Valve manifold for HVAC zone control
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first manifold chamber;
a first manifold connector having a bore in communication with the first manifold chamber;
a second manifold chamber substantially sealed from the first manifold chamber;
a second manifold connector having a bore in communication with the second manifold chamber; and
a plurality of valve cylinders each having,a valve bore open at one end thereof,a first vent connecting the valve bore to the first manifold chamber,a second vent connecting the valve bore to the second manifold chamber, anda valve connector having a bore connected to the valve bore.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure and vacuum valve manifold system such as may be used, for example, to actuate pneumatic bladders controlling airflow in a forced air HVAC system to provide zone climate control. The valves are individually operable to connect a respective individual bladder to pressure or to vacuum. Two manifolds can be mated and commonly fed pressure and vacuum. The two manifolds can be of identical construction. One manifold chamber from each can be connected into a single large pressure manifold, and another manifold chamber from each can be connected into a single large vacuum manifold. Such connections can be made with fittings which also serve as pressure and vacuum relief valves, respectively. The valve plungers are arranged in a grid, enabling a simple X-Y two-motor servo system to actuate all the valves, one at a time. The valves may be arranged such that the valves of one manifold are one half increment offset from the valves of the other manifold, enabling a single actuator having two actuator fingers to operate only a single manifold'"'"'s valve at a time.
68 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a first manifold chamber; a first manifold connector having a bore in communication with the first manifold chamber; a second manifold chamber substantially sealed from the first manifold chamber; a second manifold connector having a bore in communication with the second manifold chamber; and a plurality of valve cylinders each having, a valve bore open at one end thereof, a first vent connecting the valve bore to the first manifold chamber, a second vent connecting the valve bore to the second manifold chamber, and a valve connector having a bore connected to the valve bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A pressure and vacuum manifold assembly comprising:
-
A) a first manifold and a second manifold, each including, 1) a first manifold chamber, 2) a second manifold chamber, 3) a plurality of valve connector cylinders separating the first and second manifold chambers, 4) a plurality of valve cylinders each having, i) a bore, ii) a first vent connecting the first manifold chamber to the bore, iii) a second vent connecting the second manifold chamber to the bore, and iv) a third vent connecting the bore to a corresponding one of the valve connector cylinders, B) a first manifold connector coupling the first manifold chamber of the first manifold to the second manifold chamber of the second manifold; C) a second manifold connector coupling the second manifold chamber of the first manifold to the first manifold chamber of the second manifold; D) a first supply connector providing flow access to the first manifold chamber of the first manifold, and via the first manifold connector to the second manifold chamber of the second manifold; and E) a second supply connector providing flow access to the first manifold chamber of the second manifold, and via the second manifold connector to the second manifold chamber of the first manifold; whereby pressure can be applied to one of the supply connectors and fed to both manifolds and vacuum can be applied to the other supply connector and fed to both manifolds. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A dual chamber manifold comprising:
-
an exterior wall; a plurality of valve cylinders, forming a floor coupled to the exterior wall; a cover coupled to the exterior wall, whereby a volume is enclosed within a space created by the exterior wall, the floor, and the cover; and a corresponding plurality of connector cylinders coupled to and substantially perpendicular to the valve cylinders, and coupled to the cover, forming an interior wall dividing the enclosed volume into a first manifold chamber and a second manifold chamber. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification