Patent Publication Number: US-8109400-B2

Title: Industrial package having pressurization capability

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Example embodiments generally relate to containers used for industrial transportation, specifically transportation of radioactive materials. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, transportation of any large-scale industrial machinery or component requires specialized packaging that complies with regulations regarding the nature of such transportation. Related art industrial packages are typically engineered to both protect the transported component and meet regulatory requirements that in turn protect the transportation system and public at large. 
     Radioactive materials have specialized transport requirements to safeguard the nation&#39;s transportation system and public from the dangers inherent in exposure to radioactivity. Related art industrial packages may comply with only the Department of Transportation regulations governing the transport of radioactive materials on public interstates and other roadways. The regulations may define a number of physical requirements for related art industrial packages, including, for example, size, strength, and resistance to elements encountered in transport. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments are directed toward industrial packages configured to transport a variety of radioactive materials while meeting several distinct packaging requirements for different modes of transport, including roadway, rail, air, and sea. Example embodiment industrial packages may comply with 1) Department of Transportation (DOT) Class 7 requirements for ground transport (both road and rail) of radioactive materials, 2) International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regulations for air transport of radioactive materials, and 3) International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code for waterway transport of radioactive material. 
     Example embodiment industrial packages may include one or more features that ensure multiple regulatory compliance while providing packaging and containment for radioactive materials. Example features may include integrated bumpers, specialized bottom tube skids, lid lattice support, multiple gasket pressurization seal, corner reinforcement, multiple shielding and modular interior components, and/or multiple pressurization valves and filters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments will become more apparent by describing, in detail, example embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the example embodiments herein. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric back view of an example embodiment industrial package. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric front view of an example embodiment industrial package. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of an example seal feature of example embodiment industrial packages. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of an example pressure valve feature of example embodiment industrial packages. 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of example indicia features of example embodiment industrial packages. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of another example embodiment industrial package. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed illustrative embodiments of example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. The example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only example embodiments set forth herein. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” “coupled,” “mated,” “attached,” or “fixed” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between”, “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent”, etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the language explicitly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
     Example embodiment industrial packages may meet several packaging standards in combination such that example embodiment industrial packages may be transported in several different modes requiring distinct standards not met by related art industrial packages. 
     For example, example embodiments may provide a Department of Transportation (DOT) Type 7A compliant industrial package. Type 7A packaging is certified to contain and transport radioactive materials, known as Class 7 materials, on national roadways. DOT 7A requirements are defined at 49 C.F.R. §§178.30 &amp; 173.465. These regulations define DOT 7A packaging for radioactive materials as passing a water spray test, a free drop test, a stacking test, a penetration test, and a pressurization test. The water spray test requires DOT 7A packaging to be exposed to an equivalent of approximately 2 inches/hour of rainfall without package absorption or retention of water. The free drop test requires DOT 7A packaging to maintain structural integrity of all features, without breach, upon a 4-foot dead drop on the feature being tested. The stacking test requires DOT 7A industrial packages to maintain structural integrity when loaded by stacking the package with 5 times the industrial package weight. The penetration test requires DOT 7A industrial packages to be subject to a 13.2 pound bar dropped from a height of 3.3 feet without penetrating the containment features of the packaging. The pressurization test requires DOT 7A packaging to possess a nuclear-grade filter capable of equalizing internal pressure of the package in the event of environmental overpressure. 
     Example embodiments may further comply with International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regulations for air transportation. IATA-compliant industrial packaging is capable of maintaining an internal pressure of at least one atmosphere (14.7 lbs/in 2 ) in the event of environmental underpressure, as encountered on high-altitude flights. 
     Further, example embodiment industrial packages may comply with International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code for waterway transport of radioactive material. IMDG Code 7 defines the required parameters for industrial containers for radioactive materials. These parameters may be satisfied by complying with the previously-discussed standards and further by providing a watertight, water-proof (up to shipping depth) industrial package. 
     Because example embodiment industrial packages may comply with several modes of transportation regulations, example embodiment packages may be capable of both international road, rail, air, and sea transportation without the need for repackaging or recertification. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example embodiment top-loading industrial package  100 . Example embodiment industrial package  100  is shown as a generally hollow hexahedron; however, other shapes, such as cubic, cylindrical, etc., may be used. Example embodiment industrial package may include a body  101  enclosed by a lid  110 . The body  101  may be fabricated from a non-corrosive material having thickness adequate to support up to five times the weight of example embodiment industrial packages including, for example, 0.125 inch aluminum. The body  101  may be fabricated by full-length interior and exterior welds to provide an air-tight enclosure. 
     The body  101  may include features that further aid example embodiment industrial packages meet the above discussed standards. One or more bumpers  102  may extend around the body  101  and be integrated with the body  101  through continuous welds. Bumpers  102  may stiffen the body  101  against impact and pressure forces. Bumpers  102  may be fabricated from a material similar to the body to ensure weld compatibility and strength, including, for example, 0.25 inch aluminum. 
     Tube skids  104  may be integrated with a bottom of the body  101 . Tube skids  104  may further increase body  101  rigidity and strength. Tube skids  104  may be hollow and tapered to facilitate forklift access under example embodiment industrial package  100  by providing a vertical clearance and/or spacing. Tube skids  104  may be fabricated of materials similar to the body  101  to ensure weld compatibility and strength, including, for example, 4×4 in., 0.25-in thick aluminum tubes. 
     Lid  110  may be fabricated of similar materials as body  101  and may be shaped to fit over and close the body  101  when moved to a closed position over the body  101 . Lid  110  may include a removable lid lattice support  111  that, like the tube skids  104  and bumpers  102  for the body, reinforces the lid  110  against pressurization forces by providing a rigid lattice supporting the lid  110 . The lid lattice support  111  may be removable from the lid  110  by affixing only to edges of the lid  110 . In this way the lid lattice support  111  may provide resistive tension at the edges of the lid  110  countering the inward motion of the edges should the lid  110  begin to bend or buckle under pressure. Alternatively, lid lattice support  111  may be removed in order to reduce the weight of example embodiment industrial package  100  in necessary circumstances. 
     Lid  110  may further include a collapsible corner reinforcement  112  that protects the lid  110  and seal (discussed below) from the 4-foot test on the corner. The reinforcement  112  may be hollow and collapse or “crumple” under sufficient impact so as to absorb and redistribute impact forces on the lid during impact. Lid  110  and reinforcement  112  may be fabricated from an appropriate non-corrosive material having strength to withstand the above described tests, including, for example, 0.125 in. aluminum. Reinforcement  112  may be welded along the edge of the lid  110  to present a continuous union between the lid  110  and reinforcement  112 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front isometric view of an example embodiment top-loading industrial package  100 . In  FIG. 2 , mechanisms for joining the lid  110  and body  101  are shown generally by articulated hinges  105 . Hinges  105  may affix to both the lid  110  and body  101  by appropriate bolting or welding. Hinges  105  may be L-shaped and hinged at a corner of the “L” so as to articulate (expand) when the lid  110  is opened by rotating the lid  110  about the hinged edge of the body  101 . In this way, hinges  105  may permit the lid  110  to open beyond 90-degrees, or beyond vertical, with respect to the body  101 , permitting greater access to example embodiment industrial package  100 . Hinges  105  may be made of an appropriately strong, non-corrosive material including, for example, aluminum. Any bolts or pins used in joining the hinge  105  may be fabricated from stainless steel. Although the lid  110  is shown affixed to the body  101  by hinges  105  in an example embodiment, other joining mechanisms, for example, a sliding lid or a screw-on lid secured by fasteners  114  (shown in  FIG. 5 ), may be used to permit an air-tight seal and pressurization of the closed structure. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a detail of the top of the body  101  where the lid  110  may rest on the body  101 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a multi-seal  210  may be placed between the lid  110  and body  101  so as to make the closed example embodiment industrial package  100  air-tight and capable of pressurization. Multi-seal  210  may be embodied by a variety of known sealing mechanisms. The example multi-seal  210  shown in  FIG. 3  is a double gasket type seal that may extend completely around the top of the body  101 . The example multi-seal  210  may include neoprene, high-temperature silicone, natural rubber, viton, etc. and may have a thickness of approximately 0.75 in. or thicker to maintain an internal pressure of at least 1 atmosphere in example embodiment industrial packages. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , example embodiment industrial packages  100  may include a number of interior features that further permit compliance with the above-described standards. Internal lid supports  103  may internally attach to the body  101  and support the lid  110  during an overpressure event or stacking in which the lid may be compressed against the lid supports  103 . Internal supports  103  may allow the lid  110  to have less mass and thus be easier to lift while still meeting stacking and/or penetration/impact standards. Lid supports  103  may be fabricated from any sufficiently strong, non-corrosive material such as aluminum and/or stainless steel. 
