Patent ID: 8714175

Claim:
A pressure relief system for depressurizing a pressure vessel comprising: a pressure vessel having a removable rupture disk disposed inside a pressure relieving fluid port extending through the vessel from an interior surface to an opposing exterior surface; an elongated outer member having, an axial central passageway extending between proximal and distal ends, the outer member inserted at least partially inside the fluid port; an elongated inner puncturing member at least partially disposed in and movably supported by the outer member, the inner puncturing member rotatably coupled to the outer member and axially moveable with respect to the outer member via rotating the inner puncturing member; the inner puncturing member including an elongated piercing element at least partially disposed in the central passageway of the outer member, the piercing element having a tapered end configured for puncturing, the rupture disk, the piercing element being selectively projectable outwards from the distal end of the outer member and operable to puncture the rupture disk and project into the pressure vessel beyond the interior surface of the pressure vessel for clearing material deposits obstructing the port; wherein the outer member includes a cylindrical shank threadably engaged with the fluid port and the inner puncturing member includes a cylindrical, shank threadably engaged with the central passageway of the outer member.