Quick-disconnect manifold assembly

Claim 2

A quick disconnect manifold assembly for a tank in which a fluid may be treated, which manifold assembly is adaptable to a variety of operating functions and which comprises: a. manifold means adapted to be sealably attached to the tank through a single opening therein, at one end thereof, and having only an inlet opening and an outlet opening which extend through said manifold means and open into the interior of the tank; b. a first substantially rigid reusable adaptive means releasably disposed in an adjustable position in the inlet opening for establishing a flow path into the interior of the tank; c. sealing means for sealing said first substantially rigid reusable adaptive means in said inlet opening; d. a second adaptive means sealably disposed in an adjustable position in the outlet opening for establishing a second flow path from the interior of the tank; e. fluid conduit means connected to said manifold and communicating with said outlet opening, said fluid conduit means extending substantially to the other end of the tank for channelling fluid from within the tank into the outlet opening and the second adaptive means; and f. retaining means extending through the manifold means and engaging said first adaptive means for releasably retaining said first adaptive means in one of a number of selected positions within the inlet opening.

Claim 3

A quick disconnect manifold assembly for a tank in which a fluid may be treated, which manifold assembly is adapted to be connected to the tank to receive various adapters capable of performing a variety of operating functions comprising: a. manifold means adapted to be sealably attached to the tank through a single opening therein, at one end thereof, said manifold means defining an inlet opening having a smooth wall female portion and an outlet opening which extend through said manifold means and open into the interior of the tank; b. a first adaptive means sealably and releasably disposed in the inlet opening for establishing a flow path into the interior of the tank, said first adaptive means including a male portion which substantially conforms to the smooth wall of said female portion and has mounted thereon one or more O-rings, each of which sealably press against said smooth wall female portion to prevent fluid loss through said opening; c. a second adaptive means sealably disposed in the outlet opening for establishing a second flow path from the interior of the tank; d. fluid conduit means communicating with said outlet opening and extending substantially to the other end of the tank for channelling fluid from within the tank into the outlet opening and the second adaptive means; and e. retaining means extending through the manifold means and engaging said first adaptive means for releasably retaining said first adaptive means within the inlet opening.

Claim 4

A quick disconnect manifold assembly for a tank in which a fluid may be treated, which manifold assembly is adapted to be connected to the tank to receive various adapters capable of performing a variety of operating functions comprising: a. manifold means adapted to be sealably attached to the tank through a single opening therein, at one end thereof, said manifold means defining an inlet opening having a smooth wall female portion and an outlet opening which extend through said manifold means and open into the interior of the tank; b. a first adaptive means sealably and releasably disposed in the inlet opening for establishing a flow path into the interior of the tank, said first adaptive means including a male portion which substantially conforms to the smooth wall of said female portion and has mounted thereon one or more O-rings, each of which sealably press against said smooth wall female portion to prevent fluid loss through said opening; c. a second adaptive means sealably disposed in the outlet opening for establishing a second flow path from the interior of the tank; d. fluid conduit means communicating with said outlet opening and extending substantially to the other end of the tank for channelling fluid from within the tank into the outlet opening and the second adaptive means; and e. retaining means extending through the manifold means and engaging said first adaptive means for releasably retaining said first adaptive means within the inlet opening.

Claim 5

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 2 wherein the manifold means includes one or more channels tangential to the smooth wall female portion, said retaining means includes one or more retaining elements which extend in said one or more channels of said manifold means, and said male portion of the first adaptive means includes a plurality of complementary grooves, each of which is constructed to be aligned by the movement of said first adaptive means in said smooth wall female portion with one or more of said channels, to selectively rEceive said one or more retaining elements.

Claim 6

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 3, wherein said male portion of the first adaptive means includes a series of spaced complementary grooves to adjustably position the first adaptive means within the inlet opening.

Claim 7

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first adaptive means has a fluid conduit for directing untreated water into the tank for treatment therein and the second adaptive means has a fluid conduit for directing treated water from the tank.

Claim 8

The manifold apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus further includes a screen means disposed at the interior end of the inlet opening for preventing particulate contamination or loss of the water conditioning ingredients therethrough.

Claim 9

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first adaptive means comprises a filler means to fill the tank with ingredients for treating fluid.

Claim 10

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first adaptive means comprises an adaptive evacuator means having a conduit for introducing fluid under pressure into one end of said tank and a second conduit for allowing ingredients within the tank to be evacuated under the pressure of the entering fluid when the outlet opening is sealed by seal means, said second conduit extending into the interior of said tank for receiving the water conditioning ingredients pressureably forced therein to and for directing said ingredients from the tank through a conduit in the exit pipe.

Claim 11

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 5 wherein said second adaptive means is substantially identical to said first adaptive means and said outlet opening is substantially identical to said inlet opening.

Claim 12

A manifold apparatus for a water treatment unit, which apparatus is adaptable to a variety of operating functions, including the introduction of water conditioning ingredients into said unit, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to the unit at one end thereof said manifold means having only two openings extending therethrough into the interior of the unit which serve as an inlet opening and an outlet opening for said unit; and an adaptive filler means sealably inserted into one of said openings in said manifold means for directing water conditioning ingredients supplied externally of said filling means therethrough and into the unit, said adaptive filler means including a venting means for displacing air and excess water from the unit during the filling operation.

Claim 13

A manifold apparatus for a water treatment unit, which apparatus is adaptable to a variety of operating functions, including the introduction of water conditioning ingredients into said unit, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to the unit at one end thereof said manifold means having only two openings extending therethrough into the interior of the unit which serve as an inlet opening and an outlet opening for said unit; and an adaptive filler means sealably inserted into one of said openings in said manifold means for directing water conditioning ingredients supplied externally of said filling means therethrough and into the unit, said adaptive filler means including a venting means for displacing air and excess water from the unit during the filling operation.

Claim 14

A manifold apparatus for a water treatment unit, which apparatus is adaptable to a variety of operating functions, including the introduction of water conditioning ingredients into said unit, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to the unit at one end thereof, said manifold means having only two openings extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the unit to form an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and, b. an adaptive filler means sealably inserted into said inlet opening in said manifold means for directing water conditioning ingredients supplied externally of said filling means therethrough and into the unit, said adaptive means comprising a body portion having a conduit disposed therein or directing the water conditioning ingredients introduced at one end thereof into the service unit; and a tubular vent disposed within the conduit and which extends through said body portion with its outer end exterior of the body portion and communicating with the atmosphere and its inner end extending into the interior of the service unit below the conduit for displacing air and excess water from said service unit during the filling operation.

Claim 15

A manifold apparatus for a water treatment unit, which apparatus is adaptable to a variety of operating functions, including the introduction of water conditioning ingredients into said unit, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to the unit at one end thereof, said manifold means having only two openings extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the unit to form an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and, b. an adaptive filler means sealably inserted into said inlet opening in said manifold means for directing water conditioning ingredients supplied externally of said filling means therethrough and into the unit, said adaptive means comprising a body portion having a conduit disposed therein or directing the water conditioning ingredients introduced at one end thereof into the service unit; and a tubular vent disposed within the conduit and which extends through said body portion with its outer end exterior of the body portion and communicating with the atmosphere and its inner end extending into the interior of the service unit below the conduit for displacing air and excess water from said service unit during the filling operation.

Claim 16

The manifold apparatus of claim 11 wherein said adaptive filler means is reasably retained within one of said openings by a retaining means which extends through the manifold means and engages the body portion of said filler means.

Claim 17

The manifold apparatus of claim 11 wherein the conduit disposed within the body portion has a right angular configuration and the tubular vent is substantially straight.

