US3010022A

US3010022A - Radioactive receptacle

Info

Publication number: US3010022A
Application number: US591743A
Authority: US
Inventors: Boekamp Konrad
Original assignee: CLARENCE D TROWBRIDGE
Current assignee: CLARENCE D TROWBRIDGE
Priority date: 1956-06-15
Filing date: 1956-06-15
Publication date: 1961-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-21

Description

Nov. 21, 1961 K- BOEKAMP RADIOACTIVE RECEPTACLE Filed June 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 49 43 5 a I 3L 57 59% I7 5/ 5 FIG. 2

v 5 I I NOV. 21, 1961 BOEKAMP 3,010,022

RADIOACTIVE RECEPTACLE Filed June 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 its Sttes 3,010,022 RADIOACTIVE RECEPTACLE Konrad Boekamp, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Clarence D. Trowbridge, Edwardsville, Ill. Filed June 15, 1956, Ser. No. 591,743 3 Claims. (Cl. 250-106) This invention relates to receptacles, and more particularly to receptacles for radioactive substances (for example, radioactive isotopes) such as may be used in radiography.

Among the several objects of the invention may be notedthe provision of a receptacle for safely transporting a radioactive substance from place to place and using it particularly for radiographic uses, such as the radiographic examination of welds; the provision of a receptacle of this class provided with means whereby the radioactive substance may be safely withdrawn from the receptacle by a person safely remote from the receptacle; the provision of a receptacle of this class provided with means whereby the radioactive substance may be so withdrawn from the receptacle and accurately positioned in relation to an item (such as a weld) which is to be radiographed; the provision of a receptacle of this class which is readily adjustable in position to suit different requirements; and the provision of a receptacle having the stated features which is economical to manufacture and easy to use. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a receptacle of this invention, a handle thereof being shown in an angled position so as not to obscure parts;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross section showing a special handling means of this invention attached to the receptacle; and,

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a moved position of parts.

Corresponding. reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a receptacle made in accordance with this invention is shown to comprise a base 1 which comprises a hollow cylinder having its axis vertical. Pivotally mounted in this cylinder at its upper end is a container comprising a massive generally spherical body or ball 3 of radiation-shielding material, more particularly lead. The lead ball 3 is cast in a two-piece shell 5 of a metal such as copper. Trunnions 7 are secured to the shell 5 on a diameter of the ball, these trunnions being journalled in bearing plates 9 attached to the outside of the cylindrical base 1 by screws 11. The trunnions are accommodated in notches 13 in the base cylinder. Thus, the ball 3 is pivotally mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis coincident with a diameter of the ball.

The receptacle is provided with a bail-type handle 15 having side bars 17 which extend on the outside of the bearing plates 9. Clamp screws 19 extend through openings 21 in the lower ends of the bars 17 and are threaded in tapped holes 23 in the trunnions. Each screw 19 has a handle 25 the inner end of which is engageable with the respective bar 17 for purposes of clamping the ball (and the handle) in various positions of rotary adjustment.

The lead at 3 is cast around an elongate cylindrical socket 26 (of copper or the like). This socket 26 has an enlarged cylindrical outer portion 27. The socket extends into the shell through an opening 28 in the shell 5, the inner end of portion 27 hearing against the shell. The socket is located radially in respect to the ball in a plane perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the ball. The socket is closed at its inner end and provides a cylindrical radial recess 29 extending approximately to the center of the ball through the portion 27, which constitutes a neck on the ball. This recess may be somewhat enlarged, as indicated at 31, at the outer end of neck portion 27. Within the recess 29 is an elongate hollow-thin-walled metal cylinder 33 which is customarily referred to as a pencil. This has a close sliding fit in the recess. It is closed at its inner end by an integral end wall 35. This cylinder 33 is adapted to receive a radioactive substance as indicated at 37, the latter being located at the inner (lower) end of the cylinder on the end wall 35. In the cylinder above the radioactive substance is a slug 39 of radiation-shielding material, more particularly lead. The slug is held in the cylinder 33 by a removable closure 41, more particularly a screwthreaded plug, 'at the outer (upper) end of the cylinder. The plug 41 has a reduced-diameter screw-threaded outwardly projecting extension 43 which serves for the attachment to the cylinder of means for removing the cylinder from the recess, as will be made clear. Means is provided for clamping the cylinder 33 in the recess comprising a set screw 45 threaded laterally in a boss 47 on the shell 5.

A closure 49 of radiation-shielding material is provided for the recess. As shown, this closure comprises a cap made of lead cast in a shell 50 of a metal such as copper. The cap is telescoped on the neck 27. Means is provided for clamping the cap on the neck comprising a set screw 51 threaded laterally in the cap and engageable with the neck 27. Means is further provided for preventing unauthorized removal of the cap. This comprises a sleeve 53 extending lengthwise of the cap on the side of the cap opposite the set screw 51, this sleeve receiving a pin 55 extending outward from the boss 47. The pin 55 has a hole 57 outward of the sleeve for receiving a padlock 59.

The radioactive substance 37 is loaded in the cylinder 33 (the plug 41 and the slug 39 being removed) by remote control means, and the slug 39 and plug 41 replaced. The cylinder 33 is clamped in place by the set screw 45 and the cap 49 applied and locked in place. Then, the receptacle may be safely carried by the handle 15. For using the receptacle in radiography, the ball 3 is tilted, the cap 49 is removed, and then the cylinder 33 may be safely removed, for example, by means of a long pole having a fitting at one end for screwing on to the plug extension 43. Then, with the cylinder 33 at the end of the pole, the end of the cylinder containing the radioactive substance 37 may be held on one side of an object to be radiographed opposite a sensitized film. However, the invention further comprises a special means 61 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for use instead of a pole for withdrawing the cylinder 33 from the receptacle and accurately positioning it in relation to an object to be radiographed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, means 61 comprises a guide constituted by an elongate metal tube 63. Fixed on one end of this tube is a collar 65 having a counterbore in its outer end forming an annular socket 67 between the collar and the end portion of the tube for receiving the neck 27 on the ball 3. A set screw 69 is threaded laterally in the collar for clamping the tube to the neck. In the other (and outer) end of the tube is fixed a cord guide 70. The tube is provided with a series of pin-receiving holes 71 for reception of a stop constituted by a pin such as indicated at 73 at various distances from the inner (lower) end of the tube. A long cord 75 (fifty to one hundred feet long, for example) extends lengthwise in the tube and out through the guide 70. The excess of cord outside the tube may be wound on a reel (not shown). Fastened to the end of the cord in the tube is a screwathreaded fitting 77 adapted to be threaded on the extension 43 of the plug 41.

In using the means 61, the cap 49 is removed from the neck 27. The fitting 77 is brought out of the tube 63 (still attached to the cord) and screwed on the extension 43 of plug 41. Then the tube 63 is applied to the neck 27 and clamped by means of set screw 69. With screws 19 loosened, the ball 3 and tube 63 may be swung for engagement of the tube with the object to be radiographed, then screws 19 are tightened. The base cylinder 1 is provided with a cut-out 79 to accommodate the neck 27 of the ball to allow for counterclockwise swinging of the ball from the position shown in FIG. 2 to a position wherein the neck is horizontal. The pin 73 is inserted in the appropriate holes 71 to locate it at a distance outward from the region to be radiographed corresponding to the length of the cylinder 33 plus the length of the fitting 77.

Then the user withdraws to a safe distance and pulls on the cord 75 to draw the cylinder 33 out of the ball 3, into the tube 63, and along the tube to the point where further movement is arrested by engagement of the fitting 77 with the pin 73 (see FIG. 4). This locates the end of the cylinder 33 containing the radioactive substance 37 immediately adjacent the region to be radiographed, and the radiographic film is then exposed. Following this, the cylinder 33 is allowed to slide back into the ball, and then it is safe to approach the ball, remove the tube 63, remove the fitting 77 from extension 43, and apply the cap 49.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for a radioactive substance such as a radioactive isotope, particularly for use in radiography, comprising a base, a ball of radiation-shielding material having outwardly extending trunnions journalled in the base for pivotally mounting the ball for rotation on a diameter of the ball, a handle pivoted on said trunnions, means for clamping the ball and handle in various positions of angular adjustment, said ball having a radially projecting neck and a radial recess extending into the ball through the neck in a plane perpendicular to said diameter of the ball, a hollow cylinder for containing a radioactive substance having a close sliding fit in the recess and adapted to slide out of the recess, said cylinder being closed at its inner end and having a plug screw-threaded in its outer end, said plug having a reduced-diameter screw-threaded outwardly projecting extension for attachment of means for removing the cylinder from the recess, a slug of radiation-shielding material in the cylinder, means for clamping the cylinder in the recess, a cap of radiation-shielding material telescoped on the neck, means for clamping the cap on the neck, and interengaging means on the cap and container for application of a lock to lock the cap to the container.

2. A receptacle for a radioactive subtance such as a radioactive isotope, particularly for use in radiography, comprising a base, a ball of radiation-shielding material having outwardly extending trunnions journalled in the base for pivotally mounting the ball for rotation on a diameter of the ball, a handle pivoted on said trunnions, means for clamping the ball and handle in various positions of angular adjustment, said ball having a radially projecting neck and a radial recess extending into the ball through the neck in a plane perpendicular to said diameter of the ball, a hollow cylinder for containing a radioactive substance having a close sliding fit in the recess and adapted to slide out of the recess, said cylinder being closed at its inner end and having a plug screwthreaded in its outer end, said plug having a reduceddiameter screw-threaded outwardly projecting extension for attachment of means for removing the cylinder from the recess, a slug of radiation-shielding material in the cylinder, means for clamping the cylinder in the recess, a rigid tubenadapted to receive the cylinder removably attached at one end to the neck, a cord extending through the tube, a fitting fastened to one end of the cord and screw-threaded on said extension, and a stop carried by the tube for engagement by said fitting and adapted to be positioned at various locations along the length of the tube.

./ 3. A receptacle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stop comprises a pin extending laterally across the tube through holes in the wall of the tube, and the tube has a series of such holes for positioning the pin at various locations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,571,302 Smith Oct. 16, 1951 2,670,443 Pennock et a1. Feb. 23, 1954 2,684,447 Gilks July 20, 1954 2,750,517 Baum June 12, 1956 2,772,361 Hiestand Nov. 27, 1956 2,798,164 Untermeyer July 2, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Industrial Inspection With Reactor Isotopes, Eric T. Clark, Proceedings of the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, vol. 15, pages 188 to 193, Aug. 20, 1955.