ES362858A1 - Improvements in and relating to a transport flask especially for radioactive material - Google Patents

Abstract

A lead flask 1 for transporting radioactive waste is in the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 during loading or unloading but is in a horizontal position 1a during transport, the flask 1 being mounted in a cradle 3 pivoted at 5 on flanges 7 fixed to a base 9 and rotated by jacks 11 connected at 13 to the cradle. The lower end of the flask is closed by a lead-filled slider 65 moved by a jack 17a having jaws 17 engaging a rod 67 on the slider. Two halfshutters 49, 51 pivoted at 53, 55 to the flask have rollers 57, 59, 61, 63 engaging the slider 65 so that when the slider is withdrawn to allow the flask contents to drop through an aperture 9a in the base 9, the half-shutters pivot under gravity to the open position. Similarly, when the slider is returned to the closed position it engages the rollers 57, 59 to lift the half-shutter 49 and the latter lifts the half-shutter 51 through a lever system (Fig. 4, not shown). The flask is filled at the top after removing a cover 43. A locking system for the slider 65 is provided including a padlock (Fig. 6, not shown) to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the slider by the jack 17a. A further locking system locks the half-shutters 49, 51 in the closed position (Fig. 5, not shown), this locking system being actuated by the slider at an intermediate point in its travel during its opening and closing motions.