Patent Number: 
Section: description

Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the invention as illustrated in the drawings with like numerals indicating like parts throughout the several views. As described in detail hereinafter, the present invention provides storage systems and methods utilizing non-welded closure techniques. Although the present invention will be described herein in relation to the storage of SNF, it should be understood that the teachings of the present invention are not so limited and, in particular, the present invention may be utilized in various other storage applications. Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the storage system 100 will now be described in detail. As depicted therein, storage system 100 incorporates a canister 110 which includes an outer wall or shell 112 and a bottom (not shown) that cooperate to define an interior 114 which is suitable for the storage of materials therein. Additionally, a closure lid 116 is adapted to be received within an open end 117 of the canister and form a seal therewith for containing materials within the interior of the canister. Preferably, one or more compression members or links 118 (described in detail hereinafter) are provided for urging or forcing the closure lid into sealing engagement with the canister. In some embodiments, an outer lid 120 cooperates with a open end 117 of the canister so that a redundant seal of the storage system is provided. Preferably, the outer lid is retained in sealing engagement with the distal end of the canister by a hold-down member 122 (described in detail hereinafter). As depicted in FIG. 2, the canister 110, closure lid 116 and compression links 118, and, in embodiments so provided, outer lid 120 and hold-down member 122, cooperate to provide a non-welded closure system 100. System 100 may, in some embodiments, offer one or more advantages over classical bolted closures which typically require a flanged surface or ledge. Such a ledge typically protrudes beyond the shell of a canister or, in other embodiments, encroaches upon the opening of the canister, in order to provide a significantly strong and sizable surface to allow bolts, which are adapted to secure the lid to the canister, to be placed therethrough. In regard to bolted closures utilizing flanges that extend beyond the canister shell, such a configuration typically provides access to the full opening of the canister; however, typically only a single lid closure may be utilized. In regard to those embodiments which utilize flanges which encroach upon the opening of the canister, such a configuration tends to preclude the use of outer or peripheral regions of the canister interior. Referring now to FIG. 2, the embodiment of the closure lid 116 depicted therein is adapted to permit a basket or other suitable structure to receive a material to be stored, such as SNF, for example. A basket for storing SNF, for example, typically comprises vertical and lateral support members which may be combined with neutron absorbers. These features provide structural support to the SNF so that a correct, predetermined geometry of the SNF is maintained under both normal and accident conditions, thereby ensuring that heat transfer and nuclear critically requirements are maintained. Various configurations of baskets and other material support structures may be utilized to perform the aforementioned functionality as may be required based upon the particular application, with all such configurations considered well within the scope of the present invention. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, closure lid 116 and its associated components will now be described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 3, closure lid 116 cooperates with canister shell 112 to form an annular space or region 130. Compression links 118 are adapted to be inserted between the canister shell 112 and closure lid 116 within the annular region 130. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, once a compression link 118 is inserted within the annular region 130, the compression link preferably is urged radially outwardly so that an upper or engagement surface 132 of the compression link is positioned below a closure lid-retention surface 134 formed in canister shell 112. Preferably, urging of the compression link radially outwardly is facilitated by inserting a backing ring or wedge 136 between a surface of the closure lid and an exterior surface of the compression link, thereby allowing a portion of the compression link to be received within retention recess 142 of the canister shell 112. Once appropriately positioned with the retention recess, drive bolt 144 of the compression link may be driven so that a distal end 146 of the drive bolt is urged downwardly toward the closure lid. Preferably, although not required, that portion of the closure lid which is intended to receive or engage the distal end 146 of the drive bolt is configured with a hardened surface which is adapted to resist substantial deformation in response to engagement of the drive bolt. In some embodiments, the functionality of the hardened surface may be achieved by one or more bearing members or inserts 148. Such an insert may be formed of metal or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, insert 148 may include a bolt-receiving recess 150 for properly positioning the distal end 146 of the drive bolt. So provided, once the bolt is driven so that the distal end of the drive bolt engages the insert, downward force of the bolt is transferred to the closure lid, thereby urging a seating surface 152 of the closure lid against a closure lid-receiving ledge 154. Additionally, in reaction to the downward force of the bolt, the outer retaining member 155 of the compression link is urged upwardly so that the engagement surface 132 engages the closure lid-retention surface 134, thereby retaining the closure lid in its locked or sealed position. In order to facilitate a more secure sealing of the closure lid, some embodiments may incorporate a gasket 156 which is adapted to engage in a sealing relationship with the closure lid and the canister shell, such as by being received within a gasket recess 158 of the closure lid and engaging a surface defining the recess as well as seating surface 152 of the canister shell. So provided, engagement of the compression link with the closure lid and canister shell places axial, tensile force in that portion of the canister shell located between the closure lid-retention surface and the closure lid-receiving ledge, while exerting a compressive force on the closure lid. This is accomplished with the bolts of the compression links not being attached to or through the seating surface of the closure lid or the closure lid-receiving ledge of the canister shell. Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, outer lid 120 and its associated components will now be described. As shown in FIG. 5, outer lid 120 is adapted to cooperate with canister shell 112 so that closure lid 116 is disposed between the outer lid and the interior of the canister. Although capable of numerous configurations, outer lid 120 preferably incorporates a hold down-receiving recess 170 formed along an upper edge thereof and an opposing seating surface 174 which is adapted to engage a distal end of the canister shell. Seating surface 174 may incorporate a gasket recess 178 which is adapted to receive a gasket 180 for promoting sealing engagement of the outer lid with the canister shell. Additionally, an alignment protrusion 179 may be provided on a underside of the outer lid that is adapted to be received by the annular region 130, so that the outer lid may be appropriately aligned with the closure lid and canister shell. Preferably, lid hold-down member 122 incorporates an upper ring 182 which is adapted to be received about the distal end of the canister shell and the outer lid, with an outer lid hold-down ledge 184 protruding from an inner surface of the ring. The hold-down ledge 184 is adapted to be received by the hold-down receiving recess 170 of the outer lid. A plurality of connectors 192, e.g., bolts, depend from the ring, with each of the connectors engaging a lid hold-down segment 194. Each lid hold-down segment is configured as an arcuate segment with an inner diameter which is appropriately configured so that each segment may be received about an exterior surface of the canister shell. In order to facilitate sealing engagement of the outer lid with the canister shell, each lid hold-down segment preferably incorporates an outer lid-retaining ledge 196 which extends inwardly from its respective segment. The aforementioned outer lid-retaining ledges are adapted to engage within a compression recess 198 formed in an outer surface of the canister shell. So configured, when the connectors are tightened, each lid hold-down segment is urged toward the ring, thereby causing the outer lid-retaining ledge 196 to engage the compression recess 198 of the canister and the outer lid hold-down ledge 184 of the ring 182 to engage the hold-down receiving recess 170 of the outer lid. Thus, when so tightened, the outer lid is held in compression against the canister shell. The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment or embodiments discussed, however, were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations, are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.