen 59, cross hairs 205 and markings 206, 207,
208, shown on the viewing screens illustrated in Figures 24-27.
The centers of the cross hairs are located on axis A of the grab
and the markings 206-208 indicate radial distances from the axis
A. Consequently an operator at control station 14 viewing the
monitor screen 59 connected to camera 58 can determine the dis- ,
tance of the grab from the top of a selected drum after the grab ?
has been located over the drum. Figures 23-27 illustrate how an
operator can determine the distance of the grab from drum D.
30 Reference numeral 58a indicates television camera 58 and grab 53
at the farthest distance from the drum, and Figure 24 illustrates
the corresponding view of the drum as shown on screen 59. The
! 28
,, . . 1
next farthest camera and grab position is indicated by 58b, while
corresponding Figure 25 shows the drum D as larger. The next
farthest positio~ of the camera and grab are indicated by 58c,
while Figure 26 depicts the corresponding view on screen 59 in
which drum D occupies almost the entire depth of the screen. The
closest position of the camera and grab to drum D are indicated
by 58d and the view on screen 59 is represented by Figure 27
showing the outline o~ the cap opening structure C at the center
of the top surface of the drum. When the cap opening structure
C is of proper size on the screen to correspond with markings
207 at the camera lens, the operator knows that the grab is at `
the proper height and properly aligned with the axis of the drum
to enable finger memhers 14g and 153 of the grab to be actuated
to grasp properly the top edge of the drum as shown in Figures
8 and 9. When the grab is at the proper height as shown in
Figure 27 on screen 59, he reduces the lowering speed; as the
fingers of the grab contact the top of the drum, the cables 106,
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. mis limit switch also serves as an interlock to
prevent the fingers of sets 144 from openin~ when the drum D is
in hoisted position.
The trolley 52 and grab 53 can be readily properly
loca~ed with re~erence to a drum to be picked up or deposited,
by use of indicating means 54 (Figures 2, 3, 28, 29) that is
viewed by the upwardly directed television camera 56 on the
trolle~. ~hè means 54 illustrated comprises supportin~ frames
209 supported and extending near the ceilLng of the building to
support the location indicators 55 at predetermined locations,
so they clear all parts of the crane apparatus. One indicator
55 is provided ~or each horizontal drum location. Indicators are
~ -29-
:~` ~ ' ... . ...... .. .. .
:: : . , , , ;. ,. ~: :
~04598~
therefore provided to locate all drums in each of the storage
vaults, to locate a drum for each position in each drumming
station where the crane is to handle a drum, and to locate all
drums in the general storage location 8. Crossing frame por-
tions 209 at each indicator provide a target for the camera 56.
Indicators bear an accurate relationship to the center position
desired for a drum. By suitable control from station 14, trolley
52 may be moved so an appropriate mark on or near the lens, and
preferably at the center of the lens, of television camera 56
on the trolley is aligned with the target on the appropriate
indicator 55 for the desired location. By suitable further con-
trol from station 14 of trolley 52 and grab 53 the grab can be
lowered and caused to grasp the drum as previously described, and
to be raised to lift the drum and lower it and release it in a
desired location.
Preferably, each indicator 55 has two designations,
one for a direction parallel to an X axis extending longitudin-
ally of the building and one for a direction parallel to a Y
axis extending across the building; in the embodiment illustrat-
ed (Figure 29), each indicator 55 is made up of two portions 55a
and 55b fixed to frame 209 at the proper location, portion 55a
carrying a number designation and portion 55b carrying letter
designation.
The indicators 55 and hence the drums are located on
centers a predetermined distance apart in the X and Y directions
in the storage vault and in general storage area 8. The drums
in the lowermost layer in the vaults and storage area are equi-
distantly spaced in the horizontal X and Y directions; the drums
in the second layer are offset by half the distance between 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 supported by four drums below it in the lowermost layer;
-
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~Q45986
the drums in the third or top layer are also equidistantl~
located in the layer so that each drum is supported by four
drums below it in the second layer and directly over a drum in
the first layer. The indicators 55 on the indicating means 54
are properly located and identified to provide for this.
When the drums are stacked in tiers as in the illus- ~ `
trated embodiment so that drums in a higher 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 appro-
priate surveillance camera screen to check which tier of drums
for which he i5 handling a drum; he could then watch the grab ~ ;
the grab elevation read-out in the control station to decelerate
and halt the grab at the proper level.
In the illustrated crane apparatus the various wires
for transmitting electrical energy for power and control pur-
poses are encased in cables, which are passed through means that
compensate for changes in length of the cable 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 means 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 979,862
published January 6, 1965, but other types may be employed. If
desired, means may also be provided for the trolley to compen-
sate for changes in length of cable between the trolley and grab.
~¦ Drumming Station
General Arrangement of Drumming Station: Each drumming
station (Figures 1, 2, 30-33) has substantially identical appara-
tus; for convenience, only the apparatus in drumming station 10
!
r~ --31--
. , , , . . ` ~ , . . ~
. , ,: ` ;. .~ : , ,
~1~)4S9~6 ~
will be described, it being understood that the apparatus in the
other drumming station is identical except for situations where
parts may be of the other hand for convenience in installation
or operation. Corresponding parts will have identical reference
characters in both drumming stations.
The apparatus in each drumming station comprises sub~
stantially 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 positions of these
lQ components could be changed the basic function of each remains
the same, so the drumming station apparatus can be installed in
a right or left hand arrangement, if such positioning is re-
quired or desired.
Shield Wall: The shield wall 214 serves as a locating
and anchoring means for the other components 215, 216, 127a,b,c.
It is formed of strong metal to support the other components and
to serve as a barrier to stop the escape of harmful radiation
from the side of the shield wall carrying these components, to
the other side. The shield wall may be of any of various thick-
20 nesses, depending on the intensity of radiation expected to be ~ ;
encountered; since it is formed of metal its thickness is sub-
stantialIy less than conventional shielding such as concrete;
moreover the faces of the shield wall may be machined, drilled
and bored to present accurate surfaces for equipment mounting
and uniform smooth surfaces for cleaning if required. Use of
the metallic shield wall and its resulting lesser thickness sim ;~
plifies drive connections and maintenance work done through the
shield wall. A shield wall of steel approximately 12 inches
thick is advantageous for most uses of the invention. ~ `;
The shield wall is rigidly but demountably attached to
the concrete building wall 29 or 30 by an accurately machined,
grouted in frame 218 (Figures 31, 32) surrounding wall opening ~--
.
I -32-
~'~f!
