Abstract:
A manifold valve having two valves, which enables operation of one valve while disables operation of the other valve, is compact, and facilitates installation in and detachment from a pipeline, that is, a manifold valve provided with a main passageway, a branch passageway split off from the main passageway, a main passageway valve opening and closing the main passageway, and a branch valve opening and closing the branch passageway, the main passageway, the branch passageway, the main passageway valve, and the branch valve being integrally formed, wherein the main passageway valve and the branch valve are each a manual valve having a valve element, a stem connected to the valve element, and an operating lever connected to the stem, the operating lever pivoting in an axial direction of the stem to open and close the passageway, the main passageway valve and the branch valve each converting pivoting motion of the operating lever to linear motion of the valve element and pressing the valve element against and separating it from a valve seat to open and close the passageway, an interlock mechanism further provided wherein when one valve between the main passageway valve and the branch valve is in an open state and the other valve is in a closed state, the operating lever of the one valve disables pivoting motion of the operating lever of the other valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a manifold valve used for switching passageways of a pipeline in the chemical plant, semiconductor production, foodmaking, biotech, and other various industrial fields, more particularly related to a manifold valve which enables operation of one valve while disables operation of another valve, is compact, and facilitates installation in and detachment from a pipeline. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In the past, in pipelines for semiconductor production, there has been a pipe configuration as shown in  FIG. 12  comprised of a main passageway valve  102  for passing and cutting off fluid flowing through a main passageway  101  and a branch valve  104  for opening/closing a branch passageway  103  split off from the main passageway  101 . When stopping the flow in the main passageway  101  to replace a part  105  of the pipeline etc., the fluid remaining in the pipeline has been drained outside from the branch passageway  103  so as to enable the part to be replaced without the fluid splattering to the surroundings. 
         [0005]    However, in the conventional pipe configuration, when opening the main passageway valve  102  to run fluid through the main passageway  101 , the branch valve  104  has to be closed, while when opening the branch valve  104  to run fluid to the branch passageway  103 , the main passageway valve  102  has to be closed, but the handles of the valves  102  and  104  were liable to be mistakenly operated. For example, if the fluid were a corrosive fluid and the main passageway valve  102  were closed to replace the part  105  of the pipeline, if mistakenly opening the main passageway valve  102 , the fluid flowing through the main passageway  101  would end up splattering to the outside and the worker replacing the part would be liable to be splattered by the corrosive fluid and injured or the splattered fluid would be liable to contaminate or corrode the surroundings of the pipeline and have other detrimental effects. 
         [0006]    To solve this problem, a configuration is necessary in which when one valve is operated, another valve can be disabled. As a method for this, there was the opening/closing operation system of a valve as shown in  FIG. 13  described in Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 7-332535. In this configuration, a first pipeline  106  and a second pipeline  107  transporting fluids with different properties are separately provided with a first valve  116  having a first valve element  108  and a second valve  117  having a second valve element  109  angularly displacing about axial lines vertical to the axes of the pipelines  106  and  107  to open and close the passageways of the pipelines  106  and  107 . The pipelines  106  and  107  have connected to them a first limiting member  114  and a second limiting member  115  having projecting parts  110  and  112  and recessed parts  111  and  113  in the planes vertical to the axes. The recessed part  111  of one of any two adjoining limiting members  114  and  115  was formed retracted from the path of the projecting part  112  of the other in the angular displacement direction, the recessed part  113  of the other was formed retracted from the path of the projecting part  110  of the one in the angular displacement direction, and the projecting parts  110 ,  112  of the one and other were formed projecting out into the paths in the angular displacement directions. The effect is that in two pipelines separately transporting fluids of different properties, the second limiting member  115  can only be operated to angularly displace in the state where the projecting part  112  of the second limiting member  115  is fit into the recessed part  111  of the first limiting member  114  and the first limiting member  114  can only be operated to angularly displace in the state where the projecting part  110  of the first limiting member  114  is fit into the recessed part  113  of the second limiting member  115 . It is only possible to make the limiting members  114  and  115  with projecting parts  110  and  112  fit into the recessed parts  111  and  113  angularly displace, so it is possible to prevent a plurality of valve elements from ending up being simultaneously opened and the limiting members  114  and  115  from being mistakenly operated. 
