Valve manifold system
First Claim
1. A valve manifold system comprising, in combination:
- (a) a support block for supporting a process fluid pressure processing instrument on a face of said support block and protecting an inlet means of said instrument when said support block is separated from a process fluid supply manifold, said block including at least one process fluid conduit means terminating, at one end portion thereof, at a process fluid inlet means and, at the other end portion thereof, at process fluid outlet means at said face, said support block being compatible with an associated process fluid pressure processing instrument for fixedly securing the block to the instrument, said process fluid outlet means sealingly engaging process fluid inlet means of the instrument to conduct process fluid to such instrument inlet means;
(b) a process fluid supply manifold disposed upstream of said block and including at least one process fluid inlet port means, at least one process fluid outlet port means and at least one process fluid passageway means connecting said inlet port means with said outlet port means;
(c) at least one coupling conduit means having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, said at least one coupling conduit means connecting the support block to the manifold and defining a process fluid conduit means between said manifold and said block;
(d) the inlet port means of each said passageway means, an associated one of the process fluid outlet port means and an associated one of said coupling conduit means being all generally straight and co-axial with one another and generally parallel to said face of said support block;
whereby, when said support block is coupled to said process fluid supply manifold and said co-axis is coaxial with a central axis of a horizontal tap of a pressurized fluid supply line, the inlet means of said instrument is vertically spaced from said axis of the horizontal tap by less than the thickness of said support block.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A supply manifold (10) and a transmitter supporting block (11, 11a, 11b) are combined into a pressure transmitter supporting modular unit such that when maintenance or cleaning of the system is to be carried out, the pressure transmitter or transmitters can be removed together with the supporting block (11, 11a, 11b) to keep inlet section of the transmitter(s) protected from mechanical impacts or the like. The supporting block with the transmitter(s) can then be placed back after the servicing, rodding or the like of the system, without the need for time consuming realignment of the elements and without the danger of damaging the pressure transmitter as mentioned above. Three different embodiments of the supporting block (11, 11a, 11b) are described for use in the modular unit of the invention.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve manifold system comprising, in combination:
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(a) a support block for supporting a process fluid pressure processing instrument on a face of said support block and protecting an inlet means of said instrument when said support block is separated from a process fluid supply manifold, said block including at least one process fluid conduit means terminating, at one end portion thereof, at a process fluid inlet means and, at the other end portion thereof, at process fluid outlet means at said face, said support block being compatible with an associated process fluid pressure processing instrument for fixedly securing the block to the instrument, said process fluid outlet means sealingly engaging process fluid inlet means of the instrument to conduct process fluid to such instrument inlet means; (b) a process fluid supply manifold disposed upstream of said block and including at least one process fluid inlet port means, at least one process fluid outlet port means and at least one process fluid passageway means connecting said inlet port means with said outlet port means; (c) at least one coupling conduit means having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, said at least one coupling conduit means connecting the support block to the manifold and defining a process fluid conduit means between said manifold and said block; (d) the inlet port means of each said passageway means, an associated one of the process fluid outlet port means and an associated one of said coupling conduit means being all generally straight and co-axial with one another and generally parallel to said face of said support block;
whereby, when said support block is coupled to said process fluid supply manifold and said co-axis is coaxial with a central axis of a horizontal tap of a pressurized fluid supply line, the inlet means of said instrument is vertically spaced from said axis of the horizontal tap by less than the thickness of said support block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A valve manifold for use in a valve manifold system comprising a block for supporting and protecting a process fluid pressure processing instrument, said block being provided with at least one process fluid conduit means to bring process fluid to the instrument, and with vent means operatively connected to a vent valving means for selectively venting said at least one process fluid conduit means, said valve manifold also comprising:
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(a) a process fluid supply manifold coupled to, and upstream of, said block and comprising at least two process fluid inlet port means, at least two process fluid outlet port means and a process fluid passageway means connecting each of said inlet port means with said outlet port means; (b) each inlet port means including an inlet port, an associated one of said passageway means and an associated one of said outlet port means, said inlet port, the associated one of said passageway means and the associated one of said outlet port means being all generally straight and co-axial with one another; (c) flushing fluid inlet means and a single flushing valve means for selectively opening or closing fluid flow between said flushing fluid inlet means and each of said process fluid passageway means at a flushing fluid inlet point disposed between said inlet port means and said outlet port means; and (d) blocking valve means for selectively blocking fluid flow between said process fluid inlet port means and said process fluid outlet port means at a point of said fluid flow passageway means disposed between said flushing fluid inlet point and said process fluid inlet port means;
wherein said single flushing fluid valve is structured so as to constitute an equalizer valve between said two generally straight process fluid passageways. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification