US2843163A - Filling device for radioactive tracer injector - Google Patents

Description

y 15, 1958 w. R. POSTLEWAITE 2,843,163

' FILLING DEVICE FOR RADIOACTIVE TRACER INJECTOR Original Filed July 12. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. POSTLEWAITE ATTORNEYS July 15, 1958 w. R. POSTLEWAITE 2,843,163

FILLING DEVICE FOR RADIOACTIVE TRACER INJECTOR Original Filed July 12, 195] 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. POSTLEWAITE ATTORN EYS July 15, 1958 w. R. POSTLEWAITE 2,843,163

FILLING DEVICE FOR RADIOACTIVE TRACER INJECTOR Original Filed Jui 12, 1951 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. POSTLEWAITE Ada-11. -M.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent FILLING DEVIcE non RADIOACTIVE TRACER INJECTOR William R. Postiewaite, Menlo Park, Califi, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Caiifornia Research Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 12, 1951, Serial No. 236,388, now Patent No. 2,758,754, dated August 14, 1956. Divided and this application September 15, 1955, Serial No. 534,467

1 Claim. (Cl. 141-366) This invention relates to a device for injecting a tracer material into a fluid conduit. It pertains particularly to a device for injecting a measured amount of a fluid radioactive tracer into a pipe line carrying petroleum products under pressure conditions. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 236,388, filed July 12, 1951, entitled, Injector, which issued August 14, 1956, as Patent No. 2,758,754, and is particularly directed to apparatus for filling the radioactive isotope storage chamber.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide an injection apparatus which will permit radioactive substances to be employed as the injected material without endangering operating personnel; which will be provided with safeguards against unconfined spillage or loss of any of the radioactive substances; which will be positive in its operation; which will allow predetermined measured amounts of the radioactive material to be inje'cted into a fluid line substantially as a slug and against the pressures existing in the line; and which will be provided with means to purge the portions of the apparatus in direct communication with the pipe line with a nonradioactive fluid to make the injection clean cut and prevent any subsequent undesired leakage of a residue of the radioactive material into the pipe line. Other objects will be obvious, or will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To accomplish these objects, the invention comprises novel apparatus which is properly enclosed and shielded to prevent contact with, or undue exposure to, the radioactive substance contained therein. The various manipulative functions necessary to control the apparatus are arranged to be accomplished from positions comparatively remote from any accumulations of the radioactive substances contained therein. The conduits and chambers which contain, or through which the radioactive material passes, are arranged to confine the material or any vapors therefrom within the apparatus and to prevent any malfunctions or accidents afiecting the proper flow of the radioactive substance through the device from permitting its escape therefrom to the surrounding area.

To aid the disclosure of the inventive concept, one specific embodiment of it will be illustrated and described.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents in elevation a sectional view of portions of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional plan view of portions of the apparatus along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrates particulars of the form and relationship of some of the parts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the apparatus and presents a detail of valve structure.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the valve structure along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of portions of the apparatus, partly in section, showing a means for replenishing the supply of radio-isotope in the injector, and indicating also a means of enclosing the apparatus within a 2,843,163 Patented July 15, 1958 2 housing to prevent undue or unauthorized contact with, or close approach to, sources of radioactivity.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a reservoir 10 adapted to receive and store a quantity of a liquid radioactive material, indicated by the numeral 11, which subsequently will be injected in measured amounts into a petroleum products pipe line in a manner to be described. To prevent the emanations from the radioisotope creating a health hazard, the reservoir, as well as other pertinent parts of the apparatus, is surrounded by a shield 12, which may be lead or other suitable material of sufficient thickness to reduce the radio emanations to a level which will be safe for the operator to Work in. The shield is placed around all portions of the apparatus where appreciable amounts of the radioactive material will be held, or in which it will be concentrated during the operation of the injector. The shield 12 has an inner cavity 13, in which the reservoir 1%) is positioned, of such inner dimensions as to provide an air space substantially entirely surrounding the reservoir. The bottom portion of the cavity is provided with a channel 14. Conduit 15 is connected to the channel and terminates at its lower portion adjacent a drain 16, which is connected to a conduit 17, leading to an underground waste tank, not shown. The channel 14 and conduit 15 will serve to entrap and remove any waste radioactive materials which may find their way into the cavity 13 by overflow, spillage, venting or other means, and in cooperation with the drain 16 and the conduit 17 will conduct such waste materials to a properly shielded waste tank where they can be accumulated until they are disposed of. The lower portion of the conduit 15 is open to the atmosphere, and thus the cavity 13 is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

The top portion of the reservoir is partially closed by a cover member 18, through the central portion of which is formed an opening 19. The opening is of such dimensions as to permit the reservoir to be filled through it, yet exclude dust or other extraneous materials from entering the reservoir during the filling operation and subsequently interfering with the proper operation of the device. This opening provides a communication between the interior of the reservoir and the cavity 13, and permits the space in the reservoir above the level of the radioactive material contained therein to be maintained at atmospheric pressure.

Connected to the lowermost portion of the reservoir is a conduit 20 leading downwardly to a valve 21, which may be opened to permit communication with the conduit 15. The valve serves as a means to connect the conduit 20 With the conduit 15 so that the contents of the reservoir may be drained of? to Waste should it become necessary to empty the reservoir or to clean any residue therefrom. Normally, the valve 21 will be closed.

4 Connected to the conduit 20, in a position between the reservoir and the valve 21, is another conduit 22 which leads to a level gauge 23. The lower portion of the gauge and its connections are enclosed within an extension of the lead shield 12, While the top portion is exposed outwardly of the shield to permit it to be visible. The visible portion of the gauge may be formed of a transparent heavy-walled tube of a small diameter bore which will hold a minimum quantity of the radioactive material to thereby reduce the radiation hazard incident to its relatively exposed condition. The tube has a cover 24 and is vented to the atmosphere by means of an opening 25 in its upper portion. The cover has a depending skirt portion 26 extending circumferentially around and in spaced relationship to the top portion of the tube, in a position to form a baffle over the vent opening 25, to prevent dust or other extraneous material from entering the tube. The bore of the tube is in constant communication with the interior of the reser-.

voir through the conduits 20 and 22, and since both are at atmospheric pressure, the liquid level in the gauge will be the same as the level of the liquid tracer material in the reservoir. The gauge may be calibrated to indicate the quantity of material in the reservoir.

Extending downwardly from the conduit 22, from a position between the reservoir and the level gauge, is a conduit 27 which has a valve 28 in its lower portion. This valve is arranged to be closed to prevent flow from the conduit 27, or to be opened to permit flow into a passage 29 extending through the valve body and thence into a measuring gauge 30. This gauge may comprise a vertically disposed transparent tube 31, connected at its lower end to the passage 29, and vented at its upper end into the cavity 13 by means of a conduit 32. The interior of the tube will thus be at atmospheric pressure. The tube is mounted in appropriate supports at each end to prevent any leakage of radioactive material from it.

The measuring gauge is disposed at a level below that of the reservoir so that if the valve 28 is opened, the contents of the reservoir will flow by gravity through the conduits 22 and 27 and passage 29 into the tube 31. A calibrated scale 33, Fig. 2, is placed adjacent to the tube to permit a reading of the quantity of tracer material therein. By properly manipulating the valve 28, a measured amount of tracer material can be permitted to flow into the measuring gauge.

In order to protect an operator from the radiations of the material being measured, the measuring tube is substantially enclosed in an extension of the shield 12 formed as a baifle around the tubing, as indicated in Fig. 2. The shield is made with a longitudinal opening 34 in one vertical wall thereof, generally parallel to the tube but positioned in a manner to prevent a direct line of sight with the tube. A mirror 35 is placed within the shield and positioned adjacent to the opening at an angle which will enable the reflection of the tube and scale to be observed by the operator. A light source 36 is placed outside of the shield in a position to direct light through the opening 34 to the space within the shield and be reflected from the inner surface thereof to illuminate the tube 31 and its associated scale 33.

