Rupture disc assembly that withstands much higher back pressures than actuation pressure

A rupture disc unit capable of withstanding a high back pressure and comprising:

• a tubular housing having a fluid passage,
• said housing being provided with a tapered wall structure defining a tapered portion of the fluid passage, said tapered portion of the passage having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,
• said wall structure being tapered in a direction such that the fluid inlet of said tapered portion of the fluid passage is of less area than the area of the fluid outlet of said tapered portion of the fluid passage;
• a rupture disc carried by the housing and having a central bulged section in fluid-blocking relationship to said fluid passage, said bulged section having opposed concave and convex surfaces;
• and
• a tapered, self-releasing plug in said fluid passage in supporting relationship to the rupture disc, said plug conforming to and engaging the taper of said wall structure while the rupture disc central section is in fluid blocking relationship to the fluid passage, said plug having a first hemispherical surface generally conforming to and engaging the proximal concave surface of the central bulged section of the disc in supporting relationship thereto and an opposed second surface having a surface area less than that of said first surface,
• said rupture disc being located adjacent and in covering relationship to the fluid outlet of said tapered portion.

A rupture disc unit capable of withstanding a high back pressure and comprising:

• a tubular housing having a fluid passage,
• said housing being provided with wall structure defining at least a portion of the fluid passage, said portion of the passage having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,
• said wall structure being tapered in a direction such that the fluid inlet of said portion of the fluid passage is of less area than the area of the fluid outlet;
• a rupture disc carried by the housing and having a central section in fluid-blocking relationship to said fluid passage;
• a tapered, self-releasing plug in said fluid passage in supporting relationship to the rupture disc, said plug conforming to and engaging the taper of said wall structure while the rupture disc central section is in fluid blocking relationship to the fluid passage and having a surface conforming to the central section of the disc in supporting relationship thereto;
• and
• a component operably associated with the plug for capturing the plug upon dislodgement thereof from the fluid passage under fluid pressure there against, said component including a hinge device operably connected to the plug for preventing the plug from becoming disconnected from the housing upon dislodgement of the plug from the fluid passage under fluid pressure thereagainst, said hinge device being interposed between the plug and the rupture disc and provided with a central hinge section affixed to the plug, said hinge section opening upon dislodgement of the plug from its position blocking the fluid passage and capturing the plug.

An activation rupture disc unit capable of withstanding a substantially higher back pressure than its burst activation pressure, said unit comprising:

• a tubular housing having a fluid activation passage,
• said housing being provided with wall structure defining at least a portion of the fluid activation passage, said portion of the passage having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,
• said wall structure being tapered in a direction such that the fluid inlet of said portion of the activation passage is of less area than the area of the fluid outlet;
• a rupture disc mounted within the housing in disposition with a central section thereof in fluid-blocking relationship to said outlet of the tapered portion of the activation fluid passage;
• and
• a tapered, self-releasing plug positioned in said tapered portion of the fluid activation passage in supporting relationship to the central section of the rupture disc,
• said plug having surfaces conforming to and engaging the taper of said wall structure and the central section of the disc, respectively, while the rupture disc central section is in fluid blocking relationship to the fluid activation passage, said plug being of sufficient mass to support and prevent rupture of the disc under a back pressure acting upon the disc that is substantially greater than the activation pressure of the disc, said plug having an axially-extending passage therethrough of a diameter that is proportional to the ratio of the back pressure to the activation pressure.