Patent ID: 9574678
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: A23N,F16K,Y10T

Claim:
1. A self-sealing pressure release apparatus comprising: a pressure vessel; a valve assembly having a valve body with an exit opening through which pressurized steam exits the valve body and a displaceable closure member displaceable between a pressure release position and a pressure seal position at which the closure member seals the exit opening; and a double acting actuator that displaces the closure member from the pressure seal position to the pressure release position against the pressure of steam in the pressure vessel to release pressurized steam from the pressure vessel, wherein the closure member is configured to release pressurized steam from the pressure vessel when the closure member is in the pressure release position, wherein the closure member is configured to seal pressurized steam in the pressure vessel when the closure member is in the pressure seal position, wherein the closure member is configured to be maintained in the pressure seal position by pressurized steam from the pressure vessel without actuating the double-acting actuator, wherein the double acting actuator has a spindle, wherein the closure member is mounted at one end of the spindle, wherein the closure member has a larger diameter than the spindle, and wherein the closure member at the pressure release position completely clears the exit opening of the valve body to allow instant exhausting of pressure from the pressure vessel through the valve body, and wherein the double acting actuator is only actuated to displace the closure member to the pressure release position.