Bradford T Stilwell

6871802, Mar 29, 2005

Feb 27, 2003

10/377558

Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
Michael J. Keiter - Kansas City MO, US
Devang Narharilal Patel - London, GB
Keith Leslie Goodall - Sandhurst, GB

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

B05B001/30

239583, 169 19, 169 33, 251 28, 251 3003, 25112907, 251282

A relatively low pressure inert gas hazard suppression system () is provided which is designed to protect a room () or the like from the effects of fire or other hazard. The system () includes a plurality of pressurized inert gas cylinders () each equipped with a valve unit (); each valve unit () is in turn coupled via a conduit () to a delivery manifold (). The respective valve units () are operable to deliver gas from the cylinders () at a generally constant pressure (usually around 10-100 bar) throughout a substantial portion of the time of gas delivery, to thereby provide effective hazard suppression without the need for expensive high-pressure gas handling and distribution hardware and a reduction in room venting area due to lower room over-pressurization. Each valve unit () has a valve body () and a shiftable piston-type sealing member (). Gas pressure from the cylinder () and a spring assembly () biases the member to the valve open position, this being counterbalanced by gas pressure within equalization and modulation chambers () provided in the valve unit ().

6889775, May 10, 2005

Aug 20, 2002

10/224681

Bon F. Shaw - Independence MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
John K. Schaefer - Gladstone MO, US
Paul H. Kohne - Blue Springs MO, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

A62C031/00

169 46, 169 9

This invention relates to a method of converting Halon-based fire suppression systems by substituting HFC 125 for the Halon without the need for changing the in place existing distribution piping. An amount of HFC 125 greater than the amount of Halon utilized in the fire suppression system is provided, which is under a pressure to effect exhaustion of the HFC 125 of the system within a time range exceeding about 10 seconds and up to about 25 seconds and which meets the standard fire extinguishing requirements for Class A and Class B fires. An existing fire suppression system is analyzed for flow characteristics to find Tof that system. The greater quantity C of HFC 125 required for the retrofitted system is determined by the formula=((−10)/(2×)−×100) wherein =0. ×(−10)/(/100))+. The method may also be utilized to determine the amount of HFC 125 required for the retrofitted fire suppression system.

7600527, Oct 13, 2009

Apr 1, 2005

11/096466

Bon F. Shaw - Blue Springs MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
Michael D. Krebill - Lee's Summit MO, US
Brent W. Leonard - Lee's Summit MO, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

B65D 90/36

137 6827, 137 6826, 220 892, 22020308

A reverse acting rupture disc is provided having a laser defined electropolished line-of-weakness recess, and an improved method of forming an electropolished line-of-weakness recess in a reverse acting rupture disc that assures full opening of the disc upon reversal. A rupture disc blank is pre-bulged, final bulged, and then provided with a layer of resist material. A laser is used to remove at least a portion of the layer of resist material corresponding to a desired line-of-weakness recess in the concave face of the bulged rupture disc. The disc is then subjected to an electropolishing operation to remove metal from the lased area of the rupture disc, thereby forming a lustrous polished line-of-weakness recess in the disc of desired configuration and of a predetermined depth that is related to material thickness. The electropolished line of weakness is defined by spaced opposed channel portions separated by a central raised crown portion wherein the channel portions are of greater depth than the crown portion. The burst/reversal pressure of the disc having an electropolished line-of-weakness recess may be selectively controlled by varying the pre-bulging pressure on the disc.

7878215, Feb 1, 2011

Nov 21, 2008

12/275724

Mark McLelland - Raytown MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
Bon F. Shaw - Blue Springs MO, US
Michael D. Krebill - Lee's Summit MO, US
DeVang Patel - Mill Hill, GB
John K. Schaefer - Knoxville TN, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

F16K 17/16
F16K 17/40
F16K 31/44

137 6826, 137 6813, 137 67

A valve for controlling flow of pressurized fluid from a confined area that is operable to relieve an overpressure condition as well as to allow flow of fluid in response to a pressure relief command. The valve including a valve body with a fluid passage therethrough, a reverse buckling rupture disc in the valve body in normally blocking relationship to the flow of fluid through the passage, and a selectively actuatable device carried by the valve body adjacent the convex surface. The actuatable device is operable to disrupt, without puncturing, the disc so as to initiate reversal and rupture of the disc and to permit flow of the pressurized fluid through the passage.

8038024, Oct 18, 2011

Jan 14, 2005

11/036232

Michael D. Krebill - Lee's Summit MO, US
Daniel G. O'Halloran - Oak Grove MO, US
Jeromie T. Farnsworth - Independence MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

B65D 90/36
F16K 17/40

220 893, 137 6821, 137 6829

This invention relates to a cylindrical holder member for a bi-directional bulged rupture disc. The support body of the holder has a rim that supports the rupture disc with the concave surface of the disc facing the holder. The support body is provided with a unitary one-piece, centrally creased cutting element that is of generally V-shaped configuration in plan view. The cutting element has a pair of elongated converging leg components with each leg component being connected to and supported by the interior wall surface of the holder body, with each leg component having an arcuate cutting edge. The cutting edges of the leg components merge at the crease in the cutting element to define a central cutting edge peak section. The cutting element is positioned in the holder with the cutting edge peak section extending beyond the rim of the support body into the concave area of the disc. The V-shaped cutting element functions to provide for a fuller and more rapid opening of the disc upon reversal and engagement with the cutting element as compared with prior reverse buckling disc three-knife blade cutter units.

8181663, May 22, 2012

Apr 13, 2009

12/422851

Joseph A. Walker - Kansas City MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
Bon F. Shaw - Blue Springs MO, US
E. Dean Miller - Lee's Summit MO, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

F16K 17/14

137 6826, 220 893

An apertured rupture disc support member () is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (). A rupture disc () comprising one or more embossed segments () that are complemental with the support member apertures () is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly () is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.

8333212, Dec 18, 2012

Jun 4, 2008

12/133266

Bon F. Shaw - Blue Springs MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
Michael D. Krebill - Lee's Summit MO, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

F16K 43/00

137 1518, 137 6827, 220 892

A reverse acting rupture disc and methods of forming the same are provided. Generally, the rupture disc comprises a bulged portion and a circumscribing flange area surrounding the bulged portion. The bulged portion includes a mechanically formed line-of-opening recess comprising a singular channel. In certain embodiments, the mechanical process by which the recess is formed utilizes a high-speed mill which removes a portion of metal from the bulged portion of the disc without disrupting the substantially uniform metallic grain structure of the metal adjacent the channel.

8393347, Mar 12, 2013

Apr 24, 2012

13/454687

Joseph A. Walker - Kansas City MO, US
Bradford T. Stilwell - Blue Springs MO, US
Bon F. Shaw - Blue Springs MO, US
E. Dean Miller - Lees Summit MO, US

Fike Corporation - Blue Springs MO

F16K 17/14

137 6826, 220 893

An apertured rupture disc support member () is provided for use in a rupture disc assembly (). A rupture disc () comprising one or more embossed segments () that are complemental with the support member apertures () is also disclosed. The pressure relief assembly () is particularly suited for use in sanitary pressure relief applications.