Continental Disc Corporation

Robert M Mozley

James M Shivers

Bryce H Wilson

J Kyle McCamis

An improved reverse rupture disc for use as a safety pressure relief device is provided. The disc is defined by an annular flat flange region, a concave-convex disc dome region and a transition region that joins the disc-shaped flat flange region to the concave-convex disc dome region. One or more deformations may be formed at or near the apex of the disc dome region for weakening the disc to the point that incidental damage to the disc will not weaken the disc any further, thereby ensuring that the disc will reverse at a certain pressure, and no lower. The disc may also formed with one or more irregular transition regions at the base of the disc and a partial circular groove in the transition region. The irregular transition region of the disc cooperates with a shear enhancing means such as a protrusion or notch formed in a support ring or disc holder disposed downstream of the disc to sever the disc dome from the annular flat flange region along the groove in the transition region. A back pressure support means extends over the transition region and potentially over the dome region to prevent vacuum and forward to reverse cyclical pressures in the convex direction from damaging or destroying the disc. An ungrooved region of the transition region acts as a hinge holding the ruptured disc dome to the flat flange region after the disc has ruptured. The ruptured disc dome hangs over an arcuate projection formed in the support ring or disc holder, which helps to prevent the disc from fragmenting.

Enhanced reverse buckling rupture disc

An improved reverse rupture disc for use as a safety pressure relief device is provided. The disc is defined by an annular flat flange region, a concave-convex disc dome region and a transition region that joins the disc-shaped flat flange region to the concave-convex disc dome region. One or more deformations are formed at or near the apex of the disc dome region for weakening the disc to the point that incidental damage to the disc will not weaken the disc any further, thereby ensuring that the disc will reverse at a certain pressure, and no lower. The disc is also formed with an irregular transition region at the base of the disc and a partial circular groove in the transition region. The irregular transition region of the disc cooperates with a protrusion formed in a support ring disposed downstream of the disc to sever the disc dome from the annular flat flange region along the groove in the transition region. An ungrooved region of the transition region acts as a hinge holding the ruptured disc dome to the flat flange region after the disc has ruptured. The ruptured disc dome hangs over an arcuate projection formed in the support ring, which helps to prevent the disc from fragmenting.

A rupture disc system comprises a ruptue disc including a dome portion and a flange portion interconnected by a transition region and a mounting mechanism for mounting the rupture disc by the flange portion thereof in a pressure relieving vent. The rupture disc includes a thickness reducing groove at least partially circumferentially surrounding the dome portion and located in the transition region thereof. Preferably, the rupture disc is of the reverse buckling type and the groove does not completely surround the dome portion so as to define a tab or hinge within that part of the transition region which is ungrooved or not as deeply grooved as a remainder of the transition region. In addition, the slope or radius of curvature may be increased in the region of the tab. The rupture disc also includes an indentation on the dome portion. The indentation is preferably greatest on the dome portion at a location spaced from the transition region and directly between the tab and a crown of the dome portion. In addition, the mounting mechanism includes a lower ring member having an arcuate projection which extends into the vent. Preferably, the arcuate projection is located so as to be relatively close to and so as to align with the tab such that the dome portion wraps about the projection when reverse buckling and rupture occurs. Methods are disclosed for producing the disc with the groove and the indentation.

Rupture disc system

A rupture disc system comprises a rupture disc including a dome portion and a flange portion interconnected by a transition region and a mounting mechanism for mounting the rupture disc by the flange portion thereof in a pressure relieving vent. The rupture disc includes a thickness reducing groove at least partially circumferentially surrounding the dome portion and located in the transition region thereof. Preferably, the rupture disc is of the reverse buckling type and the groove does not completely surround the dome portion so as to define a tab or hinge within that part of the transition region which is ungrooved or not as deeply grooved as a remainder of the transition region. In addition, the slope or radius of curvature may be increased in the region of the tab. The rupture disc also includes an indentation on the dome portion. The indentation is preferably greatest on the dome portion at a location spaced from the transition region and directly between the tab and a crown of the dome portion. In addition, the mounting mechanism includes a lower ring member having an arcuate projection which extends into the vent. Preferably, the arcuate projection is located so as to be relatively close to and so as to align with the tab such that the dome portion wraps about the projection when reverse buckling and rupture occurs. Methods are disclosed for producing the disc with the groove and the indentation.

Rupture disc with selectively positioned initial buckling

A rupture disc system comprises a rupture disc including a dome portion and a flange portion interconnected by a transition region and a mounting mechanism for mounting the rupture disc by the flange portion thereof in a pressure relieving vent. The rupture disc includes a thickness reducing groove at least partially circumferentially surrounding the dome portion and located in the transition region thereof. The rupture disc is of the reverse buckling type and the groove does not completely surround the dome portion so as to define a tab or hinge within that part of the transition region which is ungrooved or not as deeply grooved as a remainder of the transition region. The system includes a support structure for the disc which supports the transition region except in a sector adjacent the dome portion where initial failure is desired. The location of the unsupported sector is approximately centered relative to the tab or hinge. In addition, the disc support structure preferably comprises a downstream ring member having an arcuate projection which extends into the vent. The arcuate projection is located so as to be relatively close to and so as to align with the tab or hinge such that the dome portion wraps about the projection when reverse buckling and rupture occurs.

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Raytown, MO, United States of America

Robert M Mozley