Pressure relief valve devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9810332-B2
Application number	US-201414229770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Apr 8, 2013
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

Pressure relief valves for use in high pressure applications that may include a conical shaped plunger, a body with a conical shaped mating surface corresponding to the shape of the conical shaped plunger, and one or more sealing elements, such as a pair of O-rings, are disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pressure relief valve for high pressure operation, comprising:
a plunger assembly including an elongate threaded shaft at a first end and a compliant cone-shaped sub-section with a smooth faced sealing surface at a second end opposite the first end;
a body for withstanding deep ocean external pressure of a depth of at least 1000 meters, the body including a cavity with a conical-shaped mating surface to receive the smooth-faced sealing surface of the plunger assembly, and a clip to restrain the plunger assembly at the second end;
a compression spring disposed between a portion of the plunger assembly and the body sized to withstand corresponding pressures of at depth of at least 1000 meters; and
one or more seals disposed between the body mating surface and the sealing surface of the plunger assembly; wherein the body mating surface and the sealing surface are held in contact by the compression spring.

2. The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the plunger assembly includes an adjustment element coupled to the cone shaped sub-section of the plunger to adjust an actuation pressure and an adjustment nut, and wherein the adjustment element includes a threaded shaft onto which the adjustment nut is screwed to adjust the cracking pressure of the valve by adjusting the compressing spring force, and wherein a flat face of the cone shaped sub-section is held substantially flush with the exterior of the body when external pressure is applied.

3. The pressure relief value of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an inner groove and an outer groove, and wherein the one or more seals comprise an inner O-ring and an outer O-ring correspondingly seated in the inner groove and the outer groove.

4. The pressure relief valve of claim 3 , wherein the inner O-ring and the outer O-ring have substantially the same cross-sectional diameter.

5. The pressure relief valve of claim 3 , wherein the inner O-ring and the outer O-ring have a different cross-sectional diameter.

6. The pressure relief valve of claim 3 , wherein the inner O-ring and the outer O-ring comprise the same material.

7. The pressure relief valve of claim 3 , wherein the inner O-ring and the outer O-ring comprise different materials.

8. The pressure relief valve of claim 3 , wherein the inner groove and the outer groove are oriented along an axis substantially perpendicular to a mating surface of the conical shaped cavity.

9. The pressure relief valve of claim 8 , wherein one or both of the inner groove and the outer groove have a rounded groove bottom.

10. The pressure relief valve of claim 8 , wherein one or both of the grooves include an undercut edge to prevent dislodging of O-rings during high flow rate discharges.

11. The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the cone shaped sub-section includes a thin compliant section configured to flex upon application of high applied pressures.

12. The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , further comprising a thread locking element to maintain a set point during operation.

13. The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment nut includes a plurality of anti-rotation fingers.

14. The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , further comprising a protective cap disposed on the valve to prevent access to a cracking pressure adjustment element of the valve.

15. The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a stop edge to prevent the compression spring from going beyond a predefined yield point.

16. The pressure relief valve of claim 15 , wherein the seal comprises a flat gasket.

17. A pressure relief valve for high pressure operation, comprising:
an adjustment nut;
a plunger assembly including a compliant cone-shaped sub-section with a sealing surface, an adjustment element coupled to the conical shaped sub-section of the plunger to adjust an actuation pressure, and an adjustment nut;
a body for withstanding deep ocean pressure, the body including a cavity with a conical-shaped mating surface to receive the sealing surface of the plunger assembly;
a compression spring disposed between a portion of the plunger assembly and the body; and
one or more seals disposed between the body mating surface and the sealing surface of the plunger assembly;
wherein the body mating surface and the sealing surface are held in contact by the compression spring, the length of the anti-rotation fingers is preset to provide a predefined cracking pressure when the adjustment nut is jammed against the plunger, and the adjustment element includes a threaded shaft onto which the adjustment nut is screwed to adjust the cracking pressure of the valve by adjusting the compressing spring force.

18. An underwater lighting device, comprising:
a deep sea pressure housing for a light or camera; and
a pressure relief valve screwed into a threaded hole in the housing, comprising:
a plunger assembly including an elongate threaded shaft at a first end and a cone-shaped sub-section with a smooth faced sealing surface at a second end opposite the first end;
a body for withstanding deep ocean pressure, the body including a cavity with a conical-shaped mating surface to receive the smooth-faced sealing surface of the plunger assembly, and a clip to restrain the plunger assembly at the second end;
a compression spring disposed between a portion of the plunger assembly and the body; and
one or more seals disposed between the body mating surface and the sealing surface of the plunger assembly; wherein the body mating surface and the sealing surface are held in contact by the compression spring.

19. A battery, comprising:
a battery housing; and
a pressure relief valve disposed in the battery housing to vent gases from within the housing, the pressure relief valve including:
a plunger assembly including an elongate threaded shaft at a first end and a cone-shaped sub-section with a smooth faced sealing surface at a second end opposite the first end;
a body for withstanding deep ocean pressure, the body including a cavity with a conical-shaped mating surface to receive the smooth-faced sealing surface of the plunger assembly, and a clip to restrain the plunger assembly at the second end;
a compression spring disposed between a portion of the plunger assembly and the body; and
one or more seals disposed between the body mating surface and the sealing surface of the plunger assembly; wherein the body mating surface and the sealing surface are held in contact by the compression spring.

Assignees

• Chapman Eric M
• Olsson Mark S
• Deepsea Power & Light Inc

Inventors

• Chapman Eric M
• Olsson Mark S

Classifications

• F16K1/42

  Valve seats (for double-seat valves F16K1/44) · CPC title

• F16K15/063

  the valve being loaded by a spring · CPC title

• F16K17/06 Primary

  with special arrangements for adjusting the opening pressure · CPC title

• F21V31/03

  with provision for venting {(for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192)} · CPC title

• F16K1/465

  to the valve seats · CPC title