Device for Storage, Transport or Disposal of Objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for storage, transport and disposal of objects such as suspected bombs and in particular for objects suspected of containing a so called dirty bomb. The inventive device comprises a shell having a sandwich design with an intermediate layer of lead and outer and inner steel layers. The invention also relates to a method of making such a device.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A safety device comprising:
 a shell that defines a chamber that can be opened and closed such that objects can be placed inside the chamber, the shell being designed to be able to resist a detonation inside the shell from an explosive charge of up to at least 500 g of TNT, the shell being at least partially designed as a sandwich panel with an inner wall part made of steel, an outer wall part which is also made of steel and an intermediate wall part that is made of lead, the intermediate wall part being sandwiched between the inner and outer wall parts.   
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the shell is a spherical shell. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the intermediate wall part surrounds only a part of the chamber and where opposite sides of the shell lack the intermediate wall part. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the thickness of the intermediate wall part is 10 mm-30 mm, the inner wall part is 20 mm-40 mm thick and the outer wall part is 5 mm-20 mm thick. 
   
   
       16 . A method for taking care of objects suspected of containing radioactive material, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a safety device having a shell that defines a chamber, the shell being designed to resist a detonation inside the chamber from an explosive charge of up to at least 500 g of TNT, the shell further being at least partially designed as a sandwich panel with an inner wall part made of steel, an outer wall part ( 6 ) made of steel and an intermediate wall part made of lead, the intermediate wall part being sandwiched between the inner and outer wall parts;   b) placing an object suspected of containing radioactive material inside the chamber;   c) closing the chamber; and   d) locking the chamber such that an explosion inside the chamber will not cause the chamber to become open.   
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising testing the suspected object for radioactive activity before it is placed inside the chamber. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising filing the chamber with concrete after the chamber has been closed. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising transporting the safety device to a different location after the chamber has been closed and locked. 
   
   
       20 . A method of making a shell for a safety device, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a first semispherical shell having wall parts of steel that are spaced apart from each other to define a gap between the wall parts; and   b) pouring molten lead between the spaced apart wall parts to fill the gap with lead, thereby creating a sandwich panel.   
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising;
 c) providing a second semispherical shell having second wall parts of steel that are spaced apart from each other to define a gap between the second wall parts;   d) pouring molten lead between the spaced apart second wall parts to fill the gap with lead, thereby creating a second sandwich panel; and   e) combining the second semispherical shell with the first semispherical shell to create a spherical shell.   
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein only a part of the semispherical shell is filled with lead.