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Information Notice No. 95-44: Ensuring Compatible Use Of Drive Cables Incorporating Industrial Nuclear Company Ball-Type Male Connectors
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 September 26, 1995 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 95-44: ENSURING COMPATIBLE USE OF DRIVE CABLES INCORPORATING INDUSTRIAL NUCLEAR COMPANY BALL-TYPE MALE CONNECTORS Addressees All Radiography Licensees. Purpose The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice to alert addressees to two source disconnects involving Industrial Nuclear Company (INC) ball-type drive cable connectors. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required. Description of Circumstances An NRC licensee reported that while performing radiographic operations on August 25, 1995, and August 27, 1995, it experienced two source disconnects. The licensee was using a Gulf Nuclear Model 20V radiographic camera, an INC Model 22 radiographic source assembly, and drive cables incorporating INC connectors. Both disconnects occurred as a result of a catastrophic failure of the neck of the male connector on the drive cable. This resulted in the source assembly becoming separated from the drive cable and not being able to be retracted into the camera. The drive cable involved in the first disconnect had been in use for only a short time (2 to 4 weeks). After the disconnect, the drive cable was replaced with a new, unused drive cable that subsequently failed after being in use for approximately 2 days. Both drive cables incorporated INC ball-type connectors and were received by the licensee at the same time. The source was not new and had previously been used with no reported disconnects. Discussion On August 29, 1995, an inspector from the California Radiation Control Program met with INC, at its facility, to investigate the cause of the incident. INC indicated that the cause of the disconnects was the use of a drive cable connector that was not compatible with the exposure device. 9509260149. IN 95-44 September 26, 1995 Page 2 of 2 INC distributes two styles of ball-type connectors. The only difference between the connectors is the length of the sleeve that is swaged onto the control cable. The length of the sleeve (dimension X in the diagram below) is either 0.462 in. (1.17 cm) or 0.570 in. (1.45 cm). The connector with a 0.462-in. (1.17-cm)-long sleeve is designed for use with older devices that have an "S-tube" with tight-bend radii, such as Gulf Nuclear and Gamma Industry devices. The connector with a 0.570-in. (1.45-cm) sleeve is designed for use with devices that have a shallow "S-tube," such as the INC Model IR-100 and Amersham 660 series devices. The licensee involved in the incident described above was using a connector with a 0.570-in. (1.45-cm)-long sleeve in a device that has an "S-tube" with tight-bend radii. The tight bends in the "S-tube" caused the connector to experience severe stresses, leading to the failure of the connector. NRC is issuing this information notice to alert licensees that when using drive cables incorporating INC ball-type connectors, they should ensure that the connector is compatible with the exposure device they are using. It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid problems and ensure consistency with applicable requirements. However, no specific action nor written response is required from recipients of this notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical contact listed below, or the appropriate regional office. /s/'d by DA Cool Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Technical contact: John W. Lubinski, NMSS (301) 415-7868
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, May 22, 2015
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