US 2009/0288719 A1Published application

Tank pressure and vacuum relief device

AssigneeBetts Industries, Inc.

InventorsDavid J. Adams, Patrick J. Lund, Craig E. Culbertson

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Abstract

Particular embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for relieving excess pressure or vacuum pressure from a tank interior. An embodiment of a pressure relief device includes a housing having an opening associated with a first end, an opening associated with a second end, and an over-pressure opening. The device further including a pressure relief valve for selectively relieving pressure from a tank, the valve including an over-pressure opening seal biased by a first pressure bias means against a pressure valve seat associated with the over-pressure opening. The device also including a guide block translatable in an axial direction of a second bore of the housing and being biased toward the pressure valve seat by a second pressure bias means. The guide block is translatable independent of the over-pressure opening seal. The device also includes a vacuum relief valve for selectively relieving vacuum pressure in the tank.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A tank pressure and vacuum relief device for relieving excess pressure or vacuum pressure from a tank interior, the device comprising:

a housing having a first bore in communication with a second bore, the first bore extending from a first end of the housing and the second bore extending from a second end of the housing, the first end being securable to a tank wall for communication with an aperture in the wall, the second end being adapted for selective communication with the tank interior, and the housing also having an over-pressure opening in communication with the second bore opposite the second end;
a pressure relief valve for selectively relieving pressure from a tank, the pressure relief valve including a valve sealing member biased by a first pressure bias means against a pressure valve seat associated with the over-pressure opening;
a guide block translatable in an axial direction of the second bore and being biased toward the pressure valve seat by a second pressure bias means, the guide block being translatable independent of the over-pressure opening seal;
and,
a vacuum relief valve for selectively relieving vacuum pressure in the tank, the vacuum relief valve including a vacuum seal biased against a vacuum valve seat associated with the housing second end, the vacuum seal being biased by a third pressure bias means.

2 more elements

A method for selectively relieving excess pressure or vacuum pressure from a tank, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tank pressure and vacuum relief device, the device including:
a valve housing having a first bore extending from a first end of the housing and a second bore extending from a second end of the housing, the first bore being in communication with the second bore and being securable to a tank wall for communication with an aperture in the wall, the second end being adapted for selective communication with the tank interior, and the housing also having an over-pressure opening in communication with the second bore opposite the second end;
a pressure relief valve including a valve sealing member biased against a pressure valve seat associated with the over-pressure opening by a first pressure bias means, the seal being capable of sealing the over-pressure opening;
a guide block translatable in an axial direction of the second bore and being biased toward the pressure valve seat by a second pressure bias means and capable of applying pressure to the pressure valve seal;
and,
a vacuum relief valve for selectively relieving vacuum pressure in the tank, the vacuum relief valve including a vacuum seal biased against a vacuum valve seat associated with the housing second end, the vacuum seal being biased by a third pressure bias means;
placing the device within a tank and affixing the first end of the housing to an aperture in a wall of the tank;
relieving excess pressure within the tank acting against the over-pressure valve by compressing the first and second valve bias means to release the over-pressure valve seal from engagement with the over-pressure valve seat associated with the over-pressure opening in said housing, the excess pressure flowing into the housing through the over-pressure opening and through the second bore to the first bore of the housing to the first end, where said excess pressure is expelled from housing through the first end opening.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.