EP0208611A1 - Container for radioactive waste having a medium or low activity - Google Patents

Container for radioactive waste having a medium or low activity Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0208611A1
EP0208611A1 EP86401468A EP86401468A EP0208611A1 EP 0208611 A1 EP0208611 A1 EP 0208611A1 EP 86401468 A EP86401468 A EP 86401468A EP 86401468 A EP86401468 A EP 86401468A EP 0208611 A1 EP0208611 A1 EP 0208611A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
barrel
cover
container
shoulder
plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP86401468A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0208611B1 (en
Inventor
Claude Noé
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/28—Treating solids
    • G21F9/34—Disposal of solid waste
    • G21F9/36—Disposal of solid waste by packaging; by baling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container for packaging medium or low activity radioactive waste.
  • the containers are generally locked by bolting the lid onto the barrel.
  • a container for radioactive waste of medium or low activity comprising a barrel provided with an open end and a cover capable of closing this end, the open end of the barrel having a shoulder facing the inside of the barrel, the cover carrying at least three circumferentially spaced tongues, the end of which is turned so as to be able to bear against said shoulder when the cover is pressed against the edge of the open end of the barrel, characterized in that the cover comprising two parallel plates connected together by radial sails delimiting angular sectors between them, and an external cylindrical shell fixed on the sails between the two plates, a first of said plates comprising an elastically peripheral part deformable, capable of coming to bear on the edge of the open end, said external cylindrical shell having a diameter i less than the internal diameter of said shoulder and carrying said tabs and in that the cover further comprises a central ferrule delimiting an injection well passing through said first plate and communicating by lights with part of the angular sectors, said sectors all communicating with each other by windows formed
  • Packaging automation can This can be improved by having means at the vents to detect the presence of the filling material of the barrel.
  • FIG. 1 represents the upper part of a container for storing medium or low activity radioactive waste produced in accordance with the invention.
  • This container is generally designated by the reference 10. It consists of a cylindrical barrel 12 and a cover 14.
  • a circumferential rod 18 is welded to the inner face of the cylindrical wall 16, at the upper end thereof.
  • the horizontal underside of the rod 18 forms a shoulder 20 facing the inside of the barrel, while the horizontal upper face 22 of the rod 18 forms the upper edge of the barrel.
  • the cylindrical internal face 24 of the rod 18 defines the opening in which the cover 14 is received.
  • the cover 14 comprises an upper horizontal plate 26 and a lower horizontal plate 28, both in the form of discs.
  • the plates 26 and 28 are welded respectively to the upper and lower edges of a series of radial webs 30, regularly distributed around the axis of the cover 14. These webs 30 define between them angular sectors 32.
  • the plates 26 and 28 are also connected by a cylindrical çentrale ferrule 34, arranged along the axis of the cover 14.
  • the ferrule 34 delimits an injection well 36 of a material for filling the barrel.
  • This injection well 36 passes through the upper plate 26 so as to open above the cover 14. On the contrary, it is closed at its lower end by the plate 28.
  • the central ferrule 34 is welded to both the plates 26 and 28 and on the radial sails 30.
  • the cover 14 further comprises an external cylindrical shell 38 welded to the external peripheral edge of the radial webs 30.
  • the external diameter of this shell 38 is slightly less than the diameter of the internal face 24 of the rod 18.
  • the diameter of the upper plate 26 is greater than the diameter of the face 24 of the rod, so that the peripheral part of the plate 26 can come to bear by its lower face on the upper edge 22 of the rod 18.
  • the peripheral part of the upper plate 26 is not welded to the radial webs 30. Consequently, this peripheral part of the plate 26 is elastically deformable.
  • This waiting position of the cover can in particular be used in an automatic chain of packaging, to bring the containers to a filling station.
  • a handling device equipped for example with a suction gripping system removes the cover 26.
  • the waste to be packaged is then compacted in the barrel 12.
  • the handling device then puts the cover back in place and locks it on the barrel by simply pushing it in, exerting sufficient pressure on the cover 14 so that the ends of the tongues 40 are housed below the shoulder 20.
  • this locking is made possible both through the elasticity of the tongues 40 and that of the peripheral part of the upper plate 26 of the cover.
  • the cover 14 has a particular structure which will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1.
  • the bituminous mixture is injected through the upper end of the well 36. It then enters some of the angular sectors 32 delimited by the sails 30, through openings 34a formed in the central shell 34. The material then flows inside the barrel beyond the peripheral edge 28a of the lower plate 28, the diameter of which is substantially less than the diameter of the outer shell 38. This peripheral edge 28a of the plate 28 thus delimits an annular opening through which the filling material is admitted inside the barrel 12.
  • the bituminous mixture begins to fill the angular sectors 32 communicating with the well 36 through the openings 34a.
  • the other sectors 32 are also filled using windows 30a formed in the radial webs 30.
  • vents 26a formed in the plate 26, near the internal ferrule 34. These vents open into the angular sectors 32 which do not communicate with the injection well 36 through the lights 34a. So that air or gas can escape from the sectors 32 communicating with the well 36 when the bituminous mixture reaches a level higher than that of the windows 30a, notches 30b are also formed at the top of the sails 30.
  • a cup 42 is welded to the central ferrule 34, near the upper plate 26 and below the vents 26a.
  • a detection device 46 such as an optical probe placed above at least one of the vents 26a then makes it possible to automatically control the stopping of the injection of the bituminous material as soon as the latter begins to fill the cup 42.
  • the container can be evacuated, using the system vacuum gripping me, as soon as the filling operation is completed, without waiting for the bituminous mixture to solidify, which ensures a rapid rate at the automatic packaging chain.
  • the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, but covers all its variants.
  • the shoulder 20 on which the ends of the tongues 40 come to bear could be produced directly by machining the wall 16 of the barrel, if the thickness of the latter allows, or by stamping this wall.
  • the upper edge 22 on which the upper plate 26 of the cover comes to bear can be constituted directly by the upper edge of the wall 16 of the was.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)