591~6
.,
219 to which the shield wall is secured by bolts and nuts 220 on
the safe side of the shièld wall. Preferably, the shield wall
has a supporting eye 221 at its top. Therefore, the shield wall
can be demounted with the other components still attached, and
bodily removed as by an overhead crane to a remote location for
maintenance or repair; the cantilever mounting of the components
mounted on the shield wall, as described below, facilitates
this; the cantilever supporting of components also eliminates
floor supports and facilitates cleaning. The shield wall prefer-
ably overlaps the opening 219 to provide an offset joint thatprevents possible radiation leakage around the shield wall edges.
The shield wall may be divided into sections 214a,
214b, 214c, by transverse ~oints 214d to facilitate easier hand-
ling 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 ex-
plained later, parts such as drivers 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 radia-
tion leakage. Where space or design does not permit sealing to
: an offset or stepped plug, a secondary shield 225 is provided to
block radiation escape.
Drumming Equipment: The drumming e~uipment 215 illus-
trated a closed housing 226 supported from the side of the
shield wall facing into the drumming station. This housing
(Figures 30-33) has upstanding sides 227, 228 carrying detachably
mounted access plates 229. The top 231 of the housing has a
hatch opening 232 surrounded by upward flange 233, closed by a
hinged hatch cover 234 having inner and outer downward flanges ~;
,~ .
30 235 that overlap flange 233 in the closed position to prevent
; escape of radioactive material. The housing and hatch cover
~ when closed provide a closed enclosure in which drum loading and
.
-33-
~.~45~
mixing occurs. The hatch cover permits access to the enclosure
for introduction or removal of drums, while preventing escape
into the atmosphere of air displaced by materials loaded into
the drum, and while preventing escape of radioactive material
due to splashing should the drum being processed develop a leak
or should material be accidentally spilled during the loading
operation. Hatch cover 234 can be moved to closed and open
positions by a lever 236 pivotally supported on housing 226 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 known fluid-operated
cylinder 239, the fluid valves 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 safety; the spring load can be overridden by hand or by
mechanical means. Housing 226 has a venting conduit 226a pref- ;~
erably connected to a closed venting system.
A fixed loading do~k 241 is externally mounted at one -`~
side of the housing 226 and is adapted to support a drum to be
filled that is first deposited by the crane on this dock. A
fixed unloading dock 242 is externally mounted on the other side
of housing 226; a drum removed from housing 226 is set by the
crane on this unloading dock, and the intensity of radiation
emanating ~rom the drum is measured by known radiation monitor
means 243 that sends by known means 243e electrical signals to `~
the control station 14 where the information is noted. Each of
' .:
. the loading and unloading docks carries a scale 244 connected
i with known means for reporting the scale reading to the control
station. The scales are adapted to be removed from and placed `- ;
30 on their supporting stations by the grab, so if necessary the ;
.:, .
~ scales can be serviced in a radiation free area. ~
i . ~.
Inside of drumming equipment 216 is a drum positioner
. ~r - 34-
~':'~ :
104598~ ~
cradle mechanism 245 (Figures 31, 34a, 34b) adapted to carry a
drum and move it (Figure 32) about a vertical axis P from a
drum loading and unloading position "I", then to a first inter-
mediate position "II" in which the drum is clamped into its
cradle ln a vertical position, then to a second intermediate
position "III" in which the drum is opened by unscrewing and
removing its cap, then to a third intermediate position "IV"
where the drum is filled then back to intermediate position "II~" -
in which the drum is closed or capped, then to intermediate
position 'III'' where the drum is turned end-over-end to agitate
and mix its contents, from which position the cradle returns the
drum to location "I" under the hat~h from where the drum can be
removed by grab 53. The cradle mechanism comprises a vertical
shaft 246 (Figures 30-32, 34a) on which a cradle frame 247 is
rigidly mounted; the shaft is rotatably and vertically slidably
mounted in bearings 248, 249 mounted at the top and bottom o~
housing 226. A cradle 251 rotatably supported in the cradle
frame by bearings in two spaced hub portions 252, 253 of the
cradle frame for rotation about a horizontal axis ~I on its
cxadle frame which thus forms a trunnion in which the cradle can
be rotated to impart to the drum the desired end-over-end motion ;
to thoroughly mix the contents of the drum, tumbliny movement
of the loose mixing weights DW (Figures 5, 6, 31) in the drum
aiding this mi~ing.
The cradle frame 247 is moved to anyular positions I,
II, III, IV indicated above by actuating means (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 recip-
rocated as re~uired by a known mechanism 256 driven from an -
electric motor 257 energization of which is controlled by known
means 257e from control station 14. The linear travel provided
by mechanism 256 may be controlled by known means accurately to
.
-35- ~
.... . . . . .. .
. ,: , . .. . . .
::, , .: . , . ,
.. . . . . .
-~ la4sss6
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 re~uired
to permit movement of the cradle and performance of necessary
, . .
steps in the positions I-IV, by a known type of screw jack mech-
anism 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 means 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
positions I and II.
When the cradle frame 247 is raised to elevation U in
~ either of positions III or IV, an upwardly projecting tapered
; dowel pin 261 (Figures 31, 34a, 35) fixed to the top of the ~ `~
cradle frame engages in the opening 261a of the appropriate one
;~ 20 of two hardened steel bushings 261b in the top wall 231 of the `~
housing 226. This assures accurate and positive location of the
cradle in positions III and IV for the ~illing and capping oper-
ations that are carried out in these positions. i
When the cradle frame 247 is in any of positions I,
III, IV, cradle 251 can be held in a vertical position in the `
cradle frame by a latch member 262 tFigure 34a) pivotally mount- ~
.
ed on the cradle frame and biased by compression spring 263 to
latching 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
266 of a pin 267 that extends through the shield wall and is
adapted to be axially inserted into a flare-mouthed socket 268
': '
-36-
,~
~.. ,.~. , - .. . . . :
, ~,- . . .
:: :. .. ., : :. . :
.` 1C)45986
on the cradle to a depth sufficient to contact and release the
latch member. When pin ~67 is so inserted, it secures frame 2~7
against angular or other movement while the cradle i5 being
rotated about its horizontal axis H to agitate the contents of
the drum. After such cradle rotation has ceased and the cradle
has been properly located with the drum vertical and its cap
side up by suitable known means such as conventional electrical
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 position with respect to its frame
247. Pin 267 is moved axially as required by a double acting
fluid energized cylinder 269 having control valves that are
actuated in a known manner ~rom control station 14 by known
electrical means 269e (Figure 50).
Cylinder 269 is equipped with limit switches 270a and
270b, operated by stop 270c on the cylinder rod to interlock
through suitable conventional circuit means to prevent starting
of the below described means for rotating the cradle while the
latch member 262 engages the cradle.
The drum may be centered and firmly clamped in its
cradle 251 by clamping means as shown in Figures 34A, B. Two
opposing clamping arms 271 and 272 pivotally carry clamping mem-
bers 273, 274 and are rigidly mounted on shafts 275, 276 pivot-
ally mounted in the cradle about axes parallel to the drum axis.
