Radioactive Source Holder with Redundant Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radioactive capsule holders face issues with secure retention during transportation and handling due to wear and loosening of pins or nuts, leading to potential capsule release, especially in high radiation fields, where precise and robust tooling is required for pin removal.
Innovation Solution
A capsule holder with redundant retaining mechanisms, including a set screw for radial movement prevention, a locking shelf for axial orientation fixation, and a capture tooth to prevent capsule release, ensuring secure confinement during transport and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a radial pin is used to secure the capsule holder ends together, then the holder can be assembled and disassembled, but the pin degrades due to wear and may fall out during transport or handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a capture tooth that prevents capsule release before transport or handling issues can occur. The capture tooth is positioned to engage with the capsule beforehand, ensuring that even if the pin degrades or falls out, the capsule remains secured. This preemptive measure addresses the reliability issue without compromising the ease of operation for assembly and disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating redundant retention mechanisms (capture tooth and set screw) that provide backup security against pin failure. These mechanisms are designed to compensate for potential pin degradation or failure, ensuring continuous capsule retention even when the primary pin mechanism fails. This cushioning approach maintains reliability while preserving the operational simplicity of the pin-based assembly system.
2Reliability
If a locking nut is used instead of a radial pin, then the holder ends are locked together, but the holder may unthread axially if the nut loosens
Solution Approach 1:
The capture tooth provides preliminary action by securing the capsule in position before any axial unthreading can occur. Even if the locking nut loosens and the holder ends separate axially, the capture tooth maintains engagement with the capsule, preventing capsule release. This resolves the reliability issue without requiring the holder ends to remain tightly locked together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the capsule retention function from the threaded connection between holder ends. Instead of relying on the nutritional lock to prevent capsule release, the capture tooth independently performs the retention function. This separation means that even if the threaded connection fails or loosens, the capsule remains secured by the capture tooth, eliminating the risk of axial unthreading compromising capsule security.
3Reliability
If the holder is designed for secure retention, then the capsule is confined during transport, but the pin and holder are frequently damaged in the pinning and de-pinning process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the capsule retention function from the pin mechanism and assigns it to the capture tooth and set screw. The pin is relegated solely to the function of assembling and disassembling the holder ends, while the capture tooth and set screw provide continuous capsule retention. This separation reduces the mechanical stress and wear on the pin, as it no longer needs to provide continuous retention, only periodic assembly and disassembly support.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture tooth provides preliminary and continuous capsule retention before, during, and after the pinning and de-pinning operations. This ensures that the capsule remains secured even when the pin is being installed or removed, eliminating the risk of capsule loss during these high-stress operations. The set screw provides additional preliminary retention by engaging the capsule before the pin is fully installed.
4Ease of operation
If accurate and robust tooling is used to remove the radial pin in high radiation fields, then the pin can be located and removed, but the pin and holder are frequently damaged in the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the capsule retention function from the pin, assigning it to the capture tooth and set screw instead. This means the pin only needs to provide structural support for assembling and disassembling the holder ends, not continuous capsule retention. The capture tooth maintains capsule security throughout the pin removal process, eliminating the need for overly robust tooling to prevent capsule loss during pin removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture tooth and set screw provide preliminary capsule retention before pin removal begins, and maintain this retention throughout the process. This allows for simpler, less robust tooling to be used for pin removal, as the capsule is already secured and won't move or cause damage during the operation. The holder components experience less stress and damage risk because the capsule is firmly held by the capture tooth and set screw.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure pertains to a holder for a radioactive source capsule with pivoting first and second parts, with redundant mechanisms for retention of the capsule during transportation and handling. These retaining mechanisms include a set screw in the first pivoting part to engage the capsule and to prevent radial movement of the capsule, a locking shelf in the second pivoting part to fix the axial orientation of the pivoting bottom end of the capsule holder, and a capture tooth within the capsule to prevent release of the capsule while in the shipping and/or handling tube of the capsule holder.