Cask transporter

• US 6,328,524 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: J&R Engineering Company Inc.
• Original Assignee: J&R Engineering Company Inc.
• Inventors: Johnston, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keenan, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,275
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 414/146, 414/458, 414/459, 414/460, 414/461, 414/495, 414/496, 414/911, 212/324, 212/343, 212/344
• US Class Current: 414/460
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 19/005 Straddle carriers B66C19/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/32 Apparatus for removing radioactive objects or materials from the reactor discharge area, e.g. to a storage place; Apparatus for handling radioactive objects or materials within a storage place or removing them therefrom disposal of waste material G21F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/14 Devices for handling containers or shipping-casks, e.g. transporting devices loading and unloading, filling of containers cranes, load-engaging elements or devices for cranes, capstans, winches or tackles B66C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/124 Roll handlers

Abstract

A cask transporter for engaging, lifting and safely transporting casks containing nuclear waste material. The cask transporter comprises a gantry structure including a plurality of extendible telescoping boom assemblies coupled to a beam. A platform is coupled to and supports the gantry structure and couples the gantry structure to a driven tread mechanism. Couplers couple the beam to a cask to be transported, and cushioned restraints restrain a cask from colliding with the cask transporter.

Claims

1. A cask transporter for transporting nuclear waste casks comprising:

a mobile platform having laterally opposed longitudinally extending sides, a closed longitudinal area, and an open area extending between said sides and configured to receive a cask to be transported when said platform moves toward the cask, a lift position being located in said open area and being configured to receive the cask;

a gantry including a pair of substantially vertical extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform;

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms;

one or more couplers carried on said beam for connecting said beam to an upper end portion of the cask when the cask is in said lift position so that the cask is raised when said extendable booms are extended to raise said beam;

a restraint, coupled to said platform and engageable with the cask, for retaining the cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when the cask is being transported by said cask transporter;

wherein said restraint is damped to permit limited movement of the cask relative to said platform;

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted; and

which are configured to ride along the ground; and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.

2. A cask transporter as defined in claim 1, wherein said restraint includes one or more hydraulic cylinders.

3. A cask transporter as defined in claim 2, wherein said restraint comprises shock-absorbing members mounted on said gantry.

4. A cask transporter as defined in claim 3, wherein said shock absorbing members comprise an accumulator and said hydraulic cylinders comprise cushion hydraulic cylinders coupled to said accumulator.

5. A cask transporter as defined in claim 1, wherein said platform is substantially C-shaped.

6. A cask transporter as defined in claim 1, further comprising beam joints that connect opposed ends of said beam to the upper ends of said extendable booms and that are configured to laterally rigidify the gantry by preventing movement of said beam relative to the upper ends of said extendable booms laterally of said platform.

7. A cask transporter as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said beam joints comprises a joint pin extending longitudinally of said platform and rigidly coupling said beam directly to a portion of the associated boom that is fixed from pivoting motion relative to the base of the associated boom.

8. A cask transporter comprising:

a mobile platform having

     1) laterally opposed longitudinally extending sides,

     2) a first, closed longitudinal end area extending between said sides, and

     3) a second, open longitudinal end area extending between said sides and configured to receive a cask to be transported when said platform moves toward the cask from a position in which said second end area is spaced from but aligned with the cask, a lift position being located longitudinally between said first and second end areas and being configured to receive the cask after said second longitudinal end area moves past the cask;

a gantry including a pair of substantially vertical extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, each of said booms including a hydraulic cylinder which is selectively extendible and retractable to extend and retract the associated extendable boom, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform;

a single beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms and raisable with said extendable booms, said beam being connected to said upper ends of said booms by joints that accommodate extension discrepancies between said booms while preventing movement of said beam relative to said booms laterally of said platform;

one or more couplers carried on said beam for connecting said beam to an upper end portion of a cask to be transported when the cask is in said lift position so that the cask is raised when said extendable booms are extended to raise said beam;

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted and which are configured to ride along the ground; and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.

9. A cask transporter as defined in claim 8, further comprising a restraint coupled to said platform and engageable with the cask for retraining the cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when the cask is being transported by said cask transporter.

10. A cask transporter as defined in claim 9, wherein said restraint is damped to permit limited movement of the cask relative to said platform.

11. A cask transporter as defined in claim 10, wherein said restraint comprises shock-absorbing members mounted on said gantry.

12. A cask transporter as defined in claim 11, wherein said shock absorbing members comprises an accumulator and cushion hydraulic cylinders coupled to said cushion hydraulic cylinders.

13. A cask transporter as defined in claim 8, wherein said platform is substantially C-shaped.

14. A cask transporter comprising:

a substantially C-shaped, self-propelled mobile platform having

     1) laterally opposed longitudinally extending sides,

     2) a first, closed longitudinal end area extending between said sides and supporting operator'"'"'s controls, and

     3) a second, open longitudinal end area extending between said sides and configured to receive a cask to be transported when said platform moves toward the cask from a position in which said second end area is spaced from but aligned with the cask, a lift position being located longitudinally between said first and second end areas and being configured to receive the cask after said second longitudinal end area moves past the cask;

a gantry including a pair of substantially vertical spaced extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, each of said booms including a telescoping tube, a single hydraulic cylinder which is selectively extendible and retractable to extend and retract the associated extendable boom, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform;

a single beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms and raisable with said extendable booms, said beam being connected to the upper ends of said booms by pin joints to allow for slight variation in the extension of said booms while preventing movement of said beam laterally of said platform;

one or more couplers carried on said beam for connecting said beam to an upper end portion of the cask when the cask is in said lift position so that the cask is raised when said extendable booms are extended to raise said beam;

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted and which are configured to ride along the ground; and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.

15. A cask transporter as defined in claim 14, further comprising a restraint coupled to said platform and engageable with the cask for retraining the cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when the cask is being transported by said cask transporter;

wherein said restraint is damped to permit limited movement of the cask relative to said platform.

16. A cask transporter for transporting spent nuclear fuel rod storage casks, comprising:

a mobile platform having opposed longitudinally extending sides, a closed longitudinal area, and an open area, said open area being disposed between said sides and configured to receive a spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask to be transported when said platform moves toward the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask, said open area defining a lift position which is sufficiently wide and long to receive the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask;

a gantry having only two substantially vertical extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform;

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms at a location which is at least substantially at a longitudinal center of said open area, said beam being raisable with said extendable booms, wherein said beam and said extendable booms are configured such that, when the extendable booms are fully retracted, said beam is sufficiently high to be above the level of an upper end of the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask;

a restraint which is coupled to said platform and which is dimensioned and configured so as to be engageable with the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask so as to restrain the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask is being transported by said cask transporter;

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted and which are configured to ride along the ground; and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.

17. A cask transporter as recited in claim 16, wherein said cask transporter is dimensioned and configured to lift and transport a spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask weighing 135 tons.

18. A cask transporter as recited in claim 17, wherein said cask transporter is dimensioned and configured to lift and transport a spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask which is seventeen-feet high.

19. A cask transporter as recited in claim 16, wherein said gantry is located midway along said platform and is rigidly connected thereto.

20. A cask transporter as defined in claim 16, further comprising beam joints that connect opposed ends of said beam to the upper end of said extendable booms and that are configured to laterally rigidify the gantry by preventing movement of said beam relative to the upper ends of said extendable booms laterally of said platform.

21. A cask transporter as defined in claim 20, wherein each of said beam joints comprises a joint pin extending longitudinally of said platform and rigidly coupling said beam directly to a portion of the associated boom that is fixed from pivoting motion relative to the base of the associated boom.

22. In combination:

a substantially cylindrical, vertically oriented spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask which is dimensioned and configured to contain spent nuclear fuel rods, said cask having an upper end and a sidewall; and

a cask transporter for transporting said cask, said cask transporter including

a mobile platform having opposed longitudinally extending sides, a closed longitudinal area, and an open area, said open area being disposed between said sides and configured to receive said cask when said platform moves toward said cask, said open area defining a lift position which is sufficiently wide and long to receive said cask,

a gantry having only two substantially vertical extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, said booms being capable of lifting said cask and of holding said cask in a lifted position during transport, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform,

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms at a location which is at least substantially at a longitudinal center of said open area, said beam being raisable with said extendable booms, wherein said beam and said extendable booms are configured such that, when the extendable booms are fully retracted, said beam is sufficiently high to be above the level of said upper end of said cask;

a restraint which is coupled to said platform and which is dimensioned and configured so as to be engageable with said cask so as to restrain said cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when said cask is being transported by said cask transporter,

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted and which are configured to ride along the ground, and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.

23. A combination as defined in claim 22, further comprising beam joints that connect opposed ends of said beam to the upper end of said extendable booms and that are configured to laterally rigidify the gantry by preventing movement of said beam relative to the upper ends of said extendable booms laterally of said platform.

24. A combination as defined in claim 23, wherein each of said beam joints comprises a joint pin extending longitudinally of said platform and rigidly coupling said beam directly to a portion of the associated boom that is fixed from pivoting motion relative to the base of the associated boom.

25. In combination:

a substantially cylindrical, vertically oriented spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask which is dimensioned and configured to contain spent nuclear fuel rods, said cask having an upper end and a sidewall, said cask being about seventeen feet high and weighing about 135 tons; and

a cask transporter for transporting said spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask, said cask transporter including

a mobile platform having opposed longitudinally extending sides, a closed longitudinal area, and an open area, said open area being disposed between said sides and configured to receive said cask when said platform moves toward said cask, said open area defining a lift position which is sufficiently wide and long to receive said cask,

a gantry having only two substantially vertical extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, said booms being capable of lifting said cask and of holding said cask in a lifted position during transport, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform,

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms and raisable with said extendable booms, wherein said beam and said extendable booms are configured such that, when the extendable booms are fully lowered, said beam is sufficiently high to be above the level of said upper end of said cask, and wherein said beam is connected to said upper ends of said booms by joints that accommodate extension discrepancies between said booms while preventing movement of said beam relative to said booms laterally of said platform,

a restraint which is coupled to said platform and which is dimensioned and configured so as to be engageable with said cask so as to restrain said cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when said cask is being transported by said cask transporter,

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted and which are configured to ride along the ground, and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.

26. A cask transporter for transporting spent nuclear fuel rod storage casks, comprising:

a mobile platform having opposed longitudinally extending sides, a closed longitudinal area, and an open area, said open area being disposed between said sides and configured to receive a spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask to be transported when said platform moves toward the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask, said open area defining a lift position which is sufficiently wide and long to receive the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask;

a gantry having only two substantially vertical extendable booms extending upwardly from said sides at said lift position, each of said booms including a base that is mounted on said platform such that said bases are immovable relative to one another and to said platform;

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the upper ends of said extendable booms, said beam being raisable with said extendable booms, wherein said beam and said extendable booms are configured such that, when the extendable booms are fully retracted, said beam is sufficiently high to be above the level of an upper end of the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask;

a restraint which is coupled to said platform and which is dimensioned and configured so as to be engageable with the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask so as to restrain the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask against swinging movement relative to said cask transporter when the spent nuclear fuel rod storage cask is being transported by said cask transporter;

a pair of substantially parallel, spaced treads on which said platform is mounted and which are configured to ride along the ground; and

a motor which is supported on said platform and which drives said treads to propel said cask transporter.