Method and system for pressure relief in a multi chamber vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11953154-B2
Application number	US-202217727251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2022
Priority date	Apr 22, 2022
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A vessel includes a body having an interior surface that defines an interior space. The vessel further includes a flexible membrane located within the interior space of the vessel. The interior space includes a first chamber at least partially defined by the flexible membrane, and a second chamber at least partially defined by the flexible membrane and a portion of the interior surface of the body. The vessel includes a pressure relief device configured to vent contents of the second chamber to an exterior of the body when the second chamber reaches a first predefined pressure. The flexible membrane is configured to tear or puncture when the first chamber reaches a second predefined pressure that is less than or equal to the first predefined pressure to prevent dangerously high pressures within the first chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vessel, comprising:
a body comprising an interior surface that defines an interior space;
a flexible membrane located within the interior space of the vessel, wherein the interior space includes:
a first chamber at least partially defined by the flexible membrane; and
a second chamber at least partially defined by the flexible membrane and a portion of the interior surface of the body; and

a pressure relief device coupled to the body, wherein the pressure relief device is configured to vent contents of the second chamber to an exterior of the body when the second chamber reaches a first predefined pressure;
wherein the flexible membrane is configured to tear or puncture when the first chamber reaches a second predefined pressure that is less than or equal to the first predefined pressure.

2. The vessel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a piercing member extending into the second chamber, wherein the piercing member is configured to puncture the flexible membrane when the first chamber reaches the second predefined pressure.

3. The vessel of claim 2 , wherein the piercing member is coupled to the pressure relief device.

4. The vessel of claim 2 , further comprising,
a pocket formed in the body of the vessel and extending into the second chamber, the pocket having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the pressure relief device is coupled to the exterior surface of the pocket and the piercing member extends from the interior surface of the pocket.

5. The vessel of claim 4 , further comprising a standoff extending from the interior surface of the pocket and separating the piercing member from the pressure relief device by a distance.

6. The vessel of claim 5 , wherein the piercing member and the standoff define a passageway that provides fluid communication between the pressure relief device and the second chamber.

7. The vessel of claim 6 , wherein the piercing member comprises a plurality of piercing points surrounding the passageway, and a plurality of spaces in between each of the plurality of piercing points.

8. The vessel of claim 4 , wherein the interior surface of the pocket includes a convex surface.

9. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the interior surface within the second chamber or a surface of the flexible membrane includes one or more projections configured to prevent the flexible membrane from restricting fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior of the body through the pressure relief device.

10. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the first predefined pressure is greater than or equal to 112 pounds per square inch (psi).

11. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane is constructed from an elastomer, single-ply film, multi-ply film, polyester, or a foil.

12. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to maintain its shape as the flexible membrane expands.

13. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the flexible membrane is crimped to at least one of the first portion or the second portion with a crimping ring extending around a circumference of the body.

14. The vessel of claim 13 , wherein the first portion is configured to receive a valve that provides selective fluid communication between the first chamber and the exterior of the body, and the pressure relief device is coupled to the second portion.

15. A vessel, comprising:
a body comprising an interior surface that defines an interior space;
a flexible membrane located within the interior space of the vessel, wherein the interior space includes:
a first chamber at least partially defined by the flexible membrane; and
a second chamber at least partially defined by the flexible membrane and a portion of the interior surface of the body;

a pressure relief device coupled to the body, wherein the pressure relief device provides selective fluid communication between the second chamber and an exterior of the body;
a piercing member extending into the second chamber; and
a standoff separating the piercing member from the pressure relief device by a distance.

16. The vessel of claim 15 , wherein the second chamber is in fluid communication with the pressure relief device through the piercing member and the standoff.

17. The vessel of claim 15 , further comprising,
a pocket formed in the body of the vessel, the pocket having an exterior surface and an interior surface that includes a convex surface extending into the second chamber, wherein the pressure relief device is coupled to the exterior surface of the pocket and the piercing member extends from the interior surface of the pocket.

18. The vessel of claim 17 , wherein the standoff and the piercing member are formed from, and project directly from the pocket.

19. The vessel of claim 15 , wherein the piercing member includes a plurality of piercing points arranged around an aperture, wherein each of the plurality of piercing points is separated by a gap.

20. A method of constructing a vessel, comprising:
providing a body;
coupling a flexible membrane to the body such that the flexible membrane extends within an interior of the body to create a first chamber and a second chamber within the body;
forming a pocket in the body;
punching a hole in the pocket to form a standoff and a piercing member that includes an aperture and piercing points surrounding the aperture and projecting from the standoff, and
installing a pressure relief device into the pocket such that the pressure relief device provides selective fluid communication between the second chamber and an exterior of the body.

Assignees

• Amtrol Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Mendes João Pedro Oliveira Pinhão Silva
• Vieira Pedro Alexandre Queiro Silva
• O'Brian Jennifer Marie

Classifications

• F17C13/12 Primary

  Arrangements or mounting of devices for preventing or minimising the effect of explosion (flame traps A62C4/00 ){; Other safety measures} · CPC title

• F17C1/00

  Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge (pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 {; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00}) · CPC title

• F17C13/04

  Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) · CPC title

• F17C2201/0109

  with exteriorly curved end-piece · CPC title

• F17C2201/0166

  divided in several chambers · CPC title