Abstract:
A reusable sanitary valve assembly with a releasable cap or cover that disengages from the valve indicating an over-pressure situation has occurred, the cap or cover is capable of being reset, and once it is known that gas, liquid or other contaminants have possibly entered the valve following an over-pressure situation, the interior of the valve can be inspected by removing a portion of the valve while the valve remains sealed on a pressurized substrate and, if the interior of the valve is contaminated, the interior of the valve can be cleaned and closed without unseating the valve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 37 C.F.R. 1.78(a)(4) based upon copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/991,480 for Apparatus for Novel Sanitary Valve Assembly filed Nov. 30, 2007 and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/014,336 for Apparatus for Novel Sanitary Valve Assembly filed Dec. 17, 2007 and which specifications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to valve assemblies, and more particularly to sanitary valve assemblies having adjustable pressure relief mechanisms, removable lids or tops that may be reset when an overpressure situation has occurred and removable parts to provide access to the interior of the valve without having to disengage the valve from the pressurized substrate. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The use of valve assemblies to relieve pressure is well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,124,203 to Bingley discloses a safety valve suitable for use in connection with the brake cylinder of an air brake apparatus that prevents excessive pressure in the brake cylinder such as might result in the locking of car wheels. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,891,119 to Stover discloses a safety valve designed to relieve pressure in a vessel, such as the cylinder of a compressor when excessive pressure accumulates therein. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,254,209 to Buttner discloses a pressure relief valve that prevents the accumulation of fluid under or behind a sealing member in a valve. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,378 to Wittenberg discloses a pressure control and indicator gauge for use in connection with pressure cookers. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,627 to Wagner, et al. discloses a pressure controlling cap structure which vents any excess pressure within a cooker vessel. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,040 to Johnson discloses a spring loaded pressure relief valve. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,827 to Hammer, et al. discloses a pressure relief valve that is connected on one side to a high pressure of a fluid or hydraulic or lubricating system and on the other side to a low pressure side. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,017 to Jones discloses a pressure relief valve having a sealing member which is capable of moving into and out of sealing engagement with a valve seat as the valve member slides in the passageway. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,148 to Richter discloses a sanitary pressure relief valve with drain ports. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,787 to Walker discloses an air vent pressure relief plug for use with pressure cookers. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,151 to Oten discloses a pressure relief valve having a valve member that smacks and permanently deforms a deformable over pressure indicating element to give a permanent indication of an over pressure situation. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,962 to Danzy, et al. discloses a pressure relief valve having an inlet port and an outlet. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,853 to Dean discloses a pressure relief valve for use in highly corrosive environments having parts exposed to corrosive lading which are relatively easily field-replaceable. 
         [0016]    While the prior art discloses a myriad of pressure relief valves, various industries using tanks, pipes and other various forms of closed containers that move or store liquid and gas are continuously looking to improve existing valve assemblies and their design. Innovation for improved valve assemblies is partly a result of the desire for less complicated, less costly and more effective ways to relieve and detect too much pressure in a valve assembly. 
         [0017]    Some industries, such as the food and beverage industry, sometimes require sanitary conditions in the transport or storage of semi-solid food or liquid beverages. As such, sanitary pressure valves that prevent the contamination of goods or items held or transported in a closed system while also relieving overpressure situations is an absolute necessity. 
         [0018]    Therefore, it may also be desirable to have a pressure relief valve assembly that allows a user to adjust the pressure needed to activate the pressure relief feature of the valve. This feature is useful because a closed system such as a tank may be used to transport or store a variety of gases and liquids. Because different liquids and gases create varying pressure conditions in a closed system, it would be desirable to have a pressure relief valve assembly that is adjustable. 
         [0019]    In some situations, a valve assembly may accumulate build-up or residue from gas or liquid that remain on its surface. To avoid such build-up or residue, it would be desirable and advantageous to have a valve assembly that allows easy access and cleaning of the interior chamber of a closed valve assembly. Further, it is desirable and advantageous to have a valve assembly that can be accessed, inspected and cleaned without having to remove valve assembly from the pressurized vessel or substrate, keeping the vessel or substrate in a pressurized state while examining the interior of the valve assembly. 
