US4377551A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Incore cutting machine
Assignee: CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY A CORP OF MICH
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Filing: 1980-09-02
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Granted: 1983-03-22
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Expires: 2000-09-02
Abstract
Abstract The invention pertains to apparatus for severing elongated radioactive cables into short sections for waste storage purposes. During operation the apparatus is submerged within a water shield and the cable to be cut is guided into feed rollers driven by an electric motor. The feed rollers and a shear are operated by a common electric motor, and indexing mechanism intermittently rotates the feed rollers in synchronization with the shear operation. The feed roller movement is reversible permitting removal of an enlarged cable end incapable of passing through the rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:38
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C19/00; G21C19/34; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/929; Y10S83/93; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49815; Y10T29/49821; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8772
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
Apparatus for shearing elongated radioactive members into short lengths while located within a water shield comprising, in combination, a frame adapted to be supported within a water shield pool, a vertically oriented elongated member feed path defined on said frame having upper, central and lower regions, an upwardly opening intake funnel mounted on said frame defining said feed path upper region, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted on said frame having peripheral portions located in opposed relationship within said feed path central region below said funnel and in alignment therewith whereby an elongated member within said central region engages said peripheral portions and is axially translated by said rollers, a shear movably mounted on said frame below said rollers and movable through said feed path lower region, electric motor means mounted on said frame, and transmission means mounted on said frame driven by said electric motor means operatively connected to and driving said feed rollers and shear whereby elongated members inserted into said intake funnel are moved through said feed path by said rollers and severed into short lengths by said shear.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
Apparatus for shearing elongated radioactive members into short lengths while located within a water shield comprising, in combination, a frame adapted to be supported within a water shield pool, a vertically oriented elongated member feed path defined on said frame having upper, central and lower regions, an upwardly opening intake funnel mounted on said frame defining said feed path upper region, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted on said frame having peripheral portions located in opposed relationship within said feed path central region below said funnel and in alignment therewith whereby an elongated member within said central region engages said peripheral portions and is axially translated by said rollers, a shear movably mounted on said frame below said rollers and movable through said feed path lower region, electric motor means mounted on said frame, and transmission means mounted on said frame driven by said electric motor means operatively connected to and driving said feed rollers and shear whereby elongated members inserted into said intake funnel are moved through said feed path by said rollers and severed into short lengths by said shear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes intermittently operated rotary means driving said feed rollers whereby the elongated member within said feed path is intermittently fed into said shear and severed into predetermined lengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 2 wherein said intermittent rotary transmission means comprises a Geneva drive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 1, said shear comprising a blade guide mounted on said frame adjacent said feed path lower region, a blade slidably mounted within said blade guide for reciprocal movement therein, said transmission means including a rotating shaft, an eccentric crank bearing mounted upon said rotating shaft, and a crank rod connecting said blade and crank bearing whereby said blade reciprocates within said guide during rotation of said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 1, wherein said electric motor means comprises a single electric motor, said transmission means including a speed reducing transmission driven by said motor and having an output shaft, intermittent drive means connecting said feed rollers to said output shaft for intermittently rotating said feed rollers through a predetermined angular rotation each revolution of said output shaft, an eccentric crank bearing mounted on said output shaft, and a crank rod connecting said shear to said crank bearing whereby said shear oscillates through said feed path between shearing and non-shearing positions during each revolution of said output shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 1, a watertight casing mounted upon said frame having an inner surface, said electric motor being located within said casing, air circulation means defined on said motor circulating air through said motor and casing during motor operation, and air baffle means within said casing directing circulating air into contact with said casing inner surface for cooling the air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 1, means mounting at least one of said feed rollers for adjustable movement toward the other feed roller, and adjusting means associated with said one feed roller for adjustment thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 7, wherein said means mounting said one feed roller for adjustable movement comprises a pivotally mounted cradle, said adjusting means engaging said cradle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
In apparatus for shearing radioactive members as in claim 8, wherein said adjusting means comprises a compression spring biasing said one feed roller toward said other feed roller, and spring adjustment means engaging said spring to vary the compression thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-21 | 1986-09-20 | 1987-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-21 | 1990-09-20 | 1991-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-21 | 1994-09-20 | 1995-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |