Vibration resistant explosion control vent

• US 4,662,126 A
• Filed: 05/23/1986
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fike Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fike Corporation
• Inventors: Malcolm, Eddie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl F.
• Application Number:
  US06/866,884
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 52/1, 52/309.9, 52/89, 52/792, 52/809, 52/232, 220/89 A
• US Class Current: 52/167.9
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/36 Weakened parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/98 against vibrations or shocks on foundations E02D31/08; against mechanical destruction, e.g. by air-raids against incendiary damage only E04B1/94; finishing work therefor E04F; buildings withstanding earthquake or the like, shelters, arrangements of splintercatching walls E04H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/162 of the non reverse-buckling-type F16K17/1633 takes precedence

Abstract

A burst panel assembly for normally covering a vent opening of structure which defines an area to be protected from the buildup of dangerously high internal pressures has two frangible panels disposed in spaced, face-to-face relationship along with a core of expanded polyurethane foam which functions to dampen vibrations received from the structure and transmitted to the frangible panels. The foam is introduced in an initially flowable condition into the space between the panels and thereafter expands while curing to a solidified configuration for continuously exerting pressure on both of the panels, to thereby substantially reduce the fatigue stress that would otherwise occur along lines of weakness of burst patterns that are formed in both of the panels. In a preferred method of construction of the burst panel assembly, pressurized air is initially introduced into the space between the panels to shift one of the panels outwardly to a pre-bulged configuration, and subsequently a negative pressure is applied to the outside face of the opposite panel to shift the same in an outward direction while filling the space with the initially flowable foam material, so that the foam expands to a configuration larger than would be otherwise possible and is subsequently "pre-stressed" against the same panel when the negative pressure is relieved. The foam material when cured strengthens the assembly by providing support to the central portions of the frangible panels, and also the foam is compressible and somewhat resilient so that vibrations transmitted to the frangible panels are effectively dampened. The burst panel assembly is particularly useful for protecting relatively low pressure equipment such as baghouses, dust collectors and dryers.

Claims

1. A vibration resistant burst panel assembly for normally covering a vent opening of structure defining an area which is to be protected from the buildup of dangerously high internal pressures, wherein said structure is subject to vibration that is at least partially transmitted to said burst panel assembly, said assembly comprising:

a first panel having a frangible portion for extension across the vent opening of said structure,

a second panel having a frangible portion disposed in spaced, face-to-face relationship to said frangible portion of said first panel to define a chamber between said frangible portions; and

an initially flowable, cured synthetic resin material filling at least a substantial portion of said chamber and being self-expanding while curing to a solidified condition,

said material in said solidified condition in said chamber being expanded to a configuration for continuously exerting pressure on said frangible portion of said first panel and on said frangible portion of said second panel,

said cured material being compressible for dampening vibrations transmitted by said first and second panels.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said material comprises a polyurethane foam.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said frangible portions of said first panel and said second panel each have lines of weakness defining a burst pattern.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said lines of weakness comprise slots;

and including a thin, flexible sheet disposed between said frangible portions of said first panel and said second panel for substantially precluding leakage of fluid through said slots in said first panel and said second panel.

5. The invention of claim 4, including cover member extending across at least a portion of said slots for preventing damage to said flexible sheet.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said synthetic resin material has a thickness in the range of about ten times to about fifty times the thickness of said frangible portion of said first panel.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said synthetic resin material has a thickness in the range of about eighteen times to about thirty times the thickness of said frangible portion of said first panel.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein said synthetic resin material has a free-rise density of less than approximately 4.0 pounds per cubic foot.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein said synthetic resin material has a free-rise density of less than approximately 1.0 pounds per cubic foot.

10. The invention of claim 9, wherein said synthetic resin material has a free-rise density of approximately 0.40 pounds per cubic foot.