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US4232698A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pressure relief valve with pressure indicating means

Assignee: PRODUCTS OF ADVANCED Tech Inc
•
Filing: 1978-09-28
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Granted: 1980-11-11
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Expires: 1998-09-28
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Abstract

Abstract An adjustably positionable element having a curved end plate is located in proximity to the conventional rupturable curved disc in a pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders. The end plate serves as one plate of a capacitor and the curved disc serves as the other plate. Impedance variation responsive circuitry senses any change in impedance of the capacitor due to a change in flex of the curved disc brought about by a variation in pressure within the cylinder to which the relief valve is attached. The change in impedance is calibrated to provide an indication of the actual pressure within the cylinder.

Inventors

  • 👤 Craig Hosterman
  • 👤 William J. Kerwin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 10:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L9/00; G01L9/0041; G01L9/0072; F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/02; F16K17/14; F16K17/16; F16K37/00; F16K37/0025; F16K37/0041; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/02; F17C13/025; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0332; F17C2205/0388; F17C2205/0394; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/011; F17C2221/016; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0107; F17C2223/0123; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/035; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0626; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/04; F17C2260/042; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S137/00; Y10S137/91; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1684; Y10T137/1692; Y10T137/1714; Y10T137/1729; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8326

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 157 words
A pressure relief valve apparatus operatively attached to a high pressure cylinder for providing an indication of the pressure within the cylinder, said apparatus comprising in combination: a. impedance means disposed within the pressure relief valve for providing an impedance representative of the pressure within the cylinder, said impedance means comprising a capacitor and including a flexible disc flexibly responsive to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being electrically coupled as a positionable plate of said capacitor, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within the cylinder above a predetermined value; (b) an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc in fixed relationship thereto, said end plate being electrically coupled as a fixed plate of said capacitor; and (c) means for sensing the impedance and providing an indication reflective of the pressure within the cylinder; whereby, movement of said disc relative to said end plate varies the impedance of said capacitor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 157 words
A pressure relief valve apparatus operatively attached to a high pressure cylinder for providing an indication of the pressure within the cylinder, said apparatus comprising in combination: a. impedance means disposed within the pressure relief valve for providing an impedance representative of the pressure within the cylinder, said impedance means comprising a capacitor and including a flexible disc flexibly responsive to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being electrically coupled as a positionable plate of said capacitor, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within the cylinder above a predetermined value; (b) an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc in fixed relationship thereto, said end plate being electrically coupled as a fixed plate of said capacitor; and (c) means for sensing the impedance and providing an indication reflective of the pressure within the cylinder; whereby, movement of said disc relative to said end plate varies the impedance of said capacitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes: a. an electrical insulator attached to the pressure relief valve; b. a pedestal for supporting said end plate; and c. means for maintaining said pedestal fixedly secured to said insulator for electrically insulating said end plate from said disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pressure relief valve includes an internally threaded shank and said insulator includes external threads for mating with the internal threads of said shank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including relief ports disposed in proximity to said disc for venting the fluid from the cylinder in the event of rupture of said disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 88 words
A pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders, said pressure relief valve comprising in combination: a. a disc for flexibly responding to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within said cylinder above a predetermined value; b. an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc; and c. means for supporting said end plate and electrically insulating said end plate from said disc; whereby, said disc and said end plate are electrically connectable as the plates of a capacitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 88 words
A pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders, said pressure relief valve comprising in combination: a. a disc for flexibly responding to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within said cylinder above a predetermined value; b. an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc; and c. means for supporting said end plate and electrically insulating said end plate from said disc; whereby, said disc and said end plate are electrically connectable as the plates of a capacitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The pressure relief valve as set forth in claim 5 wherein said end plate includes a pedestal and said insulating means includes means for securing said pedestal to said pressure relief valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 65 words
The pressure relief valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pressure relief valve includes: a. a collar for securing one side of said disc in fluid communication with the contents of the cylinder; b. a hollow shank extending from said collar; and c. means for engaging said insulating means with said hollow shank to locate said end plate in proximity to said disc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
The pressure relief valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein said insulating means comprises an externally threaded apertured plug for receiving said pedestal and said hollow shank includes internal threads for mating with the external threads of said plug.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The pressure relief valve as set forth in claim 8 including means for sensing the impedance of the capacitor developed by said disc and said end plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The pressure relief valve as set forth in claim 5 including means for sensing the impedance of the capacitor developed by said disc and said end plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 34 words
The pressure relief valve as set forth in claim 5 including relief ports disposed in proximity to said disc for venting the fluid from the cylinder in the event of rupture of said disc.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2367866A Cited
US2355088A Cited
US2526794A Cited
US3222581A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-11-11 1984-05-12 1984-11-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-11-11 1988-05-12 1988-11-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-11-11 1992-05-12 1992-11-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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