Patent ID: 7342989

Claim:
A transport or storage cask, comprising: a cask body; a modular thermal conducting and shielding system that includes a modular fin and a modular neutron shield, the modular fin being disposed between the modular neutron shield and the cask body, the modular fin being capable of dissipating thermal energy from the cask body, the modular fin including a base and an arm, the base being capable of coupling to the cask body, the arm of the modular fin having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the arm being integrally connected to the base of the modular fin and the distal end of the arm extending away from the cask body, the modular neutron shield being disposed on top of the base of the modular fin, the distal end of the arm having slots that enables air flow to facilitate dissipation of thermal energy conducted from the cask body; a mechanical attachment that retains the modular thermal conducting and shielding system to the cask body; and a conductive cover in which the modular neutron shield is disposed between the modular fin and the conductive cover, the modular neutron shield being capable of shielding radiation generated within the cask body, wherein the modular thermal conducting and shielding system further comprising the conductive cover that is disposed on top of the modular neutron shield, the conductive cover including a base, a first arm and a second arm, the base being capable of covering the modular neutron shield, each of the first and second arms having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the arm being integrally connected to the base of the conductive cover and the distal end of the arm extending away from the cask body, the distal end of the arm having slots that are aligned with the slots of the modular fin to enable air to flow through the slots of the modular fin and the conductive arm, each of the first and second arms being capable of engaging the arm of the modular fin, the conductive cover being capable of facilitating dissipation of thermal energy conducted from the cask body.