Force transferring pressure relief device

• US 20070056629A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems LLC (International Systems & Controls Corp.)
• Original Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems LLC (International Systems & Controls Corp.)
• Inventors: Brazier, Geof, Kelly, Joseph, Beair, Charlie, Klein, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,915,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/68.110
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/06 with guided stems
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/406 the fracturing member being a generally elongated member, e.g. rod or wire, which is directly connected to a movable valve member, the breaking or buckling of the elongated member allowing the valve member to move to a closed or open position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0497 Fluid actuated or retarded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1632 Destructible element

Abstract

A pressure relief device is disclosed for a system containing a pressurized fluid. The device includes a main valve body having inlet and outlet flow ports and a valve plug positioned to seal the flowpath of the pressurized fluid between the inlet port and the outlet port of main valve body. A force transmission component is connected to the valve plug and an activation component is installed between the force transmission component and a mounting surface. The activation component is configured to prevent axial movement of the valve plug until a predetermined pressure is exerted on the valve plug. The force transmission component more efficiently transfers the output force acting on the valve plug to the activation component.

Claims

1. A pressure relief device for a system containing a pressurized fluid, comprising;

a main valve body including an axial passageway defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flowpath between the inlet and outlet ports;

a valve plug positioned to seal the flowpath of the pressurized fluid between the inlet port and the outlet port of main valve body;

a force transmission component connected to the valve plug;

an activation component installed between the force transmission component and a mounting surface, the activation component configured to prevent axial movement of the valve until a predetermined pressure is exerted on the valve; and

wherein the force transmission component only transfers an axial force acting on the valve plug to the activation component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the axial passageway terminates within the main valve body at a mouth within the main valve body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the valve plug comprises a disk shaped valve seat providing a seal at the mouth.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the valve plug comprises a component sealingly engaged within the axial passageway downstream of the mouth.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve plug comprises a single plate valve plug.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation component is a buckling pin configured to buckle when the pressurized fluid of the system reaches the predetermined pressure.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation component is a pin configured to break when the pressurized fluid of the system reaches the predetermined pressure.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a piston slidably housed within the relief device between the force transmission component and the activation component.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the distance between the mounting surface and the piston is adjustable to accommodate installation of the activation component.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the piston and force transmission component are dimensioned such that when the valve plug is positioned to seal the flowpath, the force transmission component is positioned to slidably displace the piston.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pre-loading mechanism configured to axially load the force transmission component such that the valve plug is positioned to seal the flowpath prior to the installation of the activation component.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the pre-loading mechanism comprises a rotatable arm.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the force transmission component includes at least one gimballing joint.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one gimballing joint is connected to the valve plug.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the force transmission component comprises a gimballing joint connected to the valve plug, a protrusion member, and a shaft extending therebetween.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the protrusion member comprises a ball bearing.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor activating device positioned along the force transmission component and a sensor fixed relative to the main valve body configured to monitor axial movement of the sensor activating device and the force transmission device.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensor activating devices positioned along the force transmission component and a plurality of sensors fixed relative to the main valve body configured to monitor several axial positions of the force transmission device.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the outlet port exits the main valve body at an angle approximately 90 degrees relative to the axial passageway.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein a chimney extending from the valve plug prevents back pressure from reaching the valve plug downstream side through the outlet port.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein a bellows extends from the valve plug and prevents back pressure from reaching a downstream side of the valve plug through the outlet port.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve plug extends through the main valve body beyond the axial passageway such that the valve plug prevents back pressure from reaching a downstream side of the valve plug through the outlet port.

23. A pressure relief device for a system containing a pressurized fluid, comprising;

a main valve body including an axial passageway defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flowpath between the inlet and outlet ports;

a valve plug positioned to seal the flowpath of the pressurized fluid between the inlet port and the outlet port of main valve body;

a force transmission component connected to the valve plug;

an activation component installed between the force transmission component and a mounting surface, the activation component configured to prevent axial movement of the valve plug until a predetermined pressure is exerted on the valve plug; and

wherein the force transmission component is incapable of transferring any moment resulting from the output force acting on the valve plug to the activation component.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the force transmission component comprises a gimballing joint connected to the valve plug, a protrusion member, and a shaft extending therebetween.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the axial passageway terminates within the main valve body at a mouth within the main valve body.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the valve plug comprises a disk shaped valve seat providing a seal at the mouth.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the valve plug is sealingly engaged within the axial passageway downstream of the mouth.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the valve plug comprises a single plate valve plug.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the activation component is a buckling pin configured to buckle when the pressurized fluid of the system reaches the predetermined pressure.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the activation component is a spring configured to compress when the pressurized fluid of the system reaches the predetermined pressure.

31. The device of claim 23, further comprising a piston slidably housed within the relief device between the force transmission component and the activation component.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the distance between the mounting surface and the piston is adjustable to accommodate installation of the activation component.

33. The device of claim 23, further comprising a pre-loading mechanism configured to axially load the force transmission component such that the valve plug is positioned to seal the flowpath prior to the installation of the activation component between the force transmission component and the mounting surface.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the pre-loading mechanism comprises a rotatable arm.

35. The device of claim 23, further comprising a sensor activation device positioned along the force transmission component and a sensor fixed relative to the main valve body configured to monitor axial movement of the sensor activation device and the force transmission device.

36. The device of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of sensor activating devices positioned along the force transmission component and a plurality of sensors fixed relative to the main valve body configured to monitor several axial positions of the force transmission device.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the sensor activation device comprises a magnet and the sensor comprises a proximity switch.

38. The device of claim 35, wherein the sensor is integral to or connected to a wireless transmitter.

39. The device of claim 23, wherein a chimney extending from the valve plug prevents back pressure from reaching the valve plug downstream side through the outlet port.

40. The device of claim 23, wherein a bellows extends from the valve plug and prevents back pressure from reaching a downstream side of the valve plug through the outlet port.

41. The device of claim 23, wherein the valve plug extends through the main valve body beyond the axial passageway such that the valve plug prevents back pressure from reaching a downstream side of the valve plug through the outlet port.

42. A method of installing a pressure relief device for a system containing a pressurized fluid, comprising;

providing a main valve body including an axial passageway defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flowpath between the inlet and outlet ports;

providing a valve plug, a force transmission component connected to the valve seal, a mounting surface, and an activation component;

positioning the valve plug to seal the flowpath of the pressurized fluid between the inlet port and the outlet port of main valve body;

installing the force transmission component such that only an axial component of output force acting on the valve plug can be transferred therealong; and

installing an activation component between the force transmission component and the mounting surface such that the activation component is configured to prevent axial movement of the valve plug until a predetermined pressure is exerted on the valve plug.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising prior to installing an activation component, pre-loading an axial force to the force transmission component such that the valve plug is positioned to seal the flowpath prior to the installation of the activation component between the force transmission component and the mounting surface.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising installing the force transmission component such that the force transmission component is incapable of transferring any moment resulting from the output force acting on the valve plug to the activation component.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein positioning the valve plug further comprises preventing back pressure from reaching the valve plug through the outlet port by providing a chimney extending from the valve plug beyond the axial passageway.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein positioning the valve plug further comprises preventing back pressure from reaching the valve plug through the outlet port by providing a bellows extending from the valve plug beyond the axial passageway.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein positioning the valve plug further comprises preventing back pressure from reaching the valve plug through the outlet port by having an extended valve plug that extends beyond the axial passageway.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein providing a force transmission component comprises providing a gimballing joint connected to the valve plug, a protrusion member, and a shaft extending therebetween.