Fluid controller

• US 7,726,333 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CKD Corporation, Fujikin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CKD Corporation, Fujikin Incorporated
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Hideo, Yoshikawa, Kazuhiro, Kawano, Yuji, Goshima, Kenichi, Hoshi, George, Nagaya, Akinori, Yamaji, Michio, Okabe, Tsuneyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRICE, CRAIG JAMES
• Application Number:
  US10/511,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,961 Days
• Field of Search: 137/341, 137/884, 118/724, 118/725, 248/222.12
• US Class Current: 137/341
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/003 Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/002 Electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/121 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1863 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6606 With electric heating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

Each of lines A, B is provided on each of opposite sides thereof with a tape heater 11, and a space for positioning a tape heater holding clip 13 therein is provided in each of locations between adjacent fluid control devices. The tape heaters 11 are held from opposite sides thereof to the line by the clip 13. The lines A, B provided with the heaters are each mounted on a line support member 10 removably attached to a base member 1. The line support member 10 has a heater insertion bore 14 formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof. A sheath heater 12 is inserted into the bore 14.

Claims

1. A fluid control apparatus comprising a plurality of lines arranged in parallel on a base member and having inlets, as well as outlets, facing toward the same direction, each of the lines comprising a plurality of fluid control devices arranged in an upper stage and a plurality of block coupling members arranged in a lower stage, the fluid control apparatus being characterized in that at least one of the lines is provided on each of opposite sides thereof with a tape heater, a tape heater holding clip being of an inverted U-shape with flat opposed walls and being removably attached to the tape heater, a space for positioning the tape heater holding clip therein being provided in each of locations between adjacent fluid control devices, the tape heaters being held from opposite sides thereof to block bodies of the fluid control devices with a resilient force acting to reduce the spacing between the opposed walls of the clip, the line provided with the heaters being mounted on a line support member removably attached to the base member;

the base member in the form of a frame comprising a plurality of lateral rails the main axis of which extends in a direction orthogonal to the lines.

3. A fluid control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the line support member has a heater insertion bore formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, and a sheath heater is inserted into the bore.

4. A fluid control apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 3 wherein each of the coupling members is slidably mounted on the line support member, and each of the fluid control devices is mounted on at least two adjacent coupling members.

5. A fluid control apparatus according to any one of claim 1 to 3 which is characterized in that the lateral rails are made of a nonmetallic material, the line support member of each of the lines being mounted on the base member slidably in a lateral direction.

6. A fluid control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tape heater is held in contact with bodies of the fluid control devices and with the block coupling members.

2. A fluid control apparatus comprising a plurality of lines arranged in parallel on a base member and having inlets, as well as outlets, facing toward the same direction, each of the lines comprising a plurality of fluid control devices arranged in an upper stage and a plurality of block coupling members arranged in a lower stage, the fluid control apparatus being characterized in that each of the lines is mounted on a line support member removably attached to the base member, the line support member having a heater insertion bore formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, a sheath heater being inserted into the bore without insulating material, wherein each of the coupling members is slidably mounted on the line support member, and each of the fluid control devices is mounted on at least two adjacent coupling members;

the base member in the form of a frame comprising a plurality of lateral rails the main axis of which extends in a direction orthogonal to the lines.

7. A fluid control apparatus comprising a plurality of lines arranged in parallel on a base member and having inlets, as well as outlets, facing toward the same direction, each of the lines comprising a plurality of fluid control devices arranged in an upper stage and a plurality of block coupling members arranged in a lower stage, the fluid control apparatus being characterized in that each of the lines is mounted on a line support member removably attached to the base member, the line support member having a heater insertion bore formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, a sheath heater being inserted into the bore, wherein the base member has a plurality of lateral rails made of a nonmetallic material and the main axis of which extends in a direction orthogonal to the lines, the line support member of each of the lines being mounted on the base member slidably in a lateral direction;

wherein the clip is made from a thin metal plate of inverted U-shape, the clip having a top wall having a shortened front-to-rear width so that there is a space for positioning the top wall on each of the front and rear sides of the controller.

8. A fluid control apparatus comprising a plurality of lines arranged in parallel on a base member and having inlets, as well as outlets, facing toward the same direction, each of the lines comprising a plurality of fluid control devices arranged in an upper stage and a plurality of block coupling members arranged in a lower stage, the fluid control apparatus being characterized in that at least one of the lines is provided on each of opposite sides thereof with a tape heater, a tape heater holding clip being of an inverted U-shape with flat opposed walls and being removably attached to the tape heater, a space for positioning the tape heater holding clip therein being provided in each of locations between adjacent fluid control devices, the tape heaters being held from opposite sides thereof to block bodies of the fluid control devices with a resilient force acting to reduce the spacing between the opposed walls of the clip, the line provided with the heaters being mounted on a line support member removably attached to the base member;

wherein the clip is made from a thin metal plate of inverted U-shape, the clip having a top wall having a shortened front-to-rear width so that there is a space for positioning the top wall on each of the front and rear sides of the controller.

9. A fluid control apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the line support member has a heater insertion bore formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, and a sheath heater is inserted into the bore.

10. A fluid control apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein each of the coupling members is slidably mounted on the line support member, and each of the fluid control devices is mounted on at least two adjacent coupling members.

11. A fluid control apparatus according to any one of claim 8 or 9 which is characterized in that the base member has a plurality of lateral rails made of a nonmetallic material and extending in a direction orthogonal to the lines, the line support member of each of the lines being mounted on the base member slidably in a lateral direction.

12. A fluid control apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the tape heater is held in contact with bodies of the fluid control devices and with the block coupling members.