Container for transporting radioactive materials

Abstract

A container for transporting radioactive materials utilizing a removable system of heat conducting fins is provided which permits a substantial reduction in the weight of the container during transport, increases the heat dissipation capability of the container and substantially reduces the scrubbing operation after loading and unloading the radioactive material from the container. The detachable fins are made of a light weight highly heat conductive metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloys.

It is claimed: 
     
       1. A container for transporting radioactive materials which comprises (a) a body having a beta gamma radiation absorbing material disposed between a central cavity for holding .[.radioactovem.]. .Iadd.radioactive .Iaddend.material and an outer wall of .[.ocrrosion.]. .Iadd.corrosion .Iaddend.resistant material.Iadd., said outer wall having an essentially smooth exterior surface, .Iaddend.and (b) heat dissipating fins detachably mounted on and extending outwardly from said outer wall in thermally conductive contact therewith, said heat dissipating fins having a lower density and a higher thermal conductivity than said corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
       2. The container of claim 1 wherein said cavity is of substantially the same dimensions as the radioactive material contained therein. 
     
     
       3. The container of claim 1 wherein said fins are made of aluminum or aluminum alloys. 
     
     
       4. The container of claim 1 where said beta gamma absorbing materail is depleted uranium and said corrosion resistant material is stainless steel. 
     
     
       5. The container of claim 1 which further comprises a jacket for holding a neutron attenuating substance, said jacket being disposed between the beta gamma absorbing material and the outer wall. 
     
     
       6. The container of claim 1 wherein said fins are vertically disposed on plates of the same metal as the fins, said plates being mounted in heat conductive relationship on .[.the skin of corrosion resistant metal.]. .Iadd.said exterior surface of said outer wall.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       7. The container of claim 1 wherein said heat dissipating fins are less corrosion-resistant than said outer wall to decontamination solutions. 
     
     
       8. The container of claim 1 wherein said heat dissipating fins sufficiently envelop said outer wall to protect said wall from environmental contamination during transport. 
     
     
       9. In a container for transporting radioactive materials which includes a body of beta gamma absorbing material with a central cavity disposed therein for holding said material, an outer skin of corrosion-resistant metal surrounding said body, and heat dissipating fins in heat conductive relationship with said outer skin, the improvement which comprises .Iadd.providing said outer skin with an essentially smooth exterior surface and .Iaddend.removably mounting said fins to said outer skin and constructing said fins from a lighter weight, greater heat conductive, less corrosion-resistance metal than said outer skin. 
     
     
       10. The container of claim 9 wherein said fins are made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. 
     
     
       11. The container of claim 9 wherein said fins are disposed on plates of the same metal as the fins, said plates being mounted in heat conductive relationship on .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.skin of said corrosion resistant metal. .Iadd. 12. A container for transporting radioactive materials which comprises (a) a body having a beta gamma radiation absorbing material disposed between a central cavity for holding radioactive material and an outer wall of corrosion resistant material having an essentially smooth exterior surface and (b) heat dissipating fins extending outwardly from said outer wall in thermally conductive contact therewith, said heat dissipating fins having a lower density and a higher thermal conductivity than said corrosion resistant material, said dissipating fins being mounted on a support of the same material as said fins which detachably abuts against said smooth exterior surface of said outer wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A container for transporting radioactive materials which comprises (a) a body having a beta gamma radiation absorbing material disposed between a central cavity for holding radioactive material and an outer wall of corrosion resistant material having an essentially smooth exterior surface and (b) heat dissipating fins extending outwardly from flat support members in intimate physical and thermal conductive contact with said smooth exterior surface, said heat dissipating fins and said support members having a lower density and a higher thermal conductivity than said corrosion resistant material and said heat dissipating fins and support members substantially enveloping said outer wall. .Iaddend.