These shafts rigidly carry arms 277, 278 having rounded outer
ends 279 that ride in an external groove 281 of a member 282
that is axially slidably mounted in hub portion 283 of the cra-
dle in hub portion 253 of 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 firmly engage the drum. When the member 282 moves toward
-37-
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J ` '.,. ,.,.' ''., ~`
: ' ' ' ' ,'` ' ~ `'` , `
1~9L59a~6
the drum, the clamping members release the drum.
Member Z~2 is so moved by engagement o~ an internally
thxeaded nut 284 riyidly mounted in member 282 with an externally
threaded screw 285 rotatably but axially immovably mounted on
hub portion 283 of cradle 251. Screw 2~5 has a projecting end
286 that has a polygonal preferably hexagonal cross section.
When, as will be described later, this polygonal end portion is
engaged and rotated relative to the cradle, member 282 will
axially and, depending on itsdirection of rotation, will clamp :
or unclamp the drum.
The clamping means of the cradle is 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 shield wall and carries ` :.
at the drumming station side an internal bearing 287 and its ~ .
other side a removable gear box 288 carrying another bearing 289. ; : `
These bearings carry an elongated member 291 for rotation about ~;`.`. . .
an axis that is coaxial with the axis H of the cradle when the
cradle is in drum rotating position II. Member 291 has an axial
opening 292. On the drumming station side, member 291 carries
a driving coupling portion 293 adapted to engage and drive a
driven coupling portion 294 on hub portion 283`of the cradle when
the cradle is in position II.
Driven coupling portion 29~ has axial and radial dogs
295 adapted to fit loosely in corre'sponding slots 296 of an
intermediate coupling member 297 that is flexibly mounted, as by .
bolts 298 threaded onto rubber mounts 299 on driving coupling
port.ion 293. Intermediate member 297 on its side away from por-
tion 293 has slots 300 alternating with and spaced 90 angularly
:l 30 from its slots 296. Driving coupling portion 293 has radial and
axial dogs 301 that can loosely fit in slots 300. The driving ~ ;
coupling member 297 thus flexibly mounted so it is capable of .
.
-38-
. ~ ~
: : .
86
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 29~ 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 II-L and to readily disengage
when the cradle is moved out of such position. The power means
for rotating the cradle when it is in position II-L is electric ~ -
motor 303 (Figure 31~ controlled by known means 303e from con-
trol station 14, that is adapted to rotate member 291 through
suitable gears 304 in gear box 288.
The hexagonal portion 286 for actuating the clamping
arms can be engaged by a socket 305 mounted on a shaft 306 that
is rotatable and axially movable in member 291. Shaft 306 is
moved axially as required by a double acting fluid operated
cylinder 307 connected through bracket 308 to the end of the
shaft on the safe side of the shield wall and controlled by con-
ventional means 307e from station 14. After its socket is en-
gaged with poly~onal end portion 286, the shaft is rotated as
re~uired to clamp or unclamp the drum, by an electric motor 309
(Figure 31) that rotates the shaft through suitable gears 310 in ~
gearbox 311, motor 309 is controlled from station 14 by suitable ;
known means 309e. Means for insuring that the cradle cannot be
rotated until the drum is clamped in the cradle comprises a feel-
er rod 313 slidably coaxially mounted in shaft 306 and biased
; toward hexagonal portion 286 by spring 214, and limit switches
30 315, 316 adapted to be actuated by a stop 317 on the other end
of the rod as it moves. When the rod is retracted sufficiently
because of sufficient clamping travel of screw 285, the limit
. ; ''.
-39-
. .: , .
~)4S986
switches through suitable conventional interlocking circuit
means 315e, 316e permit rotation of the cradle, otherwise they
do not.
The drumming station also includes cap handling means
320 for removing 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 to
. ~ .
the illustrative process, each drum will contain a preloaded
accurately determined amount of cement or other solidifying ;~
agent Da and one or more freely movable mixing weights Dw
(Figures 5, 6, 31) which may take the form of oblong pieces of
steel about 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 6" in dimensions; a cap 321 closes
the drum.
The drum, which is of generally cylindrical form, has
(Figure 36) a cap opening structure C at the center of the top ~ `
wall 322 of the drum, comprising a steel collar 323 having an
internal 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 ring 327 is clamped
between the drum metal and the flange 325 to provide a fluid-
tight seal between the collar and the drum. The internally
threaded opening 324 is adapted to be closed by cap 321 that has
an external thread that permits the cap to be screwed into the
threaded opening. The cap has a central depression 328 of
circular cross section with vertical serrations or other suitable
gripping surface, and an outward radial flange 329; cap 321 also ;
carries a sealing ring 330 that forms a fluid-tight seal between
the cap and the drum. `
-40-
~:,?'r,,'
i,
104S986
Cap handling means 320 comprises frame structure 331
rigidly mounted on housing 2~6, and a wrench 33~ rotatably and
axially movably supported on the structure 331 to grasp and re
move and replace cap 321. The wrench is a resilient expandable
slotted collet that is resiliently biased to contract and has an
outer surface shaped to fit inside depression 328 of the cap so
that when the collet is expanded it firmly grasps the inner wall
of the depression. The wrench is expanded by a pull rod 333 hav-
ing an externally conical expanding portion 334 that bears
against a matching internally conical sur~ace 335 in the wrench,
so that when the pull rod is drawn upwardly it expands the
wrench to grasp the cap. I
The pull rod is drawn upwardly and moved downwardly as
required by a cam 336 (Figures 37, 38) that is rotated about its
horizontal axis to lift and lower a follower 337 that is slid-
ably mounted on frame structure 331, and supports the pull rod
for rotatable but no relative axial movement. The cam is con-
nected to and rotated (Figures 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 conventional means 339e
from the station 14. The cam is shaped to provide a predeter-
mined amount of tension on the pull rod and collet wrench 332 to
permit the cap to be gripped with ade~uate force to hold it
securely for removal, but not to deform it. When the cam 336 is
turned so it moves the cam follower down, rod 333 is lowered, I
thus moving its conical portion 334 downwardly o 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 screw the cap in the drum to close it. For this
purpose a hollow shaft 341 surrounds and is coaxial with the
,.:
-41-
`
~459~6 `
wrench pull rod and is adapted to support and rotate wrench 332. L
It is supported from frame structure 331 for rotational and
axial movement correlated with the pitch of the threads of cap Z
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 (Figures 33, 36, 38) as ~;
required by a shaft 344 extending through the shield wall to a
gear box and electric motor unit 345 controlled from station 14
by means 345e.
