Systems, devices, and methods for transport and storage of air-sensitive materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570447-B2
Application number	US-202318472089-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2023
Priority date	Sep 21, 2022
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for volatile object transport. An example volatile object transport container includes a viewport assembly, a target container housing configured to accommodate clamp assemblies affixable to a volatile object, and a sealing member positioned between the viewport assembly and the target container housing. The sealing member is configured to provide an air-tight seal within an interior cavity of the volatile object transport container when the viewport assembly and target container housing are affixed to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A volatile object transport container, comprising:
a viewport assembly; a target container housing configured to accommodate a plurality of clamp assemblies affixable to a volatile object, wherein the plurality of clamp assemblies are (i) affixed to the volatile object via a plurality of horizontal holes in a perimeter of the volatile object and (ii) affixed to the target container housing via a plurality of vertical holes in a first surface of the target container housing; and a sealing member positioned between the viewport assembly and the target container housing, wherein the sealing member is configured to provide an air-tight seal within an interior cavity of the volatile object transport container when the viewport assembly and target container housing are affixed to one another.

2 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein the viewport assembly comprises a transparent viewing layer.

3 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises metal.

4 . The volatile object transport container of claim 3 , wherein the metal comprises copper.

5 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein the volatile object comprises a metallic substrate and a volatile composition layer.

6 . The volatile object transport container of claim 5 , wherein the metallic substrate comprises copper.

7 . The volatile object transport container of claim 5 , wherein the volatile composition layer comprises one of: lithium, sodium, or magnesium.

8 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein the viewport assembly comprises a plurality of vertical holes positioned along a perimeter of the viewport assembly.

9 . The volatile object transport container of claim 8 , wherein fasteners affix the viewport assembly to the target container housing via the plurality of vertical holes of the viewport assembly.

10 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein the viewport assembly, the sealing member, and the target container housing have an at least substantially circular shape.

11 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein at least any surface of the volatile object having thereon a volatile composition is free from contact with any part of the volatile object transport container.

12 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , wherein the volatile object is configured to produce a neutron beam when impacted by a beam of energetic protons.

13 . The volatile object transport container of claim 1 , further comprising a pumping port radially extending from the target container housing.

14 . A method of storing a volatile object in a volatile object transport container, the method comprising:
affixing a plurality of clamp assemblies to the volatile object via a plurality of horizontal holes in a perimeter of the volatile object; affixing the plurality of clamp assemblies to a target container housing of the volatile object transport container via a plurality of vertical holes in a first surface of the target container housing; placing a sealing member around a perimeter of the target container housing such that the sealing member is free from contact with the volatile object; placing a viewport assembly of the volatile object transport container onto the sealing member; and sealing the volatile object transport container using mechanical forces such that the volatile object is free from contamination within the volatile object transport container due to an air-tight seal.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein sealing the volatile object transport container using mechanical forces comprises affixing the viewport assembly to the target container housing via a plurality of vertical holes positioned along a perimeter of the viewport assembly.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least any surface of the volatile object having thereon a volatile composition is free from contact with any part of the volatile object transport container.

Assignees

• Tae Tech Inc

Inventors

• Muchnikov Anatoly
• Vdovichev Sergey
• Jauregui Frank

Classifications

• G21K5/08

  Holders for targets or for other objects to be irradiated · CPC title

• H05H3/06 Primary

  Generating neutron beams (targets for producing nuclear reactions H05H6/00; neutron sources G21G4/02) · CPC title

• H05H6/00

  Targets for producing nuclear reactions (supports for targets or objects to be irradiated G21K5/08 {; preparation of tritium C01B4/00; targets, e.g. pellets for fusion reactions by laser or charged particles beam injection H05H1/22}) · CPC title

• B65D85/70

  for materials not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65D25/54

  Inspection openings or windows · CPC title