Claim 18

The manifold apparatus of claim 11 wherein the adaptive filler means is sealably inserted within said inlet opening in the manifold means by one or more O-rings which are retained on the exterior of said body portion and sealably engage the opening in the manifold means.

Claim 19

The manifold apparatus of claim 11 wherein said manifold means and said body portion are molded plastic parts.

Claim 20

A manifold apparatus for a water treatment unit, which apparatus is adaptable to a variety of operating functions including the removal of water conditioning ingredients from said unit, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to the unit at one end thereof, said manifold means having two openings extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the unit, one of said openings being sealed by plug means to prevent pressure loss therethrough; and b. an adaptive evacutive means sealably inserted into the other opening for directing water under pressure into said unit through said evacuative means and for directing the water conditioning ingredients from the service unit through said evacuative means and for directing the water conditioning ingredients from the service unit through said evacuative means; said adaptive evacuative means comprising: c. a body portion having a conduit therein for directing water under pressure into the service unit; d. an exit pipe extending through the body portion and into the interior of the unit for receiving the water conditioning ingredients pressurably forced thereinto and for directing said ingredients from the service unit through a conduit associated with the exit pipe; and e. adaptive evacuative means being releasably retained within said opening of the manifold means in one of a number of selected positions by a retaining means which extends through the manifold means and engages the adaptive evacuative means.

Claim 21

A manifold apparatus for a water treatment unit, which apparatus is adaptable to a variety of operating functions including the removal of water conditioning ingredients from said unit, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to the unit at one end thereof, said manifold means having two openings extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the unit, one of said openings being sealed by plug means to prevent pressure loss therethrough; and b. an adaptive evacutive means sealably inserted into the other opening for directing water under pressure into said unit through said evacuative means and for directing the water conditioning ingredients from the service unit through said evacuative means and for directing the water conditioning ingredients from the service unit through said evacuative means; said adaptive evacuative means comprising: c. a body portion having a conduit therein for directing water under pressure into the service unit; d. an exit pipe extending through the body portion and into the interior of the unit for receiving the water conditioning ingredients pressurably forced thereinto and for directing said ingredients from the service unit through a conduit associated with the exit pipe; and e. adaptive evacuative means being releasably retained within said opening of the manifold means in one of a number of selected positions by a retaining means which extends through the manifold means and engages the adaptive evacuative means.

Claim 22

The manifold apparatus of claim 16 wherein said exit pipe extends substantially to the other end of the service unit.

Claim 23

A manifold apparatus kit for a water treatment unit which is quickly and simply adaptable to the functions of filling said unit with water conditioning ingredients, of directing water into the unit for treatment by said conditioning ingredients and removal of the treated water therefrom, and of removing the conditioning ingredients from said unit when the ingredients have lost their treatment capability, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to one end of the unit, said manifold means having only inlet and outlet openings extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the unit. b. a plurality of interchangeable adaptive means for selective sealably insertion in the inlet or outlet openings, one adaptive means sized and shaped so that the filling of said unit with water conditioning ingredients can be accomplished, at least two second adaptive means sized and shaped so that untreated water can be directed into the unit and treated water can be removed from the unit, and a third adaptive means sized and shaped so that exhausted water conditioning ingredients can be removed from said unit; c. at least two retaining means, one retaining means adapted to extend through the manifold means and engage the adaptive means disposed in the inlet opening, and another retaining means adapted to extend through the manifold means and engage the adaptive means disposed in the outlet opening, each of said retaining means releasably retaining the adaptive means within its respective opening during performance of said function; and, d. water exit means associated with said outlet opening and extending to the other end of the service unit.

Claim 24

A manifold apparatus kit for a water treatment unit which is quickly and simply adaptable to the functions of filling said unit with water conditioning ingredients, of directing water into the unit for treatment by said conditioning ingredients and removal of the treated water therefrom, and of removing the conditioning ingredients from said unit when the ingredients have lost their treatment capability, the apparatus comprising: a. manifold means sealably attached to one end of the unit, said manifold means having only inlet and outlet openings extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the unit. b. a plurality of interchangeable adaptive means for selective sealably insertion in the inlet or outlet openings, one adaptive means sized and shaped so that the filling of said unit with water conditioning ingredients can be accomplished, at least two second adaptive means sized and shaped so that untreated water can be directed into the unit and treated water can be removed from the unit, and a third adaptive means sized and shaped so that exhausted water conditioning ingredients can be removed from said unit; c. at least two retaining means, one retaining means adapted to extend through the manifold means and engage the adaptive means disposed in the inlet opening, and another retaining means adapted to extend through the manifold means and engage the adaptive means disposed in the outlet opening, each of said retaining means releasably retaining the adaptive means within its respective opening during performance of said function; and, d. water exit means associated with said outlet opening and extending to the other end of the service unit.

Claim 25

The manifold apparatus of claim 18 wherein the apParatus is adapted to directing water into the service unit for treatment therein and to removing the treated water from the unit, and wherein the adaptive means comprises a first male adaptor sealably disposed in the inlet opening for directing untreated water into the service unit, the manifold apparatus further comprising: a. a second male adaptor sealably disposed in the outlet opening for directing treated water from the service unit, and being retained in the outlet opening by said retaining means; and, b. screening means disposed at the interior end of the inlet opening for preventing particulate contamination and loss of the water conditioning ingredients therethrough.

Claim 26

The manifold apparatus of claim 18 wherein the apparatus ia adapted to filling said service unit with water conditioning ingredients carried by demineralized water and wherein the adaptive means comprises an adaptive filler for directing water conditioning ingredients through the filler and into the service unit, the adaptive filler comprising: a. a body portion having a conduit disposed therein for receiving water conditioning ingredients at one end thereof; and, b. a cylindrical filler tube received in the other end of said conduit, said conduit extending through said filler tube and opening into the interior of the service unit whereby water conditioning ingredients supplied into said conduit are directed into the service unit.

Claim 27

The manifold apparatus of claim 18 and further comprising: a. a tubular vent disposed in the conduit, said vent extending at one end through the body portion of the adaptive filler and exteriorly of said body portion, and extending at its other end into the interior of the service unit for displacing air and excess water from the service unit during filling thereof with the water conditioning ingredients; and, b. retaining means extending through the manifold means and engaging said adaptive filler for releasably retaining said adaptive filler within the inlet opening during supply of water conditioning ingredients into the service unit.

Claim 28

The manifold apparatus of claim 18 wherein the apparatus is adapted to removing the water conditioning ingredients from the service unit, and wherein the adaptive means comprises an adaptive evacuator for directing water under pressure into the service unit, thereby forcing water conditioning ingredients from the service unit through said adaptive evacuator, the adaptive evacuator comprising: a. a body associating with a conduit disposed therewithin for directing water therethrough and into the service unit; and b. an exit pipe extending through the conduit in the body portion and into the interior of the service unit for receiving the water conditioning ingredients pressurably forced theretinto and directing said ingredients from the service unit through a conduit in the exit pipe.

Claim 29

A water treatment service unit adapted to contain water conditioning ingredients, which unit comprises a tank, a manifold means sealably secured in an opening in one end of said tank, said manifold means including (a) only an inlet and an outlet opening extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the tank, at least said inlet opening having a smooth wall female portion for releasably receiving an adaptive means, and (b) one or more retaining channels extending through said manifold means and into at least the smooth wall inlet opening for receiving at least one retaining element inserted in one of said channels to releasably retain said adaptive means, and a water exit means extending from the interior end of the outlet opening to the other end of said tank.