         [0020]    In other situations, it may be necessary to know when a closed system has exceeded a certain pressure level. For example, in a closed system with pipes, an overpressure situation may indicate a blockage in the system. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a valve assembly with a visual cue that alerts a user that a certain pressure has been exceeded in the system. Furthermore, it would be useful if the valve assembly allowed a user to reset the visual cue that indicated the overpressure situation in the first place. A visual cue that may be reset is desirable because a new valve assembly would not be needed to replace the existing valve assembly. Simply resetting the visual cue on the valve assembly would allow its continued use. 
         [0021]    Pressure relief valves are required in many instances because, for example, beverages may be infused with gases such as CO 2  or subjected to various temperature extremes. Gases and varying temperatures in a closed system cause pressure differentials. Without pressure relief valves, explosions and injuries to people around such closed systems would occur in the event the pressure level in a closed system exceeded the closed system&#39;s capacity. 
         [0022]    Accordingly, there is a need for an adjustable sanitary valve assembly that relieves pressure and displays some visual cue that a certain pressure has been exceeded in a closed system. There is a also a need for a sanitary valve assembly that allows a user to manually adjust the pressure needed to activate the pressure relief mechanism of the valve assembly. Further, there is a need for a valve assembly that allows the user to access and inspect the interior of the assembly without removing and/or unsealing the valve from the vessel or substrate. Finally, there is a need for a low cost and effective sanitary valve assembly that can be efficiently cleaned and reused. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a cross section of an embodiment of a sanitary valve assembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cross section of the embodiment of the valve assembly of  FIG. 1  and showing the valve assembly in its separable sections to allow cleaning of the valve while it is in use on a substrate; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the guide cylinder of the valve assembly of the one embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is cross-section view of the guide cylinder taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a sanitary valve assembly; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the second embodiment of the sanitary valve showing the action of the handle of the sanitary valve assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the second embodiment of the sanitary valve assembly shown in  FIG. 5  taken along line  7 - 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as representative bases for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0032]    First referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a valve assembly  10  according to one embodiment as shown. The valve assembly comprising a valve body or a bottom body  20  and a pressure release body or top body  30 . The valve body  20  and the pressure release body  30  are generally cylindrical in shape and may be made of any suitable material including, without limitation, metal such as steel, or plastic such as polycarbonate depending on the application needed for the valve assembly  10 . The valve body  20  is generally cylindrical and hollow and has a top opening  21  and a bottom opening  22  with a continuous sidewall  22   a  connecting said valve body top opening  21  and said valve body bottom opening  22 . The pressure release body  30  is generally cylindrical and hollow and has a top opening  31  and bottom opening  32  with a continuous sidewall  32   a  connecting said pressure release body top opening  31  and said pressure release body bottom opening  32 . The valve body top opening  21  is connected to the pressure release body bottom opening  32  by a connecting means  86  such as a clamp, a brace, a collar, a band, or any other suitable means of connection. 
         [0033]    The valve body  20  has a bottom or bottom surface  23  that is comprised of a valve seat  24 , a bottom annular lip  25  and a bottom annular groove  26 . The bottom surface  23  contains a port  50  that communicates from the outside of the valve body  20  to the interior or passageway  51  of the valve body  20 . The bottom annular lip  25  provides a means of connecting the valve body  20  and therefore the valve assembly  10  to a substrate or vessel, such as a container or other pressurized or non-pressurized structure. The bottom annular groove  26  holds an O-ring or gasket creating a sealing engagement between a substrate and the valve assembly  10  or the valve body  20 . 
         [0034]    The valve body top surface  27  is comprised of a top annular lip  28  and a top annular groove  29 . The interior side wall  52  of the valve body  20  has a plurality of threads  53  extending from the valve body top opening  21  toward the valve body bottom opening  22 . 
