Release mechanism for pressurized vessels

Claim 2

Pressurized fluid release apparatus comprising: a pressure sealed container means for retaining under pressure a fluid medium; outlet means defining a discharge orifice for accommodating release of the fluid medium from said container means; temperature responsive hermetic seal means sealing said discharge orifice, said hermetic seal means comprising an eutectic material adapted to melt at a predetermined temperature; and auxiliary seal means isolating said eutectic material from the fluid medium in said container, and adapted in an unbroken state to prevent fluid discharge out of said hermetic seal means, said auxiliary seal means comprising a pressure responsive portion adapted to be automatically opened by the fluid pressure in said container means in response to opening of said hermetic seal means, and wherein said pressure responsive portion is engaged and retained in sealing position by said hermetic seal means.

Claim 3

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container means is filled with a pressurized fire extinguishing medium.

Claim 4

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said eutectic material comprises a fusible metallic alloy.

Claim 5

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hermetic seal means further comprises a plug having a periphery hermetically sealed to said outlet means by said eutectic material.

Claim 6

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet means comprises a tube with an open end forming said discharge orifice, and said hermetic seal means further comprises a cup-shaped plug disposed in said tube and having a cylindrical wall hermetically sealed thereto by said eutectic material.

Claim 7

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet means comprises a tube with an open end forming said discharge orifice, said auxiliary seal means comprises a resilient cup having a cylindrical side wall portion engaging an internal wall of said tube and an end wall forming said pressure responsive portion.

Claim 8

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 4 including retainer means for retaining said plug after melting of said eutectic material.

Claim 9

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said hermetic seal means further comprises a cup-shaped plug disposed in said tube and having an end wall engaging said resilient cup end wall and a cylindrical side wall hermetically sealed to said internal wall of said tube by said eutectic material.

Claim 10

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said cylindrical side wall portion of said resilient cup is no greater in height than about the diameter of said pressure responsive end wall thereof.

Claim 11

Pressurized fluid release apparatus comprising: a pressure sealed container means for retaining under pressure a fluid medium; outlet means defining a discharge orifice for accommodating release of the fluid medium from said container means; temperature responsive hermetic seal means sealing said discharge orifice, said hermetic seal means comprising an eutectic material adapted to melt at a predetermined temperature; auxiliary seal means isolating said eutectic material from the fluid medium in said container, and adapted in an unbroken state to prevent fluid discharge out of said hermetic seal means; a reservoir means for retaining under pressure a fluid medium; second outlet means defining a primary release orifice for accommodating release of the fluid medium from said reservoir means; and valve means for controlling fluid flow through said primary release orifice in response to the differential fluid pressure retained by said pressure sealed container means and said reservoir means.

Claim 12

Pressurized fluid release apparatus comprising: a pressure sealed container means for retaining under pressure a fluid medium; outlet means defining a discharge orifice for accommodating release of the fluid medium from said container means; temperature responsive hermetic seal means sealing said discharge orifice, said hermetic seal means comprising an eutectic material adapted to melt at a predetermined temperature; auxiliary seal means isolating said eutectic material from the fluid medium in said container, and adapted in an unbroken state to prevent fluid discharge out of said hermetic seal means; a reservoir means for retaining under pressure a fluid medium; second outlet means defining a primary release orifice for accommodating release of the fluid medium from said reservoir means; and valve means for controlling fluid flow through said primary release orifice in response to the differential fluid pressure retained by said pressure sealed container means and said reservoir means.

Claim 13

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 10 including means defining a fluid leak path between said pressure container means and said reservoir means.

Claim 14

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said auxiliary seal means comprises a pressure responsive portion adapted to be automatically opened by the fluid pressure in said container means in response to opening of said hermetic seal means.

Claim 15

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said pressure responsive portion is retained in sealing position by said hermetic seal means.

Claim 16

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said outlet means comprises a tube with an open and forming said discharge orifice, said auxiliary seal means comprises a resilient cup having a cylindrical side wall portion engaging an internal wall of said tube and an end wall forming said pressure responsive portion.

Claim 17

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said hermetic seal means further comprises a cup-shaped plug disposed in said tube and having an end wall engaging said resilient cup end wall and a cylindrical side wall hermetically sealed to said internal wall of said tube by said eutectic material.

Claim 18

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said tube is dimensioned to provide substantially greater fluid conductance than that provided by said leak path.

Claim 19

Pressurized fluid release apparatus according to claim 16 including attachment means to facilitate integral mounting of said outlet means, said hermetic seal means and said auxiliary seal means to said container means.