Patent Number: 047330929
Section: claims

1. An internal radiation attenuation system for a radioactive environment having a substantially enclosed radioactive workspace having an internal configuration with at least one entrance portal, said workspace internal configuration having an upper wall or ceiling, side walls and a bottom wall, comprising: means for forming a frame for supporting a plurality of radiation attenuation means to substantially conform to at least a portion of the inside of said workspace internal configuration, said frame means including a plurality of interlocking segments, including means for assembling said segments into said frame means, said interlocking segments form a skeleton spaced around the periphery of said internal workspace, interlocked with one another, said frame means further including means for supporting said radiation attenuation means around at least a portion of the periphery of said internal workspace, said frame means skeleton forming a free standing support structure standing and supported primarily by said bottom wall without vertical support from said ceiling. 2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means include means for supporting said radiation attenuation means adjacent the top of said internal workspace. 3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said radiation attenuation means include means for movably covering the top of said internal workspace. 4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable covering means include a plurality of radiation attenuation panels and means for moving said panels in a fan shaped path covering a substantially semicircular top portion. 5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said support means include means for supporting said panels in at least two separate fan shaped paths. 6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means include means for supporting said radiation attenuation means adjacent the sides of said internal workspace. 7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said radiation attenuation means include means for movably covering the sides of said internal workspace. 8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said interlocking segments form a skeleton spaced around the periphery of said internal workspace, interlocked with one another. 9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said interlocking segments include a plurality of rib portions which interlock forming the sides, and bottom of said skeleton. 10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein said interlocking segments include a plurality of band portions which interlock around the top periphery of said internal workspace forming the top of said skeleton.