US4267858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure relief valve
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1980-04-08
•
Granted: 1981-05-19
•
Expires: 2000-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A pressure relief mechanism seated within a wall of a pressure vessel features a novel flexible seal. The vessel pressure acts against both a spring and an internal valve pressure created by the flexible seal. The pressure relief mechanism can be designed to release over a wide range of critical vessel pressures due to the combination of the resistive spring force and the resistive internal pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Oliver G. Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:54
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/02; F16K17/04; F16K17/042; F16K17/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/598; Y10T137/6154; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7734; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7904; Y10T137/7905; Y10T137/7922; Y10T137/7925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A pressure relief mechanism seated within a wall of a pressurized vessel, comprising: a valve body having an inner bore, and at least two detent apertures opening into said bore; at least two detents respectively seated within said apertures of said valve body and normally extending into, and engaging with, a recessed portion in said wall of said pressurized vessel to prevent said valve body from relieving the pressure in the vessel by disengaging from said vessel; a piston disposed in said bore of said valve body and normally engaging with, and holding, said detents in their extended position with respect to said recessed portion of said vessel wall, said piston being movable past said detent apertures under the influence of a predetermined vessel pressure for disengaging said detents from said recess portion; spring biasing means disposed in the bore of said valve body for compressively biasing said piston towards engagement with said detents; and a flexible bellows exerting a compressive spring force against movement of the piston is disposed between said valve body and said piston for establishing a seal between said valve body and said piston, whereby when said piston is caused to move under the influence of said vessel pressure it will be urged against such movement by both said spring biasing means and the compressive spring force of said bellows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A pressure relief mechanism seated within a wall of a pressurized vessel, comprising: a valve body having an inner bore, and at least two detent apertures opening into said bore; at least two detents respectively seated within said apertures of said valve body and normally extending into, and engaging with, a recessed portion in said wall of said pressurized vessel to prevent said valve body from relieving the pressure in the vessel by disengaging from said vessel; a piston disposed in said bore of said valve body and normally engaging with, and holding, said detents in their extended position with respect to said recessed portion of said vessel wall, said piston being movable past said detent apertures under the influence of a predetermined vessel pressure for disengaging said detents from said recess portion; spring biasing means disposed in the bore of said valve body for compressively biasing said piston towards engagement with said detents; and a flexible bellows exerting a compressive spring force against movement of the piston is disposed between said valve body and said piston for establishing a seal between said valve body and said piston, whereby when said piston is caused to move under the influence of said vessel pressure it will be urged against such movement by both said spring biasing means and the compressive spring force of said bellows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring biasing means comprises a coil spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 1, wherein said detent is substantially spherical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 1, wherein there are more than two detents substantially evenly spaced about said valve body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 1, wherein said valve body has adjustment means for adjusting the spring force of said spring biasing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 5, wherein said adjustment means includes a set screw and a movable disc disposed within said valve body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 1, wherein said valve body comprises a stem portion and a flanged lip portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 7, further comprising an O-ring disposed between said valve body flange lip portion and said wall of said pressurized vessel for establishing a seal therebetween independent of spring forces and internal pressures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
205 words
A pressure relief mechanism seated within a wall of a pressurized vessel, comprising: a valve body having an inner bore, and at least two detent apertures opening into said bore; at least two detents respectively seated within said apertures of said valve body and normally extending into, and engaging with, a recessed portion in said wall of said pressurized vessel to prevent said valve body from relieving the pressure in the vessel by disengaging from said vessel; a piston disposed in said bore of said valve body and normally engaging with, and holding, said detents in their extended position with respect to said recessed portion of said vessel wall, said piston being movable past said detent apertures under the influence of a predetermined vessel pressure for disengaging said detents from said recess portion; spring biasing means disposed in the bore of said valve body for compressively biasing said piston towards engagement with said detents; and a flexible rolling diaphragm disposed between said valve body and said piston for establishing a seal between said valve body and said piston, whereby when said piston is caused to move under the influence of said vessel pressure it will be urged against such movement by said spring biasing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
205 words
A pressure relief mechanism seated within a wall of a pressurized vessel, comprising: a valve body having an inner bore, and at least two detent apertures opening into said bore; at least two detents respectively seated within said apertures of said valve body and normally extending into, and engaging with, a recessed portion in said wall of said pressurized vessel to prevent said valve body from relieving the pressure in the vessel by disengaging from said vessel; a piston disposed in said bore of said valve body and normally engaging with, and holding, said detents in their extended position with respect to said recessed portion of said vessel wall, said piston being movable past said detent apertures under the influence of a predetermined vessel pressure for disengaging said detents from said recess portion; spring biasing means disposed in the bore of said valve body for compressively biasing said piston towards engagement with said detents; and a flexible rolling diaphragm disposed between said valve body and said piston for establishing a seal between said valve body and said piston, whereby when said piston is caused to move under the influence of said vessel pressure it will be urged against such movement by said spring biasing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 9, wherein said spring biasing means comprises a coil spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 9, wherein said detent is substantially spherical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 9, wherein there are more than two detents substantially evenly spaced about said valve body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 9, wherein said valve body has adjustment means for adjusting the spring force of said spring biasing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 13, wherein said adjustment means includes a set screw and a movable disc disposed within said valve body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 9, wherein said valve body comprises a stem portion and a flanged lip portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The pressure relief mechanism of claim 15, further comprising an O-ring disposed between said valve body flange portion and said wall of said pressurized vessel for establishing a seal therebetween independent of spring forces and internal pressures.
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) | 1984-05-18 | 1984-11-17 | 1985-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-18 | 1988-11-17 | 1989-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-18 | 1992-11-17 | 1993-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |