Method and apparatus for determining set pressure of pilot operated pressure relief valve

In combination with a pilot actuated pressure relief valve operably connected in a fluid pressure line, said pressure relief valve having a main piston, disposed between the line fluid pressure and a trapped fluid pressure, said main piston being shiftable to vent said line pressure when said line pressure reaches a predetermined level, said trapped fluid to the application of said predetermined fluid pressure to the pilot valve inlet;

• the improvement comprising:
• a source of test fluid pressure having a pressure at least equal to the rated opening pressure of the pressure relief valve;
• a test valve connected to said test pressure source;
• said test valve having a cylinder bore and a piston non-sealably mounted in said cylinder bore intermediate the ends of said cylinder bore;
• means connecting one end of said cylinder bore to said test pressure source;
• means connecting the other end of said cylinder bore to a test line having two branches;
• means for connecting one of said test line branches to said pilot fluid inlet passage;
• a pressure gauge;
• means for connecting said pressure gauge to said other end of said cylinder bore, whereby the opening of said pilot by said test pressure produces substantial fluid flow around said piston to generate a pressure force on said piston to move said piston toward said other end of said cylinder bore;
• and
• valve means operable by said piston movement to trap the fluid pressure supplied to said pressure gauge, thereby producing an indication of the pressure required to open said pilot.

A method of testing a pressure relief valve connected in a pressurized fluid line without opening the relief valve, the pressure relief valve having a pilot for venting closing pressure holding the pressure relief valve closed when the line fluid pressure in the pressurized fluid line exceeds a predetermined value, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a test valve having a flow metering piston movable in a cylinder bore by flow around the piston between an open and closed position relative to a pressure gauge;
• the test valve including a spring bias urging said piston to said open position;
• connecting said test valve between a two branch testing line and a source of test fluid pressure having a pressure at least equal to the predetermined value of the pressure at which the pilot vents closing pressure on the pressure relief valve;
• the first branch of said test line detachably connected to a pressurized fluid input to said pilot and the second branch of said testing line detachably connected to a relief passage through which closing pressure on said pressure relief valve is vented;
• and
• flowing the test fluid pressure from said source of test fluid pressure through the test valve to the two-branch testing line;
• the test fluid pressure in the first branch lifting said pilot and, the test fluid pressure in the second branch maintaining at least a minimum closing pressure on the relief valve;
• the combined fluid flow through both said branches of said test line producing a pressure differential across said piston sufficient to shift said piston to said closed relative to said pressure gauge to trap a reading of fluid pressure required to shift said pilot to its valve opening position.