Valve manifold having a removable flange
First Claim
1. A valve manifold of the type utilized for interconnecting a process component with a pressure detector, said valve manifold including a manifold body having first and second passageways interconnecting respective first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, each of said inlet and outlet port at least partially defined by a tapered thread sidewall adapted for selectively receiving a remote coupling end connector, the improvement comprising:
- a flange for selective removable engagement with an end of said manifold body and having a plurality of direct mounting apertures for securing a direct coupling device to an outer face of said flange and further having first and second nipple receiving apertures;
first and second nipples for independently structurally interconnecting an inner face of said flange to said manifold body;
each of said nipples including(a) a central passageway for transmitting fluid pressure through said manifold and at least partially defined by torque engaging surfaces for facilitating rotation of said nippled relative to said manifold body,(b) a threaded end including a tapered thread for sealing engagement with said tapered thread sidewall of one of said ports,(c) a stop portion for forcing said inner face of said flange into rigid engagement with said end of said manifold and retaining said flange in rigid engagement with said manifold body, and(d) axial spacing between said stop portion and said tapered thread is selected so that said nipple forces said flange into rigid engagement with said manifold when said tapered thread is in sealing engagement with said tapered thread sidewall of one of said ports.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve manifold is provided of the type commonly referred to as an instrument manifold and used in systems designed to detect pressure differential. The manifold includes first and second passageways interconnecting a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports. Removable flanges are provided on the input and/or the output ends of the manifold. Each flange may be structurally secured to the valve manifold body by special nipples, and is provided with apertures for receiving bolts to mount the flanges to related process-side or instrument-side equipment. A threaded end of the nipple is adapted for sealing engagement with the manifold body, while the other end of the nipple is adapted for sealing engagement with elliptical-shaped flanges or a differential pressure transmitter. The versatility of the valve manifold is substantially increased, since the removable flanges allow the same manifold body to be used for either direct or remote mounting.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve manifold of the type utilized for interconnecting a process component with a pressure detector, said valve manifold including a manifold body having first and second passageways interconnecting respective first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, each of said inlet and outlet port at least partially defined by a tapered thread sidewall adapted for selectively receiving a remote coupling end connector, the improvement comprising:
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a flange for selective removable engagement with an end of said manifold body and having a plurality of direct mounting apertures for securing a direct coupling device to an outer face of said flange and further having first and second nipple receiving apertures; first and second nipples for independently structurally interconnecting an inner face of said flange to said manifold body; each of said nipples including (a) a central passageway for transmitting fluid pressure through said manifold and at least partially defined by torque engaging surfaces for facilitating rotation of said nippled relative to said manifold body, (b) a threaded end including a tapered thread for sealing engagement with said tapered thread sidewall of one of said ports, (c) a stop portion for forcing said inner face of said flange into rigid engagement with said end of said manifold and retaining said flange in rigid engagement with said manifold body, and (d) axial spacing between said stop portion and said tapered thread is selected so that said nipple forces said flange into rigid engagement with said manifold when said tapered thread is in sealing engagement with said tapered thread sidewall of one of said ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A flange subassembly for a valve manifold including a manifold body having a plurality of passageways interconnecting a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports each threaded for selectively receiving a tapered thread remote coupling end connector, said flange subassembly comprising:
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a flange for selective engagement with an end of said manifold body and having a plurality of direct mounting apertures and a plurality of nipple receiving apertures; a plurality of substantially cylindrical-shaped nipples for structurally interconnecting said flange to said manifold body; each of said nipples including a central passageway for transmitting fluid pressure, a threaded end including a tapered thread for sealing engagement with sidewalls adjacent one of said ports, a stop portion for forcing an interior surface of said flange into fixed engagement with said end of said manifold body, and axial spacing between said stop member and said tapered thread is selected so that said nipple forces said flange into engagement with said manifold body when said tapered thread is in sealing engagement with said threaded sidewall. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for converting a flangeless valve manifold to a valve manifold having a flange in rigid engagement with an inlet face or an outlet face of said valve manifold and adapted for interconnection with an upstream or downstream component, said valve manifold including a manifold body having a plurality of passageways interconnecting a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports, each of said inlet ports and outlet ports threaded for selectively receiving a tapered thread of a remote coupling end connector, said method comprising:
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(a) forming a plurality of nipple-receiving apertures and a plurality of direct mounting apertures in said flange; (b) forming a plurality of nipples each having a central fluid passageways; (c) forming a tapered thread on an end of each of said plurality of nipples for sealing engagement with one of said ports; (d) forming a stop portion on each of said plurality of nipples at a selected spacing relative to said tapered thread so that said nipple will force said flange into engagement with said manifold body when said tapered thread is in sealing engagement with said manifold; (e) structurally interconnecting said flange to said inlet face or said outlet face of said manifold by threading each of said plurality of nipples to said manifold until said stop portion forces an inner face of said flange into rigid engagement with said manifold; and (f) structurally interconnecting said component to said flange with securing means adapted for cooperation with said direct mounting apertures. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification