Patent Number: 045270660
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the concrete shielding housing comprises a pallet-like base 4, a cylindrical concrete shielding wall 5 placed thereon, and a cylindrical cover 6 lying atop the concrete shielding wall 5. The base 4 includes a square base plate 7 having feet 8 mounted at respective corners of the base plate 7 so that the base 4 is configured as a pallet accessible from beneath for moving the same from one location to another. The base plate 7 has a raised supporting or set-down surface 9 formed thereon. The raised surface 9 is of circular configuration and is centered upon the base. The diameter of the set-down surface 9 is smaller than the clear inner diameter of the cylindrical concrete shielding wall 5 which is placed upon the base 4 and aligned with respect thereto by means of alignment equipment (not shown). The concrete shielding wall 5 has inner recesses 11 at its lower end. These recesses 11 are formed as segments and function as air inlet passages. The cover 6 lying upon the concrete shielding wall 5 is likewise provided with openings 12 at its periphery which serve as air outlet passages. The openings 12 are located at the surface of the cover engaging the wall 5. The fuel element container 13 is shown in phantom outline and is depicted as standing on the set-down surface 9 of the base 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer diameter of the concrete shielding wall 5 corresponds to the length of the diagonal of the base plate of the pallet-like base 4. This is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the base 4 is depicted as having a profile when viewed in plan smaller than the profile of the concrete shielding wall 5 when viewed in plan so that the latter overlaps the base. The surface water running down the concrete shielding wall therefore drips directly onto the ground without it first coming to rest on projecting portions of the base 4. Because the base 4 is smaller than the outer diameter of the concrete shielding wall 5, the transport corridors in the storage area can be dimensioned so that they are narrower than heretofore. Other modifications and variations to the embodiments described will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the aforesaid embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the breadth of the invention. The full scope and extent of the present contribution can only be appreciated in view of the appended claims.