Patent Number: 051026155
Section: claims

1. A container for storing and transporting radioactive material comprising: a vessel, having an upwardly open cavity for accommodating said radioactive material, said vessel having walls with a core of concrete shielding material enveloped and isolated within a continuous metal lining; and  a cap, covering the top surface of said vessel sealing said cavity, said cap having a core of concrete shielding material enveloped and isolated within a continuous metal lining, the lower outer peripheral edge of said cap being continuously welded to the upper outer peripheral edge of said vessel.  an upwardly open internal liner the inner surfaces of which define said cavity, having side and bottom walls;  an external vessel liner, spaced outward from said internal liner having side and bottom walls; and  a top vessel plate, having a central opening defining said cavity, an inner portion of said top vessel plate adjacent said central opening being continuously welded to an upper portion of said internal liner and an outer portion of said top vessel plate being continuously welded to an upper portion of said external vessel liner, said concrete shielding material filling the internal space defined by said internal and external vessel liners and said top vessel plate.  a bottom cap plate;  a top cap plate, spaced upward from said bottom cap plate; and  an external cap liner having side walls the top and bottom portions of which are continuously welded respectively to the outer portions of said top and bottom cap plates, said concrete shielding material filling the internal space defined by said bottom and top cap plates and said external cap liner.  a vent pipe communicating between an upper portion of said cavity and the exterior of the container; and  venting control means within said vent pipe for sealing said vent pipe and for enabling fluid to pass between said cavity and the exterior of the container.  a drain pipe communicating between a lower portion of said cavity and the exterior of said container; and  drain control means within said drain pipe for sealing said drain pipe and for enabling fluid to pass between said cavity and the exterior of said container.  a vent pipe communicating between an upper portion of said cavity and the exterior of the container;  venting control means within said vent pipe for sealing said vent pipe and for enabling fluid to pass between said cavity and the exterior of the container;  a drain pipe communicating between a lower portion of said cavity and the exterior of said container; and  drain control means within said drain pipe for sealing said drain pipe and for enabling fluid to pass between said cavity and the exterior of said container.  aligning pins connected to the top surface of said vessel; and  aligning sockets within the lower surface of said cap corresponding to and mating with said aligning pins to align said cap upon said vessel.  a gasket ring, between the top surface of said vessel and the lower surface of said cap, adjacent said cavity, sealing said cavity. 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said vessel, cavity, and cap are of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section, said vessel and cap having rounded longitudinal edges. 3. A container according to claim 1 wherein said vessel has a continuous metal lining comprising: 4. A container according to claim 1 wherein said cap has a continuous metal lining comprising: 5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said concrete shielding material comprises aggregates selected from the group consisting of magnetite and specularite. 6. A container according to claim 1 wherein said continuous metal lining comprises material selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium, and carbon steel plate. 7. A container according to claim 1 wherein outer surfaces of said container are coated with epoxy paint to facilitate radioactive decontamination. 8. A container according to claim 1 wherein said vessel includes two diametrically opposing lifting lugs attached to its outer side walls for lifting said vessel and container. 9. A container according to claim 1 wherein said cap includes a lifting eyelet attached to its top surface for lifting said cap. 10. A container according to claim 1 comprising: 11. A container according to claim 1 comprising: 12. A container according to claim 1 comprising: 13. A container according to claim 1 comprising: 14. A container according to claim 1 comprising: