Abstract: A nozzle box unit forming a component of an anechoic chamber fire suppression system is provided. The nozzle box unit includes a pusher assembly that is configured to dislodge a piece of acoustic material positioned in front of the nozzle box so as to permit discharge of a fire suppressing material from a nozzle mounted inside the nozzle box unit into the anechoic chamber.

Abstract: A fire suppression system for use with lithium-ion battery storage containers is provided. The system utilizes water as a fire suppressant, which is stored in a tank and delivered to a battery module within the container that is experiencing a thermal event. After a predetermined time from the beginning of water flow, a controller within the system actuates one or more fans to ventilate the storage container to expel hazardous gases produced by the thermal event.

Abstract: A fire suppression system for use with lithium-ion battery storage containers is provided. The system utilizes water as a fire suppressant, which is stored in a tank and delivered to a battery module within the container that is experiencing a thermal event. After a predetermined time from the beginning of water flow, a controller within the system actuates one or more fans to ventilate the storage container to expel hazardous gases produced by the thermal event.

Abstract: A valve comprising a slidable internal shuttle that is shiftable between a valve closed and a valve open configuration is provided. The valve can be configured so that minimal force is required to effect shifting of the shuttle, even though the valve can be of a large diameter. In the valve closed configuration, the shuttle blocks communication between the valve inlet and outlet. Sliding of the shuttle to the valve open configuration permits fluid to flow through the valve. The shuttle can be configured with internal surfaces that provide some or no biasing forces acting upon the shuttle in the valve closed direction.

Abstract: Intelligent temperature and pressure gauge assemblies (52) for use with vessels (24) having pressurized hazard suppression materials therein include temperature and pressure sensors (136, 138) coupled with a digital processor (72) 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 (24), as well as nonlinear temperature-pressure curves consistent with rapidly changing temperature conditions. In use, the assemblies (52) 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 (52) compensate for rapidly changing temperatures without generating false failure signals.

Abstract: A clean agent fire suppression system (10a, 10b) is provided that avoids mixing of the agent and propellant. A compartmentalized storage vessel (12) having two compartments (20, 22) separated by a membrane (24) maintains a propellant supplied by a propellant source (34) isolated from the fire suppressing agent. The fire suppressing agent may be stored at room temperature and/or under atmospheric pressure and, upon actuation of the system, delivered to the nozzles (16) installed within the protected space (18) at much lower pressures. This reduction in delivery pressure decreases noise generation as the suppressing agent is released into the protected space.

Abstract: Intelligent temperature and pressure gauge assemblies (52) for use with vessels (24) having pressurized hazard suppression materials therein include temperature and pressure sensors (136, 138) coupled with a digital processor (72) 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 (24), as well as nonlinear temperature-pressure curves consistent with rapidly changing temperature conditions. In use, the assemblies (52) repeatedly sense the temperature and pressure conditions of the hazard suppression material and compare these sensed values with the stored values, and generate an output in conformance with the comparison. In this fashion, the assemblies (52) compensate for rapidly changing temperatures without generating false failure signals.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apertured rupture disc support member (32, 90) is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (70). A rupture disc (30, 30a) comprising one or more embossed segments (80) that are complemental with the support member apertures (56) is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly (12) is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apertured rupture disc support member (32, 90) is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (70). A rupture disc (30, 30a) comprising one or more embossed segments (80) that are complemental with the support member apertures (56) is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly (12) is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.

Abstract: An apertured rupture disc support member (32, 90) is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (70). A rupture disc (30, 30a) comprising one or more embossed segments (80) that are complemental with the support member apertures (56) is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly (12) is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cylindrical holder member for a bi-directional bulged rupture disc. The support body of the holder has a rim that supports the rupture disc with the concave surface of the disc facing the holder. The support body is provided with a unitary one-piece, centrally creased cutting element that is of generally V-shaped configuration in plan view. The cutting element has a pair of elongated converging leg components with each leg component being connected to and supported by the interior wall surface of the holder body, with each leg component having an arcuate cutting edge. The cutting edges of the leg components merge at the crease in the cutting element to define a central cutting edge peak section. The cutting element is positioned in the holder with the cutting edge peak section extending beyond the rim of the support body into the concave area of the disc.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apertured rupture disc support member (32, 90) is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (70). A rupture disc (30, 30a) comprising one or more embossed segments (80) that are complemental with the support member apertures (56) is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly (12) is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 TD of that system. The greater quantity C+ of HFC 125 required for the retrofitted system is determined by the formula C+=((TD?10)/(2×TCRIT)?TD×100) wherein TCRIT=0.Y×(TD?10)/(C+/100))+TD. The method may also be utilized to determine the amount of HFC 125 required for the retrofitted fire suppression system.