JP2000168839A - Cushion for transportation container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively absorb a larger shock and to more safely transport a substance received inside. SOLUTION: The cushion 14 is attached to an external end of a cylindrical transportation container body 12, wherein numerous hollow spheres 22 with the same diameter and the same thickness are closely filled inside a hollow- structured cover member 20 with an external shape with an end of the transportation container body fitted in. For example, metallic or synthetic resin hollow spheres 22 are filled inside the cover member made of stainless steel. The inside of the hollow sphere 22 may be effectively pressure-reduced or made to be a vacuum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shock absorber mounted on the outer end of a cylindrical transport container body, and more specifically, to a transport structure in which hollow spheres are densely filled with hollow spheres inside a wrapping member having a hollow structure. The present invention relates to a buffer for a container. This technique is not particularly limited, but is useful, for example, for a buffer in a sealed container for transporting a radioactive substance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For the transport of radioactive materials, dedicated containers according to the types of radioactive materials are used to ensure sufficient enclosure (confinement function) and safety. The transport container for radioactive material generally comprises a transport container body for storing the radioactive substance inside, and a buffer attached to the outer end thereof. Here, the transport container body is composed of a combination of a bottomed cylindrical storage container and a lid, and has a sealable structure. The shock absorber effectively absorbs the impact force at the time of collision or drop, and protects the stored radioactive substance from leaking from the transport container body.

[0003] This type of buffer varies depending on the type and weight of the transported material, but is usually formed by simply forming a stainless steel into a hollow donut shape, or a balsa or redwood material inside. And the like, each of which is attached to each of the outer ends of the transport container body.

[0004] In the case of a shock absorber made of stainless steel simply formed into a hollow donut shape, when the weight of the conveyed goods is large, an excessive impact force is applied to the stored radioactive material due to insufficient shock absorbing power, and the radioactive Since a situation in which the substance leaks from the main body of the transport container to the outside is also conceivable, it is adopted as a relatively lightweight buffer for the transport container.

On the other hand, a shock absorber in which stainless steel is formed into a hollow donut shape and the hollow portion is filled with wood such as balsa material has a larger shock absorbing power than a shock absorber simply formed into a hollow donut shape. Therefore, it is generally widely used as a buffer for a heavy transport container.

[0006]

However, wood has a different ability to absorb impact force (not isotropic) depending on the angle between the direction of the grain and the direction in which the impact force is applied, and the wood itself is soft and easily damaged. There is a drawback that design and processing are difficult.

Further, when the impact force is extremely large, the wood is crushed instantaneously, so that there is also a problem that the impact absorbing effect cannot be expected so much.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and to effectively absorb a larger impact force.
An object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber for a transport container that is devised so as to be transported even more safely.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cushioning member mounted on the outer end of a cylindrical transport container body, wherein the outer member has an outer shape into which the end of the transport container body fits, and has a hollow structure. Is a buffer for a transport container having a structure in which a number of hollow spheres of the same material, the same diameter and the same thickness are densely packed inside.

[0010] By densely filling a large number of hollow spheres of the same material, of the same diameter and of the same thickness, the ability to absorb shock becomes isotropic, independent of the direction in which the shock is applied, and the reproducibility is high. , Reliability is also improved. Specifically, for example, a metal or synthetic resin hollow sphere is filled in a stainless steel encapsulating member to form a buffer for a transport container.

The interior of the hollow sphere may be at normal pressure, but may be at reduced pressure or vacuum. When the impact force is expected to be extremely large, if the inside of the hollow sphere is decompressed or evacuated, the ejection of internal air when the sphere is crushed is suppressed, and secondary impact can be prevented, The impact force absorbing effect becomes more effective.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a radioactive substance transport container to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The radioactive substance transport container includes a transport container main body 12 for storing the radioactive substance 10 therein, and a buffer 14 attached to an outer end thereof. The transport container main body 12 may be the same as a conventionally known one, and is manufactured as a sealed structure having sufficient shielding performance for transporting on public roads. Here, it is formed of a combination of a bottomed cylindrical storage container 16 and a lid 18.

The shock absorber 14 effectively absorbs the impact force in the event of a collision or drop, and protects the stored radioactive substance from leaking from the transport container main body 12. One for each side and lid. Here, the buffer 14 has the same material, the same diameter and the same thickness inside the cap-shaped outer member 20 having a hollow shape and having a concave portion into which the end of the transport container body 12 just fits. A large number of hollow spheres 22 are densely packed. The enclosing member 20 is, for example, formed by processing stainless steel into a predetermined shape, and the hollow sphere 22 is made of metal or a hard synthetic resin.

In an image, a large amount of hollow spheres of the same size or larger than that of a ping-pong ball made of metal or hard synthetic resin are produced in large quantities, and they are completely filled in the hollow portion. By densely filling hollow spheres of the same material, the same diameter and the same thickness, the disadvantage of the prior art that the ability to absorb the impact force differs depending on the direction in which the impact force is applied is eliminated.

Next, a specific design procedure of the buffer will be described. Since the ability to absorb impact differs depending on the material, diameter, and thickness of the sphere, the characteristic curve of the impact absorption force using the material, diameter, and thickness as parameters is experimentally determined in advance, and the design conditions of the transport container are determined. The material, diameter, and wall thickness of the sphere having an appropriate margin for the impact force obtained from are determined.

The above procedure is the same in the case of the conventional shock absorber. However, in the case of the hollow sphere used in the present invention, as described above, the ability to absorb the impact force depends on the direction in which the impact force is applied. As a result, the characteristic curve of the shock absorbing power with higher reproducibility and higher reliability than wood can be obtained by a relatively simple experiment on a laboratory scale.

Further, when the impact force is extremely large, when the densely packed hollow sphere is instantaneously crushed, the air in the sphere is discharged into the hollow portion in the enclosing member of the buffer at once like a jet jet. there's a possibility that. Then, there is a possibility that a large secondary impact may be applied to the transport container body due to the repulsive force of the compressed air, and as a result, a sufficient impact absorbing effect may not be obtained. In particular, when such a situation is expected, the inside of the hollow body is preferably kept in a reduced pressure state or a vacuum state.

Regardless of the magnitude of the impact force, it is clear from the above description that the impact absorption effect is improved by keeping the inside of the hollow sphere in a reduced pressure state or a vacuum state. Alternatively, the designer decides whether or not to make a vacuum state in accordance with the magnitude of the impact force obtained from the design conditions of the transport container, cost effectiveness, and the like.

Although the buffer for a transport container of the present invention is particularly suitable for a transport container for radioactive substances which emphasizes safety, it goes without saying that it can be applied to a transport container for any other substance. It can be used for transportation by vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As described above, the shock absorber according to the present invention has a different ability to absorb impact depending on the material, diameter and thickness of the hollow sphere. The characteristic curve of the shock absorption force is experimentally obtained, and the material, diameter and thickness of the hollow sphere having an appropriate margin for the shock force obtained from the design conditions of the transport container are determined.

The material, thickness, etc., of the shock absorber when a transport container weighing about 10 to 100 tons is assumed will be described below.

The material of the enclosing member is generally stainless steel in a transport container weighing about 10 to 100 tons, but may be titanium alloy or lead. Weight 10
For transport containers of tons or less, wood, reinforced plastic, etc. can be used in addition to these metals. Both have a thickness of 1
0 mm or less.

The diameter of the hollow sphere is about 50 mm to 100 mm. If the size of the encapsulating member is too large, dense packing becomes difficult, and if it is too small, the shock absorbing power becomes weak, and it is difficult for any of them to have a sufficiently good effect as a buffer.

The thickness of the hollow sphere has a close relationship with the material. For a metal such as stainless steel or a titanium alloy, the thickness is about 2 mm to 5 mm. For a hard synthetic resin, the thickness is 5 mm to 5 mm. It is about 10 mm.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large number of hollow spheres of the same material, the same diameter and the same thickness are provided inside an outer-surface-shaped hollow structure covering member into which the end of the transport container body fits. Since it is a buffer for a densely packed transport container, a transport container that can effectively absorb a larger impact force and can be transported more safely can be obtained. In the present invention, since hollow spheres of the same material, the same diameter and the same thickness are used, the ability to absorb the impact force is not affected by the direction in which the impact force is applied. The characteristic curve of the high shock absorption power can be obtained by a relatively simple experiment on a laboratory scale, so that the reliability is significantly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing one embodiment of a radioactive substance transport container to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an AA cross section of the buffer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Radioactive substance 12 Transport container main body 14 Buffer 16 Storage container 18 Lid 20 Enclosure member 22 Hollow sphere

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 27, 1999 (September 9, 1999
7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Wherein encased cushion for transportation container member 請 Motomeko 1 wherein Ru der stainless steel. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 30, 1999 (1999.11.
30)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cushioning member mounted on the outer end of a cylindrical transport container body, wherein the outer member has an outer shape into which the end of the transport container body fits, and has a hollow structure. Inside, is made of metal of the same material, diameter and thickness
Or made of hard synthetic resin and the inside is reduced pressure or vacuum
This is a buffer for a transport container having a structure in which a large number of hollow spheres in a state are densely packed.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0010] By densely filling a large number of hollow spheres of the same material, of the same diameter and of the same thickness, the ability to absorb shock becomes isotropic, independent of the direction in which the shock is applied, and the reproducibility is high. , Reliability is also improved. As an enclosing member
Is desirably made of , for example, stainless steel.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The inside of the hollow sphere is, DecreasePressure or vacuum
TossYou.When the impact force is expected to be extremely large
CombinationToInside a hollow sphereButDecompression or vacuumIs
And the blast of internal air during crushing of the sphere is suppressed,
Impact can be prevented and the impact absorption effectExtremely largeWhat
You.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shock absorber to be attached to an outer end of a cylindrical transport container body, wherein the same material, the same diameter and the same diameter are provided inside a hollow-structured enclosing member into which the end of the transport container body fits. A buffer for a transport container, wherein a plurality of hollow spheres having the same thickness are densely packed. 2. The shock absorber for a transport container according to claim 1, wherein the envelope member is made of stainless steel, and the hollow sphere is made of a metal or a hard synthetic resin. 3. The buffer for a transport container according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the hollow sphere is decompressed or evacuated.