Pressure discharge mechanism for closed vessels

A pressure discharge mechanism for closed vessels comprising:

• a. a valve body having an outwardly extending flange at a base of the body, said flange adapted to mount the valve on to a surface of a closed vessel, said valve body having a bore hole therein concentric with a longitudinal axis of the valve body, said bore hole having a larger diameter in an upper portion of the valve body than in a lower portion of the valve body, with a shoulder being formed in the bore hole where the diameter of the bore hole changes, an inside surface of the lower bore hole having threads formed therein, and one or more bore holes being formed in the upper portion of the valve body perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve body;
• b. a solid plug having a larger diameter at a top portion than at a lower portion and being adapted to fit in sealing engagement with surfaces of the bore hole formed in the valve body, said plug having threads formed on a lower portion thereof which are adapted to operate in threaded engagement with threads on a lower portion of the bore hole in the valve body, and an at least one second bore hole formed in the solid plug which is in coincidence and alignment with said one or more bore holes formed in an upper portion of the valve body;
• and
• c. an at least one solid anti-rotation pin inserted in the at least one second bore hole and extending into the one or more bore holes formed in the upper portion of the valve body so as to prevent rotation of the plug at safe temperatures, said anti-rotation pin automatically changing phase to a liquid at critical temperature to release the plug and permit the plug to rotate upwardly and out of threaded engagement with the valve body whereby to open the valve;
• said plug having an at least one small through hole extending from the tank wall with an at least one first plug or pin in sealing engagement therein, said plug or pin being solid at safe temperature conditions but changing phase to a liquid at a predetermined temperature lower than critical combustion and/or explosive temperatures of said contents in the closed vessel.

A temperature safe closed vessel comprising two members, which are secured together by means of a threaded joint to form one pressure tight closed vessel, wherein the threaded joint consists of metallic threads on each of the two members, wherein the metallic threads are coated with a eutectic composition and the metallic threads are in close engagement with each other, forming a seal with no gaps or channels between the two members;

• energetics or hazardous material within said pressure tight closed vessel;
• wherein said energetics or hazardous material reaches a critical stage at a predetermined temperature above normal operating temperature;
• wherein the eutectic composition coating said threaded joint and said eutectic composition remains in a solid state when the pressure tight closed vessel is below a temperature that is equal to a predetermined eutectic melting temperature of the eutectic composition, but liquid when the pressure tight closed vessel is above a temperature greater than the predetermined eutectic melting temperature of the eutectic composition, wherein the solid eutectic composition prevents the two members from separating;
• the energetics or hazardous material causing pressure build up within the pressure tight closed vessel when the temperature of the pressure tight closed vessel is increased above normal operating temperature, resulting in an internal pressure that causes the threaded joint to become unthreaded and the at least two members to separate.

A temperature safe grenade comprising at least two members that are secured together by means of a threaded joint, wherein the threaded joint consists of metallic threads on each of the two members, wherein the metallic threads are coated with a eutectic composition and the metallic threads are in close engagement with each other, forming a seal with no gaps or channels between the two members;

• a phase changeable energetic material contained within the two members;
• wherein the energetic material reaches a critical stage at a predetermined temperature;
• wherein the eutectic composition coats the threaded joint so that the eutectic composition remains in a solid state when the grenade is in a normal operating environment;
• wherein upon exposure to an elevated temperature that is at least equal to a predetermined eutectic melting temperature of the eutectic composition, the energetic material causes pressure build up within the grenade via a phase change from solid to liquid and to result in an internal pressure that causes the threaded joint to become unscrew and the at least two members to separate.