Rupture disk assembly

• US 5,012,945 A
• Filed: 12/15/1989
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Keenan, Gordon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US07/450,967
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 220/89 A, 220/207, 220/208, 137/68.1, 137/70, 137/71
• US Class Current: 220/89.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/16 with fracturing diaphragm ; Rupture discs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/91 Destructible or deformable element constructed of specific material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1714 Direct pressure causes disc to burst
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1789 Having pressure responsive valve

Abstract

This invention is concerned with an improved safety rupture disk assembly. This rupture disk assembly, which is designed for a fluid containment vessel, comprises two main parts: a removable rupture disk, and a cover plate. The rupture disk, of course, is designed to rupture, or fail, at a predetermined pressure, and to be easily removed and replaced by another rupture disk in the event of a failure. The cover plate is designed so as to "float" over the rupture disk and automatically seal the opening of the vessel after the pressure within the vessel has been release by disk failure. Additionally, nuts, washers and sealing wires are provided for positively securing the cover plate over the opening resulting from disk failure and for preventing inadvertent securing of the cover plate.

Claims

1. A rupture disk assembly for mounting on a tubular vent of a fluid containment vessel comprising:

a replaceable rupture disk for horizontal mounting over the tubular vent;

a top flange means positioned over the rupture disk;

securing means for urging the top flange downwardly and securing the rupture disk over the tubular vent thereby sealing the fluid in the vessel from the atmosphere;

a vertically moveable cover plate horizontally disposed over and resting on the top flange;

means for guiding the vertical movement of the cover plate whereby the cover plate will move vertically upward upon failure of the rupture disk caused by an increase in pressure in the fluid containment vessel above a predetermined pressure, thereby relieving the increased pressure and the cover plate will move vertically downward and seal the vent when the pressure is relieved;

means for securing the cover plate over the top flange after a failure of the rupture disk; and

,

a sealing wire operatively connected to the means for securing the cover plate whereby the sealing wire must be broken before the cover plate can be secured over the top flange by the means for securing the plate thereby preventing inadvertent securing of the cover plate.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including a flexible sealing gasket means interposed between the cover plate and the top flange.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the top flange has a top surface and an annular groove in the top surface and wherein the flexible gasket means is an O-ring positioned in the groove.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for urging the top flange downwardly on the rupture disk is a plurality of nuts and bolts wherein the top flange has a plurality of apertures therein and the bolts extend vertically through the apertures for a sufficient distance to serve as the means for guiding the vertical movement of the cover plate.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the cover plate has a plurality of apertures therein which are aligned with the apertures in the top flange to permit the bolts that extend vertically through the apertures in the top flange to pass through the apertures in the cover plate wherein the bolts guide the vertical movement of the cover plate.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the bolts are provided with riding sleeves on the portion of the bolts above the top flange whereby the cover plate can move vertically without being hindered by bolt threads.

7. A rupture disk assembly for mounting on a tubular vent of a fluid containment vessel comprising:

a bottom flange for mounting on the tubular vent of the containment vessel, the flange having an inner annular top sealing surface and an outer annular part having a plurality of evenly spaced apertures therethrough;

a replaceable rupture disk having a central portion capable of rupturing at a predetermined pressure and an annular ring portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, the annular ring sized so that its bottom surface bears on the top sealing surface of the bottom flange;

a top flange having an inner annular ring portion having a top and a bottom surface, the inner ring portion sized to bear on the top surface of the annular ring portion of the rupture disk, the top flange having an outer annular ring portion with apertures therein spaced to be in alignment with the apertures in the bottom flange;

a plurality of bolts extending upwardly through the top and bottom flange for a distance substantially greater than the vertical height of the bottom flange, rupture disk and top flange;

a plurality of nuts on the blots for urging the top flange downwardly on the annular ring portion of the rupture disk whereby the rupture disk is mounted over the tubular vent of the containment vessel;

a vertically moveable cover plate horizontally disposed over the top flange, the cover plate having a plurality of apertures therein spaced to align with the apertures in the top and bottom flanges;

annular gasket means interposed between the cover plate and the top surface of the inner annular ring portion of the top flange;

a plurality of second nuts mounted on the end of the bolts for securing the cover plate onto the top flange whereby the cover plate can move vertically upward upon a failure of the rupture disk resulting from excessive pressure in the fluid containment vessel and then vertically downward to seal the vessel upon release of the excessive pressure and whereby the plurality of second nuts can be moved downward on the bolts to secure the cover; and

,

a sealing wire operatively connected to the means for securing the cover plate whereby the sealing wire must be broken before the cover plate can be secured over the top flange by the means for securing the plate thereby preventing inadvertent securing of the cover plate.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the top surface of the inner annular ring portion of the top flange includes an annular groove and wherein the gasket means is an O-ring adapted to fit in the annular groove.