US3786831A — Valve with modular manifold body

Claim 1

Independent Claim 219 words

Structure comprising, a modular fluid supply manifold comprising a hollow body closed at one end and having a wall portion surrounding an internal cavity, a plurality of fluid passages within said wall portion and extending parallel to the cavity for substantially the length of the cavity, said passages extending to and opening through the closed end of said body at separate positions thereon for connection to external conduits, a series of valve mechanisms each usable with said manifold to valve the flow of fluid that passes through said passages, each said mechanism having an outer portion with a sectional configuration corresponding to that of the cavity so that said mechanism is insertable into and removable from said cavity through the open end thereof, the outer portion of each mechanism of the series having a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripheral grooves around the outer surface thereof for the flow of fluid into and out of the mechanism, said manifold adapted to be ported for use with a particular one of said series by forming an opening between particular passages and grooves of the mechanism, at longitudinal positions along said passages corresponding to the position of the grooves, and a closure for the open end of said cavity and holding the outer portion of the mechanism against movement within the cavity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 219 words

Structure comprising, a modular fluid supply manifold comprising a hollow body closed at one end and having a wall portion surrounding an internal cavity, a plurality of fluid passages within said wall portion and extending parallel to the cavity for substantially the length of the cavity, said passages extending to and opening through the closed end of said body at separate positions thereon for connection to external conduits, a series of valve mechanisms each usable with said manifold to valve the flow of fluid that passes through said passages, each said mechanism having an outer portion with a sectional configuration corresponding to that of the cavity so that said mechanism is insertable into and removable from said cavity through the open end thereof, the outer portion of each mechanism of the series having a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripheral grooves around the outer surface thereof for the flow of fluid into and out of the mechanism, said manifold adapted to be ported for use with a particular one of said series by forming an opening between particular passages and grooves of the mechanism, at longitudinal positions along said passages corresponding to the position of the grooves, and a closure for the open end of said cavity and holding the outer portion of the mechanism against movement within the cavity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The structure of claim 1 wherein each valve mechanism of said series comprise a stack of unattached separate modular elements each element interfitting with a shoulder on an adjacent element for radial alignment with respect thereto.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 184 words

A valve assembly comprising, a fluid supply manifold comprising a body having a wall portion surrounding an internal cavity, said cavity opening to a first end of said manifold, a plurality of fluid passages within said wall portion and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cavity substantially over the length thereof, said passages extending and opening to a second end of said manifold at separate positions thereon, a valve mechanism within said internal cavity in said manifold, said mechanism having an outside diameter such that it is insertable into said cavity through the open end thereof, said mechanism including a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripheral grooves around its outside surface for fluid communication between said mechanism and manifold, ports in the wall portion of said manifold extending between at least some of the respective passages in the manifold and the inner surface of said wall portion, each such port being in axial alignment with a groove of said valve mechanism and providing a direct flow path between the passage and groove, and a closure mounted to said first end of said manifold.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 184 words

A valve assembly comprising, a fluid supply manifold comprising a body having a wall portion surrounding an internal cavity, said cavity opening to a first end of said manifold, a plurality of fluid passages within said wall portion and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cavity substantially over the length thereof, said passages extending and opening to a second end of said manifold at separate positions thereon, a valve mechanism within said internal cavity in said manifold, said mechanism having an outside diameter such that it is insertable into said cavity through the open end thereof, said mechanism including a plurality of longitudinally spaced peripheral grooves around its outside surface for fluid communication between said mechanism and manifold, ports in the wall portion of said manifold extending between at least some of the respective passages in the manifold and the inner surface of said wall portion, each such port being in axial alignment with a groove of said valve mechanism and providing a direct flow path between the passage and groove, and a closure mounted to said first end of said manifold.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said closure bears longitudinally on said valve mechanism and thereby prevents the latter from longitudinal movement within said cavity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said mechanism is shorter longitudinally than said cavity, and at least one spacer is positioned in said cavity in axial engagement with said mechanism and acts as a stop preventing the latter from shifting axially in said cavity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said valve mechanism is comprised of unattached separate components which are stacked axially on one another within said cavity and are held in such stacked relation by said body and cap.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said grooves are formed around a valve sleeve having an internal chamber, and wherein a movable valve element is shiftable within the internal chamber of the sleeve to provide different flow paths between said grooves, depending upon the axial position of said movable element in said sleeve.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 54 words

The assembly of claim 3 which further includes a modular base having fluid conduits therein in alignment and fluid communication with the respective passaGes in said manifold, attachment means mounting said manifold to said base, and sealing means providing fluid seals where the passages of the manifold meet the respective conduits of the base.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said second end of said manifold is planar and O-rings are provided around the openings of said passages to form the sealing means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

The assembly of claim 8 which further includes an asymmetric member projecting axially from the said second end of said manifold, and said base has an axial opening which receives said member only in a predetermined angular position of said manifold with respect to the base.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

The assembly of claim 10 wherein said member has a passage through it which is blocked by a removable plug and which, when said plug has been removed, provides an axial flow path into said cavity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein two separate valve mechanisms are disposed within said cavity in end-to-end relation, each separate valve mechanism being served by different passages of said manifold.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said mechanism includes an axially movable valve element which is movable between two positions relative to said manifold, said closure having a window through which the position of said movable valve element is visible.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said mechanism includes an adjustable needle valve, and means for adjusting the position of said needle valve which extends through said closure, externally of said manifold.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 115 words

A valve assembly comprising, a manifold comprising a body having a wall portion surrounding an internal cavity, a plurality of fluid passages within said wall portion, a valve mechanism within said cavity, said valve mechanism being comprised of a group of unattached components which are stacked on one another within said cavity, said group including peripherally grooved components, each such groove communicating with internal structure within said mechanism for operation thereof, ports in the wall portion of said manifold extending between the respective grooves and different passages of the manifold, at different longitudinal positions in the said cavity, and means closing the ends of said cavity and holding the stack of components against movement therein.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 115 words

A valve assembly comprising, a manifold comprising a body having a wall portion surrounding an internal cavity, a plurality of fluid passages within said wall portion, a valve mechanism within said cavity, said valve mechanism being comprised of a group of unattached components which are stacked on one another within said cavity, said group including peripherally grooved components, each such groove communicating with internal structure within said mechanism for operation thereof, ports in the wall portion of said manifold extending between the respective grooves and different passages of the manifold, at different longitudinal positions in the said cavity, and means closing the ends of said cavity and holding the stack of components against movement therein.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The valve assembly of claim 15 wherein said group includes components having endwise shoulders which nest with cooperating surfaces of adjacent components, and thereby center the said components with respect to one another.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-21	1977-07-23	1978-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-21	1981-07-23	1982-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-21	1985-07-23	1986-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Valve with modular manifold body

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