Abstract

Dans un conteneur (10) comprenant un fût (12) et un couvercle (14), le verrouillage du couvercle sur le fût est obtenu en prévoyant, à la périphérie du cou­vercle, une série de languettes verticales (40) incli­nées vers l'extérieur de telle sorte que leur extrémité puisse venir se loger sous un épaulement (20) du fût. La partie (26) du couvercle qui vient en appui sur le bord supérieur (22) du fût est élastiquement déforma­ble, pour faciliter l'encliquetage. Un puits d'injec­tion (36) formé dans le couvercle permet d'injecter dans le fût un matériau d'enrobage des déchets radio­actifs qu'il contient. Cette configuration autorise une automatisation du conditionnement des déchets.

Figure imgaf001
In a container (10) comprising a barrel (12) and a cover (14), the locking of the cover on the barrel is obtained by providing, at the periphery of the cover, a series of vertical tongues (40) inclined towards the outside. so that their end can be received under a shoulder (20) of the barrel. The part (26) of the cover which comes to bear on the upper edge (22) of the barrel is elastically deformable, to facilitate snap-fastening. An injection well (36) formed in the lid makes it possible to inject into the barrel a coating material for the radioactive waste it contains. This configuration allows the packaging of waste to be automated.
Figure imgaf001

Description

CONTENEUR POUR DECHETS RADIOACTIFS DE MOYENNE OU FAIBLE ACTIVITECONTAINER FOR MEDIUM OR LOW ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTE

La présente invention concerne un conteneur destiné au conditionnement des déchets radioactifs de moyenne ou faible activité.The present invention relates to a container for packaging medium or low activity radioactive waste.

Pour faciliter leur stockage, les déchets ra­dioactifs de moyenne activité et de faible activité sont habituellement conditionnés dans des conteneurs se présentant sous la forme de fûts obturés par des cou­vercles. Après avoir été placés dans les fûts, les dé­chets sont enrobés d'un mélange bitumeux injecté à tra­vers un orifice percé dans le couvercle.To facilitate their storage, medium-level and low-level radioactive waste is usually packaged in containers in the form of drums closed by lids. After being placed in the barrels, the waste is coated with a bituminous mixture injected through a hole drilled in the cover.

Dans le cas de déchets de faible activité, le verrouillage des conteneurs s'effectue généralement par boulonnage du couvercle sur le fût.In the case of low-level waste, the containers are generally locked by bolting the lid onto the barrel.

Lorsqu'il s'agit de déchets de moyenne acti­vité, la présence de personnel nécessaire au boulonnage du couvercle n'est pas possible. Le verrouillage du conteneur s'effectue donc par simple prise du mélange bitumeux.In the case of intermediate level waste, the presence of personnel necessary for bolting the cover is not possible. The container is therefore locked by simply taking the bituminous mixture.

Dans les deux cas, le verrouillage du conte­neur est donc une opération longue, qui ne permet pas de tenir une certaine cadence. Les dispositifs de ver­rouillage des conteneurs utilisés actuellement sont donc totalement inadaptés à l'automatisation des opéra­tions de conditionnement des déchets radio-actifs de moyenne et de faible activités.In both cases, locking the container is therefore a long operation, which does not allow a certain rate to be maintained. The container locking devices currently used are therefore totally unsuitable for automating the conditioning operations of medium and low level radioactive waste.

Or, la multiplication des centrales nucléai­res dans le monde conduit à une importante augmentation de la masse des déchets. Il est donc grandement souhai­table de pouvoir disposer d'un conteneur facilement ma­nipulable et verrouillable à distance, permettant d'at­teindre une cadence suffisamment élevée pour rendre possible le conditionnement et l'enrobage des déchets au moyen d'une chaîne automatique.However, the proliferation of nuclear power plants in the world leads to a significant increase in the mass of waste. It is therefore highly desirable to be able to have a container that can be easily manipulated and locked at a distance, making it possible to achieve a rate high enough to make possible the packaging and coating of the waste by means of an automatic chain.

Conformément à l'invention, cet objectif est atteint grâce à un conteneur pour déchets radio-actifs de moyenne ou faible activité, comprenant un fût muni d'une extrémité ouverte et un couvercle apte à obturer cette extrémité, l'extrémité ouverte du fût présentant un épaulement tourné vers l'intérieur du fût, le cou­vercle portant au moins trois languettes circonféren­tiellement espacées, dont l'extrémité est tournée de façon à pouvoir venir en appui contre ledit épaulement lorsque le couvercle est en appui sur le bord de l'ex­trémité ouverte du fût, caractérisé en ce que le cou­vercle comprenant deux plaques parallèles reliées entre elles par des voiles radiaux délimitant entre eux des secteurs angulaires, et une virole cylindrique externe fixée sur les voiles entre les deux plaques, une pre­miére desdites plaques comprenant une partie périphéri­que élastiquement déformable, apte à venir en appui sur le bord de l'extrémité ouverte, ladite virole cylindri­que externe ayant un diamètre inférieur au diamètre in­terne dudit épaulement et portant lesdites languettes et en ce que le couvercle comprend de plus une virole centrale délimitant un puits d'injection traversant la­dite première plaque et communiquant par des lumières avec une partie des secteurs angulaires, lesdits sec­teurs communiquant tous entre eux par des fenêtres for­mées dans les voiles, et avec l'intérieur du fût par au moins une ouverture formée à la périphérie de l'autre plaque, ladite première plaque étant munie à proximité du puits d'injection, d'évents débouchant dans les sec­teurs angulaires qui ne communiquent pas avec le puits d'injection.In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved by means of a container for radioactive waste of medium or low activity, comprising a barrel provided with an open end and a cover capable of closing this end, the open end of the barrel having a shoulder facing the inside of the barrel, the cover carrying at least three circumferentially spaced tongues, the end of which is turned so as to be able to bear against said shoulder when the cover is pressed against the edge of the open end of the barrel, characterized in that the cover comprising two parallel plates connected together by radial sails delimiting angular sectors between them, and an external cylindrical shell fixed on the sails between the two plates, a first of said plates comprising an elastically peripheral part deformable, capable of coming to bear on the edge of the open end, said external cylindrical shell having a diameter i less than the internal diameter of said shoulder and carrying said tabs and in that the cover further comprises a central ferrule delimiting an injection well passing through said first plate and communicating by lights with part of the angular sectors, said sectors all communicating with each other by windows formed in the sails, and with the inside of the barrel by at least one opening formed at the periphery of the other plate, said first plate being provided near the injection well, with vents opening into the sectors angular that do not communicate with the injection well.

L'automatisation du conditionnement peut en­ core être améliorée en disposant au niveau des évents un moyen pour détecter la présence du matériau de rem­plissage du fût.Packaging automation can This can be improved by having means at the vents to detect the presence of the filling material of the barrel.

Afin de garantir l'étanchéité du verrouilla­ge du conteneur, la partie élastiquement déformable du couvercle peut porter un joint d'étanchéité apte à ve­nir en appui sur le bord de l'extrémité ouverte du fût.In order to guarantee the tightness of the locking of the container, the elastically deformable part of the lid can carry a seal capable of coming to bear on the edge of the open end of the barrel.

On décrira maintenant, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, un mode de réalisation préféré de l'inven­tion en se référant aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • - la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée représentant l'extrémité supérieure ouverte d'un fût de conditionnement de déchets radioactifs et le bouchon obturant ce fût pour former un conteneur conforme à l'invention ; et
  • - les figures 2a à 2c sont des vues en coupe longitudinale partielle et schématique illustrant trois étapes de verrouillage du couvercle sur le fût.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the open upper end of a packaging barrel for radioactive waste and the plug closing this barrel to form a container according to the invention; and
  • - Figures 2a to 2c are views in partial and schematic longitudinal section illustrating three steps of locking the cover on the barrel.

La figure 1 représente la partie supérieure d'un conteneur de stockage de déchets radioactifs de moyenne ou faible activité réalisé conformément à l'in­vention. Ce conteneur est désigné de façon générale par la référence 10. Il se compose d'un fût cylindrique 12 et d'un couvercle 14.FIG. 1 represents the upper part of a container for storing medium or low activity radioactive waste produced in accordance with the invention. This container is generally designated by the reference 10. It consists of a cylindrical barrel 12 and a cover 14.

Le fût cylindrique 12 comprend une paroi cy­lindrique 16 obturée à son extrémité inférieure par un fond (non représenté) et dont l'extrémité supérieure ouverte peut être obturée de façon étanche par le cou­vercle 14.The cylindrical barrel 12 comprises a cylindrical wall 16 closed at its lower end by a bottom (not shown) and the open upper end of which can be sealed by the cover 14.

Conformément à l'invention, un jonc circon­ férentiel 18 est soudé sur la face interne de la paroi cylindrique 16, à l'extrémité supérieure de celle-ci. La face inférieure horizontale du jonc 18 forme un épaulement 20 tourné vers l'intérieur du fût, alors que la face supérieure horizontale 22 du jonc 18 forme le bord supérieur du fût. La face interne cylindrique 24 du jonc 18 définit quant à elle l'ouverture dans la­quelle est reçu le couvercle 14.According to the invention, a circumferential rod 18 is welded to the inner face of the cylindrical wall 16, at the upper end thereof. The horizontal underside of the rod 18 forms a shoulder 20 facing the inside of the barrel, while the horizontal upper face 22 of the rod 18 forms the upper edge of the barrel. The cylindrical internal face 24 of the rod 18 defines the opening in which the cover 14 is received.

Dans le mode de réalisation préféré de l'in­vention représenté sur la figure 1, le couvercle 14 comprend une plaque horizontale supérieure 26 et une plaque horizontale inférieure 28, toutes deux en forme de disques. Les plaques 26 et 28 sont soudées respecti­vement sur les bords supérieurs et inférieurs d'une série de voiles radiaux 30, régulièrement répartis autour de l'axe du couvercle 14. Ces voiles 30 définis­sent entre eux des secteurs angulaires 32.In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the cover 14 comprises an upper horizontal plate 26 and a lower horizontal plate 28, both in the form of discs. The plates 26 and 28 are welded respectively to the upper and lower edges of a series of radial webs 30, regularly distributed around the axis of the cover 14. These webs 30 define between them angular sectors 32.

Les plaques 26 et 28 sont également reliées par une virole cylindrique çentrale 34, disposée selon l'axe du couvercle 14. La virole 34 délimite un puits d'injection 36 d'un matériau de remplissage du fût. Ce puits d'injection 36 traverse la plaque supérieure 26 de façon à déboucher au-dessus du couvercle 14. Au contraire, il est obturé à son extrémité inférieure par la plaque 28. La virole centrale 34 est soudée à la fois sur les plaques 26 et 28 et sur les voiles radiaux 30.The plates 26 and 28 are also connected by a cylindrical çentrale ferrule 34, arranged along the axis of the cover 14. The ferrule 34 delimits an injection well 36 of a material for filling the barrel. This injection well 36 passes through the upper plate 26 so as to open above the cover 14. On the contrary, it is closed at its lower end by the plate 28. The central ferrule 34 is welded to both the plates 26 and 28 and on the radial sails 30.

Le couvercle 14 comporte de plus une virole cylindrique externe 38 soudée sur le bord périphérique externe des voiles radiaux 30. Le diamètre externe de cette virole 38 est légèrement inférieur au diamètre de la face interne 24 du jonc 18. Au contraire, le diamè­tre de la plaque supérieure 26 est supérieur au diamè­tre de la face 24 du jonc, de sorte que la partie péri­phérique de la plaque 26 peut venir en appui par sa face inférieure sur le bord supérieur 22 du jonc 18.The cover 14 further comprises an external cylindrical shell 38 welded to the external peripheral edge of the radial webs 30. The external diameter of this shell 38 is slightly less than the diameter of the internal face 24 of the rod 18. On the contrary, the diameter of the upper plate 26 is greater than the diameter of the face 24 of the rod, so that the peripheral part of the plate 26 can come to bear by its lower face on the upper edge 22 of the rod 18.

Afin d'assurer l'étanchéité de la fermeture lorsque la plaque 26 est en appui sur le bord 22 du jonc, un joint d'étanchéité annulaire 44 peut être monté sur la face inférieure de la plaque 26, pour venir en appui étanche sur le bord 22.In order to seal the closure when the plate 26 is in abutment on the edge 22 of the rod, an annular seal 44 can be mounted on the underside of the plate 26, in order to come into sealing abutment on the edge 22.

Conformément une caractéristique essen­tielle de l'invention, des languettes verticales 40 régulièrement réparties sont coupées dans la tôle cons­tituant la virole cylindrique externe 38. Ces languet­tes 40 sont inclinées radialement vers l'extérieur par rapport à la virole 38 et leur extrémité est tournée vers la plaque supérieure 26. De façon plus précise, l'extrémité de chacune des languettes 40 est située approximativement à une distance uniforme de la plaque supérieure 26, cette distance étant légèrement infé­rieure à la distance séparant l'épaulement 20 du bord supérieur 22 du jonc 18.According to an essential characteristic of the invention, vertical tongues 40 regularly distributed are cut in the sheet metal constituting the external cylindrical shell 38. These tongues 40 are inclined radially outwards relative to the shell 38 and their ends are turned towards the upper plate 26. More precisely, the end of each of the tongues 40 is situated approximately at a uniform distance from the upper plate 26, this distance being slightly less than the distance separating the shoulder 20 from the upper edge 22 of the rod 18 .

Conformément une autre caractéristique essentielle de l'invention, la partie périphérique de la plaque supérieure 26 n'est pas soudée sur les voiles radiaux 30. Par conséquent, cette partie périphérique de la plaque 26 est élastiquement déformable.According to another essential characteristic of the invention, the peripheral part of the upper plate 26 is not welded to the radial webs 30. Consequently, this peripheral part of the plate 26 is elastically deformable.

Avant que le couvercle 14 du conteneur selon l'invention ne soit verrouillé sur le fût 12, il est posé sur celui-ci comme l'illustrent la figure 1 et la figure 2a. Afin que le couvercle reste en position d'attente et ne s'enfonce pas par gravité sur le fût, un certain nombre des languettes 40 (3 ou 4 par exem­ple), régulièrement réparties autour du couvercle, sont inclinées à environ 45° vers l'extérieur, alors que l'angle d'inclinaison des autres languettes est infé­rieur, par exemple de l'ordre de 10°.Before the lid 14 of the container according to the invention is locked on the barrel 12, it is placed on the latter as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2a. So that the cover remains in the waiting position and does not sink by gravity onto the barrel, a number of the tabs 40 (3 or 4 for example), regularly distributed around the cover, are inclined at about 45 ° towards the outside, while the angle of inclination of the other tabs is lower, for example of the order of 10 °.

Cette position d'attente du couvercle peut notamment être utilisée, dans une chaîne automatique de conditionnement, pour amener les conteneurs jusqu'à un poste de remplissage. A ce poste, un dispositif de manutention équipé par exemple d'un système de préhen­sion à ventouse enlève le couvercle 26. Les déchets à conditionner sont alors compactés dans le fût 12.This waiting position of the cover can in particular be used in an automatic chain of packaging, to bring the containers to a filling station. At this station, a handling device equipped for example with a suction gripping system removes the cover 26. The waste to be packaged is then compacted in the barrel 12.

Le dispositif de manutention remet ensuite le couvercle en place et le verrouille sur le fût par sim­ple enfoncement, en exerçant sur le couvercle 14 une pression suffisante pour que les extrémités des lan­guettes 40 viennent se loger en-dessous de l'épaulement 20. Comme l'illustre la figure 2b, ce verrouillage est rendu possible à la fois grâce à l'élasticité des lan­guettes 40 et à celle de la partie périphérique de la plaque supérieure 26 du couvercle.The handling device then puts the cover back in place and locks it on the barrel by simply pushing it in, exerting sufficient pressure on the cover 14 so that the ends of the tongues 40 are housed below the shoulder 20. As is the case with 'illustrates Figure 2b, this locking is made possible both through the elasticity of the tongues 40 and that of the peripheral part of the upper plate 26 of the cover.

