Steven C Aderholt

6742538, Jun 1, 2004

May 8, 2002

10/141413

Steven K. Aderholt - Amarillo TX
Franklin B. Piehl - Bushland TX
Dennis C. Hatfield - Amarillo TX

Western Valve - Amarillo TX

F16K 1716

137 6812, 137 6823, 137 69, 137 74, 220 892, 220 894

A relief device for a high-pressure gas container, comprising a main body having a generally uniform outer circumference and that defines a primary bore, the primary bore in fluid communication with an interior volume of the high-pressure gas container, the main body having a secondary bore, the secondary bore located within the outer circumference and in fluid communication with the primary bore, a spud assembly seated in the secondary bore, the spud assembly including a rupture disc that relieves to the atmosphere the contents of the container when the container reaches a certain pressure, the rupture disc located within the secondary bore and within the outer circumference, the spud assembly and rupture disc fixedly attached. The relief device further includes a shear ring in communication with the rupture disc and a plug in communication with the spud assembly, the plug, when engaged with the spud assembly, forcibly engaging the shear ring against the rupture disc, wherein, when the rupture disc expands, the shear ring ruptures the rupture disc and the contents of the container relieve to the atmosphere through the plug.

7066193, Jun 27, 2006

May 12, 2003

10/436334

Steven K. Aderholt - Amarillo TX, US
Franklin B. Piehl - Bushland TX, US
Dennis C. Hatfield - Amarillo TX, US

F16K 17/36

137 71, 137 6814

A springless shear protection device for use with a valve, the device comprising a poppet, the poppet including a bore. The poppet including first and second openings at distal ends of the poppet. A seat plug is disposed in the poppet bore, the seat plug is moveable within the poppet bore. A shear tube with first and second ends extending through the first opening of the poppet, the first end abutting the seat plug through the first opening of the poppet and the shear tube displacing the seat plug from the top of the poppet bore. The poppet is attachable to the valve and when attached a compressed gas or liquid passes through the poppet into the valve. When the shear tube is removed, the seat plug forcibly engages the top of the poppet bore and the seat plug blocks the flow of the compressed gas or liquid.

7270140, Sep 18, 2007

Apr 26, 2004

10/832075

Steven K. Aderholt - Amarillo TX, US
Dennis Hatfield - Amarillo TX, US
Franklin B. Piehl - Bushland TX, US

F16K 17/36

137 71, 137 6811, 137 6814

A poppet valve assembly is sized and constructed for insertion into the lower portion of a flow control valve used within the opening of a cylinder for storing a compressed gas. When the flow control valve is removed, the normally open poppet valve assembly of the present invention is closed by escaping pressure of the compressed gas. The pressure of the compressed gas causes seals to be formed within the poppet valve assembly of the present invention between the exterior of a substantially hollow movable seat plug and the interior of a substantially tubular valve body.

61423467, Nov 7, 2000

Jun 18, 1999

9/336029

Steven K. Aderholt - Amarillo TX
Franklin Billy Piehl - Bushland TX

B65B 104

222397

The present invention is a relief device for a high-pressure gas container, comprising a main body having a generally uniform outer circumference that defines a bore. The bore is in fluid communication with an interior volume of the high-pressure gas container. Within the bore is a rupture disc for relieving to the atmosphere the container's contents when the container reaches a certain pressure. The relief device is coupled to the high-pressure gas container via a threaded connection. In a preferred embodiment, the bore comprises a primary bore coaxial with the main body's main axis, and at least one secondary bore containing the rupture disc, each bore being in fluid communication with one another. The secondary bore and rupture disc are each located within the main body's outer circumference. A cluster nut, threaded at its upstream end to engage corresponding threads in the secondary bore, retains the rupture disc within the secondary bore.