         [0035]    The interior  51  of the valve body  20  is comprised of a guide cylinder  60  a cap ring  70  and a means of creating force or spring  80  between the cap ring  70  and the guide cylinder  60 . In one embodiment a spring comprises force means  80  and any other suitable means such as a spring loaded cylinder may be substituted. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3  and  4 , the guide cylinder  60  within the valve body  20  is comprised of a round bottom surface  61  that fills the port  50  and is generally flush with the valve body bottom surface  23 ; an annular second level surface  62  with a diameter larger than the round bottom surface  61  having an annular groove  63  with a means for creating a seal  64  such as an O-ring or gasket that is in contact with the valve seat  24 ; and a top surface  65  having extending therefrom, arcuate portions side walls  66   a - d  of the guide cylinder  60  which are spaced apart by voids  67   a - d . The arcuate portions  66  interior side walls  68  and top surface  65  receive the spring  80 , to bias guide cylinder  60  against valve seat  24 . The arcuate portions  66  exterior side walls  69  mate against the interior side wall  52  of the valve body  20 . 
         [0037]    The cap ring  70  is a cylindrical tube having an outer surface  71  and an inner surface  72 . The outer surface  71  of the cap ring  70  has threads  73  which compliment the thread  53  on the interior side wall  52  of the valve body  20 . By inserting the cap ring  70  into the top opening  21  of the valve body  20 , the cap ring  70  can move up or down with respect to valve interior surface  51  by turning the cap ring  70  clockwise or counterclockwise as required by threads  53  and  73 . The cap ring  70  contains a screw void  74  that extends from the inner surface  72  to the outer surface  71 . A screw  75  is placed within the screw void  74  from the inner surface  72  toward the outer surface  71 . The screw  75  is used to secure the cap ring  70  in a given position by tightening the screw  75  against interior side wall  52  of the valve body  20 . The cap ring  70  has a seat  76  which receives the top portion of the spring  80 . 
         [0038]    The amount of pressure required to move the guide cylinder  60  such that the second surface  62  of the guide cylinder  60  is unseated from the valve seat  24  can be either decreased or increased by altering the force of the means of creating force  80 . The force created by the spring  80  is increased or decreased by moving the cap ring  70  either towards the bottom opening  22  of the valve body  20  or towards the top opening  21  of the valve body  20 . The cap ring  70  moves by turning the cap ring  70  on threads  53  on the interior surface  51  of the valve body  20 . Compliment threads  73  on the outer surface  71  of the cap ring  70  operate such that turning of the cap ring  70  either clockwise or counterclockwise moves the cap ring  70  towards the bottom opening  22  of the valve body  20  thereby increasing the force on the guide cylinder  60  or moves the cap ring  70  towards the top opening  21  of the valve body  20  thereby decreasing the force on the guide cylinder  60 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pressure release body  30  with a top opening  31  and a bottom opening  32 . The bottom opening  32  of the pressure release body  30  has a bottom annular lip  33  and a bottom annular groove  34 . The bottom annular groove  34  of the pressure release body  30  aligns with the top annular groove  29  of the valve body  20  such that a means for creating a sealing engagement  83 , such as an O-ring or gasket is placed between the bottom annular groove  34  of the pressure release body  30  and the top annular groove  29  of the valve body  20 . A stop bar  35  extends diametrically across interior side walls  36  of the pressure release body  30 . The stop bar  35  is secured to the interior side wall  36  of the pressure release body  30 . The width of the stop bar  35  does not extend laterally but allows void areas between the stop bar  35  and the side wall  36  to allow matter and gas to flow from the bottom opening  32  of the pressure release body  30  through the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30 . The stop bar  35  has a void  37  which may be any shape or size but which is shown as being circular. 
         [0040]    The bottom annular lip  33  of the pressure release body  30  aligns with the top annular lip  28  of the valve body  20 . A connecting means  86  for securing the pressure release body  30  to the valve body  20  is attached or connected to the aligned annular lips  33 ,  28 , the connecting means  86  could be a clamp or a band or a collar or a brace or any other suitable means. The connecting means  86  is removable allowing the pressure release body  30  and the valve body  20  to be separated. When attached, the pressure release body  30  and the valve body  20  create an alignment such that the interior of the valve body  51  directly communicates with the interior of the pressure release body  38  such that the flow of matter entering the valve assembly  10  through the port  50  can move unobstructed through the valve body  20  and the pressure release body  30  and exit the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30 . 