Sha~t 341 is slidably but non-rotatably connected to t
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 t,
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 t
cap, so as to retain exact relationship between threads in the
drum and on the cap to facilitate recapping without crossthread-
ing. The cap handling means is so designed that cam 336 main-
tains 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 me~ns 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 at position III the
drum is ready to have the radioactive material put in it. This
is accomplished ~y locating the drum carrying cradle 251 in the
filling position IV and lifting the cradle and drum to engage
..
-42-
`gC
1(;~4S986
the opening 324 with the fill nozzle 351 (Figures 32, 39, 40) in
the top wall 231 of housing 226. Nozzle 351 comprises a mount-
ing boss 352 fixed ko 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 for
introduction into the drum of radioactive resin dispersion from
the decanting tank, 354b ~or evaporator bottoms, and 354c being
for venting during fillingt being connected by conduit 354d to
a closed venting system, not sho~n. The nozzle portion also has
a smaller opening 355 that may be connected to means 355a for
sensing the level of liquid in the dru~ such as known means for
sensing back pressure when the drum has been filled to the level
of the bottom opening of 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 splash-
ing or leakage during the filling operation. Openings 354a and354b in the nozzle will be respectively connected to a decanting
tank and to a source of evaporator bottoms through metering
pumps to be described later.
Decanting 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 emptying material from the tank. A dispersion or slurry
o~ radio-active resin particles in water is supplied 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 has an internal
:
-43-
.
- i
g~
mixer 363 Eor stirring the material in the tank when desired.
That shown comprises three propellers 364 mounted on a common
shaft 365 rotatable about a vertical axis aligned with the cen-
tral 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 con-
trol 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 con-
taining resin and water in a predetermined proportion. In gen-
eral, the slurry supplied to the decanting tank contains excess
water; and the decanting tank includes means for removing excess
water by decanting.
A dewatering or decanting pipe 369 is pivotally mount-
ed 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
~; 20 can rise and fall with the liquid level. A conduit 371 connects
l ~ the inner end of pipe 369 to one of the metering pumps 217a the
outlet of which is connected by pipe 372 through a fina 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 o~ the radioactive resinparticles in the decanting tank 216 are sensed by sensors 375,
376 (Figures 31, 41-43) that transmit electrical signals giving
information as to levels to the control station 14. Both sens-
;~ ors are identical except for the specific gravities of their
~,, .;~ 30 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
-44-
i ~ `.
~4S~?~6 ` ~
stepped plu~ 379 in a shield wall 214 and through a housing 380
into the tank. Frame 377 is pivotally mounted between its ends
at the end portion 378 on a bracket 381 fixed outside of wall
214.
The outer end of frame portion 378 carries a pulley
382 over which passes a strand 383 such as a stainless steel
cable or wire, that at its free end suspends a float 383a and
extends along the frame and around intermediate 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 upwardly extend-
ing portion 387 adapted to bear against an adjustable stop 388
on the outside of shield wall 215 and carrying a rearward portion
389 on which the winch and motor are mounted. Portion 389 also
carries adjustable balance weight 391 threaded on support 392 ~;
extending 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 limits tilting of frame
375 about its pivot support in a direction that causes the outer
end of frame portion 378 to move downwardly. Frame 377 also ~
20 rigidly carries a transversely extending metal member 393 adapt- ~ `
ed alternately to actuate proximity switches 394 and 395, depend- `
ing on the position of the frame and hence of member 393.
As shown ~Figures 41, 42) the other sensor unit 376 is
substa~tially identical, except that its electric motor and winch
extends in the opposite direction transversely o frame member ~`
377 to conserve space, and acept that its float 383b has a
different specific ~ravity than float 383a of sensor 375.
Float 383b may have a speciic gravity o about 0.5
and is used to determine the level of the surface of the water
in tank 216.
Float 383a has a specific gravity of approximately
1.05 so that it will sink in the water but will float at the
-45-
., .. . . , . . . ~
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.- : .:, . : . "
~L~45986
sur~ace o~ the resin in the tank.
When tank 216 is filled, and also when the resin and
water are being mixed in the tank by agitator 363 both floats
are raised to the top of their travel by their winch drums 385
and motors 386. When the float of a sensor is in its uppermost
position with the float unsupported by liguid, the weight of the
float causes the frame portion 378 to tilt downwardly until
frame portion 387 contacts stop 388. This causes member 383 to
actuate upper switch 394. Circuitry is provided so that if the ~-
circuit is energized 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 weight ~
is removed from the frame 377, which then tilts the other way ~`
around its pivot support until member 393 actuates lower switch
395. This stops the 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 the control station through circuit means 397 including con-
ventional electronic counting means that makes it possible todetermine the distance down to the float elevation and hence the
level of the liquid on which the float floats.
Both sensors operate in essentially identical manner,
except that the float of which one has a specific gravity such
that it detects and senses the level of water, while the other
senses the level of the resin particles after they settle.
The operator at control station 14 can therefore deter-
mine, as from a predetermined curve or chart, the amount of
water that should be left with the resin to provide the desired
30 proportion of radioactive resin particles to the water. He can ~ `~
then actuate metering pump 217a to remove excess water through
the floating and of decanting pipe 369, conduit 371, pump 217a,
j
~ -46-
: ~
~0~5986
strainer 273 and conduit 374 until the desired level is reached,
as indicated by the sensors 375, 376 to provide a dispersion in
the tank of the desired predetermined proportion of water to
resin particles.
After the proper proportion has been achieved, a
proper amount o~ the dispersion can be caused to pass through
conduit 362 from the bottom o tank 216 through metering pump
217b and conduit 398 to port 354a of filler nozzle 351 into a
drum D (Figures 31, 32, 40).
Preferably, spray heads 399 (Figure 30~ are provided ~ ;
inside of the decanting tank to spray clear water to cleanse the
floats 383a and 383b when they are lifted to their highest ele~
vations; their valves can be controlled by suitable means, as
from proximity switches 394.
Metering Pump: 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 drum D, the pump illustrated in Figures 44-46 is ex-
ceptionally advantageous. It delivers accurately measured quan-
tities of liquid and thus makes possible accurate remote control
of the amount of liquid passed from the decanting tank into the
drum. It also makes possible the pumping of clean water for dis-
rupting sedimen~ation of the particles in the tank or conduits,
the use of clean water for sealing purposes, and has safety
features in making possible maintenance of the pump from the
safe side of the shield wall 214.
The illustrated pump 217b shown in the above Figures
comprises a cylinder 400 made up o~ cylinder barrel 401, head 402
containing inlet ports 403 and 404 and outlet ports 405, 406,
and another head 407 made up of internal member 408 and that ~ ?
closes the end of the cylinder and a surrounding member 409 that
contains portions of valve actuating mechanism. The heads are
_
secured to the ends of barrel 401 by being bolted to the ends of
a flanged cylinder 410 that surrounds barrel 401 and has inlet
and outlet conduits 411 and 412 for clear water flow.
