Manifold valve having controlled vent port integral with flange

• US 5,725,024 A
• Filed: 08/21/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PGI International LTD (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PGI International LTD (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Nimberger, Spencer M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARID, RAMYAR M
• Application Number:
  US08/697,260
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 137/552, 137/594, 137/597, 137/884
• US Class Current: 137/597
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/003 Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0015 using switching means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

A manifold valve has a pair of inlet ports and a pair of outlet ports with separate passageways extending separately between a respective inlet port and a respective outlet port of the pair. The manifold valve has a body portion in which a plurality of valves are disposed for controllably directing and selectively blocking the flow between selected inlet and outlet ports. The manifold valve also has a flange portion that is integrally formed with the body portion and has a means disposed therein for selectively providing a separately modulated flow path between each of the internal passageways and an environment external of the manifold valve.

Claims

1. A one-piece integrally formed manifold having a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first internally disposed primary flow passageway providing fluid communication between said first inlet and outlet ports;

a second inlet port, a second outlet port, and a second internally disposed primary flow passageway providing fluid communication between said second inlet and outlet ports; and

all internally disposed crossover passageway providing fluid communication between said first and second primary flow passageways, said manifold consisting of;

a body portion consisting of a front surface, a rear surface, a first and a second side surface, and a bottom surface, wherein said first and second inlet ports are disposed on a preselected one of said rear and bottom surfaces, a first blocking valve mounted on said first side surface and operatively disposed in said body portion at a position whereat said first blocking valve is capable of controllably directing and selectively blocking fluid flow through said first primary flow passageway, a second blocking valve mounted on said second side surface and operatively disposed in said body portion at a position whereat said second blocking valve is capable of controllably directing and selectively blocking fluid flow through said second primary flow passageway, and a crossover valve mounted on said front surface and operatively disposed in said body at a position whereat said crossover valve is capable of controllably directing and selectively blocking fluid flow between said first and second primary flow passageways;

a flange portion integrally formed with said body portion and consisting of a top surface, a front surface disposed in parallel relationship with the front surface of said body portion, a rear surface disposed in parallel relationship with the rear surface of said body portion, a first side surface disposed in coplanar relationship with the first side surface of said body portion, and a second side surface disposed in coplanar relationship with the second side surface of said body portion, said first and second outlet ports being disposed in said top surface, a first vent port and a second vent port being disposed in said front surface of the flange portion and separately configured for connection to a drain conduit, a first vent passage disposed within said flange portion and extending between said first vent port and said first outlet port and a second vent passage disposed within said flange portion and extending between said second vent port and said second outlet port, a first vent port control valve mounted on said first side surface of said flange portion in parallel alignment with said first blocking valve and operatively disposed within said flange portion at a position whereat said first vent port control valve is capable of selectively directing and controllably blocking fluid flow between said first outlet port and said first vent port, and a second vent port control valve mounted on a second side surface of said flange portion in parallel alignment with said second blocking valve and operatively disposed within said flange portion at a position whereat said second vent port control valve is capable of selectively directing and controllably blocking fluid flow between said second outlet port and said second vent port; and

a web portion extending between said body portion and consisting of a front surface in parallel alignment with the front surface of said body portion, a rear surface in parallel alignment with the rear surface of said body portion, a first side surface in coplanar alignment with the first side of said body portion, and a second side surface in coplanar alignment with the second side surface of said body portion.