         [0007]    Summarizing the problems to be solved by the invention, in the conventional valve opening/closing operation system, the first limiting member  114  provided at the first valve  116  and the second limiting member  115  provided at the second valve  117  are respectively provided at the first pipeline  106  and the second pipeline  107 , so connecting the pipes so that the projecting parts  110  and  112  and the recessed parts  111  and  113  engage requires fine adjustment of the pipe positions. There are therefore the problems that the pipe work is troublesome and time consuming and, when detaching one valve, the other valve gets in the way, so detachment becomes difficult. Further, when used for pipelines in a semiconductor production system etc., there are the problems that the first limiting member  114  and the second limiting member  115  are not suitable for use in cramped spaces since they take up room and that the first valve  116  and the second valve  117  are ball valves or cocks or other rotary valves, so are not suited to applications where particle formation is averred. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention was made in view of the above problems in the related art and has as its object the provision of a manifold valve which enables operation of one valve while disables operation of another valve, is compact, and facilitates installation in and detachment from a pipeline. 
         [0009]    The configuration of the manifold valve of the present invention for achieving the above object will be explained next. The manifold valve of the present invention is provided with a main passageway, a branch passageway split off from the main passageway, a main passageway valve opening and closing the main passageway, and a branch valve opening and closing the branch passageway, the main passageway, the branch passageway, the main passageway valve, and the branch valve being integrally formed, wherein the main passageway valve and the branch valve are each a manual valve having a valve element, a stem connected to the valve element, and an operating lever connected to the stem, the operating lever pivoting in an axial direction of the stem to open and close the passageway, the main passageway valve and the branch valve each converting pivoting motion of the operating lever to linear motion of the valve element and pressing the valve element against and separating it from a valve seat to open and close the passageway, an interlock mechanism further provided wherein when one valve between the main passageway valve and the branch valve is in an open state and the other valve is in a closed state, the operating lever of the one valve disables pivoting motion of the operating lever of the other valve. 
         [0010]    The manifold valve is preferably further provided with a trunk passageway, the main passageway being split off from the trunk passageway. 
         [0011]    Further, preferably, in the interlock mechanism, the operating lever has a first abutting face abutting against a top surface of a bonnet surrounding the valve when the valve is in a closed state, a second abutting face abutting against the top surface of the bonnet when the valve is in an open state, and a limiting face substantially parallel to the first abutting face, and when the one valve is in a closed state and the other valve is in an open state, the second abutting face of the operating lever of the closed state valve and a limiting face of the operating lever of the open state valve abut against each other or have a clearance. 
         [0012]    More preferably, the stem passes through the bonnet to become exposed and has a stem hole passing through its exposed end, the operating lever has a pivot shaft inserted into the stem hole and pivots about the pivot shaft, and a shortest distance from the center of the pivot shaft to the second abutting face is longer than a shortest distance from the center of the pivot shaft to the first abutting face. Preferably, one of the main passageway valve and the branch valve is a diaphragm valve. 
         [0013]    The present invention gives the following superior effects due to the above structure. 
         [0014]    (1) One valve can be made operable while the other valve can be disabled, so mistaken operation of the manifold valve can be prevented. 
         [0015]    (2) The main passageway valve and the branch valve are integrally provided by a manifold valve structure, so connection to and detachment from a pipeline are easy. Furthermore, an interlock mechanism is provided at the manifold valve, so at the time of pipe work, there is no need for fine adjustment of the pipe position. 
         [0016]    (3) The valve is formed compact, so use in cramped locations where the pipelines are densely packed becomes possible and the device can be provided small in a pipe in a facility. 
         [0017]    (4) Aside for the parts required for the manifold valve, there is no need for addition of other parts for forming the interlock mechanism. The minimum extent of parts is enough to form the interlock mechanism, so assembly of the valve is easy and the production costs can be kept low. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a manifold valve of a first embodiment of the present invention with a main passageway valve in the open state and a branch valve in the closed state; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a manifold valve of  FIG. 1  with a main passageway valve in the closed state and a branch valve in the closed state; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a manifold valve of  FIG. 1  with a main passageway valve in the closed state and a branch valve in the open state; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the operating lever of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the main body of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a pipeline using the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a pipeline for conventional semiconductor production; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a front view of an opening/closing operation system of a valve. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Below, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments needless to say.  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a manifold valve of a first embodiment of the present invention with a main passageway valve in the open state and a branch valve in the closed state;  FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a manifold valve of  FIG. 1  with a main passageway valve in the closed state and a branch valve in the closed state;  FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a manifold valve of  FIG. 1  with a main passageway valve in the closed state and a branch valve in the open state;  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the operating lever of  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of  FIG. 3 ;  FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the main body of  FIG. 8 ;  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of  FIG. 9 ; and  FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a pipeline using the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , X is a main passageway valve, and Y is a branch valve.  1  indicates the main body. This has a first passageway  2  communicating with a first port  35  at the side face, a second passageway  3  communicating with a second port  36 , and a third passageway  3  communicated with a third port  37 . Above, a main passageway valve chamber  5  and a branch valve chamber  6  are provided. At the center of the bottom surface of the main passageway valve chamber  5 , a valve seat  7  is formed, at the center of the valve seat  7 , a first opening  8  communicating with the first passageway  2  is provided, while at the peripheral edge of the bottom surface, a second opening  9  communicating with the second passageway  3  is provided. At the center of the bottom surface of the branch valve chamber  6 , a valve seat  10  is formed, at the center of the valve seat  10 , a third opening  11  communicating with the second passageway  3  is provided, while at the side surface of the branch valve chamber  6 , a fourth opening  12  communicating with the third passageway  4  is provided. Note that at the bottom of the main body  1 , a stand for stably setting the manifold valve may also be provided. 
         [0034]    At that time, the passageway extending from the first passageway  2  through the first opening  8 , main passageway valve chamber  5 , and second opening  9  to the second passageway  3  becomes the main passageway, while the passageway extending from the third opening  11  through the branch valve chamber  6  and fourth opening  12  to the third passageway  4  becomes the branch passageway. The main body  1  is formed so that the main passageway valve X opening and closing the main passageway at the main passageway valve chamber  5  side and the branch valve Y opening and closing the branch passageway a the branch valve chamber  6  side are integrally formed. 
         [0035]    First, the configuration of the main passageway valve X will be explained. Reference numeral  13  is a valve element arranged inside the main passageway valve chamber  5 . Around the valve element  13 , a diaphragm  14  extending in the radial direction is integrally formed. The peripheral edge of the diaphragm  14  is fastened by being clamped between the main body  1  and a later explained bonnet  15 . The valve element  13  is pushed against and separated from the valve seat  7 , whereby the flow of fluid of the second passageway  3  from the first passageway  2 , that is, the main passageway, is shut or opened. 
         [0036]    Reference numeral  15  is a bonnet. At the bottom of the bonnet, a recess  16  is provided opening at the bottom surface. At the top, a through hole  17  communicating with the recess  16  is provided. The bottom surface is fastened abutting against the main body  1 . 
         [0037]    Reference numeral  18  is a stem. In the state with its top sticking out from the through hole  17  of the bonnet  15  and the state able to move vertically but unable to rotate, it is inserted into the recess  16  of the bonnet  15 . At the bottom end of the stem  18 , the valve element  13  is screwed in. By clamping a spring  20  between the top surface of a flange  19  provided at the bottom and the ceiling of the recess  16  of the bonnet  15 , the valve element  13  is biased downward. 
         [0038]    Reference numeral  22  is an operating lever. It has a first abutting face  23  at its bottom surface when the main passageway valve X of  FIG. 2  is in the closed state, a second abutting face  24  at one side face having an angle formed with the first abutting face  23  of 85°, and a limiting face  25  at its top surface substantially parallel to the first abutting face  23 . The intersecting part of the first abutting face  23  and the second abutting face  24  is a smooth connection by an arc shaped surface  39 . Further, it is provided with a handle  40  extending to the opposite side of the second abutting face  24 . The operating lever  22  is formed with a rectangular cutaway part  38  straddling the first abutting face  23  and second abutting face  24 . In the cutaway part  38 , the top of the stem  18  is inserted. An engagement pin  21  is inserted through a through hole provided in a side face of the operating lever  22  (face perpendicular to second abutting face  24 ) and a through hole provided at the top of the stem  18  (stem hole), whereby the parts are joined together. Note that the engagement pin  21  is used as a pivot shaft and the operating lever  22  pivots about the pivot shaft (engagement pin  21 ). The engagement pin  21  is provided to be parallel with the engagement pin  30  provided at the later explained operating lever  31 . The shortest distance from the center of the pivot shaft (engagement pin  21 ) to the second abutting face  24  is formed so as to become longer than the shortest distance from the center of the pivot shaft (engagement pin  21 ) to the first abutting face  23 . This difference in distances becomes the lift of the valve. 
         [0039]    Next, the configuration of the branch valve Y will be explained. Reference numeral  26  is a valve element arranged inside the branch valve chamber  6 . Around the valve element  26 , a diaphragm  27  extending in the radial direction is integrally formed. The peripheral edge of the diaphragm  27  is fastened by being clamped between the main body  1  and a later explained bonnet  28 . The valve element  26  is pushed against and separated from the valve seat  10 , whereby the flow of fluid of the third passageway  4  from the second passageway  3 , that is, the connection between the main passageway and the branch passageway, is shut or opened. 
         [0040]    Reference numeral  28  is a bonnet,  29  a stem, and  31  an operating lever. The operating lever  31  is configured similar to the operating lever  22  and is provided with a first abutting face  32 , a second abutting face  33 , a limiting face  34 , and a handle  41 . The parts of the branch valve are similar to the parts of the main passageway valve, so explanations will be omitted. 
         [0041]    Here, the configurations of the operating lever  22  and operating lever  31  will be explained. The operating lever  22  and operating lever  31  are attached so that when the two valves are in the closed state, the respective second abutting faces  24 ,  33  face each other (see  FIG. 2 ). When the main passageway valve X is in the open state and the branch valve Y is in the closed state, the limiting face  25  of the operating lever  22  is provided parallel to the second abutting face  33  of the operating lever  31  with a slight clearance (see  FIG. 1 ). When the main passageway valve X is in the closed state and the branch valve Y is in the open state, the limiting face  34  of the operating lever  31  is provided to be parallel with the second abutting face  24  of the operating lever  22  while forming a slight clearance (see  FIG. 3 ). Note that the limiting face  25  and second abutting face  33  and the limiting face  34  and second abutting face  24  may be provided so as to abut against each other without providing any clearance. 
         [0042]    Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
         [0043]    First, explaining the operation of the main passageway valve X, in the state where the first abutting face  23  of the operating lever  22  and the top surface of the bonnet  15  abut against each other (state where handle  40  of operating lever  22  faces horizontal direction), due to the springback force of the spring  20 , the valve element  13  is pressed against the valve seat  10 , the main passageway valve X becomes the closed state, and the flow of fluid is cut off (state of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ). Next, when the operating lever  22  pivots about the pivot shaft and the handle  40  is raised up (made state where handle  40  faces vertical direction), the first abutting face  23  and the top surface of the bonnet  15  separate, the surface contacting the top surface of the bonnet  15  moves along the arc shaped surface  39 , and the second abutting face  24  and the top surface of the bonnet abut against each other. At that time, the distance from the pivot shaft of the operating lever  22  is greater at the second abutting face  24  than the first abutting face  23 , so the greater the difference in this distance, the more the position of the pivot shaft of the operating lever  22  moves from the top surface of the bonnet  15  upward. Therefore, the stem  18  engaged with the operating lever  22  by the pivot shaft, that is, the engagement pin  21 , also rises while compressing the spring  20 , the valve element  13  connected to the front end of the stem  18  also rises and separates from the valve seat  7 , the main passageway valve X becomes the open state, and the fluid flowing in from the first passageway  2  flows to the second passageway  3  (state of  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0044]    On the other hand, if pivoting the operating lever  22  about the pivot shaft from this state (state of  FIG. 1 ) to lower the handle  40  (place the handle  40  of the operating lever  22  in a state in the horizontal direction), the second abutting face  24  and the top surface of the bonnet  15  will separate and instead the first abutting face  23  and the top surface of the bonnet  15  will abut against each other and the distance from the pivot shaft of the operating lever  22  to the top surface of the bonnet  15  will become closer, so the greater the difference in this distance, the more the stem  18  engaged with the operating lever  22  by the pivot shaft will descend. At that time, due to the biasing force of the spring  20 , the valve element  13  is pressed against the valve seat  7 , the main passageway valve X becomes the closed state, and the flow of fluid is cut off (state of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0045]    The branch valve Y is the same as the main passageway valve X in structure, so the explanation of its operation will be omitted, but when the branch valve Y is in the closed state, the flow of fluid from the second passageway  3  to the third passageway  4  is cut off, while when the branch valve Y is in the open state, the fluid flows from the second passageway  3  to the third passageway  4 . 
