Patent Description:
A connector manifold can be used to securely connect a removable cartridge. Removable cartridges can be used for, for example, filtration, tool cleaning, chemical replacement, etc. In some instances, removable cartridges may be configured for treating a fluid. The removable cartridge can be, for example, a filter used to remove contaminants from a fluid. For example, filters can be employed in semiconductor systems to remove containments from deionized (DI) water, organic solvents, photoresist chemicals, photochemical solvents, etc. Filters can be easily removable to allow for the servicing or replacement of a filter. For example, the efficiency of many filters decreases over time and are configured to be serviced or replaced after a specific amount of time, use, etc. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> show relevant connectors for cartridges.

The invention is described by the subject-matter of claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

In an embodiment, a connection assembly is for a removable cartridge. The connection assembly includes a manifold and a connector pipe. The manifold includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The connector pipe extends through the lower plate and the upper plate. The connector pipe includes a flange disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The manifold is configured to attach the removable cartridge such that the connector pipe is inserted into a port of the removable cartridge. An O-ring is compressed between the connector pipe and the port. The flange has a width configured to prevent tilting of the connector pipe at greater than a maximum tilt angle. The maximum tilt angle is based on at least one of a compression ratio upper limit and a compression ratio lower limit of the O-ring.

In an embodiment, the removable cartridge is a filter.

In an embodiment, the connector pipe when angled at the maximum tilt at least one of compresses the O-ring at the compression ratio upper limit and/or compresses the O-ring at the compression ratio lower limit.

In an embodiment, a gap is provided between the flange of the connector pipe and at least one of the lower plate and the upper plate of the manifold.

According to the invention, the flange is configured to satisfy the following relationship: <MAT>.

W is the width of the flange of the connector pipe. C is a compression ratio of the O-ring. CL is the compression ratio lower limit of the O-ring. Cu is the compression ratio upper limit of the O-ring. TO is a thickness of the O-ring when it is not being compressed. L is a length between the flange and the O-ring, and h is a height of a gap provided between the flange and at least one of the upper plate and the lower plate of the manifold.

In an embodiment, the compression ratio of the O-ring is the compression ratio of the O-ring when connector pipe is inserted into the port and is aligned with the port.

In an embodiment, the compression ratio upper limit and the compression ratio lower limit of the O-ring are predetermined values based on the O-ring.

In an embodiment, the connector pipe is configured to be inserted and fluidly attached to the port with the single O-ring.

In an embodiment, the connection assembly also includes a second connector pipe. The second connector pipe extends through the lower plate and the upper plate. The second connector pipe includes a flange that is disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The manifold is configured to attach the removable cartridge such that the second connector pipe is inserted into a second port of the removable cartridge. A second O-ring is compressed between the second connector pipe and the second port.

The flange of the second connector pipe has a width configured to prevent tilting of the second connector pipe at greater than a maximum tilt angle. The maximum tilt angle is based on at least one of a compression ratio upper limit and a compression ratio lower limit of the second O-ring.

In an embodiment, a filter assembly includes a manifold, a filter removably attached to the manifold, a connector pipe, and an O-ring. The manifold includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The connector pipe extends through the lower plate and the upper plate of the manifold and has a flange disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The filter includes a port. The connector pipe is inserted into the port and the O-ring is compressed between the connector pipe and the port. The flange has a width configured to prevent the connector pipe from being tilted at greater than a maximum tilt angle. The maximum tilt angle is based on at least one of a compression ratio upper limit and a compression ratio lower limit of the O-ring.

Like numbers represent like features throughout.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an embodiment of a connection assembly <NUM>. A filter <NUM> is attached to the connection assembly <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is an example of a type of removable cartridge. Removable cartridges can be used for filtration, tool cleaning, chemical replacement, etc. Incoming fluid is passed through the housing/container of the removable cartridge. In some embodiments, a removable cartridge can treat a fluid by passing the fluid through the housing/container of the removable cartridge. It would be appreciated that the filter <NUM> may be a different type of removable cartridge in other embodiments. In other embodiments, the connection assembly <NUM> may be used for attaching other types of removable cartridges such as, for example, a flushing container such as that shown in <FIG> and described below.

The connection assembly <NUM> includes connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C, and a manifold <NUM>. When a filter <NUM> is attached to the connection assembly <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), each of the connector pipes connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C is fluidly connected to the filter <NUM> in a sealed manner. The connection assembly <NUM> with an attached filter <NUM> may form a filter assembly. The connection between the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C and the filter <NUM> is discussed in more detail below.

A first connector pipe 10A can be a vent connector pipe for venting the filter <NUM>. A second connector pipe 10B can be an inlet connector pipe configured to supply unfiltered fluid to the filter <NUM>. The third connector pipe 10C can be an outlet connector pipe for the returning filtered fluid from the filter <NUM> (e.g., the fluid after being filtered by the filter <NUM>). The illustrated connection assembly <NUM> includes three connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C. It should be appreciated that the connection assembly <NUM> in other embodiments may include a different number of connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C. In an embodiment, a filter <NUM> may not utilize a vent (e.g., not have vent port). In such an embodiment, the connection assembly <NUM> may include only inlet connector pipe 10B and outlet connector pipe 10C.

Each of the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C extends through the upper plate <NUM> of the manifold <NUM>. The first connector pipe 10A extends through a first opening 34A in the upper plate <NUM>. The manifold <NUM> includes an upper plate <NUM> with a plurality of openings 34A, 34B, 34C. The second connector pipe 10B extends through a second opening 34B in the upper plate <NUM>. The third connector pipe 10C extends through a third opening 34C in the upper plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the manifold <NUM> also includes a back plate <NUM>, supports <NUM>, <NUM>, and a lever <NUM> for securing the filter <NUM> to the manifold <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is supported by two supports <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the supports <NUM>, <NUM> can include rails (not shown in <FIG>) that are configured to slide into grooves (not shown in <FIG>) in the sides of the filter <NUM>. When the lever <NUM> is moved downward (e.g., into the downward position shown <FIG>), the filter <NUM> is secured to the manifold <NUM>. The downward positioned lever <NUM> and the back plate <NUM> limit the forward and rearward movement of the filter <NUM>, respectively, which prevents the filter <NUM> from being disengaged from the supports <NUM>, <NUM>. When the lever <NUM> is pivoted upwards, the supports <NUM>, <NUM> are moved away from the upper plate <NUM> (e.g., vertically downward) and the filter <NUM> can be removed by being slid forward. The upward positioned lever <NUM> no longer blocks the filter <NUM> from moving forward.

<FIG> shows a front perspective view of the first connector pipe 10A. The connector pipe 10A includes a flange 12A and an insertion end 14A. The insertion end 14A is configured to be inserted into the filter <NUM>. The insertion end 14A of the first connector pipe 10A includes a shoulder 16A. The insertion end 14A is discussed in more detail below. In an embodiment, the second and third connector pipes 10B, 10C may each have configurations similar to the first connector pipe 10A (e.g., include a flange, insertion end, etc.).

<FIG> shows a top view of the connection assembly <NUM>. The second connector pipe 10B and the third connector pipe 10C each respectively include a flange 12B, 12C. The flanges 12A, 12B, 12C of the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C are each partially obscured in <FIG>. Dashed lines are provided in <FIG> to indicate outside surfaces of the flanges 12A, 12B, 12C. As shown in <FIG>, the flanges 12A, 12B, 12C have a circular shape. The flanges 12A, 12B, 12C may have different shape(s) in other embodiments. For example, the flange 12A in an embodiment may have an oval shape, a rectangular shape, etc. The plurality of openings 34A, 34B, and 34C in the upper plate <NUM> are visible in the top view of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a front view of the connection assembly <NUM> without a filter <NUM>. The manifold <NUM> also includes a lower plate <NUM>. The lower plate <NUM> is disposed between the filter <NUM> and the upper plate <NUM>. The lower plate <NUM> is attached to the upper plate <NUM> in a fixed position. The connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C each extend through the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. The respective flanges 12A, 12B, and 12C of each of the connector pipes 10A, 10B, and 10C are located between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. Its flange 12A, 12B, 12C being between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> limits the vertical movement of each connector pipe 10A, 10B, 10C.

