High pressure relief for microwave digestion vessel assembly
AssigneeO.I. Corporation
InventorDavid L. Stalling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high pressure and temperature microwave digestion vessel assembly with enhanced safety features is disclosed. The assembly includes a membrane that is rupturable for pressure relief, and a secondary pressure relief mechanism including a seal cap with an annular stress relief region that shears or fractures when excess pressure is in the vessel interior. The membrane is positioned on a post extending from the seal cap into the inner liner. The diameter of the venting orifice may be adjusted to vary the desired pressure relief. The assembly also includes a piercing mechanism for venting the vessel after digestion is completed.
Claims8
A microwave digestion vessel comprising:
- (a) an outer casement;
- (b) an inner liner positioned inside the outer casement;
- the inner liner having an open end;
- (c) an outer cap removably attached to the outer casement;
- (d) a seal cap positioned to seal the open end of the inner liner and secured against the open end of the inner liner by tightening the outer cap to the outer casement, the seal cap having a vent passage therethrough;
- and
- (e) a stress relief region in the seal cap located radially inside the open end of the inner liner where the seal cap is secured, the stress relief region having a thickness less than the thickness of the seal cap;
- the seal cap fracturable around the stress relief region in response to internal pressure to vent the inner liner before fracture of the outer casement, inner liner, or outer cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.