Thermally activated pressure relief device with shape memory effect material

摘要

The prevent invention is directed to a thermally activated pressure relief device for pressurized gas and which uses a shape memory effect material element for triggering the pressure relief. It comprises an elongate device (1, 2) body with a gas inlet and a gas outlet and a passageway (9, 10) there between. A closure element 3 is received in the device body in order to shut off the passageways between the gas outlet and inlet. The closure element 3 is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the device. The upper part of the closure element 3 has negative locking means (5; 6) interacting with the device body in order to hold the closure element in its lower closed position. An elongate shape memory effect material element 7 is arranged along the longitudinal axis of the device and its lower portion engages with the negative locking means in order to hold them in engagement with the device body. When the temperature of the element 7 reaches the threshold temperature of the memory effect material, it shortens such that its lower portion disengages from the locking means and releases the locking means thereby allowing the closure element 3 to move upwardly and relief the pressurized gas.