The pump is mounted as by bolts 413 on a mounting
bracket 414 that is itself mounted by through bolts 415 on the
shield wall 214. Bracket 414 has a drain opening 416 for escape
of leakage if it might occur.
The pump also comprises a piston 417 fixed to piston ;
rod 418 that extends through head 407 and shield wall 214. The
10 piston has sealing rings 419 a~d rod 418 sealed by means 420 in
ead 407. The piston rod is reciprocated as required by an air
cylinder 421 (Figure 31) supplied with air from pipe 422 connect-
ed to suitable source and controlled by an air valve system 423.
The valve is controlled by suitable known means 423e from the
control station 14 so that it 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 comprises a cylinder barrel 425
20 that is rigidly connected and sealed to heads 402 and 407, and
a movable member 426 including a closure member 427 adapted to
bear against a valve seat 428 in head 402. Movable member 426
also includes piston 429 carrying sealing rings 430 that seal
against escape of li~uid from the space on the side at which
closure member 427 is located to the space on the other side of
piston 429. Movable member 426 is actuated by a valve rod 432 ,
actuated by an air cylinder 433 on the safe side of the shield
wall and supplied with air from source 422 under control of
suitable valves in system 423 remotely controlled from control
30 station 14 by known electrical means 423e.
Valve rod 432 is connected to closure member 427 by a
loose connection (Figure 46) comprising a stop nut 434 on the
-48-
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~04~986
end of the rod and a compression spring ~35 operating between
closure member 427 and piston ~29. Another compression spring
436 operating between piston 429 and a head 437 at the inner end
of valve barrel 425 urges movable member 426 toward the positio~
where its closure member 427 contacts valve seat 428 in sealing
engagement, except when the valve is opened by air cylinder 433.
The air cylinder 433 positively opens the valve by
pulling closure member 427 away from its seat 428. The valve
is impositively closed by the force of the spring 436 as the rod
moves in the other direction; the preset force of spring 435
also insures that closure member 427 will not strike seat 428
with e~cessive force, thereby eliminating possibilities of
chipping or spalling of the valve seat or the closure member and
thus reducing maintenance problems.
All valves are similar in construction and operation. -~
Each is operable independently of the piston 417, and each can
be operated as an outlet or as an inlet valve, depending on how
it is operated relative to the piston operation.
Conduit 411 provides clean water from a suitable
20 course such as an elevated tank or a pressurized tank, to the
space between the outer housing 410 and the cylinder barrel 401
of the pump and the valve barrels 425; and through ports 438 to
the space on the rod side of piston 417 in cylinder 400, and
through ports 439 to the spaces on the rod side of the piston
429 of each valve.
In the illustrated embodiment (Figures 30, 471 this
clean water is supplied to such spaces in all pumps 217a, 217b,
217c, ~rom an elevated tank 440 through an expansion tank 441
and conduit 411. Therefore, as is preferable, the clean water
30 in these spaces at all times is at a pressure higher than the ~ `
; mixture of water and radioactive particles at the piston sides
~ of the pump and its valves. Consequently, any leakage that may
~' ~
-49-
; ~.. ~ ., - ,' . , ' ', ' '.. . . . ' . ~ . "'
1(~4591~
occur past a piston packing in the pump or a valve will be leak- ;
age of clean water into the portion of the apparatus containing
the radioactive materials, and not the reverse. Consequently
there is much less opportunity for the parts including sealing
rings, to pick up radioactive material and thereby make the en-
tire assembly radioactive. 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 flushing can break up any mass
of resin particles that may tend to settle in the decanting tank
to form a cake that is difficult to start with the agitator 363.
Any settling of resin particles that tends to occur, between
drum fillings, in conduit 362 can also be readily disrupted to
- prevent clogging by pumping a small amount of liquid such as ~ -
clean water back through conduit 362 by the pump. Such back
pumping o~ clean water can also provide additional liquid for
agitation in tank 216.
All of the piston and valve rods for each pump 218
pass through a stepped plug 223 that ~its into a corresponding
opening in the shield wall, the steps providing a labyrinthian
joint between the shield wall and plug that prevents passage of
radiation or radioactive materials. This plug can be removed
~rom the safe side o~ 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 of the
. ~J -50-
'`iJ!
: ~
~0~591~6
valve barrels. This permits removal of the piston or movable
valve portions for maintenance, as for examination, lubrication,
replacement o~ packings, from the safe side of shield wall 214 ~
without removing the pump as a whole. If there should be any ;
radioactivity in these parts, then by means o~ long handled
wrenches and mirrors a maintenance man can inspect or take cor~
rective action without exposing himself to radiation.
Bracket 414 as indicated has opening 416 through which
any liquid leaking from the pump apparatus into the housing will `~
drip out into a small tank 444 (Figure 30). If the operator
finds liquid in this tank he w111 know that 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.
This pump is adapted to accept liquid carrying evaporator bottoms
(Figure 47) from a suitable source, such as conduit 445 connect-
ed to a holding tank not shown and discharge through conduit 446
a measured ~uantity o such liquid through ill nozzle 351 into
a drum in the drumming station.
Chemicals in the evaporator bottoms may have a tendency
to crystallize out of solution, and if so it is preferable that
the pump 217c together with its valve and the piping associated
therewith be provided with heatiny means, such as wound heating
elements, to prevent crystallization at lower temperatures.
Pump 217c also is adapted to 1ush clean water through
the pump back through the evaporator bottoms line in order to
clean the pump and line at the end of a drumming session.
Pump 217a which removes excess water from the decanting ` ;~
tank may, if desired, be identical with pump 217b and filled
with clean sealing water in the same manner as that described
above, although it is not necessary that it be a measuring pump.
Preferably the excess water removed from the decanting tank by
! - 51-
:. ;
~45j9f36
this pump passes eventually to the nuclear plant system that sup-
plies evaporator bottoms to the drumming station.
By suitable operation of the proper pumps 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 independently operable so each can be
used as an inlet or outlet valve, and the piston is operable
independently of the valves; 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
particles and liquids containing evaporator bottoms, may be
alternately put into drums, or if desired, both may be put into
a single drum in proportional quantities. If desired, the system
can be modified to handle more than two waste materials alternate-
ly or put all simultaneously in a drum.
Drumming Station Cleaning S~stem: Spray heads 449
20 (Figure 31) connected to clean water source 440 and controlled
from station 14, are provided inside of drumming equipment en-
closure 226 to wash down t'ne walls and equipment in the enclosure
if desired. ~he spray water used flushes down the sloped bottom
~` 451 of enclosure 226 and drains out through a bottom opening 452
in,to a sump tank 453 (Figures 30, 31, 33). This sump tank has
internal baffles 454, 455 to provide a settling tank for fines
that might be in the flush water, thus trapping solids that might
be radioactive and that otherwise could contaminate downstream
; equipment if they entered a plant drain system. Excess water
free of fines flows out through an overflow gate 456 into a
drainage spout 457 discharging into a drain 458 located in the
drumming station floor and connected to plant equipment drain
52-
.
