Patent ID: 7017767

Claim:
Non-fragmenting, forward-acting overpressure relief apparatus comprising: a rupture disc having a central section provided with an overpressure receiving face and a peripheral flange section, said central section of the rupture disc having a bulged portion, said bulged portion of the central section of the disc being of generally asymmetric shape; said central section of the disc having a line of weakness extending around a part of the central section, said line of weakness having opposed end regions in spaced relationship that define a unitary hinge portion therebetween, each of said end regions having an outermost end, said line of weakness defining a part of the central section of the disc that ruptures and opens upon application of a forward-acting force of at least predetermined magnitude to said overpressure receiving face of the central section, a hold-down member mounted on and engaging the peripheral flange section of the rupture disc on the side thereof opposite the overpressure receiving face of the central section of the disc, said hold-down member having an inner opening in generally circumscribing relationship to the central section of the disc, said hold-down member being provided with a unitary segment that extends into the inner opening of the hold-down member thereof, said segment of the hold-down member overlying and engaging the hinge portion of the disc in disposition overlying said end regions of the line of weakness, said segment having an innermost linear margin extending between opposed end regions of the line of weakness in inwardly spaced relationship from respective outermost ends of the line of weakness, said segment of the hold-down member undergoing deflection in the direction of a forward-acting overpressure force applied to the central section of the disc to absorb and divert a part of the overpressure force away from the portion of the hinge extending between respective outermost end regions of the line of weakness and thereby contribute to prevention of separation of the central section of the disc from the peripheral portion of the disc.