The other end of the passage 29 is connected through a conduit 37 with a three-way valve 38 which is exemplified in Figs. 3 and 4. The valve body has a plug 39, rotatably mounted in it and movable to the positions of measure, drain, and injection, the significance of which will be explained hereinafter. A passage 40 is formed in the valve body, extending from the face of the plug to, and in communication with, the conduit 37. The plug has formed in it a passage 41, terminating at a point on its face in a position to register with the passage 40 when the plug is in the drain position, and

extending thence into and axially through the plug to one end thereof where it communicates with a chamber 42.

A second passage 43 is formed in the valve body, extending from the face of the plug to, and in communication with, a conduit 44, which is connected to a source of fluid under pressure. Air is a desirable, but not exclusive, medium for this purpose. The plug terminus of the passage 43 is circumferentially displaced from that of passage 40 but located to be brought into alignment with the passage 41 when the plug is rotated to the injection position. The conduit 44 has a shutoff valve 45 placed in it, and a pressure gauge 46 is connected to the conduit upstream of the valve to indicate the line pressure of the fluid.

In the measure position, the plug closes the adjacent ends of the passages 40 and 43 and prevents any flow through the three-way valve. If, now, the valve 28 is opened, the tracer material will drain from the reservoir 10 through the associated passages into conduit 37 and passage 40 and, as this conduit fills up, through the passage 29 and thence into the measuring gauge. If desired,

the gauge may be calibrated with the zero gauge position at the bottom of passage 40, that is, at the face of the plug. Alternatively, the zero position may be at some visible point in the gauge glass. When the desired quantity of tracer material has been allowed to flow into the gauge, the valve 28 is closed.

The plug 39 is now rotated to the drain position,

bringing the passage 41 into alignment with the passage and permitting the contents of the measuring gauge to drain into the chamber 42. If the zero point of the gauge is established at the bottom of passage 40, the plug may remain in the drain position until all of the tracer material has been drained from the measuring gauge. Otherwise, the plug will be held at the drain position only so long as is required to drain the predetermined desired amount of material from the gauge.

To prevent the residual air in the chamber 42 from interfering with the gravity flow of tracer material from the measuring gauge, the chamber is vented to the atmosphere through the conduit 47, communicating with its upper portion and controlled by a valve 48. The conduit 47 is looped upwardly to a point above the level of the tracer material in the reservoir 10 and thence downwardly to connect with the conduit 17 leading to the Waste tank. The purpose for this particular arrangement of the vent conduit will be described hereinafter.

Chamber 42 is connected through a conduit system 49 to a pipe line 50, which carries fluid products under pressure. A check valve 51 is placed in the conduit system and arranged to open in the direction of flow from the chamber to the pipe line to prevent the pipe line fluids from flowing into the chamber. A shut-off ,valve 52 and flexible loop 53 may be provided in the system. The conduit system terminates within the pipe 50 in a nozzle 54, which may be designed to give a desired spray pattern.

After the measured amount of tracer material has been drained into chamber 42, the plug 39 is rotated to the injection position, thereby permitting the pressurized fluid from conduit 44 to enter the chamber 42. Normally, the valve remains open so that the pressurized fluid is available at valve 38 for this purpose. The pressure gauge 46 will indicate if the fluid pressure is suflicient to overcome the known pressure in the products line before the fluid is let into the chamber 42. Alternatively, valve 45 may be kept closed until the plug 39 is rotated to the injection position, after which it may be opened to introduce pressurized fluid into the chamber 42. It is desirable that the tracer be injected into the pipe line in a compact body, substantially as a slug of material. To accomplish this end, the pressurized fluid in conduit 40 is maintained at a substantially higher pressure than the products in pipe line 50. To insure against small quantities of the tracer material remaining in the chamber 42 or conduit system 49 after the injection has taken place, and thereby eliminate the possibility that particles of the radioactive tracer will be introduced into the pipe line products at undesired times, suflicient pressurized fluid is permitted to flow through the pertinent parts of the apparatus to purge these elements. As a result the injection will be rapid and clean cut, with no substantial attenuation of the tracer along the pipe line.

The fluid under pressure enters chamber 42 above the level of the liquid tracer material therein, and forces the valves 28 and 38 and into the chamber 42, or if through some inadvertence these valves are left open and the tracer material permitted to flow through them and flood the chamber, the excess material will overflow into the vent conduit 47. 'ifhe disposition .of the conduit to an elevation above that of the liquid leyel in the reservoir will cause the excess tracer material to be trapped in the apparatus, from which it can be recovered. If, through some further inadvertence, the threeway valve is turned to admit pressurized fluid into the chamber 42 when it is flooded, or if pressurized fluid should leak through the valve and into the chamber, the excess material that may be in conduit 47 will be blown from it into the waste conduit 17 without being sprayed about the apparatus, or causing any dangerous contamination of the apparatus or its surroundings. By venting the chamber 42 into the waste line, any radioactive gases or vapors forming in the chamber during the normal operation of the device will be exhausted to waste.

' During normal operation of the injector, only valves 28 and 38 need be manipulated to achieve sequential injections of measured amounts of tracer material into the pipe line. Valve 28 has connected to it shaft 55, which has aflixed to its end a handle 56, by which the valve can be opened or closed. The plug 39 of valve 38 is rotated by a shaft 57, to which is aflixed a crank 58. Indicia may be placed opposite the crank to indicate the appropriate positions of it to set the valve for the conditions of measure, drain, and injection. The valve shafts are constructed to be detachably connected to the valves so that they can, if desired, be removed when the injector is not in use, to prevent accidental operation of, or unauthorized tampering with, the apparatus.

The injector assembly is supported on a frame 59. The whole structure is surrounded on its sides and top by an enclosure 60 of sheets of metal or other suitable material. The dimensions of the enclosure are proportioned to provide sufficient inner space to reduce the radiations from the radioactive material in the apparatus to a safe level of intensity for the operator of the device. On one side, the enclosure is formed with a hinged wall 61, which is locked closed when the apparatus is not in use, but which may be opened to expose an inner wall 62. The inner wall has built into it a transparent portion 63, through which the gauges of the apparatus may be observed. Properly located openings are formed in the inner wall to permit the shafts 55 and 57 to be inserted through the wall and connected to their respective valves. The valve handles 56 and 58 will be enclosed in the space between the inner and the outer walls if the outer wall 61 is closed when the respective shafts are attached to their valves. When the wall 61 of the closure is opened, all the valves and gauges necessary for the normal operation of the apparatus are made available for observation and manipulation. Any adjustment of valves or repair work to be performed within the principal enclosure is undertaken only when the proper precautions are taken to protect personnel against radiation hazards. The top portion of the enclosure has a removable section 64, Fig. l, to permit access to the reservoir 10. I

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, the means and method used for replenishing the supply of tracer material in the reservoir 10 will be described. The portion of the shield directly above the reservoir 10 is constructed to be remov- .able, in the form of a cover 65. A resilient gasket 66 is interposed between the cover and the body of the shield to provide a vapor-tight connection between the two. The top portion of the cover is formed with a downturn skirt 67, circumferentially surrounding the upper edge of the body of the reservoir shield, to form a dust bafile and to prevent free dispersion into the atmosphere of any tracer material that may accidentally be ejected from the reservoir compartment and pass the gasket. A loop 68 is affixed to the cover to aid in lifting it off the apparatus.

The tracer fluid is stored prior to being placed in the reservoir in a container 69 of steel or other appropriate material. The container ordinarily will rest in a position inverted from that shown in Fig. 5, so that the opening 70 will be uppermost. The opening is formed with screw threads 71 to receive a removable solid plug, not shown, which provides a positive closure. Ordinarily, the container is stored in a lead shield of appropriate thickness to reduce the emanations from the radioactive tracer material to a safe level.

