Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A multi-purpose canister for storing and/or transporting radioactive materials comprising:a first pressure vessel comprising a first shell forming a first cavity for receiving radioactive materials, a first plate connected to the first shell so as to enclose a first end of the first cavity, and a first lid directly connected to the first shell so as to enclose a second end of the first cavity;a second pressure vessel comprising a second shell forming a second cavity, a second plate connected to the second shell so as to enclose a first end of the second cavity, and a second lid directly connected to the second shell so as to enclose a second end of the second cavity; andthe first pressure vessel located within the second cavity and fixedly bonded to the second pressure vessel so that an inner surface of the second shell is in substantially conformal surface contact with a substantial entirety of an outer surface of the first shell. 2. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 wherein the first pressure vessel is permanently bonded to the second pressure vessel. 3. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 wherein the first shell and the second shell are constructed of a metal. 4. The multi-purpose canister of claim 3 wherein the first pressure vessel is fixedly bonded to the second pressure vessel by an explosive joining, a cladding process, a roller bonding process, a mechanical compression process, or a combination thereof. 5. The multi-purpose canister of claim 3 wherein the first shell is made of a metal having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second shell is made of a metal having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is equal to or greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. 6. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 further comprising:an inner surface of the second plate being in substantially conformal surface contact with an outer surface of the first plate; andan inner surface of the second lid being in substantially conformal surface contact with an outer surface of the first lid. 7. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 further comprising:the first shell, the first plate, the first lid, the second shell, the second plate and the second lid constructed of a metal; andall connections between the first shell, the first plate and the first lid are accomplished via through-thickness welds; andall connections between the second shell, the second plate and the second lid are accomplished via through-thickness welds. 8. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 further comprising:the first pressure vessel having an outer surface and the second pressure vessel having an inner surface; andwherein the entirety of the outer surface of the first pressure vessel is in substantially conformal surface contact with the inner surface of the second pressure vessel. 9. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 further comprising:the first shell having a first edge, a second edge and a first axial length;the second shell having a first edge, a second edge and a second axial length that is greater than the first axial length; andthe first pressure vessel positioned within the second cavity so that the first and second edges of the second shell extend beyond the first and second edges of the first shell respectively. 10. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 further comprising:a plurality of elongated tubes located within the first cavity; andeach of the elongated tubes comprising a tubular body forming a space for receiving radioactive materials and a ventilated cap having at least one hole forming a passageway from the first cavity into the space. 11. The multi-purpose canister of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of poison rods located within the first cavity between the elongated tubes. 12. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 wherein the first and second shells are cylindrical and constructed of metal. 13. The multi-purpose canister of claim 1 wherein the first cavity comprises an inert gas atmosphere. 14. An apparatus for storing and/or transporting radioactive materials comprising:a multi-purpose canister having a body comprising a first metal pressure vessel and a second metal pressure vessel;the first metal pressure vessel having an outer surface and forming a cavity for receiving radioactive materials;the second metal pressure vessel having an inner surface;the first pressure vessel located within and fixedly bonded to the second pressure vessel so that a substantial entirety of the outer surface of the first metal pressure vessel is in substantially conformal surface contact with the inner surface of the second metal pressure vessel; andwherein the first metal pressure vessel is formed by a first set of structural components and the second metal pressure vessel is formed by a second set of structural components, the structural components of the first and second sets being mutually exclusive. 15. A multi-purpose canister for storing and/or transporting radioactive materials comprising:a first structural assembly forming a cavity for receiving radioactive materials, the first structural assembly forming a first gas-tight containment boundary surrounding the cavity;a second structural assembly surrounding the first structural assembly, the second structural assembly forming a second gas-tight containment boundary surrounding the cavity;wherein the first structural assembly and second structural assembly are in substantially conformal surface contact with one another and fixedly bonded together; andwherein the first structural assembly is formed by a first set of structural components and the second structural assembly is formed by a second set of structural components, the structural components of the first and second sets being mutually exclusive. 16. An apparatus for storing and/or transporting radioactive materials comprising:a multi-purpose canister having a dual-walled body comprising:an inner wall comprising a first shell forming a cavity for receiving radioactive materials, a first plate connected to the first shell so as to form a floor of the cavity, a first lid enclosing the cavity and directly connected to the first shell, the first shell, the first plate and the first lid forming a first radiological containment boundary about the cavity;an outer wall comprising a second shell surrounding the first shell so that an inner surface of the second shell is fixedly bonded to and in substantially conformal surface contact with a substantial entirety of an outer surface of the first shell, a second plate connected to the second shell, a second lid directly connected to the second shell, the second shell, the second plate and the second lid forming a second radiation containment boundary that surrounds the first radiological containment boundary; anda basket for supporting the radioactive materials, the basket positioned within the cavity. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the substantially conformal surface contact is achieved by a cladding process, a bonding process, or a combination thereof. 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first shell is made of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second shell is made of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is equal to or greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. 19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first shell has a first top edge, a first bottom edge and a first axial length; wherein the second shell has a second top edge, a second bottom edge and a second axial length that is greater than the first axial length so that the second top edge and the second bottom edge of the second shell extend beyond the first top edge and the first bottom edge of the first shell respectively. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first bottom edge of the first shell is connected to a top surface of the first plate and wherein the outer surface of the first shell is substantially flush with an outer lateral edge of the first plate. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the inner surface of the second shell is connected to both an outer lateral edge of the first plate and an outer lateral edge of the second plate, and wherein the second bottom edge of the second shell is substantially flush with a bottom surface of the second plate. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the inner surface of the second shell is connected to an outer lateral edge of the second lid and wherein the second top edge of the second shell is substantially flush with a top surface of the second lid. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the inner surface of the first shell is connected to an outer lateral edge of the first lid, and wherein a top surface of the first lid is substantially flush with the first top edge of the first shell. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a plurality of brackets for supporting the first lid, the brackets positioned in the cavity and connected to the inner surface of the first shell. 25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second lid rests atop the first top edge of the first shell; and wherein an outer lateral edge of the second lid is connected to the inner surface of the second shell. 26. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:all connections between the first shell, the first plate and the first lid are accomplished via through-thickness welds; andall connections between the second shell, the second plate and the second lid are accomplished via through-thickness welds. 27. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a top surface of the second plate is in substantially conformal surface contact with a bottom surface of the first plate. 28. The canister apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second pressure vessel is a unitary structure extending from the second plate to the second lid. 29. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the outer wall is a unitary structure extending from the second plate to the second lid.