US 4,580,599 AGranted

Valve assembly for relieving pressure on a process structure

AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company

InventorGaylon L. Dighton

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Abstract

The invention is a valve assembly designed for relieving pressure on a process structure, such as a reactor vessel or a pipeline. The valve structure consists of two separate pressure relief units, and each unit includes a pressure relief valve that is positioned between an inlet valve and an outlet valve. A single mechanical actuator means is used to open and close both pairs of valves, so that when one pair of inlet and outlet valves is fully closed, the other pair of inlet and outlet valves is fully open.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A valve assembly for relieving pressure on a process structure, which comprises:

a valve frame that has a front wall, a rear wall, and two end walls, that are each joined to the front and rear wall;
a first pressure relief unit that includes a first inlet valve, a first discharge valve, and a first pressure relief valve, the inlet and discharge valves are mounted on the front wall of the valve frame, and the pressure relief valve connects the inlet valve to the discharge valve;
a second pressure relief unit that includes a second inlet valve, a second discharge valve, and a second pressure relief valve, the inlet and discharge valves are mounted on the rear wall of the valve frame, and the pressure relief valve connects the inlet valve to the discharge valve;
a connector member is positioned inside the valve frame;
an actuator unit engages the connector member, and the actuator member is capable of moving the connector member back and forth inside the valve frame;
the first and second inlet valves each have a valve stem, each valve stem is connected to a first coupler means, and the coupler means engages the connector member;
the first and second discharge valves each have a valve stem, each valve stem is connected to a second couple means, and the coupler means engages the connector member;
the first and second inlet valves are each connected into an inlet line that carries a fluid away from a process structure;
the first and second discharge valves are each connected into a discharge line that carries the fluid to a disposal point;
and
wherein, in operation, the actuator unit can move the connector member to a first position that opens the first inlet and discharge valves and closes the second inlet and discharge valves, and the actuator unit can move the connector member to a second position that opens the second inlet and discharge valves, and closes the first inlet and discharge valves, so that any overpressure condition of the fluid in the process structure is relieved by allowing the fluid to pass through one of the pressure relief units to a disposal point.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A valve assembly for relieving pressure on a process structure, which comprises:

a valve frame that has a front wall, a rear wall, and two end walls, that are each joined to the front and rear wall;
a first pressure relief unit that includes a first inlet valve, a first discharge valve, and a first pressure relief valve, the inlet and discharge valves are mounted on the front wall of the valve frame, and the pressure relief valve connects the inlet valve to the discharge valve;
a second pressure relief unit that includes a second inlet valve, a second discharge valve, and a second pressure relief valve, the inlet and discharge valves are mounted on the rear wall of the valve frame, and the pressure relief valve connects the inlet valve to the discharge valve;
a connector member is positioned inside the valve frame;
an actuator unit engages the connector member, and the actuator member is capable of moving the connector member back and forth inside the valve frame;
the first and second inlet valves each have a valve stem, each valve stem is connected to a first coupler means, and the coupler means engages the connector member;
the first and second discharge valves each have a valve stem, each valve stem is connected to a second couple means, and the coupler means engages the connector member;
the first and second inlet valves are each connected into an inlet line that carries a fluid away from a process structure;
the first and second discharge valves are each connected into a discharge line that carries the fluid to a disposal point;
and
wherein, in operation, the actuator unit can move the connector member to a first position that opens the first inlet and discharge valves and closes the second inlet and discharge valves, and the actuator unit can move the connector member to a second position that opens the second inlet and discharge valves, and closes the first inlet and discharge valves, so that any overpressure condition of the fluid in the process structure is relieved by allowing the fluid to pass through one of the pressure relief units to a disposal point.

8 more elements