Patent ID: 6491055
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure relief apparatus for a system containing a pressurized fluid, comprising:a valve having a body defining a fluid flowpath, a shaft rotatably disposed in the body and having an exterior end extending through the body, and a plug mounted on the shaft, the body engageable with the system to expose the plug to the pressurized fluid, the pressurized fluid acting on the plug to exert a torque on the shaft and rotate the plug from a closed position to an open position; an input arm engageable with the exterior end of the shaft; a linkage assembly having a fulcrum, a lever arm having a first end and a second end, and a trigger disposed between the input arm and the first end of the lever arm, the input arm acting through the trigger on the first end of the lever arm to pivot the lever arm about the fulcrum to generate an output force based upon the torque exerted on the shaft; a release device operatively connected to the linkage assembly to prevent the shaft from rotating, the release device including a housing holding a fusible alloy configured to liquefy and allow the shaft to rotate when the temperature of the alloy exceeds a predetermined limit; and a heating element disposed in the housing adjacent the fusible alloy, the heating element operable to raise the temperature of the fusible alloy to the predetermined limit to release the shaft.