Frangible valve

Abstract

A frangible valve is disclosed. The frangible valve can include an outer portion operable to form a pressure boundary for a pressure vessel. The frangible valve can also include an inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion and having a central region and a separation region about a perimeter of the central region proximate the outer portion. The separation region can have a thickness less than a thickness of the central region and can be configured to break at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frangible valve, comprising:
 an outer portion operable to form a pressure boundary for a pressure vessel; and   an inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion and having a central region and a separation region about a perimeter of the central region proximate the outer portion,   wherein the separation region has a thickness less than a thickness of the central region and is configured to break at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The frangible valve of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion comprises an annular configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The frangible valve of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion comprises an expanding taper portion to facilitate unobstructed movement of the inner portion upon breakage. 
     
     
         4 . The frangible valve of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the outer portion on a back side of the frangible valve is equal to or greater than a frontal outer diameter of the inner portion to facilitate unobstructed movement of the inner portion upon breakage. 
     
     
         5 . The frangible valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion comprises a stem extending from a side opposite a pressure side of the frangible valve, and a hole extending partially into the stem from the pressure side, and wherein a frangible tip of the stem is configured to break from an external force to expose the hole to release fluid from the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The frangible valve of  claim 5 , wherein the frangible tip includes a reduced cross-sectional area portion to facilitate breakage. 
     
     
         7 . The frangible valve of  claim 5 , wherein the stem is configured to reside in a fluid port, and is configured to facilitate venting of pressure from the pressure vessel through the fluid port about an exterior of the stem. 
     
     
         8 . The frangible valve of  claim 7 , wherein the stem comprises an externally reduced area portion to form a fluid passageway about the exterior of the stem. 
     
     
         9 . A frangible valve system, comprising:
 a pressure vessel; and   a frangible valve, having
 an outer portion forming a pressure boundary for the pressure vessel, and 
 an inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion and having a central region and a separation region about a perimeter of the central region proximate the outer portion, 
 wherein the separation region has a thickness less than a thickness of the central region and is configured to break at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner portion comprises a stem extending from a side opposite a pressure side of the frangible valve, and a hole extending partially into the stem from the pressure side, and wherein a frangible tip of the stem is configured to break from an external force to expose the hole to release fluid from the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the frangible tip includes a reduced cross-sectional area portion to facilitate breakage. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a ram movable within a channel and configured to provide the external force to break the frangible tip of the stem. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the stem is configured to reside in a fluid port that is in fluid communication with the channel and an outlet port, and is configured to facilitate venting of pressure from the pressure vessel through the fluid port about an exterior of the stem to the channel and the outlet port. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the stem comprises an externally reduced area portion to form a fluid passageway about the exterior of the stem. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the stem is configured to contact a side of the fluid port when acted on by the external force to react the force. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a proofing support tool configured to support the inner portion to prevent breakage of the separation region when pressure testing the pressure vessel to a pressure greater than the predetermined fluid pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the proofing support tool is configured to extend through the outlet port and into the channel to support the inner portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method for facilitating venting of a pressure vessel at a predetermined pressure, comprising:
 providing a frangible valve, having
 an outer portion operable to form a pressure boundary for a pressure vessel, and 
 an inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion and having a central region and a separation region about a perimeter of the central region proximate the outer portion; and 
   facilitating breakage of the separation region at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the separation region has a thickness less than a thickness of the central region to facilitate breakage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the inner portion comprises a stem extending from a side opposite a pressure side of the frangible valve, and a hole extending partially into the stem from the pressure side, and wherein a frangible tip of the stem is configured to break from an external force to expose the hole to release fluid from the pressure vessel.