Expandable manifold for water delivery system

Abstract: A fluid delivery manifold (10) especially designed for water systems in buildings and residences is the subject of this invention. The manifold is formed from a plurality of identically configured fittings (12) provided with male and female ends (16 & 18) so that like fittings may be frictionally joined without the need for thermal welding. Retaining rods (60) extend the length of a gang of joined fittings (12) and are designed to provide compressive forces to maintain the fittings in sealing relationship. The fittings (12) are joined together in pairs which make an integral unit so that side-by-side hot and cold water manifolds may be presented in one assembly operation. The juncture between the integral pair of fittings is, however, designed to present a line of weakness (X) so that the two fittings may be separated if desired. Each fitting has three equal flat elongated surfaces which are disposed at 90° relative to each other so that fittings may be joined in three different rotational positions.

Description: This invention relates generally to fluid delivery systems and, more particularly, to a manifold for use in conjunction with a fluid delivery system. In residential and commercial plumbing installations it is known to utilize a water delivery manifold from which lines are plumbed to fixtures requiring water in a structure. In recent years, manifolds of this type have been constructed from plastic and plastic lines have been utilized for water delivery. The advantages of a manifold water delivery system include reduced noise, lower energy requirements for water heating, increased safety from scalding caused by water pressure loss, and the ability to deliver water at a higher velocity without eroding the delivery line. The manifold systems which have heretofore been utilized have required that the components be thermal welded so as to make a manifold of the desired size. It has also been the practice, heretofore, to construct two separate manifolds for the hot and cold water utilizing a plurality of identically configured components each having the capacity to handle a single line extending from the manifold in conjunction with appropriate valve means. The existence of two manifolds for each hot and cold water system requires duplication of mounting brackets and labor for installation. DE-A-1475946 describes a manifold comprising a plurality of fittings, each having a hollow interior and mutually-engageable male and female ends. FR-A-2145858 discloses a manifold for use in conjunction with a fluid delivery system, comprising: a gang of fittings joined end-to-end by respective fluid-conducting male and female ends on each fitting, each fitting having a hollow interior; means for providing a fluid-tight seal between the joined ends; valve means coupled with each fitting between its ends and in fluid communication with the fitting's interior; bracket means disposed in spaced relationship at opposite ends of the gang of joined fittings, for mounting the fittings on a flat surface; and tensioning means comprising first and second end plates disposed at opposite ends of the gang of joined fittings, rod means disposed along at least two sides of the gang and passing through the end plates, and means for exerting opposed forces on the end plates through the rod means, which act to maintain the joined fittings' ends in fluid-sealing relationship; wherein each said fitting presents three flat exterior equal length surfaces of which adjacent surfaces are disposed at right angles to one another, whereby each fitting may be joined to another fitting in a plurality of different rotational positions. According to the present invention, a manifold of the type generally described in FR-A-2145858 is characterised in that each fitting is tubular and has flanges that present said three flat exterior equal length surfaces, and in that each fitting comprises a curvilinear surface extending along the side of the fitting at each corner, whereby the rod means rests on the curvilinear surfaces. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a device for use in constructing a fluid manifold comprises a pair of the tubular fittings defined above and means for providing a resilient fluid-tight seal when joined with the opposite end of another such fitting, and also, on a fourth side of each fitting, the valve means defined above; the two fittings of the pair are integrally joined together, side-by-side. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fitting of the type that may be used in constructing a manifold according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a fitting of the type utilized in constructing a manifold according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a side elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a top plan view with portions broken away and shown in cross section of a manifold constructed according to the present invention utilizing the fittings shown in the foregoing FIGS; FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the manifold and illustrating an alternative spatial arrangement of two individual fitting components. Referring initially to FIG. 1, a manifold is designated generally by the numeral 10 and comprises two integral side-by-side housing fittings each of which is designated by the numeral 12. The two integrally joined fittings present a unit which may be interconnected with other like units. Each housing fitting includes an elongated tubular member 14 having a hollow interior and characterized by a fluid conducting male end 16 at one end and a fluid conducting female end 18 opposite the end 16. Female end 18 has a first stepped surface 18a which is adapted to receive male end 16 in tight frictional engagement and a second stepped surface 18b which is adapted to receive an O-ring 20 also in tight frictional engagement. Each fitting 12 also includes a stem housing 22 extending at a right angle to tubular member 14 and presenting a fluid delivery conduit 24 which is in communication with the interior of member 14. A cutoff valve 26 is disposed in conduit 24 and includes a movable valve body 28 which presents a fluid passage 30, a housing 32 surrounding the valve body, O-ring seals 34 disposed partially between body 28 and housing 32, and finally, a handle 36 which is operable to rotate valve body 28 between fluid passage and fluid blocking positions. The fluid delivery conduit 24 terminates in a threaded nipple 38 for coupling a delivery line with the fitting. The exterior of tubular member 14 is characterized by integral flanges 40 which present flat surfaces 40a extending along three sides of member 14. Each of surfaces 40a is of the same length and is characterized at both ends by a curvilinear corner surface 42. An additional side flange 44 extends away from member 14 towards valve 26 where it merges into and is integral with valve housing 32. The two adjacent flange surfaces 40a of the two side-by-side housings 12 are integrally joined in a manner so as to present a line of weakness "X" at a point where the two surfaces meet. A plurality of the units comprised of a pair of side-by-side fittings 12 can be fitted together in a gang, such as illustrated in FIG. 5, so as to present side-by-side manifolds A and B. This is done by inserting male ends 16 into female ends 18 and forcing the two into engagement with O-ring 20 completing a fluid tight seal as it is sandwiched between opposing surfaces of the two ends. It is to be noted in FIGS. 5 and 6 that the first unit of integral fittings 12 (from left to right) is oriented with valves 26 projecting upwardly followed by another unit of fittings 12 having valves 26 disposed downwardly, then another unit with the valves projecting upwardly followed by a final pair with valves 26 projecting downwardly. The male end 16 of one fitting 12 at the far left in FIG. 5 is closed by a cap 46 which is received by the male end with a fluid tight seal being perfected by an additional O-ring 20. At the opposite end of the assembled gang of fittings 12 is an end coupler fitting 48 having a male end 50 which is received by the female end of a fitting 12 at the far right-hand end of the gang of fittings shown in FIG. 5. Again, an O-ring 20 assures a fluid tight seal. A flange 52 on fitting 48 is utilized for transferring compression forces along the length of the manifold as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Fitting 48 is provided with a threaded end opposite male end 50 so as to receive a threaded collar 54 which secures a supply line 56 to manifold B. In order to ensure the fluid tight integrity of manifolds A and B during use, means is provided for continuously applying compression forces in opposite directions along the length of fittings 12. This is done through end plates 58 each of which has two side-by-side openings for receiving two end couplers 48 if desired. Each end plate 58 is also provided with six openings for receiving retaining rods 60 which extend along the length of the manifolds and pass through aligned openings in the opposite end plate 58. Rods 60 rest on the surfaces 42 of each fitting 12. As shown, rods 60 are threaded at both ends and thus receive threaded nuts 62. When nuts 62 are tightened, compression forces will be exerted in opposite directions toward the center of the manifold to assure that fittings 12 will maintain a fluid tight seal. In this regard, in the case of the left-hand end of manifold A in FIG. 5, forces applied through the nuts 62 will be transferred through end plate 58 to end cap 46 and then through the remainder of the manifold. In the case of the right-hand end of the manifold, when viewing FIG. 5, tightening of nuts 62 transfers compression forces through end plate 58 as a result of flange 52 presenting a stop for the plate. These forces are then transferred via flange 52 to the remaining fittings 12. L-shaped brackets 64 are provided for mounting the manifolds against a flat surface or other support. Three openings in brackets 64 are aligned with the openings in end plates 58 so that rods 60 may be passed through the brackets and nuts 62 secured outside of the brackets thereby coupling the brackets to the manifolds in rigid relationship. Other openings (not shown) in the other leg of the L-shaped bracket provide means for securing additional fasteners so as to couple the bracket with the supporting surface. As previously mentioned, a line of weakness "X" is presented at the juncture between two adjacent flat surfaces 40a of fittings 12. This permits the two housings to be broken apart by the application of relatively small forces in opposite directions along the line of weakness. This results in two unattached fittings 12 which may be used individually to form a single tube manifold or a branch from one of the manifolds A and B formed by a gang of housings 12. This latter arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 7 where two housing sections 12 have been separated and the one housing section on the right turned 90° relative to the other housing. Because of the symmetry of the housings with three of the sides presenting identical flat surfaces 40a with curvilinear surfaces 42, a plurality of the fittings 12 may be joined together in up to three different rotational orientations (90°, 180°, 270° relative to stem housing 22) without requiring any modification of the bracket and rod assembly which holds the fittings together.

