System for pressure release from a closed container and a container for use therefore

Abstract

The invention is a safety device, and a container utilizing such a device, for release of pressure from a closed container, when the container is heated. The container has a ventilation opening, sealed by a disk which is made to melt at a critical temperature. The disk is manufactured from a plastic and has at least one recess in the area of the ventilation opening. The ventilation opening is situated at one end of a ventilation pipe, wherein the pipe is at least partially overlapped by the affixing device and detachably connected to it. The ventilation pipe has an exterior threading located at the end of the pipe overlapped by the affixing device. The detachable connection can be made by screwing the sleeve nut onto the exterior threading. The disk has a design of varied geometry embedded therein; the design creating varying surface thicknesses for the disk, which allow the disk to melt at varying rates depending upon the temperature of the interior of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety device for release of pressure from a closed container, when said container is heated, said safety device comprising:
 (a) a ventilation opening;   (b) a disk that covers said ventilation opening so as to seal said ventilation opening, said disk further comprised of a material that melts at a critical temperature; and   (c) affixing means for affixing said disk so as to cover said ventilation opening to said container.   
     
     
         2 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein said disk is manufactured from a plastic, especially from PTFE. 
     
     
         3 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein said disk has at least one recess in the area of said ventilation opening. 
     
     
         4 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein said disk is made from a material suitable to carry advertising or a logo. 
     
     
         5 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein said ventilation opening is situated at one end of a ventilation pipe, and wherein said ventilation pipe is at least partially overlapped by said affixing device. 
     
     
         6 . A safety device according to  claim 5 , wherein said ventilation pipe and said fixing device are detachably connected to each other. 
     
     
         7 . A safety device according to  claim 6 , wherein said ventilation pipe further comprises:
 (a) an overall circular cross section, and   (b) an exterior threading, wherein said exterior threading is provided at the end of said ventilation pipe overlapped by said affixing device.   
     
     
         8 . A safety device according to  claim 7 , wherein said affixing device is a sleeve nut adapted to said exterior threading, and said detachable connection can be made by screwing said sleeve nut onto said exterior threading. 
     
     
         9 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein said disk has a design of varied geometry embedded therein, said design creating varying thicknesses with the surface of said disk, said varying thicknesses allowing said disk to melt at varying rates depending upon the temperature of said interior of said closed container, said varying melting rates thus optimizing the release of pressure from said previously closed container. 
     
     
         10 . A containment system, said containment system comprising a container, said container being sealed when in use, and further comprising:
 (a) a rack; and   (b) a vessel, said vessel situated inside said rack and further comprising:
 (i) at least one ventilation opening; and 
 (ii) at least one safety device situated on a corresponding one of said at least one ventilation openings for pressure release, and wherein for pressure release said safety device further comprises:
 (1) a disk covering said ventilation opening in sealing fashion and made of a material that melts at a critical temperature; and 
 (2) an affixing device for said disk that covers said ventilation opening. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein said vessel has a filling opening. 
     
     
         12 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said ventilation openings is situated on the top side of said vessel. 
     
     
         13 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein said disk is manufactured from a plastic, especially from PTFE. 
     
     
         14 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein said disk has at least one recess in the area of said ventilation opening. 
     
     
         15 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein said disk is made of a material suitable to carry advertising or a logo. 
     
     
         16 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one ventilation opening is placed at one end of a ventilation pipe, said ventilation pipe at least partially overlapped by said affixing device. 
     
     
         17 . A containment system according to  claim 16 , and wherein one end of said ventilation pipe and said affixing device are detachably connected with each other. 
     
     
         18 . A containment system according to  claim 17 , wherein said ventilation pipe further comprises:
 (a) an overall circular cross section; and   (b) an exterior threading on said end of said pipe overlapped by said affixing device.   
     
     
         19 . A containment system according to  claim 17 , wherein said affixing device is a sleeve nut adapted to said exterior threading, and that said detachable connection can be made by screwing said sleeve nut onto said exterior threading. 
     
     
         20 . A containment system according to  claim 10 , wherein said disk has a design of varied geometry embedded therein, said design creating varying thicknesses with the surface of said disk, said varying thicknesses allowing said disk to melt at varying rates depending upon the temperature of said interior of said closed container, said varying melting rates thus optimizing the release of pressure from said previously closed container.