         [0041]    A seal cap  90  is fitted on the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30 . The seal cap  90  can fit into the interior  38  of the pressure release body  30  or can fit like a cap covering the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30  and extending over a portion of the exterior surface  39  of the pressure release body  30 . An annular groove  91  is provided on surface  92  of the seal cap  90  which is frictionally fitted inside of the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30 . A means for creating a sealing engagement  93  is placed within the annular groove  91  of the seal cap  90 . When the seal cap  90  is placed within the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30  a frictional seal is created between the means for creating of sealing engagement  93  and the interior side wall  36  of the pressure release body  30 . If the seal cap  90  was designed to extend over the top opening  31  and encircle the exterior surface  39  of the pressure release body  30  then the annular groove  91  would be placed such that the means for creating a sealing engagement  93  created a frictional seal against the exterior surface  39  of the pressure release body  30 . 
         [0042]    Seal cap  90  is provided with projection  95  that extends toward the bottom opening  32  of the pressure release body  30 . The projection  95 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is a tube having a threaded inner void  95   a  and is shaped to extend through void  37  of the stop bar  35 . When the seal cap  90  is fitted inside the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30  as shown, the projection  95  extends through the void  37  such that the distal portion of the projection  95  is located between the stop bar  35  and the bottom opening  32  of the pressure release body  30 . 
         [0043]    On the distal end of the projection  35  is a stopping means  96 . The stopping means  96  is wider in diameter than the void  37  of the stop bar  35 . In a preferred embodiment stopping means  96  is a void threaded screw or rod inserted into the projection  95 . The head of the threaded screw or rod is a larger diameter than the void  37  of the stop bar  35 . 
         [0044]    When the seal cap  90  is frictionally held in place within the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30 , any substance which enters the valve assembly  10  through the port  50  with a pressure that is greater than the frictional force of the seal cap  90  will cause the seal cap  90  to be ejected out of the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  30 . The stopping means  96  of the seal cap  90  will prevent the seal cap  90  from being completely ejected from the pressure release body  30  since the stopping means  96  exceeds the size of the void  37  of the stop bar  35 . In this manner seal cap  90  provides visual cue that an over-pressure situation had occurred if it is observed that the seal cap  90  is not resting within the top opening  31  of the pressure release body  60 . 
         [0045]    A second embodiment, referenced in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , of a valve assembly  100  as shown. The valve assembly  100  comprising a valve body  110  and a pressure release body  170 . The second embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , show a continuous valve assembly  100  with the valve body  110  and the pressure release body  170  manufactured as one piece. Alternative embodiments could employ the sectioned component of the first embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , with a separable valve body  20  ( FIG. 1 ) and pressure release body  30  ( FIG. 1 ) attached by a connecting means  86  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the valve body  110  is comprised of a top opening  111 , a bottom opening  112  and a side opening  113 . A continuous sidewall  112   a  connects said valve body top opening  110  and said valve body bottom opening  112  and contains said valve body side opening  113 . The valve body  110  is generally cylindrical in shape and hollow and may be made of any suitable material including, without limitation, metal such as steel, or plastic such as polycarbonate depending on the application needed for the valve assembly  100 . The bottom or bottom surface  114  is comprised of a valve seat  115 , a bottom annular lip  116 , a bottom annular groove  117  and a port  118 . The valve seat  115  is comprised of a lower section  119  and an upper section  120 . The lower section  119  of the valve seat  115  has a diameter and circumference less than upper section  120  of the valve seat  115 . The bottom opening  112  has a diameter and circumference that is less than the lower section  119  of the valve seat  115 . The port  118  provides the means of communicating between the exterior of the valve assembly  100  and the interior or passageway  121  of the valve assembly such that matter or gas can move between the exterior of the valve assembly  100  and the interior  121  of the valve assembly  100  through the port  118 . 