,
.
~()45i9~il6
system 459 that if desired may discharge into the system for
producing evaporator bo~toms. The sump tank is so designed that
it can be moved laterally on rollers 460 on a track 461 to a
location where it can be removed by the crane. It can be placed
by the crane for disposal into a drum, having a completely remov-
able top, which top can be replaced after the sump tank and its
radioactive contents, water and cement or other solidifying
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 liquids or
wastes that may have collected on the floor, as from drum leak-
age or washdown of the drumming station.
~ -
The conduit system of Figure 47 is shown for a single
drumming station, but it can be duplicated. In such case lines
} 361, 445, 450, 459, 462 and 463 as well as other lines, can be
common to two or more drumming stations.
As disclosed above, the illustrative embodiment has
separate piping for each type of radioactive waste to and in the
; drumming station equipment, for safety and continuity of opera-
; 20 tion. The drumming apparatus 215 is completely enclosed and
;~ sealed to allow no escape of liquids, solids or gases except ;i
~: .. ..
; through conduits planned and provided for such purposes. Thus,
a vent system 463 removes and cleanses by known means, air or `~
i gases from decanting tank 216 through vent conduit 216a, and
from drumming housing 226 through vent conduit 226a, as well as
;~ from other locations. The interior of housing 226, and the
1' " ~ - !
equipment in it, can be washed down by remotely controlled spray
heads 449 for decontamination purposes if necessary.
Materials such as radioactive-containing solids washed
30 out of the housing 226 are removed in the described removable
sump by remote control. The above disclosed filling means is
,, .
; also designed to eliminate the possibility of radioactive waste
` f : _53_ :
~' ' ' ' : . ' ' , ' ' , , ' ' , ., "', ' ' .: '" ' .,. ' " "' ' , . ' ' . '" : ' , ,; ' ' ' '
g~6
material being spilled on the exterior of the apparatus of the
drumming station by error or accident.
As disclosed, two separate and independent means are
used to determine the amount of material in the drum and to pre-
j vent overfill; one means comprises metering pumps that pump
accurately determined amounts of fluids into the drums; the
other means comprises the liquid level sensing system indicated.
~ In the illustrative apparatus and process, the solidi-
fying agent, cement for example, and mixing weights are placed
10 in the drums before they enter the system, and 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 undesired mois-
ture or other contaminants that could harmfully affect the solid-
ifying agent or other materials in the drum.
Operation of Drumming Station: A typical cycle of
operations of the drumming station is as follows, assuming that
the cradle frame 247 is located so its cradle 251 is properly
20 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 bro-
ken 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 then causes the hatch cover to closè and the cradle
frame 247 to move to position II. The clamping members 271, 272
30 are then actuated by engaging socket 305 on shaft 306 with poly-
gonal clamp actuating portion 286 of the cradle and rotating
~`~ the shaft as described above, to clamp the drum. The socket 305
'rj ' ' :
, -54-
,''''`1
,. ~ ., ~_,..
.~
:55 ~
~L045986
is then disengaged and the cradle frame angularly moved to locate
the drum at posltion III for cap removal. The cradle ~rame 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 en- ;
gaged 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 posi~
tion IV.
The cradle frame is here raised to cause its pin 261 -~
to enter the socket 261a for position III, and to raise the drum
so the fill nozzle 351 e~tends into the drum. The filling cycle
is then carried out as described previously by supplying a meter-
ed amount of a dispersion o~ radioactive particles in water from
decanting tank 216 or from evaporator bottoms supply line 44S.
After the proper predetermined amount of the disper-
~;~ sion of radioactive particles in the proper proportion of water
has been put into the drum, the cradle frame is then lowered and `
moved angularly to the capping position III where the cradle
frame will again raise the drum so it is in capping relation to
; 20 the cap handling means 320 the wrench of which is still holding
the cap in a position so that when rotated the cap moves down- ~; ;
wardly and engages the threads in the dr~. The cap is then re-
; inserted and screwed tight as described above. The wrench of
the cap handling means is then released and the cradle frame
l~ lowered.
',~ The cradle frame is next moved to position II to
;
locate the closed drum for mixing. As the cradle frame moves
; into position II, the clutch portions 293 and 294 engage as de-
scribed above. The tapered pin 267 is pushed in to secure the
cradle frame against movement and to release the cradle for
rotation. The drive motor 303 for rotating the cradle is then ~ -
started and the drum is rotated end-over-end about axis H to mix
. ~
-55-
~' C
~, .. -~.. ~.. . . - . j
~C~45986
the drum contents thoroughly, the freely movable mixing weights
Dw in the drum greatly aiding thorough mixing. During the latter
part of the mixing cycle, the drum may be washed as it is rotat- ',
ing by water sprayed from heads 449 so that the drum and the
interior of the drum housing 226 can be thoroughly washed down.
When the mixing cycle has been completed, the mixer stops with
the drum in an upright vertical position as described. Socket
305 on shaft 306 is then engaged with polygonal end portion 286
of the clamp mechanism on the cradle, and shaft 306 is rotated ~
10 to unclamp the drum in the cradle. After the drum is unclamped ~-
and shaft 306 is retracted, pin 267 is also retracted to secure
the cradle to the cradle frame with the drum in its upright
vertical position and to release the cradle frame from the hous-
; ing so that it may be angularly moved to position I for
unloading.
Hatch cover 234 is then opened and drum grab 55 lower-
, ed through the hatch into the housing 226 to pick up the drum.
The drum is then placed on the unloading dock 242 where its
~;
weight is checked by scale 244 and its radiation level is moni-
Z0 tored by monitor 243 and the information transmitted electricallyto control station 14 for recording.
e operator places another drum with its predeter-
mined quantity of dry cement on the loading dock 241 as shown
in Figure 30 while the drum being filled is in housing 226 in
~ its ~illing cycle. The scale 244 on the loading dock is used
'~ to verify the cement quantity in the drum, and the drumming
apparatus is ready for the next cycle.
~ ~ter the operator loads the next drum into the cradle
r I and starts the drumming cycle, he then places the processed
~ !
drum in one of the decay vaults 12, 13 for storage and brings
another drum into position on the loading dock. Modifications
may be made in this illustrative process of operations.
_56~
,. . , ~, :
S9~6 `
Control Station: E~uipment in the control station 14
~ is shown in Figures 1, 50, 51 and 52.
