I am a chemical engineer. Chemical engineers are responsible for designing equipment that we don't properly know how to design. Chemical Engineers design by approximation. Sometimes the 'interpretation' of how a system will behave, so that you can put a 'box' around it is very...cabalistic. The sizing of relief devices is an aspect of chemical engineering that is more art and 'witch's brew' than actual 'based in fact' engineering.
About 5-10 years ago it was realized that a SIGNIFICANT error had been made in the interpretation of what happens to the fluid being vented when a relief device vents (blows off). It is estimated that at least 1/3 of relief devices in industry WILL NOT work properly. Now, in engineering math, 5-10 yrs is not even one generation. There are MANY companies still using the 'old' methods.
The 'new' method for sizing relief devices is called DIERS (Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems). If Nitrous Express did not consider the protocols established by DIERS code...the device on your bottle could be as much as 30% too small. It is quite likely that the device was venting...but not well enough.
Think of it this way...you've got a water balloon hooked up to the kitchen sink. If you have a pin prick sized hole in the balloon, you're bleeding off a little water...but the balloon will still blow up. The pinprick hole is the relief device.
If this issue does come to legal blows, you may benefit to hire a chemical engineering consultant group to review the design of Nitrous Express. Hehe...the company might even wave their fee if they can get the contract on the 'replacement' relief device. Now, nitrous express won't want to recall this bottle...so simply indicating that you will have their design evaluated might help the bargaining.
I read about your ordeal on the www.3si.org bulletin board, and I am shocked to say the least!! I am SOOO happy and relieved that no one was killed. A compressed cylinder is like a big pipe bomb going off and if someone was near the car when it happened, they would have been killed for sure!! I can tell you that I believe that God was watching over you and protecting you and your family. God does happened to work in very mysterious ways, and this cannot be disputed!!
I do believe that the appropriate agencies should be contacted such as the NHTSA, NTSB, Consumer Safety Bureau, etc., to FORCE a mandatory inspection and possible recall of defective Nitrous units by Nitrous Express and others such as NOS, Nitrous Works, etc. etc., as many of these Nitrous companies get their "hard parts" from the same suppliers, it is possible that the other NOS companies have the same safety issues. I believe that it should be your duty to investigate this so no other mishaps like this occurs to someone else! Next time someone might not be so lucky, and they may get hurt or even killed!!
I hope for the best for you and your family!!
Take Care,
Brian
Team GT-PRO
WebDesign by: Doyle Schoenberger WebDesigner@healthyhome.net