CLOSURE WITH A LATCHING DEVICE FOR SECURING THE CLOSURE TO A CASK

摘要

A closure (3) for sealingly closing an opening defined by a wall portion (8) of a cask, especially one for transporting radioactive material. The closure includes a latching device comprising a plurality of shear key assemblies (15) uniformly spaced about the closure and comprising generally T-shaped shear keys (17) each having a beveled latch portion which is wedgingly engageable in a slot (23) of the cask wall portion defining the cask opening, and a bolt portion which is operatively connected to a key inserting and retracting mechanism, either one (32) which is individually associated with the particular shear key assembly or a single one which is common to all shear key assemblies. The shear keys (17) are supported and guided within the closure (3), and their latch portions are substantially wider than their bolt portions.