Rupture disc alarm system
First Claim
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1. A monitoring system for detecting alterations in a deformable member of a rupture disc assembly;
- said system comprising;
(a) .Iadd.a deformable member capable of withstanding a predetermined minimum amount of fluid pressure and blocking the flow of fluid through a conduit, said deformable member deforming upon the application of pressure and rupturing when said predetermined minimum amount of pressure is applied;
.Iaddend.(.Iadd.b.Iaddend.) generating means for producing a signal;
(.[.b.]. .Iadd.c.Iaddend.) signal carrying means in touching relationship and positioned on said deformable member and transmitting said signal therethrough when said member is not deformed;
.Iadd.said signal carrying means being flexible and formed of a material with characteristics that will allow it to flex when the deformable member flexes and break when the deformable member ruptures without affecting the predetermined amount of pressure necessary to rupture the deformable member;
.Iaddend.said carrying means having a modifiable transmission capacity and being sensitive to alterations in said deformable member such that the carrying means transmitted signal is modified when alterations occur in said deformable member;
(.[.c.]. .Iadd.d.Iaddend.) sensor means cooperating with said generating means and said carrying means for detecting said transmitted signal;
said sensor means having the capacity to determine when said transmitted signal has been modified a predetermined amount and triggering a response at a location remote from said deformable member indicating that said signal has been modified said predetermined amount; and
(.[.d.]. .Iadd.e.Iaddend.) alarm means remote from said deformable member and being triggered by said sensor means upon said transmitted signal being modified said predetermined amount;
(.[.e.]. .Iadd.f.Iaddend.) whereby said alarm means is activated whenever said deformable member is altered a sufficient amount to modify said transmitted signal said predetermined amount.
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Abstract
A monitor system for sensing the failure of a rupture disc and activating an alarm in response to such a failure. The system also senses potential failure of a rupture disc. The system includes a failsafe signal carrying loop which is broken when the rupture disc fails, thereby interrupting the signal. The system also includes a signal sensor which recognizes a signal interruption or substantial modification in the signal and initiates and cooperates with an alarm device to provide notice to an operator or a safety device that the rupture disc has failed.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for detecting alterations in a deformable member of a rupture disc assembly;
- said system comprising;
(a) .Iadd.a deformable member capable of withstanding a predetermined minimum amount of fluid pressure and blocking the flow of fluid through a conduit, said deformable member deforming upon the application of pressure and rupturing when said predetermined minimum amount of pressure is applied;
.Iaddend.(.Iadd.b.Iaddend.) generating means for producing a signal; (.[.b.]. .Iadd.c.Iaddend.) signal carrying means in touching relationship and positioned on said deformable member and transmitting said signal therethrough when said member is not deformed;
.Iadd.said signal carrying means being flexible and formed of a material with characteristics that will allow it to flex when the deformable member flexes and break when the deformable member ruptures without affecting the predetermined amount of pressure necessary to rupture the deformable member;
.Iaddend.said carrying means having a modifiable transmission capacity and being sensitive to alterations in said deformable member such that the carrying means transmitted signal is modified when alterations occur in said deformable member;(.[.c.]. .Iadd.d.Iaddend.) sensor means cooperating with said generating means and said carrying means for detecting said transmitted signal;
said sensor means having the capacity to determine when said transmitted signal has been modified a predetermined amount and triggering a response at a location remote from said deformable member indicating that said signal has been modified said predetermined amount; and(.[.d.]. .Iadd.e.Iaddend.) alarm means remote from said deformable member and being triggered by said sensor means upon said transmitted signal being modified said predetermined amount; (.[.e.]. .Iadd.f.Iaddend.) whereby said alarm means is activated whenever said deformable member is altered a sufficient amount to modify said transmitted signal said predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- said system comprising;
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8. A rupture disc assembly for relief of excessive fluid pressure in at least one direction in processing equipment and for triggering an alarm located remotely from said assembly when such relief occurs;
- said assembly comprising;
(a) a rupturable seal positioned to operably block flow of fluid through a conduit communicating with the processing equipment during normal operating conditions;
said seal rupturing and allowing flow of fluid during conditions of excessive fluid pressure in the processing equipment;(b) support means securing said seal prior to rupture thereof in said conduit; (c) generating means developing a signal comprising a reference level of energy; (d) carrying means cooperating with said generating means to transmit said signal;
said carrying means being positioned in touching relationship with respect to and extending along said seal and being physically altered by a change in condition in said seal thereby modifying said signal;
.Iadd.said carrying means being flexible and formed of a material with characteristics that will allow it to break when the rupturable seal ruptures without affecting the predetermined amount of pressure necessary to rupture the rupturable seal;
.Iaddend.(e) sensor means cooperating with said generating means and said carrying means and monitoring said signal after transmission by said carrying means, said sensor means detecting a change in the transmitted signal and producing a response to such a change; and (f) alarm means remote from said seal and cooperating with said sensor means and being activated by said response after a predetermined level of change in the transmitted signal; (g) whereby when the condition of said seal changes a sufficient amount to produce said predetermined level of change in the transmitted signal, said alarm is activated. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- said assembly comprising;
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14. In combination:
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(a) a rupture disc seal .[.having.]. .Iadd.assembly comprising, a rupture disc including an outer edge and being capable of withstanding a predetermined minimum amount of pressure, and further including .Iaddend.opposed sides for blocking flow of fluid through a passageway until a differential pressure between said sides exceeds a predetermined level whereupon said seal ruptures;
.Iadd.said seal assembly including means for engaging the outer edge of the disc and holding the disc in place;
.Iaddend.and(b) a conduit having a pathway .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.means comprising a breakable, electrically-conductive material .Iaddend.for transmitting a signal from one end thereof to an opposite end thereof;
said conduit being fixedly attached to said .Iadd.rupture disc .Iaddend.seal .Iadd.assembly at least in the vicinity of the edge of said seal assembly, said pathway means being flexible and formed of a material with characteristics that will allow it to break without affecting the predetermined amount of pressure necessary to rupture the rupture disc, said pathway means including a length of said breakable, electrically-conductive material extending in close proximity across at least a substantial portion of one side of said rupture disc, .Iaddend.such that .Iadd.when .Iaddend.said .[.pathway is.]. .Iadd.rupture disc is ruptured the electrically conductive material would be .Iaddend.broken and .Iadd.the pathway means would be .Iaddend.incapable of transmitting a signal .[.when said seal ruptures.].;
said conduit also being adapted to communicate with alarm means such that when said pathway .Iadd.means .Iaddend.is unbroken said signal is transmitted to said alarm means and when said pathway .Iadd.means .Iaddend.is broken said signal is not transmitted to said alarm means thereby activating said alarm means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification