Abstract:
A manifold with interconnecting, non-threaded modular sections. The connected sections define a fluidic passageway and at least one valved outlet. The valved. outlet is reversible to enable the valve to be readily accessible when the modular section is in any orientation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/______, filed on Apr. 2, 2003 (said patent application designated with the docket number 2351.06US02), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to fluid control devices and, in particular, this invention relates to devices partitioning fluid under pressure to one or more fixtures.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0005]     Manifolds are often used to direct fluid from a main supply source to several fixtures. These manifolds may include modular components to accommodate varying patterns of distribution, the patterns often unique at each installation. These modular components may include valved outlets. The modular components are ideally mated quickly and efficiently in fluid-tight connections. Methods of securing mated modular components often involve threaded connectors, couplers, or the like. Each of these methods may require extensive time and specialized tools to assemble and disassemble the manifold.  
         [0006]     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a manifold with modular components, which can be assembled quickly and efficiently without extensive or specialized tools. There is also a need for a manifold, which can be disassembled and reassembled to provide fluids for a changed pattern of fixtures.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing a modular manifold section. The manifold section may include a body portion, a first outlet extending integrally from the body portion, and an optional second outlet extending integrally from the body portion and generally opposed to the first outlet. The body portion may define a body portion passageway and may include a male connecting structure disposed at a first end of the body portion. A first pair of brackets flanking the male connecting structure may be present. The body portion may also include a female connecting structure disposed at a second end thereof. A second pair of brackets may flank the female connecting structure. Each of the first and second pair of brackets may define a plurality of openings accommodating a locking pin. The first outlet may define a first outlet passageway, which may open into the body portion passageway. The first outlet may also include a valve. The valve may include a valve spool and a valve housing accommodating the valve spool. The valve housing may be formed integrally with the remainder of the outlet and with the manifold section body portion. The valve housing may accommodate the valve spool such that the valve spool is insertable in the valve housing in a first vertical position, or in a second vertical position, the second position oriented generally 180 degrees with respect to the first position.  
         [0008]     A manifold section is provided having a manifold section body and an inlet extending from the manifold section body. The manifold section body may define a manifold section body passageway and may include a female connecting structure disposed at a first end of the manifold section body and a pair of brackets flanking the female connecting structure. Each of the pair of brackets may define a plurality of openings accommodating a locking pin. The inlet may extend from a second end of the manifold section and may define an inlet passageway. The inlet passageway may be substantially coaxial to the manifold section body passageway.  
         [0009]     A method of assembling a manifold is provided. The manifold may include a first manifold section and a second manifold section. Each of the first and second manifold sections may include a body portion and an outlet portion integral to the body portion. Each body portion may include a male connecting structure disposed at one end of the body portion and an opposed pair of brackets generally flanking the male connecting structure. Each of the manifold sections may further include a female connecting structure disposed at another end of the body portion and a generally opposed pair of female brackets flanking the female connecting structure. The method may include mating the female connecting structure of the first manifold section to the male connecting structure of the second manifold section. The method may further include securing the mated first and second sections by accommodating a locking pin accommodated in aligned male and female brackets.  
         [0010]     A method of manufacturing a manifold section is also provided. The method may include forming a body portion having a male connector at one end of the body portion and a female connector at another and of the body portion, an opposed pair of male brackets flanking the male connector, and an opposed pair of female brackets flanking the female connector. The body portion may define an interior fluidic passageway. The method may also include integrally forming an outlet with the body portion, the outlet defining an outlet passageway in fluid communication with the body portion passageway and containing a reversible valve.  
         [0011]     It is a feature that the present manifold includes a plurality of modular sections.  
         [0012]     It is an advantage that the modular sections of the present manifold enable configurations for any number and the disposition of fluid-consuming fixtures.  
         [0013]     It is a feature of the present invention that the modular sections thereof include non-threaded matable male and female connecting structures.  
         [0014]     It is an advantage that the modular sections can be interconnected without wrenches or other tools and supplies necessary for threaded fittings.  
         [0015]     It is another advantage that the modular sections can be separated without wrenches or other tools necessary for threaded fittings.  
         [0016]     It is a feature of the present invention that modular sections thereof include invertible valve components.  
         [0017]     It is an advantage of the invertible valve components that the valve may be configured so that valve handles are always easily accessible.  
         [0018]     It is a feature of the present invention that mated modular sections are fixed in place by inserting removable locking pens.  
         [0019]     It is an advantage that the present manifold may be reconfigured to meet changed requirements by removing the locking pins and separating previously mated modular sections.  