Claims: A manifold (10) for use in conjunction with a fluid delivery system, comprising: a gang of fittings (12) joined end-to-end by respective fluid-conducting male and female ends (16,18) on each fitting, each fitting having a hollow interior; means (20) for providing a fluid-tight seal between the joined ends; valve means (26) coupled with each fitting between its ends and in fluid communication with the fitting's interior; bracket means (64) disposed in spaced relationship at opposite ends of the gang of joined fittings, for mounting the fittings on a flat surface; and tensioning means comprising first and second end plates (58) disposed at opposite ends of the gang of joined fittings, rod means (60) disposed along at least two sides of the gang and passing through the end plates (58), and means for exerting opposed forces on the end plates (58) through the rod means (60), which act to maintain the joined fittings' ends in fluid-sealing relationship; wherein each said fitting presents three flat exterior equal length surfaces (40a) of which adjacent surfaces are disposed at right angles to one another, whereby each fitting may be joined to another fitting in a plurality of different rotational positions; characterised in that each fitting is tubular and has flanges (40) that present said three flat exterior equal length surfaces, and each fitting comprises a curvilinear surface (42) extending along the side of the fitting at each corner, whereby the rod means (60) rests on the curvilinear surfaces (42). A manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of one of the fittings is adapted to be coupled with a supply line (56) and one end of another of the fittings is coupled with one of the end plates (58). A manifold as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which comprises another of said fittings joined side-by-side to one of the fittings in the gang. A manifold as claimed in claim 3, wherein respective surfaces (40a) of said one and another fittings are integrally joined in a manner to present a line of weakness (X). A device for use in constructing a fluid manifold, comprising a pair of tubular fittings (12) as defined in claim 1 and including means (20) for providing a resilient fluid-tight seal when joined with the opposite end of another such fitting; and valve means (26) as defined in claim 1, on a fourth side of each fitting; wherein the two fittings of the pair are integrally joined together, side-by-side. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the juncture between the two fittings (12) is characterised by a line of structural weakness (X) whereby when opposing forces are applied the two fittings may be separated.

Inventors: MILLER LEONARD L, SWINEHART W KEITH, MILLER, LEONARD L., SWINEHART, W. KEITH
Applicants: MIDTEC AMERICA, MIDTEC, INC. OF AMERICA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16K27
IPC codes: F16L39, F24D3, F16K27, E03C1, F16L41