         [0046]    Next, the interlock mechanism of the manifold valve of the present invention will be explained. 
         [0047]    First, when the main passageway valve X is in the open state and the branch valve Y is in the closed state (state of  FIG. 1 ), the fluid flowing in from the first passageway  2  flows out from the second passageway  3 . At that time, the handle  40  of the operating lever  22  of the main passageway valve X is in the state raised up and is positioned substantially parallel with the limiting face  25  of the main passageway valve X and the second abutting face  33  of the branch valve Y with a slight clearance. In this state, even if trying to raise up the handle  41  of the operating lever  31  of the branch valve Y, the second abutting face  33  of the branch valve Y will abut against the limiting face  25  of the main passageway valve X and the handle  41  of the operating lever  31  will not be able to be raised up. Due to this interference between operating levers, with the branch valve Y in the closed state, the operating lever  31  will not be able to be operated and the open state is prevented. On the other hand, even if the operating lever  22  of the main passageway valve X is operated, the operating levers will not interfere with each other and it is possible to freely switch from the open state to the closed state. That is, in this state, the main passageway valve X can be operated to open or close, but the branch valve cannot be operated. 
         [0048]    Next, when the main passageway valve X is in the closed state and the branch valve Y is in the open state (state of  FIG. 3 ), fluid flows from the second passageway  3  to the third passageway  4 . At that time, the handle  41  of the operating lever  31  of the branch valve Y is in the state raised up and the second abutting face  2  of the main passageway valve X and the limiting face  34  of the branch valve Y are positioned substantially parallel with a slight clearance. In this state, even if trying to raise the handle  40  of the operating lever  22  of the main passageway valve X, the second abutting face  24  of the main passageway valve X will abut against the limiting face  34  of the branch valve Y and the handle  40  of the operating lever  22  will not be able to be raised. Due to this interference between operating levers, when the main passageway valve X is in the closed state, the operating lever  22  cannot be operated and is prevented from being set to the open state. On the other hand, even if the operating lever  31  of the branch valve Y is operated, the operating levers will not interfere with each other and the open state can be freely switched to the closed state. That is, in this state, the branch valve Y can be operated to open/close, but the main passageway valve X cannot be operated. 
         [0049]    Next, even when the two valves are in the closed state (state of  FIG. 2 ), the handles  40  and  41  of the operating levers  22  and  31  face in opposite directions and the limiting faces  25  and  34  face in the upward direction, so each valve can be operated. However, when one valve is operated, the other valve can no longer be operated because the operating levers interfere, so the two valves cannot be simultaneously operated. 
         [0050]    As explained above, the manifold valve of the present invention is structured so that the two valves cannot be simultaneously set to the open state. When using this manifold valve for the pipeline of the semiconductor production system as shown in  FIG. 12 , the main passageway valve  102  and the branch valve  103  can be provided by just the single manifold valve of the present invention (not shown), Furthermore, since an interlock mechanism is provided in the manifold valve structure, there is no need for fine adjustment of the pipe position for installing the interlock mechanism. Therefore, pipe connection becomes easy. Further, since the structure is compact, the cramped space inside a pipeline can be used and the semiconductor production system can be formed smaller. Further, when replacing a pipeline part, the main passageway valve X is set in the closed state to stop the flow in the main passageway and the branch valve Y is set in the open state to cause the fluid remaining in the main passageway to flow outside from the branch passageway. When performing the work for replacing the part, due to the interlock mechanism, the main passageway valve X can be prevented from mistakenly becoming the open state, so the worker can safely replace the part without fluid splattering to the surroundings. 
         [0051]    Note that in this embodiment, the inflowing fluid is used as a flow passing through the first passageway  2  and flowing out from the second passageway  3  and a flow flowing out from the second passageway  3  to the third passageway  4 , but depending on the application of the manifold valve, the fluid may be made to flow in any way. 
