Pressure relief valve with pressure indicating means
AssigneeProducts of Advanced Technology, Inc.
InventorsCraig Hosterman, William J. Kerwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims11
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.