DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Critically safe volume vacuum pickup for use in wet or dry cleanup of radioactive enclosures

Abstract

A physical compact vacuum pickup device of critically safe volume and geometric shape is provided for use in radioactive enclosures, such as a small glove box, to facilitate manual cleanup of either wet or dry radioactive material. The device is constructed and arranged so as to remain safe when filled to capacity with plutonium-239 oxide. Two fine mesh filter bags are supported on the exterior of a rigid fine mesh stainless steel cup. This assembly is sealed within, and spaced from, the interior walls of a stainless steel canister. An air inlet communicates with the interior of the canister. A modified conventional vacuum head is physically connected to, and associated with, the interior of the mesh cup. The volume of the canister, as defined by the space between the mesh cup and the interior walls of the canister, forms a critically safe volume and geometric shape for dry radioactive particles that are gathered within the canister. A critically safe liquid volume is maintained by operation of a suction terminating float valve, and/or by operation of redundant vacuum check/liquid drain valves and placement of the air inlet.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. 390 Forest Ave., Boulder, CO 80304
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
EG & G INC
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
869092
Patent Number(s):
5273561
Application Number:
07/996,324
Assignee:
Zeren, Joseph D. (390 Forest Ave., Boulder, CO 80304)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A47 - FURNITURE A47L - DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-90DP62349
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
critically; safe; volume; vacuum; pickup; wet; dry; cleanup; radioactive; enclosures; physical; compact; device; geometric; shape; provided; glove; box; facilitate; manual; material; constructed; arranged; remain; filled; capacity; plutonium-239; oxide; fine; mesh; filter; bags; supported; exterior; rigid; stainless; steel; cup; assembly; sealed; spaced; interior; walls; canister; air; inlet; communicates; modified; conventional; head; physically; connected; associated; defined; space; forms; particles; gathered; liquid; maintained; operation; suction; terminating; float; valve; redundant; check; drain; valves; placement; interior walls; critically safe; radioactive particles; interior wall; glove box; radioactive material; active material; stainless steel; air inlet; compact vacuum; safe volume; volume vacuum; steel canister; geometric shape; vacuum pickup; drain valve; radioactive particle; radioactive enclosures; conventional vacuum; liquid volume; inlet communicates; active particles; dry cleanup; /96/55/

Citation Formats

Zeren, Joseph D. Critically safe volume vacuum pickup for use in wet or dry cleanup of radioactive enclosures. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Zeren, Joseph D. Critically safe volume vacuum pickup for use in wet or dry cleanup of radioactive enclosures. United States.
Zeren, Joseph D. Tue . "Critically safe volume vacuum pickup for use in wet or dry cleanup of radioactive enclosures". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869092.
@article{osti_869092,
title = {Critically safe volume vacuum pickup for use in wet or dry cleanup of radioactive enclosures},
author = {Zeren, Joseph D},
abstractNote = {A physical compact vacuum pickup device of critically safe volume and geometric shape is provided for use in radioactive enclosures, such as a small glove box, to facilitate manual cleanup of either wet or dry radioactive material. The device is constructed and arranged so as to remain safe when filled to capacity with plutonium-239 oxide. Two fine mesh filter bags are supported on the exterior of a rigid fine mesh stainless steel cup. This assembly is sealed within, and spaced from, the interior walls of a stainless steel canister. An air inlet communicates with the interior of the canister. A modified conventional vacuum head is physically connected to, and associated with, the interior of the mesh cup. The volume of the canister, as defined by the space between the mesh cup and the interior walls of the canister, forms a critically safe volume and geometric shape for dry radioactive particles that are gathered within the canister. A critically safe liquid volume is maintained by operation of a suction terminating float valve, and/or by operation of redundant vacuum check/liquid drain valves and placement of the air inlet.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1993},
month = {12}
}