A valve assembly for controlling the release or delivery of a fire suppression medium from a vessel, the assembly comprising an inlet connectable to a pressurised vessel, an outlet connectable to a delivery device, a valve operable to selectively open or close fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, an opening device for moving the valve from a closed condition to an open condition, first and second actuators and an environmental triggering device, wherein the opening device is operable, in use, remotely by the first actuator or manually by the second actuator or automatically by the environmental triggering device. A fire suppression system employing the above-described valve and a vehicle including the fire suppression system also form a part of this invention.

A pressure relief device including a gas-permeable body to which a membrane adheres that is preferably impermeable to moisture. The membrane can be a rubber membrane that is formed by applying liquid rubber to the pressure relief body and, optionally, a component which supports the liquid rubber and surrounds the pressure relief body.

A safety device includes a connection point (21) for a pressure accumulator (1) that is connected to a bursting unit (55) at the gas end via the connection point (21). The bursting unit (55) can be triggered by a controllable force element (73). In the triggered state, the bursting unit allows the pressure accumulator (1) to be emptied at the gas end.

Pressure relief valves may be tapped into flow lines. The pressure relief valves are normally shut and are adapted to open at a threshold pressure in the flow line. The valves comprise a body which is adapted to allow the valve to be tapped into the flow line. A passage is defined in the body. The passage provides a valve inlet and a valve outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the flow line. A sacrificial closure is disposed in the passage and blocks flow through the passage. The closure is exposed to fluid pressure in the flow line. The valve also comprises means for compromising the sacrificial closure in response to detection of the threshold pressure in the flow line. The integrity of the closure will be compromised such that fluid from the flow line may flow through the passage and out the valve outlet.

A pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly may include an insert body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The insert body is formed of a first alloy. A shear structure is bonded to the outlet of the insert body so as to close the flow path. The shear structure is formed of a second alloy. The second alloy of the shear structure is bonded to the first alloy of the insert body so as to form a hermetic seal. The dual-alloy nature of the valve assembly allows a relatively clean shearing of the shear structure during actuation, thus reducing or preventing the occurrence of deformation and/or material fragments in the flow path.

A pressure relief device including a gas-permeable body to which a membrane adheres that is preferably impermeable to moisture. The membrane can be a rubber membrane that is formed by applying liquid rubber to the pressure relief body and, optionally, a component which supports the liquid rubber and surrounds the pressure relief body.

A pressurization device for pressurizing an enclosure may include a container containing a pressurized fluid, a pin that is inserted into the container, an actuator, and a heating device operably coupled to the actuator. The actuator may initially hold the pin in a closed position and allow the pin to move to an open position, disengaging from the container when the actuator increases in temperature. The pressurized fluid may force the pin toward the open position to release the pressurized fluid from the container. The actuator may include a frangible hollow bulb configured to fracture at a pre-defined temperature. The pressurized fluid may be vented into the enclosure through at least one fluid passage in fluid communication between the enclosure and the container.

A pressurization device for pressurizing an enclosure may include a container containing a pressurized fluid, a pin that is inserted into the container, an actuator, and a heating device operably coupled to the actuator. The actuator may initially hold the pin in a closed position and allow the pin to move to an open position, disengaging from the container when the actuator increases in temperature. The pressurized fluid may force the pin toward the open position to release the pressurized fluid from the container. The actuator may include a frangible hollow bulb configured to fracture at a pre-defined temperature. The pressurized fluid may be vented into the enclosure through at least one fluid passage in fluid communication between the enclosure and the container.

A safety device, comprising a connection point (21) for a pressure accumulator (1) that is connected to a bursting unit (55) at the gas end via the connection point (21), is characterized in that the bursting unit (55) can be triggered by a controllable force element (73) and, in the triggered state, allows the pressure accumulator (1) to be emptied at the gas end.

A pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly may include an insert body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The insert body is formed of a first alloy. A shear structure is bonded to the outlet of the insert body so as to close the flow path. The shear structure is formed of a second alloy. The second alloy of the shear structure is bonded to the first alloy of the insert body so as to form a hermetic seal. The dual-alloy nature of the valve assembly allows a relatively clean shearing of the shear structure during actuation, thus reducing or preventing the occurrence of deformation and/or material fragments in the flow path.