         [0020]     It is another advantage that the present manifold sections may be interconnected using locking pins, rather than tools such as wrenches required for threaded openings.  
         [0021]     It is a feature of the present invention that the modular sections can be mated in a first configuration or in a second configuration, the second configuration in which one of the modular sections is rotated  180  degrees about the modular section longitudinal axis.  
         [0022]     It is an advantage of the present invention that modular sections with single outlets can be oriented in a desired direction.  
         [0023]     These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, when considered in view of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present manifold;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective, exploded view of the manifold of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective, exploded view of a double section of the manifold of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a single section of the manifold of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the double section of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the of the divider section of the manifold of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the manifold of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a cross section of the manifold of  FIG. 7  taken line A-A;  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of an end section of  FIG. 7  taken along line B-B;  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is a cross section of an outlet portion of  FIG. 7  taken along line C-C; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 11  is a cross section of a divider section of  FIG. 7  taken along line D-D. 
     
    
       [0035]     It is understood that the above-described figures are only illustrative of the present invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     Any references to such relative terms as front and back, upper and lower, inboard and outboard, or the like, are intended for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spatial orientation. All dimensions of the components in the attached figures may vary with a potential design and the intended use of an embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0037]     Each of the additional features and methods disclosed herein may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and methods to provide improved manifolds and methods for making the same. Representative examples of the teachings of the present invention, which examples utilize many of these additional features and methods in conjunction, will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, specific combinations of features and methods disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative and preferred embodiments of the invention.  
         [0038]     An exemplary modular manifold embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  7  generally at  100 . Exemplary modules include a single section  102 , a double section  104 , an end section  106 , and a divider section  108 . The manifold  100  may be advantageously used to provide fluids, such as fresh water, to several fixtures from single hot and cold water supply sources. However, it should be understood that the present manifold may be used to supply fixtures with a single fluid source as well. It is also contemplated that the present manifold could be configured to supply several sources of fluid to fixtures, e.g., three or more types of fluids. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , a hot water supply tubing  110  and a cold water supply tubing  112  convey hot and cold water from supply sources (not shown) to fixtures (not shown). Hot water from the tubing  110  is conveyed to plumbing fixtures via the double section  104  into tubing members  114  and  116  and via the single section  102  into a tubing member  118 . In a similar manner, cold water is conveyed from the cold water supply tubing,  112  to plumbing fixtures via the double section  104  in to tubing members  122  and  124  and via the single sections  102  into tubing members  126  and  128 . The present manifold sections can be assembled to provide supply fluids to virtually any configuration of fixtures, e.g., advantageously by connectors such as locking pins  130  having prongs  132  depending from a cross member  134 . The connectors can to inserted or withdrawn easily and quickly and without specialized tools. Alternatively, other connectors such as cotter pins or the like may be used as well. Moreover, the present modular manifold can be readily adapted to changing needs, in which modular sections are removed or added as dictated by the change. Additionally, assembly and reassembly of the present modular manifold assembly is effected without wrenches, solder, heat sources (e.g., torches), caulking, or other tools and supplies necessary when threaded or soldered components are used.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 ,  7 ,  8 , and  10 , the single and double sections  102  and  104  are substantially unitary (or otherwise integral) in this embodiment, but may be considered to include a generally cylindrical body portion  140  and an outlet portion  142 . With respect to the body portion  140 , a fluidic passageway  144  is defined by an interior surface  145 . The body portion  140  of the each of the single and double sections  102  and  104  terminates in an interconnect structure such as a female connection  146  and a male connection  148 . The female connections  146  include respective and substantially identical (or similar) and opposed first and second brackets  150  and  152  disposed substantially outboard an outboard surface  156  displayed by the body portion  140  and in a flanking relation to an adjacent part of the body portion  140 . Each first and second bracket  150  and  152  has a base  156 , an outboard member  158  and an inboard member  160 . The base  156  defines lateral openings  162  and  163 . The openings  162  and  163  on opposed first and second brackets  150  and  152  are disposed and dimensioned so as to align. A slot  164  is defined between the outboard and inboard members  158  and  160 . The generally central gap  166  is defined in the outboard member  158 . A generally central tab  168  is defined by the inboard member  160 . The tab  168  may be slightly smaller in height than the inboard member  160 . Each bracket base  150  displays an inner surface  170  and an outboard surface  172 . The inner surface  170  may be substantially continuous with the body interior surface  145  in some embodiments.  
         [0040]     Each male connection  148  may be considered to include substantially identical lateral brackets  180  and  182  and a male connecting structure  184 . The brackets  180  and  182  flank the male connecting structure  184  is the embodiment shown. The lateral brackets  180  and  182  are dimensioned so as to fit snugly between the female first and second brackets  150  and  152  and so that openings  186 , defined in each lateral bracket  180  and  182 , align with the female bracket openings  162  and  163 . The male connecting structure  184 , in turn, may define a respective outer surface  190  with a groove  192 , respective inner surfaces  194  and  196 , and an outboard surface  198 . The groove  192  may accommodate a seal such as an o-ring  197 . In the embodiment depicted, the inner surface  194  has a smaller diameter than the inner surface  196 . The inner surface  196 , in turn, has a smaller diameter than the inner surface  145  of the body portion  140 .  
         [0041]     Each outlet portion  142  may integrally include a valve  200  which has a generally cylindrical valve housing  202 . The outlet portion  142  may also have a connector structure  204 . In addition to the valve housing  202 , the valve  200  may include a valve spool, and a valve handle (both disclosed infra). The valve housing  202  displays an inner surface  206 . The valve housing inner surface  206  defines a valve housing bore  207  and communicates with a passageway  208  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 ). The passageway  208  opens into (or otherwise is in fluid communication with) the body portion passageway  144 . The outlet passageway  208  extends through the connector structure  204  as well. In one embodiment, the connector structure  204  is disclosed in copending, and above referenced, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (attorney docket number 2351.06us02).  
         [0042]     The valve housing bore  207  snugly accommodates a valve spool  210 . A valve stem  212  may coaxially extend from the valve spool  210 . In the embodiment disclosed, the valve stem  212  has an arcuate portion  214  and a generally planar portion  216 . A notch  217  may be present on the planar portion  216  and may extend generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the valve stem  212 . The respective valve stem arcuate and planar portions  214  and  216  are accommodated by a correspondingly shaped bore  218  in the valve handle  220 . The notch  217  may snugly fit a raised portion  222  in the valve handle bore  218  to more firmly secure the valve handle  220  to the valve stem  212  by a friction-enhanced fit. The valve spool  210  has a bore  224  defined by a bore interior surface  226 . The bore  224  is generally orthogonal (or otherwise transverse) to a longitudinal axis  227  of the valve spool  210 . The valve spool  210  also displays an exterior surface  228 , the exterior surface  228  defining respective generally circumferential upper and lower grooves  230  and  232  and a pair of opposed middle grooves  234 . The upper and lower grooves  223  and  224  are disposed proximate respective upper and lower end surfaces  236  and  238  of the valve spool  210  and the middle grooves  234  are generally circular (or otherwise arcuate) and generally follow the contour of the valve spool exterior surface  228 . The upper and lower grooves  230  and  232  and the middle grooves  234  are dimensioned to operably receive respective o-rings  240  and  242 . The lower end  238  may be in the form of a flange  244  with a larger diameter than the remainder of the valve spool  210 .  
         [0043]     The connector structure  204  includes a connector body  252 , a collet  254 , a collar  256 , a guide  258 , and a seal such as an o-ring a  260 . Further and more detailed disclosure is contained in the above-referenced and copending U.S. Patent Application.  
         [0044]     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 2 and 9 , embodiments of the end section  106  may be operably installed at each end of the present manifold to provide a fluid supply thereto. An exemplary embodiment of the present and section  106  may include a body portion  270  and an outlet portion  272 . The body portion  270  and the outlet portion  272  may cooperate to define an extension of the body passageway  144 , through which the fluid supply is enabled. While a fluid control device is not depicted, the outlet portion  272  may optionally include a control valve, such as the valve  200 . In this embodiment the end section  106  has a female connection substantially identical to, or similar to, the female connection  146  disclosed supra and substantially-similar (or identical) elements are numbered identically to those discussed with respect to the single and double sections  104  and  104  supra. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, a male connection, e.g., the male connection  148 , may be present. In contrast to the single and double sections  102  and  104 , the end section  106  includes a terminal partition  274 , which defines an opening  276  fluidly communicating with the outlet portion  272 . The end section  106  may also have respective first and second inner surfaces  278  and  280 , the inner surface  278  with a larger diameter than the second inner surface  280 . The outlet portion  272  extends generally coaxially from the body portion  270  and, in the embodiment depicted, has a valve (such as the valve  200  disclosed supra) and a connector structure installed therein, such as the connector structure  204 . The body portion  270  may also include respective brackets  282  and  284 , which may, in turn, define respective bores  286  and  288 .  
         [0045]     One embodiment of a divider section  108  is depicted in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  6 ,  7 , and  11  and includes a body portion  300  defining a terminus of the body passageway  144  for the two fluid supply systems depicted. The divider section  108  shown has two male connections  148  and corresponding structural elements are marked identically to those shown and described supra. However, it is understood that female connections, such as female connection  146  or that a male connection  148  and a female connection  146  could be present if desired. Additionally, the divider section  108  has a partition  302  and a bracket  304  formed integrally with the lateral brackets  180  and  182  and defining bores  306 .  
         [0046]     The present body sections may be made from materials such as suitable synthetic resins, e.g., thermoplastics. Various thermoplastics and properties thereof are disclosed in “Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites, Third Edition,” Charles A. Harper (Editor-in-Chief), McGraw-Hill, New York (1996), the entire disclosure of the foregoing document hereby incorporated by reference. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that several thermoplastics disclosed and described in the foregoing document may be identified for specific embodiments of the present invention without undue experimentation. In one embodiment, the present body sections are made from polysulfones or an acetal copolymer such as Delrin®, available from Dupont®. The present valve handles may be made from materials identified from the above-incorporated “Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites,” e.g., Delrin®. However, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) may also be suitable for some embodiments. The present locking pins may be made from materials with the desired degree of stiffness, resilience, and resistance to corrosion, such as stainless steel or carbon or alloy steel and are available from Tri Star, Inc. of New Jersey. Seals such as O-rings may be made from such materials as ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) or nitrile rubber. Other suitable materials for the present seals may be readily identified from the above-referenced “Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites, Third Edition” by persons of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0047]     In use, the present manifold is assembled by mating male and female connections of the manifold sections in the desired order. For example, in the manifold embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the divider section  108  may be mated to single sections  102 . Recalling that this embodiment of the divider section  108  has only male connections  148 , the male connections  148  are mated to the single section female connections  146 . Mating these connections includes forcing the male connecting structure  184  into the passageway  144  of the female connection such that the male first inner surface  194  slidingly contacts the female inner surface  170  and such that the openings  186  of the brackets  180  and  82  align with the openings  162  and  163  of the brackets  150  and  152  of the female connection. At this point the male connection outboard surface  198  abuts the stepped transition between the male connection inner surface  170  and the interior surface of the body passageway  145 . Also at this point, the O-ring  197  is in a sealing contact with the female connection inner surface  170 . The mated sections may then be fixed in place by extending locking pin prongs  132  through the aligned openings  162 - 186 - 163  of the male and female brackets. When the outlet portion  142  of a single section  102  is in the desired orientation, the valve handle  220  may nonetheless be oriented such that the valve handle  220  will be inaccessible when the present manifold is operably installed on a surface. If so, the valve handle  220  may be separated from the valve stem  212  by exerting a force on the valve handle  220  away from the valve spool  210  until the valve stem a  212  is pulled from the valve handle bore  218 . The valve spool  210  may then be removed from the valve housing  202 , reversed, and inserted in an opposite vertical orientation. The valve spool  210  is then reinserted into the valve housing  202  until the spool flange  244  contacts the valve housing  202 . The valve stem  212  is then reinserted in the valve handle  220  until the valve stem notch  217  is seated in the raised portion  222  of the valve handle bore  218 . The present manifold sections are assembled in the desired order so as to deliver fluid to a specific pattern of fixtures. After the sections are in the desired order, end sections  106  are mated onto the terminal single or double sections and the assembled manifold may be fastened to a surface by extending fasteners, such as screws or nails, through the openings  306  in the divider sections and through the openings  286  and  288  of the end sections and into an underlying structure such as a joist or panel. The end sections are then connected to fluid sources, such as pressurized sources of hot and cold water. If valves are present in the outlet portions of the end sections  106 , the valves are rotated until the valve spool bores  224  are coaxial with the connector passageway  208  to allow the pressurized fluids to flow into the body passageway  144  (formed by the interconnected section body portions). The fluid may then be admitted into the individual conduits and thereby to the fixtures by rotating the valves in the single and/or double sections as discussed supra. If desired, the fluid can be discontinued either from the pressurized fluid source or to the individual fixtures by rotating the valve handles (e.g., 90 degrees) so that the valve spool bores  224  are orthogonal (or otherwise transverse) to the connector passageway  208  and so that the valve stem exterior surface blocks the passageway  208 , thereby forming a fluid-tight seal along with the O-rings  240  and  242 .  
         [0048]     Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.