Pressure/temperature-activated pressure relief valve

The valve of claim wherein the thermal trigger means comprises:

• a trigger housing having an inner chamber with a first and second end;
• a thermally sensitive eutectic substance within the inner chamber of the trigger housing wherein the eutectic substance is in a solid state when its temperature is below the predetermined temperature threshold, and wherein the eutectic substance is in a liquid state when its temperature reaches the predetermined temperature threshold;
• and
• a detent, movable within the second end of the chamber, with a first area contacting the eutectic substance and a second area engaging the second biased side of the seal plug, the detent restraining the seal plug while the eutectic substance is below the predetermined temperature threshold so that the first side of the seal plug makes a fluid tight seal against the shoulder, and further moving within the second end of the chamber when the eutectic substance reaches the predetermined temperature threshold so as to disengage the second biased side of the seal plug and allow the plug to move away from the shoulder.

A pressure relief valve for releasing pressure from a container when the relief valve senses predetermined pressure or temperature conditions, the relief valve comprising:

• a valve housing, for coupling to the receptacle, having a communication passage with an inlet for positioning within an interior of the receptacle and an outlet to an exterior of the housing;
• means for effecting a seal of the passage until either pressure within the interior of the receptacle exceeds a predetermined threshold or temperature external to and near the receptacle exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold;
• and
• a thermal trigger, operably coupled to the seal effecting means for releasing the seal effecting means, the thermal trigger comprising:
• a trigger housing which is connectable to the valve housing and has an inner chamber with a first and second end;
• a thermally sensitive eutectic substance within the inner chamber of the trigger housing wherein the eutectic substance is in a solid state when its temperature is below the predetermined temperature threshold, and wherein the eutectic substance is in a liquid state when its temperature reaches the predetermined temperature threshold;
• and a detent, movable within the passage, with a first area contacting the eutectic substance and a second area engaging a biased side of the movable member, the detent restraining the seal effecting means while the eutectic substance is below the predetermined temperature threshold, and further moving within the second end of the chamber when the eutectic substance reaches the predetermined temperature threshold so as to disengage the biased side of the seal effecting means and allow the seal effecting means to move within the passage and interrupt the seal.

A pressure relief valve for releasing pressure from a container, the relief valve comprising:

• a valve housing having a passage with an inlet for communicating with an interior of the container, and an outlet for communicating with an exterior of the valve housing;
• a seal, disposed within the passage between the inlet and the outlet, for sealing the passage the seal capable of exposing the passage when pressure within the container exceeds a predetermined threshold;
• a movable member, disposed between the outlet and the seal and configured to be capable of moving away from the seal, for interrupting the seal when the ambient temperature adjacent to the relief valve reaches a predetermined threshold;
• and
• a thermally responsive device, mounted to the valve housing, for engaging the movable member and restraining the movable member from interrupting the seal when the ambient temperature adjacent to the relief valve is below the predetermined temperature threshold, and for disengaging the movable member when the ambient temperature adjacent to the relief valve reaches the predetermined temperature threshold so as to allow the movable member to interrupt the seal and expose a flow path through the passage from the inlet to the outlet.