Circuit board for a Solenoid Valve Manifold

• US 20090045367A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPC Mechatronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: TPC Mechatronics Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Jin Young, Heo, Gang Woon, Lee, Bong Young, Yun, Young Min
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.150
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0839 Stacked plate type valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/085 Electrical controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0853 Electric circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0857 Electrical connecting means, e.g. plugs, sockets
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0875 Channels for electrical components, e.g. for cables or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0889 Valves combined with electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0892 Valves combined with fluid components
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2013/006 Modular components with multiple uses, e.g. kits for either normally-open or normally-closed valves, interchangeable or reprogrammable manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0266 Marks, test patterns or identification means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09936 Marks, inscriptions, etc. for information
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1003 Non-printed inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10446 Mounted on an edge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1572 Processing both sides of a PCB by the same process; Providing a similar arrangement of components on both sides; Making interlayer connections from two sides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

A circuit board (205) for a valve block (120) of a solenoid valve manifold is described. Each valve block (120) contains a valve which is actuated by either one single solenoid or by two solenoids. Both sides (210, 220) of the circuit board (210) are provided with a circuit (212, 222). The first surface (210) of the circuit board (205) carries a single type valve circuit (212) for supplying one single solenoid with electrical energy. This first surface (210) can be mark e.g. with an “S”. The second surface (220) of the circuit board (205) carries a double-type valve circuit (222) for supplying two solenoids with electrical power. This second surface (220) can be marked e.g. with a “D”. The circuit board (205) is positioned in the respective valve block (120) with the first surface (210) or the second surface (220) facing upwards depending on whether a single- or a double-solenoid-valve is used in the respective valve block (120).

Claims

1. A manifold-type valve assembly capable of being changed-over between a single-type valve and a double-type valve, comprising:

one solenoid-actuated valve or two solenoid-actuated valves to constitute the single-type valve or the double-type valve, the single-type valve and the double-type valve being actuated by one and two solenoids, respectively; and

manifold blocks for accommodating the solenoid-actuated valves thereon individually, while connecting the solenoid-actuated valves to other ones mounted on neighboring manifold blocks, each manifold block having a power supply apparatus, wherein the power supply apparatus includes;

a power supply terminal, for providing an electrical power to drive the solenoid-actuated valves of the single-type valve and the double-type valve;

a circuit board connected to the power supply terminal and having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having a single-type valve circuit for the single-type valve and the second surface having a double-type valve circuit for the double-type valve; and

a male connector and a female connector installed at opposite sides of the circuit board and connected to their neighboring female connector and male connector in neighboring manifold blocks, respectively,

wherein each of the single- and the double-type valve circuit has valve contacts arranged in two rows, the valve contacts in a first row being connected to the valve contacts in a second row with offset by the number of solenoids and, for each valve circuit, the offset contact in the second row being connected to the power supply terminal; and

wherein each of the male connector and the female connector has connector contacts corresponding to the valve contacts in each valve circuit.

2. The manifold-type valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board has an inscription for indicating a single- or a double-type valve provided on the first and the second surfaces.

3. The manifold-type valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a holder member, fitted into the manifold block, for accommodating the circuit board therein so that the circuit board is installed inside the manifold block, wherein the holder block has a hook portion locked with the manifold block so that the holder member is fixed to the manifold block.

4. The manifold-type valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the holder member further has a mark, the mark being provided on the front surface of the holder member to indicate the state on the single-type valve or the double-type valve.

5. A power supply apparatus capable of changing-over between a single-type valve and a double-type valve accommodated on a manifold block for a manifold-type valve assembly, comprising:

a power supply terminal, installed in the manifold block, for providing an electrical power for driving the single-type valve and the double-type valve; and

a circuit board connected to the power supply terminal and having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having a single-type valve circuit for the single-type valve and the second surface having a double-type valve circuit for the double-type valve,

wherein the circuit board is placed with the first or the second surface facing upward depending on the single-type valve or the double-type valve so that the single-type valve circuit or the double-type valve circuit is coupled to the power supply terminal, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the circuit board has an inscription for indicating a single- or a double-type valve provided on the first and the second surfaces.