Patent ID: 6452994
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: G21F

Abstract:
A system for storing exothermic materials, comprising:a first canister adapted to store exothermic materials therein, comprising: a first bottom wall; a side wall extending from said first bottom wall such that said first bottom wall and said side wall form a first hollow structure having a first opening opposite said first bottom wall and defining a first storage volume that exothermic material can be inserted into and supported within; and at least one alignment channel affixed to and spanning at least partially along said side wall between said first bottom wall and said first opening at the exterior of said first hollow structure; and a second canister adapted to store exothermic materials therein, comprising: a bottom support structure adapted to support said first canister when said first bottom wall of said first canister engages said bottom support structure and further adapted to provide at least one bottom opening through which a cooling medium is flowable; an inner wall extending from said bottom support structure, said bottom support structure and said inner wall forming an inner hollow structure adapted to receive at least a portion of said first canister such that at least one open channel is defined between said inner wall of said inner hollow structure and said side wall of said first canister, said inner hollow structure having an inner opening opposite said bottom support structure; a plurality of spacer columns affixed to and spanning at least partially along said inner wall between said bottom support structure and said inner opening at the interior of said inner hollow structure, said spacer columns being adapted to establish said at least one open channel; an outer wall surrounding and spaced from said inner wall; and a second bottom wall extending between said outer wall and said inner wall such that said outer wall, said second bottom wall, and said inner wall form a second hollow structure having a second opening opposite said second bottom wall and defining a second storage volume that exothermic material can be inserted into and supported within, said first canister being maintainable in alignment with respect to said second canister by said alignment channel engaging at least one of said spacer columns.