It is not desirable to approach the container closely when it is withdrawn from its shield for the emptying operation, even though the time required may be of short duration, and so provision is made for handling it and controlling the flow of material from it from a distance. To accomplish this, a member 72 is provided which will screw securely into the opening 70 and which has two long handles 73 and 74 detachably connected to it in a manner to extend therefrom transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container. The handles may be knurled or otherwise treated at their ends to provide a form gripping surface, and hand guards 75 and 76, respectively, are mounted on them to prevent the hand from slipping along the handle toward the container. The member 72 has a passage 77 through it, communicating at one end with the opening 70 of the container and connected at the other end to a valve 78. The valve is operated by a long shaft 79, to which an appropriate hand wheel is attached, which extends outwardly from the valve body at an angle to insure clearance with the shield 12 when the container is mounted over the reservoir 10. The shaft is constructed to be readily detachably connected to the valve.

A conduit element 80 is afiixed to the valve body and in communication with the passage 81 through the valve. A hollow cylindrical member 82, closed at one end by a transverse wall 83, is secured to the element 80 so that the element extends through the wall and terminates within the interior space of the cylinder. The inner diameter of the cylindrical member is sufiicient to permit it to be mounted over, and to circumferentially surround, the upper portion of the reservoir 10, with the end wall 83 resting on the cover 18 of the reservoir. In this position the conduit element 80 will extend through the opening 19 in the reservoir cover in communicating with the interior of the reservoir.

Preparatory to replenishing the supply of tracer fluid in the reservoir, and while the container 69 is still enclosed within its shield in an inverted position, the conduit element 80 carrying the cylindrical member 82, the valve 78, and the member 72 are assembled together, and the handles 73 and 74 are attached to the assembly. The valve 78 is closed. The storage shield for the container is uncovered, and a long-handled tool is used to remove the closure plug. Using the handles 73 and 74 to maintain a safe distance, the assembly is screwed on to the container.

The top portion 64 of enclosure 60 is removed from the apparatus, and the cover 65 of shield 12 is lifted off, exposing the reservoir 10. Using the handles 73 and 74, the container and its attached assembly is lifted from the shield, inverted, and placed over the reservoir 10 in the position described heretofore. Handle 7 9 is then attached to the valve, and the valve opened to permit the contents of the container to drain into the reservoir.

When the refilling is completed, valve 78 is closed, the replenishing apparatus is removed, and the covers replaced on the shield 12 and the enclosure 60. The replenishing apparatus is disassembled and contaminated parts cleaned or stored within shielded enclosures.

It will be obvious that modifications may be made of the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein without departing from the inventive concept disclosed, and it is intended that the invention embrace all equivalents and modifications within the limits of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a device for temporarily connecting a cylindrical radioisotope reservoir having a top opening to a shipping container for a liquid radioisotope, said container having a single passage communicating with the interior thereof, said device comprising a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a valve in said passage, an elongated handle for said valve, means at the inlet end of said passage for connecting it to said container when the latter is in an upright position, a conduit at the end of said passage opposite said inlet and, at least one elongated handle for said body extending transversely with respect to said body, an outlet conduit for said passage, a hollow cylindrical member having an end wall surrounding said conduit and of such diameter as to circumferentially surround at least the upper portion of said isotope reservoir so that said end wall engages the upper end of said reservoir when said device and said shipping container are inverted over and lowered upon said reservoir, said handles being of such length as to reduce the intensity of harmful radiation from said radioisotope to a safe operating level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 370,159 Regester Sept. 20, 1887 431,315 Barlow July 1, 1890 687,253 Morgan Nov. 26, 1901 711,467 Brown Oct. 21, 1902 1,270,849 Lundstrom July 2, 1918 1,537,002 Bradley May 5, 1925 2,058,118 White Oct. 20, 1936 2,290,720 Watson July 21, 1942 2,477,838 Toleik Aug. 2, 1949 2,565,909 Cartmill Aug. 28, 1951

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