# US 9,752,696 B2 · Pressure relief system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,696 B2 - Document ID: US9752696B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/881,451 - Filed: 2015-10-13 - Published: 2016-04-14 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-13 - Applicants: Strom W. Smith - Inventors: Strom W. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752696B2 ## CPC - F16K 27/0209: {Check valves or pivoted valves} - F16K 17/02: opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side (check valves F16K15/00) - F16K 49/005: {Circulation means for a separate heat transfer fluid} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention generally include a pressure relief system and methods of use, in which an apparatus includes an upper chamber fluidly connected to a pressurized fluid source, a lower chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a vertically moveable plate intermediate the chambers and disposed within a plate support, and connected to the plate by a vertical shaft, a vertically actuating lower chamber inlet valve including an inlet seal. Pressure relief is accomplished by controlling fluid pressure in the upper chamber such that varying downward force on the plate and therefore, via the shaft, the inlet seal, allows for selective opening/closing of the inlet valve as a function of upper chamber fluid pressure relative to the pressure exerted from a fluid source for which pressure relief is desired, beneath the inlet seal, whereby over-pressured fluid entering the lower chamber via the inlet is vented out the outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure relief system comprising: an upper chamber; a lower chamber; a plate; a shaft; and an inlet seal; wherein: said upper chamber is fluidly connectable to a pressurized fluid source; said lower chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet; said plate is vertically moveable and is disposed between said upper chamber and said lower chamber; said shaft connects said plate to said inlet seal and provides a fixed distance there between; said inlet seal comprises a substantially conically shaped exterior surface and said inlet comprises a beveled surface; positioning of said inlet seal in a lowest position provides sealing engagement of said inlet seal with said inlet; internal fluid pressure within said upper chamber biases said plate, and therefore said inlet seal, via said shaft, downward; upward vertical movement of said inlet seal from said lowest position disengages said inlet seal from sealing engagement thereof with said inlet; and external fluid pressure sufficient to cause upward vertical movement of said inlet seal and disengage said inlet seal from said inlet provides for relief of said external fluid pressure via said inlet through said lower chamber outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said plate is disposed within a plate support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said plate support comprises a stop adapted to limit upward vertical movement of said plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said plate and said inlet seal comprises an o-ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said plate comprises one or more orifices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a temperature control system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said temperature control system comprises a steam jacket. ### Claim 8 A pressure relief system comprising: an upper chamber; a lower chamber; a plate; a plate support; a shaft; and an inlet seal; wherein: said upper chamber is fluidly connectable to a pressurized fluid source; said lower chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet; said plate is vertically moveable within said plate support and is disposed between said upper chamber and said lower chamber; said shaft connects said plate to said inlet seal and provides a fixed distance there between; said inlet seal comprises a substantially conically shaped exterior surface; said inlet comprises a beveled surface; positioning of said inlet seal within said inlet in a lowest position provides sealing engagement of said inlet seal with said inlet; internal fluid pressure within said upper chamber biases said plate, and therefore said inlet seal, via said shaft, downward; upward vertical movement of said inlet seal from said lowest position disengages said inlet seal from sealing engagement thereof with said inlet; and external fluid pressure sufficient to cause upward vertical movement of said inlet seal and disengage said inlet seal from said inlet provides for relief of said external fluid pressure via said inlet through said lower chamber outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said plate support comprises a stop adapted to limit upward vertical movement of said plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: at least one of said plate and said inlet seal comprises an o-ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: said plate comprises one or more orifices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a temperature control system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: said temperature control system comprises a steam jacket. ### Claim 14 A method of relieving fluid pressure comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: an upper chamber; a lower chamber; a plate; a shaft; and an inlet seal; wherein: said upper chamber is fluidly connectable to a pressurized fluid source; said lower chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet; said plate is vertically moveable and is disposed between said upper chamber and said lower chamber; said shaft connects said plate to said inlet seal and provides a fixed distance there between; said inlet seal comprises a substantially conically shaped exterior surface and said inlet comprises a beveled surface; positioning of said inlet seal in a lowest position provides sealing engagement of said inlet seal with said inlet; internal fluid pressure within said upper chamber biases said plate, and therefore said inlet seal, via said shaft, downward; upward vertical movement of said inlet seal from said lowest position disengages said inlet seal from sealing engagement thereof with said inlet; and external fluid pressure sufficient to cause upward vertical movement of said inlet seal and disengage said inlet seal from said inlet provides for relief of said external fluid pressure via said inlet through said lower chamber outlet; providing a pressurized fluid source in fluid communication with the interior of said upper chamber; and providing a fluid source in fluid communication with at least a portion of a bottom surface of said inlet seal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: said fluid source comprises sulfur. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: said plate is disposed within a plate support. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: at least one of said plate and said inlet seal comprises an o-ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: controlling the temperature of at least a portion of said apparatus.