         [0052]    Next, a second embodiment of the present invention when the main passageway valve is a branch valve structure will be explained. 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10 , the manifold valve of the second embodiment is provided with a first passageway  52  communicating from the first port  57  to the fourth port  60  (in  FIG. 8 , the passageway running from the front side to the rear side, while the first and fourth ports  57  and  60  open to the two side faces of the main body  51 ), a second passageway  53  communicating from a predetermined location of the first passageway  52  to the second port  58 , and a third passageway  54  communicating from a predetermined location of the second passageway  53  to the third port  59  integrally inside the main body  51 . At the top, the main passageway valve chamber  55  and branch valve chamber  56  are respectively provided (see  FIG. 9 ). At that time, the first passageway  52  becomes the trunk passageway, the passageway from the first passageway  52  through the main passageway valve chamber  55  to the second passageway  53  becomes the main passageway, and the passageway from the branch valve chamber  56  to the third passageway  54  becomes the branch passageway. The main passageway becomes a passageway branched from the trunk passageway. 
         [0054]    The main body  51  is formed so that the main passageway valve opening/closing the main passageway at the main passageway valve chamber  55  side and the branch valve opening/closing the branch passageway at the branch valve chamber  56  side become integral. The configurations of the main passageway valve and branch valve are similar to those of the first embodiment, so their explanations will be omitted. 
         [0055]    Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
         [0056]    The flow of fluid of the manifold valve branches the fluid flowing through the first passageway  52  through the main passageway valve to the second passageway  53 . The main passageway valve can open/close the branched passageway. Further, the fluid flowing through the second passageway  53  is branched by the branch valve and flows to the third passageway  54 . The branch valve can further open/close the branched passageway. The operations of the main passageway valve and branch valve and the interlock mechanisms are similar to the first embodiment of the present invention, so the explanation will be omitted. If using this manifold valve for the pipeline of a semiconductor production system, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when connecting a plurality of manifold valves of the present invention in parallel to pipes, while in the past chases or manifold joints etc. were used to branch off the fluid for pipe connection, it is possible to connect the pipes without requiring the manifold joints. The members for connecting the pipes can be reduced and pipe connection therefore becomes easy. 
         [0057]    The interlock mechanism of the manifold valve of the present invention need only be configured so that when one valve is in the open state and the other valve is in the closed state, the operating lever of the one valve pivot holds the operating lever of the other valve in a state where it cannot pivot about the pivot shaft. At that time, while holding the operating lever of the other valve in the state disabled so that it cannot pivot about the pivot shaft, the operating lever of the one valve can pivot about the pivot shaft to open/close the one valve. 
         [0058]    Further, the operating levers  22  and  31  are shaped having the first abutting faces  23  and  32 , second abutting faces  24  and  33 , and limiting faces  25  and  34 . The shapes are not particularly limited so long as they meet the requirements of the interlock mechanism. 
         [0059]    The branch valve and main passageway valve of the present invention are configured so that the operating levers  22  and  31  pivot about the pivot shaft and open/close the valve. It is necessary that at least one of the valves be provided with a converting means for converting the pivoting motion of the operating levers  22  and  31  about the pivot shaft to linear motion of the valve elements  13  and  26  by a toggle mechanism. At that time, the valves may be configured as diaphragm valves, stop valves, poppet valves, sprue valves, etc., but are preferably diaphragm valves since they are superior in leaching characteristics and are easy to configure so as to suppress the generation of particles in the fluid. 
         [0060]    In the present invention, the diaphragms  14  and  27  are preferably made of fluororesins. A polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as “PTFE”), polyvinylidene fluoride (hereinafter referred to as “PVDF”), polytetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinyl ether copolymer (hereinafter referred to as “PFA”), etc. may be mentioned as suitable. 
         [0061]    In the present invention, the material of the main body  1 , bonnets  15  and  28 , stems  18  and  29 , and operating levers  22  and  31  of the manifold valve are not particularly limited so long as they have the necessary physical properties as a manifold valve, but PTFE, PVDF, PFA, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, and other fluororesins may be mentioned as suitable ones. Polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, ABS resin, or other resins, stainless steel and other metals if there is no concern about corrosion by the fluid, etc. are all possible. 
         [0062]    The fluid flowing through the manifold valve of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be pure water, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, ammonia water, hydrogen peroxide, ammonium fluoride, etc. 
         [0063]    While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments chosen for purpose of illustration, it should be apparent that numerous modifications could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the basic concept and scope of the invention.