,~ The con-trol station includes a control console 23 at
; which the operator will sit and Erom which he can control the
operation of the apparatus by remote control. The control
station also includes unit 24 spaced rearwardly from the control
console and containing other apparatus and the television moni~
tor screens 57, 59, 62 and 63, so that they are at a distance
'~ ~rom the operator to avoid eyestrain.
- I .
As indicated previously, screen 57 is connected to the
television camera 56 on the trolley and is used to locate the
trolley with reference to the indicators 55 on the indicating l~
means 54. As also indicated previously, screen 59 shows what ;~
t~
is viewed by the camera 58 mount~d on the grab 53 and pa~ticu- ;
;; larly to indicate the distance of the grab from the tops of
drums as indicated below. Television screens 62 and 63 are
~, adapted to be connected to selected surveillance television
, cameras60, 61, mounted on the bridge 51 of the overhead crane.
Switches 475 and 476 are used to select the surveil- ` ~-
:.~
lance cameras to be used and to tilt the selected surveillance
~;~ television cameras, which may be o~ known types tiltable by
. .
remote control. The switches are of the type having control
levers that if moved down will cause the camera to tilt downward
and if moved up will cause the camera to tilt upward to a
desired degree. The surveillance cameras may he provided with
" zoom lenses, and these can be controlled by switches associated
with the switches 477 and 478.
Control console 23 is provided with camera control
knobs 479 for properly focusing and controlling the cameras to
30 provide a good image on the television monitor screens.
~; The control console also has electronic counters 481
and 482, 483 and 484. Counters 481 and 482 are connected to the
.~,'. Y, ~ .
, ~ -57-
,
`i
, .. . . ~ ~
10~5986 ~
scales 244 in the drumming stations and used to record the
weights of the drums as they go into the drumming stations and
the weights of the drums as they come out of the drumming
stations. Counters 483 and 484 indicate the grab elevation, and
are actuated by the proximity switch 127 that counts the rota~
tions of the winch drum 105. By this means the elevation of the
grab can be determined without use of the lines on the grab ;
camera screens, as when it is desired to determine or check the
elevation of the grab in locations or at times other than when
it is used to grasp a drum. Push buttons 485 and lights at the
center of the console are used to control the various operations
of the drumming station manually if desired as indicated above.
Switch 486 is used to control the movement of the trolley on the
~ bridge of the crane; switch 487 is used to move the bridge it-
,; self. A switch 488 is used to control the grab hoisting means
104 on trolley 52 to move the grab 53 up and down. Switch 489
' is used to open and close the grab fingers, while switch 490 is
used to control the rotation of the sub~rame 143 and grab fingers ;-
around axis A of the grab. A switch 491 is provided to control
20 a heavy duty hoist if used (Figure 47). ~ `
' ~ The switches 486 and 487 for moving the crane bridge
and the trolley on the crane bridge are five position switches
~, of known type operating in an "H" pattern, in which the fifth
~¦ position is the neutral (o~ center position). When each of
these 9witches is moved in the ~orward direction it will move
the bridge or the trolley controlled by the switch in a given
direction; when it is moved in the reverse direction it will
~; move thè bridge or trolley in the opposite direction. When the
switch is moved to the left it will provide high speed control;
when it is moved to the right it will provide low speed control.
~;~ These switches are so designed that the switch must go through
all positions so that there is no possibility of energizing a
-58-
~104S986
low speed motor when a high speed motor is energized, or the
reverse situation.
The switches 488 and 489 used for controlling the
raising and lowering of the grab and for controlling opening
, and closing of the grab fingers are similar. `~
J.i A record board 65 (Figure 48) showing the plan of the
,..
building and having hooks 492 for drum locations will be mounted -~
in the control station at a location readily accessible to the - -
operator. On these hooks, tags 493 illustrated in Figure 49
10 will be hung. Each of these tags preferably is marked with a ;
drum number identifying the drum, and has a place for the operat-
or to mark the radiation level and the date. me operator thus
can readily keep track of all of the locations and duration in
,F storage of all drums that have been handled. For convenience
only a portion of the hooks and tags are shown in Figure 47, hut
a hook will be provided for each drum position, and tags will be
~1 ~ used wherever a drum is located.
.:
By a suitable drum log, it is also possible for the ~`~
operator to keep a record of each drum to identify it by number,
indicate its weight before filling with radioactive material and
water, the weight after filling with radioactive material and
water, the type of radioactive material, the start and comple-
tion time of the drumming operation, the radiation intensity of
the drum immediately after it has left the drumming station,
;~ and the radiation intensity of the drum at the time 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 station cir-
cuitry is ready for operation. Control box 24 may also contain
disconnect switches to shut down the plant.
Modifications: It is apparent that various modifica-
tions may be made in the illustrated system, apparatuses and
, -59-
:. ~ j. , . . . . . . . . ~ ..
10~986
processes, and also that some or all portions o~ the illustrated -~
apparatus may be used for purposes other than those indicated.
For example, it is possible that, in the course of
operation, a drum containing radioactive material could be inad-
vertently caused to be in a horizontal or tilted position.
Should the radiation be such that it would not be advisable for
a person to approach the drum, the drum can be advantageously
retrieved by the previously described drum grab 53, trolley 52,
and crane bridge 51. Figures 53-56 illustrate a step-by-step
procedure whereby this can be accomplished. The first step,
illustrated in Figure 53 is to align one of the grab support
cables, in this illustrative case cable 106, with one of the
grab finger sets 144. The grab is then aligned and lowered
, until the end portion 154 of finger member 153 contacts the top ;~
~, :
side of the drum adjacent its top edge 50 at its uppermost por-
~ ~ tion when the drum is on its side. The operator then (Figure
;~ 54) continues to lower the grab 53 with the portion 154 of
' ~inger member 153 acting as pivot. Tbe cable 107 is then slack
~`:
' and the grab is supported between finger member 153 and cables
20 106 and 108. When the view from the center of television camera
.,,j
58 on screen 59 appears to be centered on a point midway between
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. ~he grab is then raised as shown in ~
Figure 55, after the fingers have gripped the edge 56 to lift ;
the drum toward a vertical position, Figure 55. It is not neces- ' ;
sary to lift the drum clear of the floor but only to a point `~
where its center of gravity (I'C.G.'', Figures 55, 56) is located
between the fingers gripping the drum and the lower edge of the
drum resting on the floor. The grab is then lowered to allow
the drum to settle to a normal upright position. Thereafter the
grab can be controlled to grasp the drum normally by the three --
',i q' ~ ~
s C -60-
l~Z4s9~6 ~: ~
sets of fingers, and the drum can be hoisted and moved to and
deposited at a desired location.
