US3845878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety vent system for tanks
Assignee: ACF Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1972-11-03
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention, a safety vent system is provided comprising a burst plate or disk and pressure absorbing means whereby the high pressures encountered during pressure surges, for example, caused by impacts on the tank will be absorbed by the pressure absorbing means and the burst disk will not vent the tank during such surges. However, when the nonsurge pressure in the tank reaches approximately design level, the plate or disk will burst and vent the tank. In one embodiment movement of the pressure absorbing means regulates movement of the rupturable member. Baffle means may also be provided to absorb a portion of the surge energy. Means are preferably provided to direct the chemicals vented during the burst in a direction to avoid contact with personnel which may be near the tank during venting.
Inventors
- 👤 E Carlson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/22; B60P3/224; B60P3/2255; F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/02; F16K17/14; F16K17/16; F16K17/162; F16K17/1626; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1692; Y10T137/1752; Y10T137/1759
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A safety vent system for use in a tank for transporting chemicals comprising: at least one hollow member mounted in communication with an opening in said tank; a member rupturable at designed pressure mounted in at least one of said hollow members; and resilient means comprising a bellows mounted in cooperation with said rupturable member to absorb energy resulting from surge pressures occurring in said tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A safety vent system for use in a tank for transporting chemicals comprising: at least one hollow member mounted in communication with an opening in said tank; a member rupturable at designed pressure mounted in at least one of said hollow members; and resilient means comprising a bellows mounted in cooperation with said rupturable member to absorb energy resulting from surge pressures occurring in said tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A safety vent system according to claim 1 wherein the resilient means regulates movement of the rupturable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A safety vent system according to claim 2 wherein said resilient means at least in part holds said rupturable member in place in said hollow member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A safety vent system according to claim 3 wherein said safety vent system includes cutter means adapted to effect rupturing of said rupturable member at design pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A safety vent system according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means and said rupturable member are integral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A safety vent system according to claim 1 wherein the rupturable member is movably independent of movement of said resilient means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A safety vent system according to claim 1 wherein the resilient means is mounted between said tank and said rupturable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A safety vent system according to claim 1 wherein said rupturable member does not rupture under surges in said tank, but will rupture when the non-surge pressure reaches approximately design level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A safety vent system according to claim 1 including baffle means mounted in the lower portion of the vent system to absorb at least a portion of lading movement under surge pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A safety vent system for use in a tank transporting chemicals comprising: a hollow member mounted so as to be in fluid communication with said tank; a member rupturable at design pressure mounted in said hollow member; means comprising a bellows for rupturing said rupturable member also mounted within said hollow member; resilient means mounted in said hollow member adapted to absorb pressure resulting from surges in said tank, but not preventing said rupturable member from rupturing when the static pressure reaches approximately design level; said hollow member having openings therein for venting the lading therefrom; and a cover having means thereon for guiding the vented lading downwardly adjacent said vent system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
A safety vent system for use in a tank transporting chemicals comprising: a hollow member mounted so as to be in fluid communication with said tank; a member rupturable at design pressure mounted in said hollow member; means comprising a bellows for rupturing said rupturable member also mounted within said hollow member; resilient means mounted in said hollow member adapted to absorb pressure resulting from surges in said tank, but not preventing said rupturable member from rupturing when the static pressure reaches approximately design level; said hollow member having openings therein for venting the lading therefrom; and a cover having means thereon for guiding the vented lading downwardly adjacent said vent system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A safety vent system according to claim 10 wherein said hollow member comprises a lower hollow member in which said rupturable member is mounted and an upper hollow member wherein said openings are located.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety vent system according to claim 11 wherein said means for rupturing said rupturable member is located within said lower member and is held in place at least partly by said upper hollow member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A safety vent system according to claim 12 wherein said resilient means and said rupturable member are integral.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A safety vent system according to claim 10 including baffle means mounted in the lower portion of the vent system to absorb at least a portion of lading moving under surge pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
A safety vent system for use in a tank transporting chemicals comprising: a hollow member mounted so as to be in fluid communication with said tank; a member rupturable at design pressure mounted in said hollow member; means for rupturing said rupturable member also mounted within said hollow member; resilient means comprising a bellows mounted in said hollow member downstream from said rupturable member adapted to absorb pressure resulting from surges in said tank, said resilient means defining a plurality of circuitous paths for absorbing pressure surge energy therein; said hollow member having openings therein for venting the lading therefrom; and baffle means mounted in the lower portion of said hollow member downstream from said resilient means for absorbing liquid lading energy striking the same during pressure surges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
128 words
A safety vent system for use in a tank transporting chemicals comprising: a hollow member mounted so as to be in fluid communication with said tank; a member rupturable at design pressure mounted in said hollow member; means for rupturing said rupturable member also mounted within said hollow member; resilient means comprising a bellows mounted in said hollow member downstream from said rupturable member adapted to absorb pressure resulting from surges in said tank, said resilient means defining a plurality of circuitous paths for absorbing pressure surge energy therein; said hollow member having openings therein for venting the lading therefrom; and baffle means mounted in the lower portion of said hollow member downstream from said resilient means for absorbing liquid lading energy striking the same during pressure surges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A safety vent system according to claim 15 including a cover having means thereon for guiding the vented lading downwardly adjacent said vent system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
96 words
A pressure tank safety vent system for use in a tank for transporting chemicals comprising vent means connected to said tank and operable by a predetermined pressure within said tank to vent said tank and resilient time delay means comprising a bellows operatively connected with said vent means for delaying opening of said vent means to vent said tank until said predetermined pressure has existed for a predetermined period to time whereby said vent means is not operative to vent said tank by pressure surges of a time duration less than said predetermined period of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
96 words
A pressure tank safety vent system for use in a tank for transporting chemicals comprising vent means connected to said tank and operable by a predetermined pressure within said tank to vent said tank and resilient time delay means comprising a bellows operatively connected with said vent means for delaying opening of said vent means to vent said tank until said predetermined pressure has existed for a predetermined period to time whereby said vent means is not operative to vent said tank by pressure surges of a time duration less than said predetermined period of time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pressure tank safety vent system according to claim 17 wherein in the event of a pressure surge said resilient time delay means absorb at least some energy from said pressure surge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pressure tank safety vent system according to claim 18 wherein said vent means comprises a rupturable member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pressure tank safety vent system according to claim 19 wherein said rupturable member comprises a burst plate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pressure tank safety vent system according to claim 19 wherein a cutter bar is provided to break said rupturable member at designed pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |