Glass bulb thermally-activated pressure relief device, safety inspection method, and equipment
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorAxel Heise
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus to periodically inspect and control piston movability are provided that can include using a contactless sensor system through a gas outlet port of a pressure relief device. By moving a stop, relative movement of the piston can be compared to the fixed body reflecting a movability or a blocking of the release piston. Inductive/magnetic or optical borescope sensors can detect piston movement through the gas outlet, for example. The activation function where the piston must move when activated can therefore be tested and maintained.
Claims17
A pressure relief device comprising:
- a body comprising a channel and an outlet;
- a member slidably disposed within the channel;
- and
- a protective cap at least partially enclosing a reactive component disposed between a terminal end of the member and a stop, the terminal end of the member abutting the protective cap, wherein:
- the reactive component is sensitive to an environmental threshold of an environment that causes a conformation change in the reactive component thereby permitting the member to slide within the channel toward the stop and fluidly couple the channel and the outlet, wherein the reactive component is directly exposed to the environment to which the reactive component is sensitive;
- and
- wherein the stop is configured to be moved between a first position and a second position thereby permitting the member and the protective cap to move relative to the body without fluidly coupling the channel and the outlet when the environmental threshold is not reached.
A thermally-activated pressure relief device comprising:
- a body comprising a channel and an outlet;
- a member slidably disposed within the channel;
- and
- a protective cap at least partially enclosing a frangible component comprising a fluid disposed between a terminal end of the member and a stop, the terminal end of the member abutting the protective cap, wherein:
- the frangible component is sensitive to a threshold temperature encountered by the frangible component that causes the frangible component to break thereby permitting the member to slide within the channel toward the stop and fluidly couple the channel and the outlet;
- and
- wherein the stop is configured to be moved between a first position and a second position thereby permitting the member and the protective cap to move relative to the body without fluidly coupling the channel and the outlet when the threshold temperature is not reached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.