     Unistruts  107  and modular shielding  109  may permit for better interior management of example embodiment industrial packaging. Unistruts  107  may be mounted on an interior surface of the body  101  and permit modular internal component placement and tiedown. Unistruts  107  may further provide rigid support to the body  101  when example embodiment industrial packages are subject to various tests discussed above. Unistruts  107  may further provide for shielding  109  to be placed at a variety of positions within the example embodiment industrial package  100  to accommodate transport of radioactive materials. For example, increased neutron or gamma shielding  109  may be placed inside the body  101  on unistruts  107  in order to compartmentalize the example embodiment industrial package  100  and allow gamma and/or neutron radioactive components to be placed within those compartments without contaminating other compartments or leaking radiation outside the example embodiment industrial package  100 . 
     Unistruts  107  may be fabricated from a non-corrosive, rigid material such as aluminum. Shielding  109  may be fabricated from an appropriate shielding material based on the radioactivity of any components being packaged. For example, a heavy metal such as lead may be used if a gamma-emitting source is to be transported, while, for example, a cadmium and/or borated aluminum shielding material may be used if a neutron-emitting source is to be transported. Alternatively, shielding  109  may be made of a thermally nonconductive in order to accommodate temperature sensitive contents. 
     Further, additional shielding box  108  may be placed within the example embodiment industrial package  100  and affixed to the interior of body  101  to provide even further shielding for high-activity tools or components. The shielding box  108  may be fabricated from an appropriate material as discussed above with regard to the shielding and may be adjoined welded and/or bolted to the interior of the body  101  to further compartmentalize the interior of example embodiment industrial packages. 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the example embodiment industrial package  100  showing a pressurization valve and filter  212  in the body  101 . The pressurization valve and filter  212  may be a one-way valve that permits air inflow during overpressure events, such that the interior pressure of example embodiment industrial packages may be kept at or above 1 atmosphere. The valve/filter  212  may further prevent the escape or introduction of radioactive materials through the valve/filter  212 . The valve  212  may not permit or may severely restrict outflow or depressurization. In this way, when the lid  110  is closed and sealed against the body  101 , example embodiment industrial packages may be air tight and maintain an internal pressure of at least 1 atmosphere even in flight and may increase internal pressure if external pressure significantly increases. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , lid  110  and/or body  101  may further include a first indicia  113  that indicates the contents of the example embodiment industrial package  100  and any regulatory required indicia, such as a country of origin or description of the contents as hazardous or radioactive. Second indicia  115  may include a tamper-evident indicator that displays if the lid has been lifted or seal (discussed above) broken prematurely or in transport. First and second indicia  113  and  115  may be used alone or in combination or placed in alternate locations so long as any regulatory required marking is included in the indicia and/or secondary indicia. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , another example embodiment end-loading industrial package  300  may include a removable end panel  106  that is detachable from the body to permit heavy and/or large component loading in example embodiment industrial packages. The end panel  106  may be removably attached to the body by a variety of known mechanisms including clamps, bolts, etc. The removable end panel  106  may further include a seal (not shown) to permit pressurization of the example embodiment industrial package  300 . The example embodiment end-loading industrial package  300  may have unistruts  107  placed in different locations to accommodate end-loaded packages. 
     Example embodiment industrial packages may use materials meeting particular industry standards, such as ASTM and/or ASME for composition, strength, and other physical characteristics. Similarly, the continuous welding of example embodiments to provide air-tightness may comply with welding standards for radioactivity-management and pressurization. 
     The example embodiments described above may be varied in several ways, based on the application of example embodiments. For example, although an internal pressure of 1 atmosphere has been specified, different internal pressures may be maintained by example embodiment industrial packages based on the air-tight design of example embodiments. Further, the above-described features may not necessarily be present or may be present in any combination, depending on the application. For example, internal shielding  109  may not be used if non-radioactive materials are transported, and internal supports  103  and lid lattice supports  111  may be removed if example embodiment industrial packages are not stacked or do not need to meet the above-discussed regulatory criteria. Similarly, placement of features, such as valve/filter  212 , may be changed without altering the functionality of example embodiment industrial packages. 
     Example embodiments and methods thus being described, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that example embodiments and example methods may be varied through routine experimentation and without further inventive activity. Variations are not to be regarded as departure from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.