Claim 30

A water treatment service unit adapted to contain water conditioning ingredients, which unit comprises a tank, a manifold means sealably secured in an opening in one end of said tank, said manifold means including (a) only an inlet and an outlet opening extending therethrough and opening into the interior of the tank, at least said inlet opening having a smooth wall female portion for releasably receiving an adaptive means, and (b) one or more retaining channels extending through said manifold means and into at least the smooth wall inlet opening for receiving at least one retaining element inserted in one of said channels to releasably retain said adaptive means, and a water exit means extending from the interior end of the outlet opening to the other end of said tank.

Claim 31

The water treatment service unit according to claim 23 wherein both said openings have smooth wall female portions for releasably receiving adaptive means and wherein said retaining channels extend into both said openings for receiving retaining elements in said channels to releasably retain adaptive means therein.

Claim 32

ThE water treatment service unit according to claim 23 wherein said tank includes a quantity of water conditioning ingredients and a pair of adaptive means sealably disposed in the two openings, the adaptive means in the inlet opening directing untreated water into the service unit for treatment therein and the other adaptive means directing treated water from the service unit.

Claim 33

The water treatment service unit according to claim 25 wherein said pair of adaptive means are substantially identical and of molded plastic.

Claim 34

The water treatment service unit according to claim 25 wherein the adaptive means sealably disposed in said inlet opening is retained in said opening by one or more retaining elements which extend through said manifold means in one or more retaining channels and engage a complementary groove defined by said adaptive means.

Claim 35

The water treatment service unit according to claim 27 wherein the adaptive means sealably disposed in said inlet opening defines a series of complementary grooves for receiving the retaining elements to thereby allow adjustable positioning of said adaptive means within said opening.

Claim 36

The water treatment service unit according to claim 25 wherein the adaptive means disposed within the inlet opening is sealed therein by one or more O-rings which are retained in grooves defined by said adaptive means and sealably press against the smooth walls of said opening.

Claim 37

A quick disconnect manifold assembly for a tank having an opening therein, which manifold assembly is adapted to a variety of operating functions and which manifold assembly comprises: manifold means adapted to be sealably secured in an opening of said tank, and having only a straight-bore inlet opening and an outlet opening which extend therethrough and which open into the interior of the tank; a first substantially rigid reusable adaptive means releasably disposed in the inlet opening for establishing a flow path into the interior of the tank; a second reusable adaptive means sealably disposed in the outlet opening for establishing a flow path from the interior of the tank; sealing means for sealing said first substantially rigid reusable adaptive means in said straight-bore inlet opening; and retaining means for releasably retaining at least the first of said adaptive means in one of a number of selected positions within its opening.

Claim 38

A quick disconnect manifold assembly for a tank having an opening therein, which manifold assembly is adapted to a variety of operating functions and which manifold assembly comprises: manifold means adapted to be sealably secured in an opening of said tank, and having only a straight-bore inlet opening and an outlet opening which extend therethrough and which open into the interior of the tank; a first substantially rigid reusable adaptive means releasably disposed in the inlet opening for establishing a flow path into the interior of the tank; a second reusable adaptive means sealably disposed in the outlet opening for establishing a flow path from the interior of the tank; sealing means for sealing said first substantially rigid reusable adaptive means in said straight-bore inlet opening; and retaining means for releasably retaining at least the first of said adaptive means in one of a number of selected positions within its opening.

Claim 39

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 30 wherein said first adaptive means takes the form of a fluid conduit for directing untreated water into the tank for treatment therein, and wherein the second adaptive means takes the form of a fluid conduit for directing treated water from the tank.

Claim 40

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 30 wherein said first adaptive means takes the form of a filler means for filling the tank with ingredients for treating a fluid.

Claim 41

A quick disconnect manifold assembly according to claim 30 wherein said first adaptive means takes the form of an adaptive evacuator having a conduit for the introduction of a fluid under pressure into one end of said tank, and having a conduit for the expulsion of exhausted treatment ingredients from the tank, the pressure of the entering fluid serving to develop the force for expelling the exhausted treatment ingredients when the outlet opening is sealed; and wherein said second adaptive means takes the form of a seal for blocking all flow through said outlet opening.