Reclosing rupture disk assembly

Claim 1

A rupture disk assembly which recloses itself to prevent backflow after rupture and pressurized fluid relief therethrough, comprising: a hollow substantially cylindrical rupture disk support member having a pressurized fluid inlet opening at one end, a closed opposite end and at least one pressurized fluid discharge port extending through a side thereof adjacent said closed end, said support member including threads disposed around the outside periphery of a portion of the end having said pressurized fluid inlet opening therein and a plurality of flat surfaces formed around the outside periphery of a portion of the closed opposite end thereof for facilitating threadedly connecting the support member into a complementary threaded fitting; a rupture disk sealingly attached to said support member over the end thereof having said pressurized fluid inlet opening therein whereby until rupture of said rupture disk, pressurized fluid is prevented from flowing from said fluid inlet opening of said support member to said discharge port thereof; and a resilient closure member ring positioned on and around the external sides of said support member with a portion thereof sealingly positioned over said pressurized fluid discharge port thereof, said resilient closure member ring being of a size such that its resiliency biases it towards the sides and the pressurized fluid discharge port of said support member so that upon rupture of said rupture disk and the release of pressurized fluid through said support member to said discharge port, the force of the pressurized fluid exerted on said closure member overcomes the bias of and moves said closure member away from said discharge port whereby said pressurized fluid flows therethrough, but upon termination of the flow of pressurized fluid through said discharge port said closure member moves back into a sealing position over said discharge port.