Patent Number: 045047391
Section: claims

1. A method of filling a radiation shield comprising a free-standing container formed of thin flexible material, said method comprising the steps of: first, filling the radiation shield operable to be free-standing with a gas at sufficient pressure to form the shield into its designed dimensional free-standing configuration; then  second, placing the radiation shield in the desired relationship to a radiation source; and then  third, replacing the gas with a radiation attenuating liquid which also forms the shield into its designed dimensional free-standing configuration.  a step of filling said radiation shield with air.  replacing the gas with a hydrogenous radiation attenuating liquid which is denser than water.  (a) a container being operable to be free standing formed of thin flexible material; and  (b) a first means for filling said container with a gas so as to cause said container to assume its designed dimensional configuration;  (c) a second means for emptying the gas from said container;  (d) a third means for filling said container with a radiation attenuating liquid at the same time that said second means is emptying the gas from said container so as to cause said container to maintain its designed dimensional configuration as the radiation attenuating liquid replaces the gas; and  (e) a fourth means for emptying the radiation attenuating liquid from said container.  (a) a container formed of thin flexible material;  (b) a first means for filling said container with a gas so as to cause said container to assume its designed dimensional configuration;  (c) a second means for filling said container with a radiation attenuating liquid;  (d) a third means for venting the displaced gas at the same time that said second means is filling said container so as to cause said container to maintain its designed dimensional configuration as the radiation attenuating liquid replaces the gas; and  (e) a fourth means for emptying the radiation attenuating liquid from said container.  placing the radiation shield in the desired relationship to a radiation source;  filling the radiation shield with a gas of a sufficient pressure to form the shield into its designed free-standing dimensional configuration; then  replacing the gas with a radiation attenuating liquid which also maintains the shield in its original dimensional configuration. 2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of filling the radiation shield with a gas comprises 3. A method as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of replacing the gas comprises the step of: 4. A method of solidifying in its designed dimensional configuration a radiation shield comprising a container formed of thin flexible material filled with a radiation attenuating liquid, said method comprising the step of maintaining an over-pressure of gas above the radiation attenuating liquid in the shield so as to maintain the shield in its designed dimensional configuration. 5. A radiation shield for use in installations containing sources of radiation, said radiation shield comprising: 6. A radiation shield for use in installations containing sources of radiation, said radiation shield comprising: 7. A method of filling a radiation shield comprising a free-standing container formed of thin flexible materials, said method comprising the steps of: