Fike Corporation

USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Bed Handles, Inc.

Bon F Shaw

Gary M Bond

Bradford T Stilwell

Albert H Marshall

Michael D Krebill

Randy R Fields

Joseph Walker

Herbert C Towle

Joseph A Walker

E Dean Miller

Joe Walker

Brent W Leonard

George A Siragusa

Juliann P Shaw

John K Schaefer

Paul D Grimmer

Devang Patel

Paul H Kohne

Mark Kendall

William M Howerton

Skaria Abraham

Amos Leap

Mark McLelland

Thomas J Riordan

DeVang Patel

Yilak Tesfaye

Mark Mclelland

Intelligent temperature and pressure gauge assemblies () for use with vessels () having pressurized hazard suppression materials therein include temperature and pressure sensors () coupled with a digital processor () with associated memory for storing empirical temperature and pressure data. The data includes normalized linear temperature-pressure curves consistent with static or slowly changing temperature conditions experienced by the vessels (), as well as nonlinear temperature-pressure curves consistent with rapidly changing temperature conditions. In use, the assemblies () repeatedly sense temperature and pressure conditions of the hazard suppression material and compare sensed values with stored values, and generate an output in conformance with the comparison. In this fashion, the assemblies () compensate for rapidly changing temperatures without generating false failure signals.

Intelligent temperature and pressure gauge assembly

A reverse-acting pressure relief device () is provided comprising buckling-control structures, namely pocket regions () and belt regions () having differing material thicknesses. The pocket regions () generally comprise areas of reduced material thicknesses and serve to weaken the structural integrity of the bulged section () of device () so that reversal can be initiated at lower pressures. Belt regions () generally comprise areas of enhanced mechanical properties that assist with reversal control and opening of bulged section () thereby ensuring complete opening of the device ().

Reverse-acting rupture disc with buckling-control feature

A pressure relief device and method of making the same are provided. The pressure relief device includes an over-pressure relief area with a plurality of co-linear spaced apart recesses located thereon. Gap segments are interspersed between the recesses to define a line of opening having desired performance characteristics during opening of the over-pressure relief area.

Pressure relief device having laser-defined line of opening

Methods of creating various laser-defined control structures on pressure relief devices are provided that utilize a laser having a field of view that is smaller than the overall dimensions of the laser-defined structure to be milled into the pressure relief device. The methods generally involve partitioning the working surface of the device into a plurality of tiles within which a particular segment of the control structure will be milled. Upon milling of a control structure segment in one tile, the pressure relief device and/or laser is repositioned so that a control structure segment in another tile may be created.

Creation of laser-defined structures on pressure relief devices via tiling method

A reverse acting rupture disc is provided having a laser defined electropolished line-of-weakness recess, and an improved method of forming an electropolished line-of-weakness recess in a reverse acting rupture disc that assures full opening of the disc upon reversal. A rupture disc blank is pre-bulged, final bulged, and then provided with a layer of resist material. A laser is used to remove at least a portion of the layer of resist material corresponding to a desired line-of-weakness recess in the concave face of the bulged rupture disc. The disc is then subjected to an electropolishing operation to remove metal from the lased area of the rupture disc, thereby forming a lustrous polished line-of-weakness recess in the disc of desired configuration and of a predetermined depth that is related to material thickness. The electropolished line of weakness is defined by spaced opposed channel portions separated by a central raised crown portion wherein the channel portions are of greater depth than the crown portion. The burst/reversal pressure of the disc having an electropolished line-of-weakness recess may be selectively controlled by varying the pre-bulging pressure on the disc.

Reverse acting rupture disc with laser-defined electropolished line of weakness and method of forming the line of weakness

An apertured rupture disc support member () is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (). A rupture disc () comprising one or more embossed segments () that are complemental with the support member apertures () is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly () is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.

Pressure relief device having support member with recessed areas

A burst indicator () for use in a rupture disc assembly () is provided. The burst indicator () comprises a non-electrically conductive material having an outer annular portion () and an inner section () joined to the outer portion by a pair of bridge features (). A circuit comprising electrically conductive segments () is located on the burst indicator () and can be used to monitor the integrity of the rupture disc (). One electrically conductive segment () is located on the outer annular portion (), and another electrically conductive segment () extends across the bridge features () and inner section (). Upon rupture of the rupture disc (), one of the bridge features () carrying an electrically conductive segment () severs thereby opening the circuit.

Burst indicator

A reverse acting rupture disc and methods of forming the same are provided. Generally, the rupture disc comprises a bulged portion and a circumscribing flange area surrounding the bulged portion. The bulged portion includes a mechanically formed line-of-opening recess comprising a singular channel. In certain embodiments, the mechanical process by which the recess is formed utilizes a high-speed mill which removes a portion of metal from the bulged portion of the disc without disrupting the substantially uniform metallic grain structure of the metal adjacent the channel.

Rupture disc with machined line of opening

A valve for controlling flow of pressurized fluid from a confined area that is operable to relieve an overpressure condition as well as to allow flow of fluid in response to a pressure relief command. The valve including a valve body with a fluid passage therethrough, a reverse buckling rupture disc in the valve body in normally blocking relationship to the flow of fluid through the passage, and a selectively actuatable device carried by the valve body adjacent the convex surface. The actuatable device is operable to disrupt, without puncturing, the disc so as to initiate reversal and rupture of the disc and to permit flow of the pressurized fluid through the passage.

Impulse actuated valve

This invention relates to a method of converting Halon-based fire suppression systems by substituting HFC 125 for the Halon without the need for changing the in place existing distribution piping. An amount of HFC 125 greater than the amount of Halon utilized in the fire suppression system is provided, which is under a pressure to effect exhaustion of the HFC 125 of the system within a time range exceeding about 10 seconds and up to about 25 seconds and which meets the standard fire extinguishing requirements for Class A and Class B fires. An existing fire suppression system is analyzed for flow characteristics to find Tof that system. The greater quantity Cof HFC 125 required for the retrofitted system is determined by the formula=((&#x2212;10)/(2&#xd7;)&#x2212;&#xd7;100) wherein=0.&#xd7;(&#x2212;10)/(/100))+. The method may also be utilized to determine the amount of HFC 125 required for the retrofitted fire suppression system.

Retrofitted non-Halon fire suppression system and method of retrofitting existing Halon based systems

A mouth and/or hand-held finger-actuated remote control unit is disclosed which is operable to permit selective variation of a pneumatic-operated controller (38, 42) having a proportional electrical control output to the electric motor (46) of a sewing machine (48). The unit comprises a hollow, elastic compressible bladder element (10, 110, 210) closed at one end and which is pneumatically connected to the controller. The bladder element is of length, width and height dimensions selected and proportioned to permit insertion of the bladder element in a person's mouth between the upper and lower teeth, or between the last fingers of a person's hand between the innermost knuckles and the person's palm. The bladder element is compressible by closing of a person's teeth thereon or movement of the fingers engaging the bladder toward the individual's palm to force air to the controller, thus controlling operation of the sewing machine. By modulating the pressure applied to bladder element 10 between the person's teeth or the last fingers and the person's palm, the machine may be turned off and on, and the speed of the sewing unit of machine may be controlled within very close limits, and can easily be varied from slow startup to full speed by simply applying more and more bite or finger pressure to the bladder element.

Hand-held, finger or mouth-actuated pneumatic unit for remote

Hazard suppression apparatus (10) is provided with a container (12) of suppression fluid and a non-explosive, pressurized gas-operated actuator assembly (16). The assembly (16) includes an actuator body (32) and first and second spaced apart rupture discs (36, 38) defining a zone (43) therebetween; the first disc (36) is preferably of bulged, scored configuration, whereas the second disc (38) is flat and has a series of vent openings (52) therethrough. A perforate, bar-type support (34) is positioned adjacent the second disc (38) and remote from the zone (43). A container (18) of high pressure actuating fluid is operatively coupled to the body (32) via a coupling unit (56) having an elongated, tubular nipple (58) equipped with a third rupture disc (62). A valve (70), adapted for connection with a hazard sensor is interposed between the container (18) and the coupling unit (56). In use, when a hazard is detected the solenoid valve (70) opens and a charge of high pressure actuating gas is delivered to the interdisc zone (43) by rupture of the third disc (62). This causes rapid rupture of the first disc (36) while the support (34) prevents premature opening of the second disc (36). After the first disc (36) ruptures, the pressure differential across second disc (38) causes it to rupture, thereby venting the contents of container (12) to the protected area.

Non-fragmenting, non-explosive actuating valve mechanism for fire

The bed handle system of the present invention, which includes a pair of handle elements, is used for facilitating movement into and out of a bed. Each handle element can be anchored to a bed mattress and has an upwardly extending handle section dimensioned to extend above the bed mattress. In use the handle portion is positioned adjacent a first side of the mattress, and the pair of handle elements are positioned in spaced relation to each other. The spacing between the handle elements may be adjusted to permit a user to grasp one handle section with each hand and to sit between the elements on the mattress preparatory to moving into or out of the bed.

Growing community of inventors

Blue Springs, MO, United States of America

Bon F Shaw