Patent ID: 7234278

Claim:
A unitary overpressure vent panel assembly for a pressure relief area of a confined zone to be protected from the buildup of overpressures, said unitary vent panel assembly comprising: a rigid, relatively thin, generally planar primary support member having a peripheral, circumscribing outer edge and an inner margin defining a central pressure relief opening; a rigid, relatively thin, generally planar secondary support member adjacent said primary support member and having a peripheral, circumscribing outer edge and an inner margin defining a central relief aperture having dimensions approximately equal to the dimensions of the central relief opening; a frangible vent panel interposed between the primary support member and secondary support member in closing relationship to the central pressure relief opening and the central relief aperture respectively, said vent panel being provided with a line of weakness between said primary support member and the secondary support member, the line of weakness being located inboard of the margins of the primary support member and the secondary support member respectively, said line of weakness having opposed spaced ends in a portion of the vent panel, the portion of the vent panel between said ends of the line of weakness defining a hinge for a central relief area of the vent panel that opens through said pressure relief opening along said line of weakness as a result of a predetermined overpressure on the vent panel; flexible sealant material interposed between and engaging the vent panel and the secondary support member respectively and located inboard of the aperture margin of the secondary support member and outboard of the line of weakness in said vent panel, the flexible sealant material being disposed in circumscribing relationship to the relief aperture and providing a fluid-type seal between the vent and the secondary support member; a planar intermediate spacer member interposed between and engaging the vent and the secondary support member, said spacer member having an innermost opening outboard of the flexible sealant material, said spacer member preventing compression of the flexible sealant material to an extent greater than the distance between the primary support member and the secondary support member; a flexible sealing gasket on and extending around the outermost surface of said secondary support member remote from said primary support member; and connector structure fixedly interconnecting the primary support member, a portion of the vent panel outboard of the line of weakness therein, the intermediate spacer member, and the secondary support member to provide a rigid, relatively lightweight, unitary, one-piece, one-time overpressure vent assembly that is adapted to be installed, removed and replaced as a single unit over the pressure relief area of the confined zone.