Lorsque la pression d'enfoncement du bouchon 14 sur le fût est relâchée, comme l'illustre la figure 2c, l'élasticité de la partie périphérique de la plaque supérieure 26 du bouchon ramèn l'extrémité des lan­guettes 40 en appui contre l'épaulement 20. Il est à noter que la liaison ainsi réalisée entre le couvercle 14 et le fût 12 est suffisamment solide pour que le conteneur puisse être manutentionné par la suite au moyen du même dispositif de manutention à ventouse que celui qui a été utilisé auparavant pour assurer la manutention du couvercle seul.When the pressing pressure of the stopper 14 on the barrel is released, as illustrated in FIG. 2c, the elasticity of the peripheral part of the upper plate 26 of the stopper brings the end of the tongues 40 in abutment against the shoulder 20. It should be noted that the connection thus produced between the cover 14 and the barrel 12 is strong enough for the container to be handled subsequently by means of the same suction handling device as that which was used previously to ensure handling the cover alone.

Lorsque le verrouillage du couvercle sur le fût est réalisé de la manière qui vient d'être décrite, le mélange bitumeux est injecté dans le fût et dans le couvercle pour réaliser l'enrobage des déchets radioac­tifs. A cet effet, le couvercle 14 présente une struc­ture particulière qui va maintenant être décrite plus en détail en se reportant à la figure 1.When the lid is locked on the barrel in the manner just described, the bituminous mixture is injected into the barrel and into the lid to coat the radioactive waste. To this end, the cover 14 has a particular structure which will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1.

Le mélange bitumeux est injecté par l'extré­mité supérieure du puits 36. Il pénètre ensuite dans certains des secteurs angulaires 32 délimités par les voiles 30, au travers de lumières 34a formées dans la virole centrale 34. Le matériau s'écoule alors à l'inté­rieur du fût au-delà du bord périphérique 28a de la pla­que inférieure 28, dont le diamètre est sensiblement in­férieur au diamètre de la virole externe 38. Ce bord périphérique 28a de la plaque 28 délimite ainsi une ouverture annulaire par laquelle le matériau de remplis­sage est admis à l'intérieur du fût 12.The bituminous mixture is injected through the upper end of the well 36. It then enters some of the angular sectors 32 delimited by the sails 30, through openings 34a formed in the central shell 34. The material then flows inside the barrel beyond the peripheral edge 28a of the lower plate 28, the diameter of which is substantially less than the diameter of the outer shell 38. This peripheral edge 28a of the plate 28 thus delimits an annular opening through which the filling material is admitted inside the barrel 12.

Lorsque le remplissage du fût est terminé, le mélange bitumeux commence à remplir les secteurs angu­laires 32 communiquant avec le puits 36 par les lumiè­res 34a. Le remplissage des autres secteurs 32 s'effec­tue également grâce à des fenêtres 30a formées dans les voiles radiaux 30.When the filling of the barrel is finished, the bituminous mixture begins to fill the angular sectors 32 communicating with the well 36 through the openings 34a. The other sectors 32 are also filled using windows 30a formed in the radial webs 30.

Au fur et à mesure du remplissage, l'air ou le gaz contenu initialement dans le fût et dans le cou­vercle est évacué par des évents 26a formés dans la plaque 26, proximité de la virole interne 34. Ces évents débouchent dans les secteurs angulaires 32 qui ne communiquent pas avec le puits d'injection 36 par les lumières 34a. Afin que l'air ou le gaz puisse s'évacuer des secteurs 32 communiquant avec le puits 36 lorsque le mélange bitumeux arrive à un niveau supé­rieur à celui des fenêtres 30a, des encoches 30b sont en outre formées à la partie supérieure des voiles 30.As the filling progresses, the air or the gas initially contained in the barrel and in the cover is evacuated by vents 26a formed in the plate 26, near the internal ferrule 34. These vents open into the angular sectors 32 which do not communicate with the injection well 36 through the lights 34a. So that air or gas can escape from the sectors 32 communicating with the well 36 when the bituminous mixture reaches a level higher than that of the windows 30a, notches 30b are also formed at the top of the sails 30.

De préférence, une coupelle 42 est soudée sur la virole centrale 34, à proximité de la plaque supé­rieure 26 et en-dessous des évents 26a. Un dispositif de détection 46 tel qu'une sonde optique placée au­dessus de l'un au moins des évents 26a permet alors de commander automatiquement l'arrêt de l'injection du ma­tériau bitumeux dés que celui-ci commence à remplir la coupelle 42.Preferably, a cup 42 is welded to the central ferrule 34, near the upper plate 26 and below the vents 26a. A detection device 46 such as an optical probe placed above at least one of the vents 26a then makes it possible to automatically control the stopping of the injection of the bituminous material as soon as the latter begins to fill the cup 42.

Grâce à la structure du couvercle de l'inven­tion, le conteneur peut être évacué, à l'aide du systè­ me de préhension à ventouse, dès que l'opération de remplissage est terminée, sans attendre que le mélange bitumeux se soit solidifié, ce qui permet d'assurer une cadence rapide à la chaîne automatique de conditionne­ment.Thanks to the structure of the lid of the invention, the container can be evacuated, using the system vacuum gripping me, as soon as the filling operation is completed, without waiting for the bituminous mixture to solidify, which ensures a rapid rate at the automatic packaging chain.

Bien entendu, l'invention n'est pas limitée au mode de réalisation qui vient d'être décrit à titre d'exemple, mais en couvre toutes les variantes. En par­ticulier, l'épaulement 20 sur lequel viennent en appui les extrémités des languettes 40 pourrait être réalisé directement par usinage de la paroi 16 du fût, si l'épaisseur de celle-ci le permet, ou par emboutissage de cette paroi. En outre, même lorsque l'épaulement 20 est formé sur un jonc rapporté 18 comme cela a été décrit, le bord supérieur 22 sur lequel vient en appui la plaque supérieure 26 du couvercle peut être consti­tué directement par le bord supérieur de la paroi 16 du fût.Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, but covers all its variants. In particular, the shoulder 20 on which the ends of the tongues 40 come to bear could be produced directly by machining the wall 16 of the barrel, if the thickness of the latter allows, or by stamping this wall. Furthermore, even when the shoulder 20 is formed on an attached rod 18 as has been described, the upper edge 22 on which the upper plate 26 of the cover comes to bear can be constituted directly by the upper edge of the wall 16 of the was.

Par ailleurs, bien qu'il soit particulière­ment avantageux d'usiner les languettes 40 directement dans la virole 38, ces languettes pourraient également être rapportées sur cette virole sans sortir du cadre de l'invention. Enfin, il est clair que la structure du couvercle 14 décrite précédemment n'est pas limitative, notamment en ce qui concerne les perforations permet­tant d'injecter le mélange bitumeux dans le fût.Furthermore, although it is particularly advantageous to machine the tongues 40 directly in the ferrule 38, these tongues could also be attached to this ferrule without departing from the scope of the invention. Finally, it is clear that the structure of the cover 14 described above is not limiting, in particular as regards the perforations making it possible to inject the bituminous mixture into the barrel.

Claims (3)

1. Conteneur (10) pour déchets radio-actifs de moyenne ou faible activité, comprenant un fût (12) muni d'une extrémité ouverte et un couvercle (14) apte à obturer cette extrémité, l'extrémité ouverte du fût (12) présentant un épaulement (20) tourné vers l'inté­rieur du fût, le couvercle (14) portant au moins trois languettes (40) circonférentiellement espacées, dont l'extrémité est tournée de façon à pouvoir venir en appui contre ledit épaulement (20) lorsque le couvercle (14) est en appui sur le bord (22) de l'extrémité ou­verte du fût (12), caractérisé en ce que le couvercle (14) comprend deux plaques parallèles (26, 28) reliées entre elles par des voiles radiaux (30) délimitant en­tre eux des secteurs angulaires (32), et une virole cylindrique externe (38) fixée sur les voiles entre les deux plaques, une première (26) desdites plaques com­prenant une partie périphérique élastiquement déforma­ble, apte à venir en appui sur le bord (22) de l'extré­mité ouverte du fût, ladite virole cylindrique externe (38) ayant un diamètre inférieur au diamètre interne dudit épaulement et portant lesdites languettes (40), et en ce que le couvercle (14) comprend de plus une virole centrale (34) délimitant un puits d'injection (36) traversant ladite première plaque (26) et communi­quant par des lumières (34a) avec une partie des sec­teurs angulaires (32), lesdits secteurs communiquant tous entre eux par des fenêtres (30a) formées dans les voiles (30), et avec l'intérieur du fût par au moins une ouverture formée à la périphérie (28a) de l'autre plaque (28), ladite première plaque (26) étant munie, à proximité du puits d'injection (36), d'évents (26a) dé­bouchant dans les secteurs angulaires qui ne communi quent pas avec le puits d'injection.1. Container (10) for radioactive waste of medium or low activity, comprising a barrel (12) provided with an open end and a cover (14) capable of closing this end, the open end of the barrel (12) having a shoulder (20) facing the inside of the barrel, the cover (14) carrying at least three circumferentially spaced tongues (40), the end of which is turned so as to be able to bear against said shoulder (20) when the cover (14) bears on the edge (22) of the open end of the barrel (12), characterized in that the cover (14) comprises two parallel plates (26, 28) connected to each other by radial sails (30) delimiting between them angular sectors (32), and an external cylindrical shell (38) fixed on the sails between the two plates, a first (26) of said plates comprising an elastically deformable peripheral part, capable of coming to bear on the edge (22) of the open end of the barrel, said ferrule cy external lindric (38) having a diameter less than the internal diameter of said shoulder and carrying said tabs (40), and in that the cover (14) further comprises a central ferrule (34) delimiting an injection well (36) passing through said first plate (26) and communicating by lights (34a) with part of the angular sectors (32), said sectors all communicating with each other by windows (30a) formed in the sails (30), and with the interior of the was by at least one opening formed at the periphery (28a) of the other plate (28), said first plate (26) being provided, near the injection well (36), with vents (26a) opening into the angular sectors which do not communicate with the injection well. 2. Conteneur selon la revendication 1, carac­térisé en ce qu'il comprend un moyen (46) pour détecter la présence d'un matériau de remplissage du fût au ni­veau desdits évents (26a).2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (46) for detecting the presence of a filling material of the barrel at said vents (26a). 3. Conteneur selon l'une quelconque des re­vendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite par­tie élastiquement déformable du couvercle (14) porte un joint d'étanchéité (44) apte à venir en appui sur ledit bord (22).3. Container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said elastically deformable part of the cover (14) carries a seal (44) capable of coming to bear on said edge (22).
EP86401468A 1985-07-09 1986-07-02 Container for radioactive waste having a medium or low activity Expired - Lifetime EP0208611B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8510496 1985-07-09
FR8510496A FR2584855B1 (en) 1985-07-09 1985-07-09 CONTAINER FOR MEDIUM OR LOW ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0208611A1 true EP0208611A1 (en) 1987-01-14
EP0208611B1 EP0208611B1 (en) 1990-03-14

