Holtec International has been granted a patent for a cask design for containing radioactive materials. The cask includes a rectangular cuboid-shaped body and a detachable closure lid with locking mechanisms. The design also incorporates features such as impact absorbers and lifting elements. GlobalData’s report on Holtec International gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Holtec International, Heat exchanger brazing was a key innovation area identified from patents. Holtec International's grant share as of September 2023 was 53%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Patent granted for a rectangular cask for radioactive materials
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11769602B2) describes a cask for containing radioactive materials. The cask has a rectangular cuboid configuration and includes a detachable closure lid. The lid has a rectangular shape with corners. The cask body, which forms the internal storage cavity for holding radioactive waste materials, includes a bottom wall, longitudinal sidewalls, and lateral end walls. The top ends of the sidewalls and end walls define the opening of the cask.
The cask body and lid are designed with impact absorber bars to provide protection against external forces. These impact absorber bars are removably attached to the cask body using threaded fasteners. Additionally, corner impact absorbers are fixedly coupled to each corner of the lid. These corner impact absorbers extend downwards over the respective corner regions of the cask body when the lid is coupled to the cask body.
The cask also features a bolt-free locking mechanism for securing the lid to the cask body. The lid has first locking protrusions spaced perimetrically around all sides, while the cask body has second locking protrusions spaced perimetrically around the top opening. The first locking protrusions of the lid can be inserted between and through the second locking protrusions of the cask body, allowing the lid to be locked to the cask body without any bolts. The locking bars with first locking protrusions are slideably disposed in elongated guide channels formed on the lid, enabling the locking bars to move relative to the lid.
To ensure a secure lock, the first locking protrusions and second locking protrusions are wedge-shaped, providing a tapered locking surface that engages through a wedging-action. A gasket is arranged at the interface between the cask body and lid, which is compressed when the lid is drawn against the cask body.
The cask also includes hydraulic or pneumatic actuators coupled to the locking bars, allowing for easy sliding of the locking bars relative to the lid. Additionally, a locking handle assembly is mounted on the longitudinal sidewalls of the cask body, which includes a locking block that can be moved into and out of the guide channels in the lid. This locking handle assembly can block the movement of the locking bars on the longitudinal sides of the lid, preventing them from being moved out of the locked position.
Overall, this patented cask design provides a secure and efficient solution for containing radioactive materials, with features such as impact absorbers, a bolt-free locking mechanism, and hydraulic or pneumatic actuators for ease of use.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Holtec International, buy the report here.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
