Patent ID: 9091380
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: F16K,F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fluid device comprising: a plurality of vertical fluid lines, each vertical fluid line having one or more fluid apparatuses and pipes that are connected in series; and a plurality of horizontal fluid lines, each horizontal fluid line having one or more series-connected pipes, wherein the plurality of vertical fluid lines are arranged to be fluidically parallel to each other, and wherein between any two adjoining vertical fluid lines, the plurality of horizontal fluid lines for connecting them are arranged to be fluidically parallel; wherein one of the plurality of horizontal fluid lines is arranged between pipes of the adjoining vertical fluid lines and includes a plurality of series-connected pipes, each having a flange part at an adjoining end portion, and a coupling member for connecting the adjoining flange parts; wherein each coupling member and its adjoining flange parts connect a horizontal fluid line to a vertical fluid line and constitute a flange joint; wherein another one of the plurality of fluidically parallel horizontal fluid lines is arranged between the pipes of the adjoining vertical fluid lines and includes a pipe connected to the pipes of the vertical fluid lines by flexible joint pipes that are structurally elongated in an axial flow direction and different from the flange part and the coupling member; wherein each one of the plurality of vertical fluid lines includes a plurality of series-connected pipes that are connected to a respective one of the flexible joint pipes connecting a pipe of one of the horizontal fluid lines to a pipe of the one of the vertical fluid lines, and that are also connected to a respective one of the flange joints; wherein each flange joint is vertically spaced apart from each flexible joint pipe and connected by a vertical pipe to the flexible joint pipe; and wherein the flexibility of the flexible joint pipe enables the vertical lines at the flexible joint pipes to absorb changes in pipe dimension and accommodate misalignment at the flexible joint pipes.