Apparatus for supporting contactors used in extracting nuclear materials from liquids

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for supporting one or more contactor stages used to remove radioactive materials from aqueous solutions. The contactor stages include a housing having an internal rotor, a motor secured to the top of the housing for rotating the rotor, and a drain in the bottom of the housing. The support apparatus includes two or more vertical members each secured to a ground support that is horizontal and perpendicular to the frame member, and a horizontally disposed frame member. The frame member may be any suitable shape, but is preferably a rectangular tube having substantially flat, spaced top and bottom surfaces separated by substantially vertical side surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces each have an opening through which the contactor housing is secured so that the motor is above the frame and the drain is below the frame during use.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. Apparatus for supporting at least one contactor stage for removing radioactive materials from aqueous solutions, the contactor stage having a housing, a rotor in the housing, a motor secured to the top of the housing for turning the rotor, and a drain in the bottom of the housing, said apparatus comprising a tubular, rectangular frame member having substantially flat, spaced top and bottom surfaces separated by substantially vertical side surfaces, said top and bottom surfaces each having an opening through which the housing may be placed,   means for supporting said frame without substantially obstructing access to the contactor drain from three sides of the contactor stage, and   means for securing said housing to said frame member,   whereby the contactor stage is secured in a stable manner without obstructing access to the contactor drain.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame supporting means comprises at least two horizontal footers placed on a ground surface perpendicular to the frame, one vertical leg extending to each footer, and a brace securing each footer to each leg. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said housing comprises a weld. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for supporting a plurality of contactor stages for removing radioactive materials from aqueous solutions, the contactor stages being arranged in a substantially straight row, each of the contactor stages having a housing, a rotor in the housing, a motor secured to the top of the housing for turning the rotor, a drain in the bottom of the housing, a plurality of first interconnect pipes for placing a first solution containing radioactive materials in the housing and removing solution containing radioactive materials from the housing, and a plurality of second embodiment pipes for placing a second solution containing organic materials in the housing and removing solution containing organic materials from the housing, said apparatus comprising a tubular, rectangular frame member having substantially flat, spaced top and bottom surfaces separated by substantially vertical side surfaces, said top and bottom surfaces each having a separate opening through which each housing may be placed,   means for supporting said frame without substantially obstructing access to the contactor drains from three sides of the contactors, and   means for securing said housings to said frame member,   whereby the contactors are secured in a stable manner without obstructing access to the contactor drains.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said frame supporting means comprises a series of horizontal footers placed on a ground surface perpendicular to the frame, a vertical leg extending from each of said footers, and a plurality of braces secured to said footers and said legs. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said legs extend below the first and second interconnect pipes. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for securing said housing comprises a weld.