Family

ID=9321119

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86401468A Expired - Lifetime EP0208611B1 (en) 1985-07-09 1986-07-02 Container for radioactive waste having a medium or low activity

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US4760268A (en)
EP (1) EP0208611B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0631872B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3669610D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2584855B1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2705090A1 (en) * 1993-05-10 1994-11-18 Cogema Fluid-tight container

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8804496D0 (en) * 1988-02-26 1988-03-30 British Nuclear Fuels Plc Sealing of containers
US5205966A (en) * 1991-09-20 1993-04-27 David R. Elmaleh Process for handling low level radioactive waste
FR2763170B1 (en) * 1997-05-06 1999-06-18 Transnucleaire SEALED CLOSURE DEVICE FOR A MULTI-PURPOSE CONTAINMENT HOUSING FOR HIGH-ACTIVITY IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLIES

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE518082C (en) * 1927-09-01 1931-02-11 Max Singewald & Co Akt Ges Closure for sheet metal container according to patent 479570 in use on metal barrels
DE911704C (en) * 1951-04-17 1954-05-17 Cicero Centrale Ind Controle E Lid closure
FR2350279A1 (en) * 1976-05-04 1977-12-02 Bretagne Atel Chantiers Container with self locking-cover - has ring for removing cover by remote control, useful for radioactive waste disposal

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3814278A (en) * 1972-05-08 1974-06-04 F Beierle Barrel top fastener
US4117926A (en) * 1977-01-12 1978-10-03 Johnson & Johnson Probe cover
FR2473213B1 (en) * 1980-01-07 1986-03-21 Ecopo LONG-TERM CONTAINMENT DEVICE FOR RADIOACTIVE OR TOXIC WASTE AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD
US4582638A (en) * 1981-03-27 1986-04-15 General Signal Corporation Method and means for disposal of radioactive waste

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE518082C (en) * 1927-09-01 1931-02-11 Max Singewald & Co Akt Ges Closure for sheet metal container according to patent 479570 in use on metal barrels
DE911704C (en) * 1951-04-17 1954-05-17 Cicero Centrale Ind Controle E Lid closure
FR2350279A1 (en) * 1976-05-04 1977-12-02 Bretagne Atel Chantiers Container with self locking-cover - has ring for removing cover by remote control, useful for radioactive waste disposal

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2705090A1 (en) * 1993-05-10 1994-11-18 Cogema Fluid-tight container
EP0694925A1 (en) * 1993-05-10 1996-01-31 Compagnie Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires (Cogema) Impervious container, and assemblage of this container and of a suitable support

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2584855A1 (en) 1987-01-16
FR2584855B1 (en) 1987-09-25
US4760268A (en) 1988-07-26
DE3669610D1 (en) 1990-04-19
JPS6214100A (en) 1987-01-22
EP0208611B1 (en) 1990-03-14
JPH0631872B2 (en) 1994-04-27

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