Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Date: Mar. 21, 2023
Status: Granted
Jurisdiction: U.S.
Assignee: Holtec International
Equipment Type: HI-STAR
Docket Number: HOL-135
Application Number: 17/374,005
Patent Number: US 11,610,696 B2
Prior Publication Data: US 2021/0343439 A1 – Nov. 4, 2021
Related U.S. Application Data:
- Continuation-in-part of application No. 17/181,439, filed on Feb. 22, 2021, now Pat. No. US 11,373,775 B2, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 17/165,224, filed on Feb. 2, 2021 and a continuation-in-part of application No. 17/132,102, filed on Dec. 23, 2020, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 17/061,700, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, not Pat. No. 11,081,249.
- Provisional application No. 62/979,640, filed on Feb. 21, 2020, provisional application No. 62/969,183, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, provisional application No.62/954,083, filed on Dec. 27, 2019, provisional application No. 62/910,073, filed on Oct. 3, 2019.
Abstract: A nuclear waste cask in one embodiment includes an axially elongated cask body defining a longitudinally-extending opening forming an entrance to an internal storage cavity of the cask configured for holding radioactive nuclear waste materials. A closure lid detachably coupled to the cask body at the top opening seals the cavity. A cask locking mechanism includes a plurality of first locking protrusions spaced apart on the lid which are selectively interlockable with a plurality of second locking protrusions spaced apart on the cask body to lock the lid to the cask body. The first locking protrusions may be disposed on slideable locking bars moveable between locked and unlocked positions while the lid remains stationary on the cask body. Hydraulic or pneumatic actuators may be used to change position of the locking bars. The cask and lid may include other features such as impact absorbers and lifting elements.