Single handle manifold

• US 5,482,081 A
• Filed: 04/14/1995
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D/A Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: A & A Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Adams, Don L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US08/421,752
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 137/595, 137/597, 137/625, 251/220, 251/297
• US Class Current: 137/597
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/078 with pivoted and linearly movable closure members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86493 Multi-way valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A single-handled manifold for connecting a differential pressure transmitter to a source of differential pressure is provided. The manifold includes a body wherein a rotor is mounted for combined axial and rotary motion. Automatic sequencing of the various functions is provided by way of a single handle with multiple selectable positions.

Claims

1. A manifold for connecting a differential pressure transmitter to a source of differemial pressure, comprising:

a body having first and second input passageways adapted to be connected to the source of differential pressure, first and second instrument passageways adapted to be connected to a transmitter for measuring differemial pressure, an equalizer passageway, a differential pressure calibration passageway, and a vent/static calibrate passageway;

a rotor mounted for motion within the body between a first limit and a second limit;

the rotor having a first selectable "NORMAL" position at the first limit, where the first input passageway is connected through the rotor to the first instrument passageway, and the second input passageway is connected through the rotor to the second instrument passageway, with the equalizer passageway, differential pressure calibration passageway and vent/static calibrate passageway being blocked by the rotor;

the rotor having a second selectable "ZERO/REPRESSURIZE" position moved from the first selectable "NORMAL" position in the direction of the second limit, where the first input passageway is connected through the rotor to the first and second instrument passageways by way of the equalizer passageway, the second input passageway is blocked by the rotor, with the differential pressure calibration passageway and vent/static calibrate passageway being blocked by the rotor;

the rotor having a third selectable "DEPRESSURIZE/GAGE P CALIBRATE" position moved from the second selectable "ZERO/REPRESSURIZE" position in the direction of the second limit, where the first and second input passageways are blocked by the rotor, the first and second instrument passageways are connected through the rotor to the vent/static calibrate passageway, with the differential pressure calibration passageway being blocked by the rotor; and

the rotor having a fourth selectable "Δ

P CALIBRATE" position moved from the third selectable "DEPRESSURIZE/GAGE P CALIBRATE" position to the second limit, where the first and second input passageways are blocked by the rotor, the second instrument passageway is connected through the rotor to the vent/static calibrate passageway, and the first instrument passageway is connected through the rotor to the differential pressure calibration passageway.

2. The manifold of claim 1 where the rotor is rotatably mounted within the body.

3. The manifold of claim 2 where the rotor is mounted for a combination of axial and rotary motion with respect to the body.

4. The manifold of claim 3 where the first and second limits are about 270 degrees apart.

5. The manifold of claim 4 where the first, second, third and fourth selectable positions are about 90 degrees apart.

6. The manifold of claim 3 where a handle is interconnected with the rotor and body. and the handle is rotatably movable with respect to the body and the rotor axially movable with respect to the handle.

7. The manifold of claim 1 with the rotor including a throttling orifice between the first input passageway and the first and second instrument passageways to permit slow repressurization of the transmitter in the second selectable position after depressurization in the third selectable position.

8. The manifold of claim 7 with flow through the orifice being reversible to remove lodged particles.

9. The manifold of claim 7 with porting to the orifice being so arranged such that flow goes backward through this same orifice during the depressurize mode to allow unplugging and discharge through the vent port of any particles which may have lodged in the orifice during the previous repressurizing mode.

10. The manifold of claim 3 with the rotor having walls defining at least one spiral groove in an outer surface, and the body having at least one trapped ball riding in the groove to define the axial and rotary motion of the rotor with respect to the body.

11. A manifold for connecting a differential pressure transmitter to a source of differential pressure, comprising:

a body having first and second input passageways adapted to be connected to the source of differential pressure, first and second instrument passageways adapted to be connected to a transmitter for measuring differential pressure, an equalizer passageway, a differential pressure calibration passageway, and a vent/static calibrate passageway;

a rotor mounted within the body for a combination of axial and rotary motion with respect to the body between a first limit and a second limit, the rotor having walls defining at least one spiral groove in an outer surface, and the body having at least one trapped ball riding in the groove to define the axial and rotary motion of the rotor with respect to the body, the first and second limits being about 270 degrees apart;

the rotor having a first selectable "NORMAL" position at the first limit, where the first input passageway is connected through the rotor to the first instrument passageway, and the second input passageway is connected through the rotor to the second instrument passageway, with the differential pressure calibration passageway, equalizer passageway and vent/static calibrate passageway being blocked by the rotor;

the rotor having a second selectable "ZERO/REPRESSURIZE" position moved from the first selectable "NORMAL" position in the direction of the second limit, where the first input passageway is connected through the rotor to the first and second instrument passageways by way of the equalizer passageway, the second input passageway is blocked by the rotor, differential pressure calibration passageway and vent/static calibrate passageway being blocked by the rotor;

the rotor having a third selectable "DEPRESSURIZE/GAGE P CALIBRATE" position moved from the second selectable "ZERO/REPRESSURIZE" position in the direction of the second limit, where the first and second input passageways are blocked by the rotor, the first and second instrument passageways are connected through the rotor to the vent/static calibrate passageway, with the differential pressure calibration passageway being blocked by the rotor;

the rotor having a fourth selectable "Δ

p CALIBRATE" position moved from the third selectable "DEPRESSURIZE/GAGE P CALIBRATE" position to the second limit, where the first and second input passageways are blocked by the rotor, the second instrument passageway is connected through the rotor to the vent/static calibrate passageway, and the first instrument passageway is connected through the rotor to the differential pressure calibration passageway;

with the rotor including a throttling orifice between the first input passageway and the first and second instrument passageways to permit slow repressurization of the transmitter in the second selectable position after depressurization in the third selectable position; and

with a handle interconnected with the rotor and body, and the handle being rotatably movable with respect to the body and the rotor axially movable with respect to the handle, and where the first, second, third and fourth selectable positions are about 90 degrees apart.