         [0047]    The top or top surface  122  of the valve body  110  is comprised of an annular lip  123  and an annular groove  124 . The interior surface  125  of the valve body  110  has a plurality of threads or screw threads  126  extending from the top opening  111  toward the bottom opening  112 . Drilled into the valve body  110  is a void  127  that extends from the interior surface  125  of the valve body  110  through to the exterior surface  129  of the valve body  110 . The void  127  is generally of such size to permit the placement of a screw  130  or other securing means that can be adjusted from the exterior of the valve assembly  100 . 
         [0048]    The guide cylinder  140  is comprised of a piston  141  and a piston rod  142 . The piston  141  within the valve body  110  is comprised of a round bottom surface  143  that is greater in diameter and circumference than the bottom opening  112  and port  118 . The round bottom surface  143  has an annular groove  144  with a means for creating a seal  145  such as an O-ring or gasket that is in contact with the lower section  119  of the valve seat  115 . The piston  141  has an annular second level surface  146  that has a diameter equal to the diameter of the interior surface  125  of the valve body  110 . The piston  141  has a circular void  148  through which the piston rod  142  is attached, as shown in  FIG. 7 , or, alternatively, the guide cylinder  140  may have some other means by which the piston rod  142  is attached to the piston  141 . The round top surface  147  of the piston  141  has an annular elevated ridge  149  that supports the means of creating force or spring  180  or may have some other means by which the spring  180  is secured to the guide cylinder  140 . 
         [0049]    The cap ring  160  is a cylindrical tube having an outer surface  161  and an inner surface  162 . The outer surface  161  of the cap ring  160  has threads or screw threads  163  which compliment the threads  126  on the interior surface  125  of the valve body  110 . By inserting the cap ring  160  into the top opening  111  of the valve body  110 , the cap ring  160  can move up or down with respect to interior surface  125  of the valve body  110  by turning the cap ring  160  clockwise or counterclockwise as required by threads  126  and  163 . A screw  130  or other securing means is placed within the screw void  127  to secure the cap ring  160  in a given position by tightening the screw  130  against outer surface  161  of the cap ring  160 . The screw  130  is protected from the exterior of the valve assembly  100  by a protective covering  131 . The screw  130  allows the cap ring  160  to be secured in place thereby permitting the manufacturer or the purchaser to set the compression force of the spring  180 . The set force is the force exerted by the spring  180  against the guide cylinder  140  and, therefore, determines the amount of exterior pressure that is required to dislodge the guide cylinder  140  from the valve seat  115 . The cap ring  160  has a seat  166  which receives the top portion of the spring  180 . 
         [0050]    The means for creating force  180  may be a compression spring, as shown in  FIG. 7 , or some other means such as a spring loaded cylinder. 
         [0051]    The amount of external pressure required to move the guide cylinder  140  such that the piston  141  is unseated from the valve seat  115  can be either decreased or increased by altering the force of the spring  180 . The force of the spring  180  is increased or decreased by moving the cap ring  160  either towards the bottom opening  112  of the valve body  110  or towards the top opening  111  of the valve body  110 . The cap ring  160  moves by turning the cap ring  160  on threads  126  on the interior surface  125  of the valve body  110  compliment by threads  163  on the outer surface  161  of the cap ring  160 . The turning of the cap ring  160  either clockwise or counterclockwise moves the cap ring  160  towards the bottom opening  112  of the valve body  110  thereby increasing the force on the guide cylinder  140  or moves the cap ring  160  towards the top opening  111  of the valve body  110  thereby decreasing the force on the guide cylinder  140 . 
         [0052]    The pressure release body  170  is connected to the valve body  110  by the side opening  113  of the valve body  110 . The pressure release body  170  is generally cylindrical and hollow and has an outer opening  171  and sidewall  172  connecting the side opening  113  with the outer opening  171 . The pressure release body  170  may be continuous with the valve body  110  as shown in  FIG. 7  in the second embodiment or may be separable as shown in  FIG. 1  of the first embodiment. 
         [0053]    A seal cap  190  is fitted on the outer opening  171  of the pressure release body  170 . The seal cap  190  can fit into the interior or passageway  173  of the pressure release body  170  or can fit like a cap covering the outer opening  171  of the pressure release body and extending over a portion of the exterior surface  174  of the pressure release body  170 . An annular groove  192  is provided on the side surface  191  of the seal cap  190  which is frictionally fitted inside of the side opening  172  of the pressure release body  190 . An O-ring or gasket  193  is placed within the annular groove  192  of the seal cap  190 . When the seal cap  190  is placed within the side opening  171  of the pressure release body  170  a frictional seal is created between the gasket  193  and the interior surface  175  of the pressure release body  170 . If the seal cap  190  was designed to extend over the outer opening  171  and encircle the exterior surface  174  of the pressure release body  170  then the annular groove  192  would be placed such that the gasket  193  creates a frictional seal against the exterior surface  174  of the pressure release body  170 . 
         [0054]    A chain  194  or other means of attaching the seal cap  190  to the valve assembly  100  may be used to prevent the seal cap  190  from being lost or projected when the seal cap  190  becomes dislodged following a breach of the valve assembly  100  from pressure. 
         [0055]    A lid  150  is comprised of an annular lip  151 , an annular groove  152 , a circular void  153 , and a rubber washer  154 . The lid  150  rests on the top surface  122  of the valve body  110 . The annular groove  152  of the lid  150  lines up with the top annular groove  124  of the valve body  110 . An O-ring or gasket  155  is placed between the annular groove  152  of the lid  150  and the top annular groove  124  of the valve body  110 . A connecting means  156 , such as a clamp, brace, band or collar, or any other suitable connecting means, is used to attach the annular lip  151  of the lid  150  to the top annular lip  123  of the valve body  110 . The circular void  153  is of the same diameter as the piston rod  142  such that the piston rod  142  extends through the circular void  153  and out the top surface  157  of the lid  150 . A rubber washer  154 , or other sealing means, is attached to the top surface  157  of the lid  150  to provide a sealing engagement between the lid  150  and the piston rod  142 . 
         [0056]    A handle  200  is attached to the top portion of the piston rod  142  by means of a pin  201  or other securing means. The handle  200 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is comprised of a handle rod  206  and a U-shaped locking nut  207 . The handle rod  206  and U-shaped locking nut  207  may alternatively be either one unit or two separable pieces. The U-shaped locking nut  207  has two prongs  203 , with a drilled void  202  in both of the two prongs  203  that lines up with a drilled void  204  though the top portion of the piston rod  142 . A pin  201 , or other securing means, is placed through the void  202  of prongs  203  and the void  204  of the piston rod  142  to secure the handle  200  to the piston rod  142 . A locking means  205  secures the pin  201  in place. The handle  200  allows for manual disengagement of the piston  142  from the valve seat  115  in order to release external pressure from the substrate or vessel, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0057]    The valve assembly  100  can be disassembled, inspected and cleaned while the valve assembly  100  remains attached to the substrate or vessel and without releasing the force of the spring  180  on the guide cylinder  160 . The interior  121  of the valve body  110  and the interior  173  of the pressure release body  170  can be accessed by removing the lid  150  and/or the seal cap  190 . The unseating of the piston  142  of the guide cylinder  160  from the valve seat  115  of the valve body  110  results in pressurized matter, including liquid, gas, solid particles, and other potential contaminants, entering the interior  121  of the valve body  110  and the interior  173  of the pressure release body  170  such that the seal cap  190  is ejected from the outer opening  171  of the pressure release body  170  providing a visual cue that valve assembly  100  has been breached. The seal cap  190  is dislodged in a non-destructive manner and can easily be reinserted into the pressure release body  170  to reuse the valve assembly  100 . 
         [0058]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the scope of the inventions is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
         [0059]    Certain changes may be made in embodying the above invention, and in the construction thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not meant in a limiting sense.