Fluid handling – Destructible or deformable element controlled – Destructible element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2001-05-15
Buiz, Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Destructible or deformable element controlled
Destructible element
C137S068240, C137S068280, C137S910000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to container pressure relieving devices and in particular to a rupture disk cartridge that has a polymer rupture disk attached and which can be hand assembled without mechanical tools and removably installed in a fluid line connected to a pressurized container.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
The problem of relieving excess pressures within containers is well known in the art and generally utilizes a rupture disk that is placed in a fluid flow line connected to the container. These rupture disks are generally formed of metal and have score lines or other features that allow them to rupture at predetermined pressures.
Such rupture disks have also been formed with Teflon® disks that are controlled primarily by the tensile strength of the Teflon® and the burst diameter of an orifice in the disk holder or flange. If a disk ruptures and has to be replaced, the replacement disk material, the Teflon®, may have a different tensile strength than the original lot. Thus, since the burst or rupture pressure of the disk is related to the tensile strength of the Teflon® as well as the diameter of the orifice it covers, this could require changes to the burst diameter orifice or a search for a Teflon® rupture disk material having the correct tensile strength to provide the proper burst pressure. It will be understood that it may be very difficult or expensive to change the orifice in the burst or rupture disk holder. Of course, it may also be expensive to search for rupture disk Teflon® material having the proper tensile strength to create the proper rupture pressure.
It would be advantageous to have a rupture disk assembly in the form of a cartridge or capsule having a predetermined burst pressure and that could be easily fabricated or taken from a supply shelf and simply inserted in the fluid line fixture to the pressurized container to replace the old one, thereby providing the proper protection for that particular container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus the present invention provides shelf stocked rupture disk assemblies of various configurations for mounting in various fluid line connectors such that if a desired rupture or burst pressure is required for a particular type fitting, one can simply go to the shelf and obtain that type of rupture disk assembly having the proper configuration and rupture pressure and install it in the lines. Thus the replacement is easily and economically accomplished. The assembly includes the necessary burst diameter which can easily be changed for each lot of disks. The disk assembly provides a more convenient form of the disk for handling and shipping. Further, it provides for a method of changing the disk burst pressure in either direction easily and economically. Also, the rupture disk assembly can be customized to reduce the chance of installation of the wrong material or disk or installing the assembly in the wrong direction. Thus the present invention relates to a shelf stocked replaceable polymer rupture disk assembly in the form of a self-contained cartridge or capsule.
The assembly simply has a rupture disk holder having an orifice therein of a predetermined diameter, d, where d=BI/BP, BI=burst index and BP=burst pressure. A polymer rupture disk is attached to and supported by the rupture disk holder across the orifice and has a predetermined thickness, t, where t=BI/(BI/mil) thereby establishing a predetermined burst pressure, BP, in conjunction with the diameter, d, of the orifice in the rupture disk holder. It is well known in the art that burst pressure (BP) times burst diameter (d) equals the burst index (BI). For Teflon® then a desired thickness, t, for a given burst pressure, BP, would be determined by the equation:
t=BP×d/(BI/mil),
where BI/mil=burst index of Teflon® per mil of thickness. Thus the thickness of the Teflon® needed can be determined by knowing the burst index (BI) of the Teflon® and the size of the orifice it must cover.
The present invention forms a polymer rupture disk assembly that can be inserted in only one direction in a fluid line to prevent incorrect installation. The novel polymer rupture disk assembly can also be provided which has a first burst pressure in one direction and a second burst pressure in the opposite direction.
The polymer rupture disk assemblies can also be made to have the same burst pressure in either direction.
The rupture disk holders can be formed of a polymer material such as Teflon® or similar material and can be hand assembled without tools simply by placing a polymer rupture disk across the orifice of known diameter in the holder and then providing an attachment means of some type to hold the polymer rupture disk fixedly across the holder orifice.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer rupture disk assembly as a cartridge or capsule that is designed to be easily and economically replaceable.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a polymer rupture disk assembly that provides a more convenient form for handling and shipping.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a polymer rupture disk assembly that can change the disk burst pressure in either direction of fluid flow through the assembly.
It is still another object of the present invention to customize the polymer rupture or disk assemblies to reduce the chance of installation of the assembly in the fluid line in the wrong direction.
Thus the present invention relates to a polymer rupture disk assembly for mounting in a fluid line to a pressurized container for establishing a predetermined rupture or burst pressure, BP, of the polymer rupture disk assembly comprising a support assembly that can be mounted in a fluid line connected to a pressurized container, a fluid flow orifice of predetermined diameter, d, in the support assembly, and a polymer rupture disk having a predetermined thickness, t, held in fluid-tight relationship over the orifice such that a predetermined rupture pressure, BP, is established by the polymer rupture assembly, the assembly being constructed for removable placement in a container fluid line to limit pressure in the container to the predetermined pressure.
Thus the assembly is in the nature of a cartridge or a capsule which can merely be used for routine maintenance or to replace a cartridge or capsule that is defective or has ruptured by simply removing the first cartridge or capsule from the fluid line fitting and then inserting the replacement cartridge or capsule into the fluid line fitting. There is no testing required, no assembly of the cartridge required, and no modifications need be made to the existing fluid lines.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3709239 (1973-01-01), Morcj, Jr.
patent: 3908684 (1975-09-01), Short
patent: 4512491 (1985-04-01), DeGood et al.
patent: 4590957 (1986-05-01), McFarlane
patent: 5002085 (1991-03-01), FitzGerald
Strelow John L.
Wilson Alan
Buiz Michael
Jones Day Reavis & Pogue
Krishnamurthy Ramesh
Oklahoma Safety Equipment Co.
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