Another modification can be the addition of a second ;~
heavy duty hoist 406 constructed and powered by conventional
means, to the crane trolley (Figures 57, 58). The trolley 497
Z shown in these figures is otherwise similar to trolley 52 previ-
ously described. Hoist 496 which would be controlled as indi-
cated previously from the control station 14, makes it possible
to move considerably heavier articles than could be lifted by
lO the grab 53 and its hoisting apparatus. For example, this
heavy duty hoist makes it possible to remove the entire shield
wall 214 and all of the equipment mounted on it, including the
decanting tank 216, drumZmZing equipment 215, and pumps 217a, 217b,
217c, and their drives from the drumming station to another area
for maintenance, as shown in Figure 58. Furthermore, if any
~ part or all of the unit made up of the shield wall and its
Z ~ associated apparatus, should become unuseable due to radiation
'J 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
Z,
and made to support and carry the additional loads,
As a further example of modification, while in the
illustrated emboZdiment 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 drumminZ~ station; or
!; a common decanting tank such as a power plant radioactive waste
storage tank could beZ used as a decanting tank for one or more
drumming stations.
~; 30 In the illustrated emZbodiment two drummZing stations
;~,
~- are shown in the building; they provide added capacity and re-
liability if one station should be inoperative for any reasons.
~' '
-61-
~; ¢ ~ '
1~4S~86 J
It is apparent that for smaller installations or where the re- ,~
liability o~ two stations is not desired one drumming station
may be used. For larger installations more than two drumming r
stations can be used.
While the illustrative embodiment discloses advantage-
ous process and apparatus in which excess water is decanted from 1
a tank to provide in the tank a proper proportion of water and
radioactive particulate material which proper proportion is in-
troduced in a predetermined amount into a drum by a metering
10 pump, it is apparent that desired amounts of a mixture of radio-
active material, solidifying agent and liquid in proper propor-
tions 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 1`
agents, and the drums may be handled and shipped with liquid
contents. Since it appears that present regulations do not
require shipment of radioactive wastes in solid form, it may be
20 desirable to ship drums containing wastes in liquid or slurry
,~ .
~ form, and the inventive apparatus and process may be used for
j ~ such purpose.
5. The term "fluent material" is intended to cover slur-
~! ries or dispersions of particulate materials in liquids; liquids
not containing particulate materials; and other flowable materi-
als that may be handled according to the apparatus and process
¦ of the invention. The particulate materials may be of sizes
r ~
$ di~ferent from those indicated above, as substantially larger.
While the container has been disclosed as a steel drum,
it is apparent that other types of containers may be used.
Furthermore, although the invention has been discussed
above in connection with the radioactive wastes resulting from
~ .
5~ 62-
~: , : - , ':: - .
1~4S986
; boiling water or pressure water plants, the process and appara-
tus of the invention may be employed in connection with the dis~
position of other types of radioactive wastes, or radioactive
wastes from other types of nuclear plants, such as those utiliz-
ing sodium or heavy water as heat transfer fluid; and the inven-
tion may be employed in connection with the handling of danger-
ous wastes or chemicals from other types of plants.
Furthermore, it is apparent that the overhead crane
apparatus disclosed, in whole or in part or with modifications
within the scope of the invention, may be used for purposes
other than that disclosed; such other purposes may for example
include the handling of other dangerous wastes or radioactive
materials or bodies such as radioactive fuel elements.
,~
From the above disclosure, it is apparent that the
invention provides process and apparatus in which, by remote
~ control, radioactive waste or other dangerous materials may be
i~ handled, put into containers which are sealed, and the contain-
~ ers handled and moved, without exposure of personnel to danger-
,` ous radioactivity or other dangers arising from the materials.
:, .
, 20 Wherever necessary, all portions of the system are fail safe,
so failure of electric supply or energy fluid such as pressur-
ized air will not cause damage or unsafe conditions. ~11
possible drives, fluid cylinders, controls, and switches are
located in safe areas, usually on the safe side of a shield wall.
l All e~uipment for handling radioactive waste material can be
moved from areas of high radiation to areas of little or no
}~. radiation. For these reasons routine as well as essentially all
major maintenance or repair work can be done safely with little
~¦ if any exposure of maintenance or other personnel to any radia-
tion.
Wherever the metal shield wall 214 that carries the
operative drumming apparatus is penetrated by a drive, the drive
,,, ~ , .
. -63-
.
' ' ' '' ' .: - .
~4S~6
is by means of a rotating or reciprocating shaft in such a man-
ner that the operation is accurately performed and escape of
radiation i9 prevented: this makes for reliability and safety~
To insure that the apparatus performs satisfactorily
with the utmost safety to personnel and the environment, the
apparatus of the invention has a high degree of redundancy or
dualism in drives, controls, viewing means, lights, and monitor-
ing means. For example, the apparatus is designed to avoid com-
1 pletely any spills of radioactive material during placement of
: ;
10 the radioactive material in the drums, closing the drums and r
~ rotating them. But if a spill should occur during any of these
s steps, it is contained in the housing of the drumming equipment.
Sprays are provided to wash the spills into a movable container
; or sump at the bottom of the housing; these sprays also cleanse lr
the inside of the housing and equipment in it to deter radio-
active contamination. The movable container is designed to
cause the solid material to settle out and to be discharged into
~ the plant drain. Also, the crane apparatus is provided with
double drives and circuits for the bridge, trolley, grab hoist-
20 ing means, and grab fingers, so if there is a failure of one
drive of a double, the crane apparatus can be operated with the
other drive.
All necessary lighting in areas exposed to radiation
is provided on the crane apparatus on the trolley and grab, and
~i the lights and lighting circuits are duplicated for safety and
maintenance of operations; and if light fixtures or bulbs or
television cameras must be replaced or repaired, the movable
crane portions can be moved to radiation free areas for such
t purpose. The only fixed lighting that need be supplied is in
30 the control station 14, where it is in a radiation free area.
Where necessary for a high degree of fail safe char-
acteristics, fluid actuated drive cylinders are spring loaded to
~;
i . -64-
~ ~ r
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104S986 ~
close ln the event of electrical or 1uid power failure; exam-
ples are the cylinders for the drumming station hatch, and the
decanting tank valves including those on the pumps. The spring ~
load may be overridden manually or by external mechanical means ~ .
if necessary. ~ ;
From the above, it is also apparent the grab and 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 necessary or desired, other grab means than that `;-
~disclosed can be used, particularly for grasping articles other
~I than drums.
. .~
~ The television camera on the grab is designed and
, ~ .
j ~; located to view the fingers at least in their grasping relation
~!; so that the operator can be certain the fingers are in proper
,j . .
grasping position before hoisting; this provides a means in addi-
tion to the limit switch means previously described, for indi-
cating the position and operability of the fingers.
~,; 20 These and other modifications may be made in the
, apparatus or process disclosed, and other modifications, advan-
tages, and modes of operation will become apparent without
.,,
! departing from the spirit of the invention.
t,I :
t', '
;,
;~ '
;~
.
~ 65
