Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Pressure relief means
Patent
1989-11-08
1990-08-21
Moy, Joseph Man-Fu
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Pressure relief means
220207, B65D 9034
Patent
active
049498622
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to the field of burst-type pressure relief devices for pressure vessels, and, more particularly, to an improved pressure relief device which will rupture at a predetermined location whenever the pressure within the vessel exceeds the burst pressure of the device.
BACKGROUND ART
Pressure vessels abound in modern usage for a myriad of different and diverse applications. Because of the possibility that upon a rupture, an overly-pressurized vessel may hurl metal fragments in many directions, much like shrapnel from a grenade, it is common to provide such vessels with pressure relief devices. In some applications, these pressure relif devices may be in the form of a mechanically-operable valve having a valve member biased to engage a seat. However, if the vessel is intended to store highly-pressurized fluid for a long period of time, the possibility of leakage past mechanical seals reduces the useable shelf or storage life of the vessel.
To overcome this deficiency, it has been known to provide such pressure vessels, particularly those which are designed for long-term storage, with diaphragm-type burst disks. These disks form an integral part of the enclosing wall, and, being hermetically sealed, effectively solve the problem of leakage past relatively-movable parts (e.g., between a valve member and its seat). In effect, such burst disks are a type of fuse which is deliberately designed to rupture in the event of an over-pressure condition within the vessel. However, such burst disks, while generally effective for their intended purpose, are believed to be unduly complicated to machine and manufacture, and are difficult to install. Moreover, the material of which the disk is made (e.g., stainless steel) will work-harden when the vessel is initially pressurized. Because of dimensional tolerances of the various components of such prior art burst disk assemblies, the expected burst pressure of a particular vessel would occur in a widened range.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention broadly provides an improved burst-type pressure relief device which is adapted to be use in association with a pressure vessel.
In one aspect, the improved device broadly comprises: an elongated tube having an inner surface and having an outer surface; a first fluid pressure acting on the tube outer surface; a second fluid pressure acting on the tube inner surface; the second pressure being greater than the first pressure so that a pressure differential will normally exist between the tube inner and outer surfaces, the tube having a weakened portion of reduced wall thickness, this weakened portion being so dimensioned and configured that the maximum hoop stress in the tube will occur along a line on the outer surface of the weakened portion; whereby, should the pressure differential between the inner and outer tube surfaces exceed the burst pressure of the tube, the tube will rupture predictably along the line.
In another aspect, the invention provides an improved method of filling a pressure vessel with pressurized fluid from a source and providing the vessel with an over-pressure relief device, which method comprises the steps of: providing an elongated tube with a weakened portion of reduced wall thickness, this weakened portion being so dimensioned and proportioned that the maximum hoop stress attributable to a fluid pressure within the tube will normally occur along a line on the outer surface of the weakened portion; mounting the tube on the vessel such that the interior of the vessel will communicate with the interior of the tube; connecting the other end of the tube to the fluid source; pressurizing or charging the vessel through the tube with fluid from the source; crimping, or otherwise deforming, the tube other marginal end portion to sealingly close the same; and disconnecting such crimped other end portion from the source; thereby to fill the vessel with pressurized fluid and to form a pressure relief device for the vessel such that, should the pressure wi
REFERENCES:
patent: 3897799 (1975-08-01), Lee
patent: 4413746 (1983-11-01), Matsutani
patent: 4416388 (1983-11-01), Mulaneski
patent: 4744382 (1988-05-01), Visnic et al.
Barbarits Joseph K.
Kujawa Leonard T.
Carleton Technologies, Inc.
Man-Fu Moy Joseph
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