Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A transportation assembly for transporting radioactive material, comprising:(a) an outer container having first and second ends, wherein the outer container defines an inner cavity, the outer container having an inner shell, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell comprises a plurality of layers including at least one layer of chopped fiberglass mat, at least one layer of aramid fabric, and at least one layer of a double bias glass fabric, the inner shell further including at least one stiffening member disposed at either of the first and second ends of the outer container, wherein the stiffening member is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end; and(b) an inner container disposed within the inner cavity of the outer container. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is designed and configured to transport fissile material. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer container further includes an outer shell. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer container further includes an intermediate liner disposed between the inner shell and the outer shell. 5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer shell is galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel. 6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the intermediate liner is polyurethane foam. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell includes at least seven layers, including double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, and double bias glass fabric. 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell includes at least ten layers, including double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, four layers of double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, and double bias glass fabric. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer container includes first and second ends and wherein at least a portion of the inner shell at either of the first and second ends further includes a stiffening member. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a body and a lid, and wherein the inner container includes a clamshell closure system to secure the lid to the body. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the outer container includes at least one recessed area in the inner cavity to receive the clamshell closure system. 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner container has a body and a lid, and wherein the inner container includes a ceramic gasket disposed between the body and the lid. 13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer container includes first and second portions couplable to one another at an interface and a ceramic gasket disposed at the interface. 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the ceramic gasket is a silicone-coated ceramic gasket. 15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second portions, when coupled to one another at the interface, are securable to one another by a plurality of latches and a plurality of fasteners. 16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer container includes at least one forklift pocket for transportation of the assembly by a forklift. 17. An outer container to provide protection for an inner container for transporting radioactive material, the outer container comprising first and second portions defining an inner cavity, the first and second portions both having an inner shell, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell comprises a plurality of layers including at least one layer of chopped fiberglass mat, at least one layer of aramid fabric, and at least one layer of a double bias glass fabric, wherein the inner shell further includes at least one stiffening member disposed in either of the first and second portions of the outer container, the stiffening member being oriented in a plane substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis extending through the outer container. 18. The outer container of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell includes at least seven layers, including double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, and double bias glass fabric. 19. The outer container of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell includes at least ten layers, including double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, four layers of double bias glass fabric, chopped fiberglass, aramid fabric, and double bias glass fabric. 20. The outer container of claim 17, further comprising first and second ends, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell at either of the first and second ends further includes a stiffening member. 21. An outer container to provide protection for an inner container for transporting radioactive material, the outer container comprising:(a) first and second portions coupled to one another at an interface, wherein the first and second portions define an inner cavity, the first and second portions each having an inner shell, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell comprises a plurality of layers including at least one layer of chopped fiberglass mat, at least one layer of aramid fabric, and at least one layer of a double bias glass fabric, wherein the inner shell further includes at least one stiffening member disposed in either of the first and second portions of the outer container, the stiffening member being oriented substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis extending through the outer container; and(b) an outer container closure system for securing the first and second portions to one another, wherein the outer container closure system includes a plurality of latches and a plurality of fasteners. 22. The outer container of claim 21, wherein the outer container includes at least one forklift pocket for transportation of the assembly by a forklift. 23. A method of transporting radioactive material, comprising:(a) placing an inner container into an outer container, wherein the inner container contains the radioactive material, and the outer container includes first and second portions defining an inner cavity, the first and second portions both having an inner shell, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell comprises a plurality of layers including at least one layer of chopped fiberglass mat and, at least one layer of aramid fabric, and at least one layer of a double bias glass fabric, wherein the inner shell further includes at least one stiffening member disposed in either of the first and second portions of the outer container, the stiffening member being oriented in a plane substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis extending through the outer container; and(b) securing the first and second portions of the outer container using an outer container closure system, wherein the outer container closure system includes a plurality of latches and a plurality of fasteners.