Patent ID: 8267162

Claim:
A bi-directional pressure relief valve comprising: an elongated heat exchanger tube having ends and a channel for the flow of a fluid from one end of the tube to the opposite end, the elongated heat exchanger tube comprising a pair of opposing elongated plates each having a first groove extending from an inlet opening on a first end of the said elongated plate to a pocket centrally located lengthwise along the elongated plate and a second groove extending from an outlet opening on a second end opposite the first end of said elongated plate to a barrier adjacent to the pocket, wherein said ends of said heat exchanger tube constitute portions of an input and an output manifold respectively; and a flat metal strip having two deformable sections, each section independently movable to an open position by fluid pressure thereagainst, said flat strip including an outer perimeter surrounding said deformable sections, and said flat metal strip positioned in a plane parallel to a lengthwise plane of said opposing elongated plates within said channel and secured in place by said pair of elongated plates; whereby said flat metal strip allows said fluid to flow within said channel in either direction when said pressure differential is sufficient to urge one of said deformable sections to said open position but substantially prevents the flow of said fluid between said ends of said heat exchanger tube when a pressure differential across said flat metal strip is insufficient to urge one of said deformable sections to an open position.