US4085860A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal protection system for filament wound pressure vessels
Assignee: Brunswick Corp
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Filing: 1976-05-20
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1996-05-20
Abstract
Abstract Thermally actuated pressure relief is provided for lightweight filament or fiber wound pressure vessels. A pressure release device is provided for a filament or fiber wound pressure vessel which device contains an alloy insert which will soften and release the pressure in the vessel upon the device being subjected to a predetermined temperature range. The temperature range must be below the degradation temperatures of the pressure vessel and above the normal ambient use and storage temperatures of the vessel. The alloy in the pressure release device must be capable of taking the shear stress of the cyclical pressurization and depressurization of the vessel without failure, which shear stress would be both the mechanical shear between the alloy and the walls of the hole in the device, i.e., the adhesion between the alloy and the walls of the hole in the device, and the inner granular shear within the alloy so that the alloy will stay together under the normal use and storage pressure and temperature of the vessel. A method for manufacturing the pressure release device is included.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell Olson Hawkins
- 👤 James Francis Mallatt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:52
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/40; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/12; F17C13/123; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0658; F17C2203/0663; F17C2203/0673; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0311; F17C2205/0317; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0329; F17C2205/0332; F17C2205/0388; F17C2205/0394
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A pressure release device for mounting on a metal element of a light weight fiber wound pressure vessel and for cooperating therewith, comprising: (a) a thermal release plug having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion mountable on the pressure vessel, the head portion open to the atmosphere; (b) a "T" shaped channel in the plug with the leg of the "T" positioned in the shank of the plug and communicating with the interior of the vessel, and the head of the "T" channel being substantially uniform in cross section, communicating with opposite sides of the head and being in cooperative relationship with the leg for providing a biforcated path to bleed the inside of the vessel; (c) a heat softening material bonded in the channel, the material having a melting point below the degradation temperature of the vessel and above the maximum ambient operating temperature of the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A pressure release device for mounting on a metal element of a light weight fiber wound pressure vessel and for cooperating therewith, comprising: (a) a thermal release plug having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion mountable on the pressure vessel, the head portion open to the atmosphere; (b) a "T" shaped channel in the plug with the leg of the "T" positioned in the shank of the plug and communicating with the interior of the vessel, and the head of the "T" channel being substantially uniform in cross section, communicating with opposite sides of the head and being in cooperative relationship with the leg for providing a biforcated path to bleed the inside of the vessel; (c) a heat softening material bonded in the channel, the material having a melting point below the degradation temperature of the vessel and above the maximum ambient operating temperature of the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a pressure release device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is an alloy having a solidus temperature within the range of 350° and 360° F and a liquidus temperature within the range of from 360° to 380° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
A light weight fiber wound pressure vessel having an improved pressure release device, said device comprising: (a) a thermal release plug having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion mounted on the pressure vessel, the head portion open to the atmosphere; (b) a "T" shaped channel in the plug with the leg of the "T" positioned in the shank of the plug and communicating with the interior of the vessel, and the head of the "T" channel being substantially uniform in cross section, communicating with opposite sides of the head and being in cooperative relationship with the leg for providing a biforcated path to bleed the inside of the vessel; (c) a heat softening material bonded in the channel, the material having a melting point below the degradation temperature of the vessel and above the maximum ambient operating temperature of the vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
A light weight fiber wound pressure vessel having an improved pressure release device, said device comprising: (a) a thermal release plug having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion mounted on the pressure vessel, the head portion open to the atmosphere; (b) a "T" shaped channel in the plug with the leg of the "T" positioned in the shank of the plug and communicating with the interior of the vessel, and the head of the "T" channel being substantially uniform in cross section, communicating with opposite sides of the head and being in cooperative relationship with the leg for providing a biforcated path to bleed the inside of the vessel; (c) a heat softening material bonded in the channel, the material having a melting point below the degradation temperature of the vessel and above the maximum ambient operating temperature of the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
In a pressure release device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pressure vessel has two metal elements and two thermal release devices, one of said elements is a metal cap and the other of said elements is a metal neck member, and one of said thermal release devices is mounted on said metal cap and the other of said thermal release devices is mounted on said neck member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a pressure release device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said degradation temperature of said pressure vessel is above 400° F and said maximum ambient operating temperature of the pressure vessel is below 200° F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |