Fike Corporation

Joe Walker

Bon F Shaw

Michael D Krebill

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

A rupture disc () is provided comprising a line of opening () formed in at least one face thereof. The line of opening () is formed by laser machining of the disc's face and includes at least one disc opening control feature (). The disc opening control feature () may be an opening-initiation feature configured to assist with initial rupture of the disc (). Alternatively, the opening control feature () may be an anti-fragmentation feature configured to dissipate the energy acting upon the disc () so as to prevent separation of the petal formed upon opening of the disc.

Rupture disc having laser-defined line of weakness with disc opening and anti-fragmentation control structures

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.

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Kansas City, MO, United States of America

Joe Walker