<FIG> is a partial cross-sectional view of the connection assembly <NUM> and the filter <NUM>. The cross-section is along the plane indicated in <FIG>. The filter <NUM> includes ports 7A and 7B. Connector pipes 10A and 10B are provided for the ports 7A and 7B, respectively, of the filter <NUM>. The first port 7A can be a vent port of the filter <NUM> for venting the filter. The second port 7B can be an outlet port of the filter. In an embodiment, the filter <NUM> also includes a third port (not shown) for the third connector pipe 7C supplying unfiltered fluid into the filter. Unfiltered fluid is supplied to the first port 7A and filtered fluid is discharged from the second port 7B.

The flanges 12A, 12B of the first and second connector pipes 10A, 10B are each positioned in between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. Each flange 12A, 12B is too large to pass through the openings in the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> for its respective connector pipe 10A, 10B. The upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> limit the vertical movement of the connector pipes 10A, 10B.

<FIG> shows the filter <NUM> when secured to the manifold <NUM>. The securing of the filter <NUM> to the manifold <NUM> includes the filter <NUM> being moved upward towards the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> (e.g., by pivoting the handle <NUM> of the manifold <NUM>). This upward movement of the filter <NUM> inserts the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C into their respective ports 7A, 7B (one not shown) of the filter <NUM>. The first connector pipe 10A is fluidly connected to the first port 7A and the second connector pipe 10B is fluidly connected to the second port 7B. For example, unfiltered fluid is filtered by being supplied from the second connector pipe 10B into the filter <NUM> via the second port 7B, being filtered as it passes through the filter <NUM>, and being discharged from the filter <NUM> into the third connector pipe 10C via the third port 7C.

The first connector pipe 10A is inserted into the first port 7A. In particular, the insertion end 14A of the first connector pipe 10A is inserted into the first port 7A. An O-ring 80A is disposed in the first port 7A. The O-ring 80A may be configured to be retained with the filter <NUM> (e.g., by the first port 7A) or configured to be retained on the insertion end 14A of the first connector pipe 10A. The O-ring 80A forms a seal between the first connector pipe 10A and the first port 7A. In an embodiment, the first connector pipe 10A and the first port 7A are connected using only a single O-ring 80A.

The O-ring 80A is compressed between an inner wall 8A of the first port 7A and the first connector pipe 10A. For example, the O-ring 80A is compressed between the inner wall 8A of the first port 7A and an outer wall 18A of the first connector pipe 10A. The O-ring 80A can be disposed around the shoulder 16A of the first connector pipe 10A. The O-ring 80A is made of an elastic polymer material. The elastic polymer material can include, for example, a fluoroelastic or fluorocarbon polymer such as FKM polymer, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), fluororesin, fluoroelastomer, and/or other suitable elastic polymer materials (e.g., elastic materials with higher chemical resistivity).

The O-ring 80A has a thickness T<NUM>. Compression of an O-ring reduces its thickness. The thickness T<NUM> may also be referred to as the compressed thickness T<NUM> of the O-ring 80A. A dashed outline is provided in <FIG> to illustrate the uncompressed thickness To of the O-ring 80A (e.g., the thickness of the O-ring 80A when the first connector pipe 10A is not inserted into the first port 7A, the thickness of the O-ring 80A when not being compressed). A compression ratio of an O-ring is the percentage of a ratio of the compressed thickness to the uncompressed thickness of the O-ring. The compression ratio of the O-ring 80A can be determined as follows: <MAT>.

An O-ring may no longer provide adequate sealing when over compressed or under compressed. In an embodiment, the O-ring 80A has a compression ratio upper limit and a compression ratio lower limit. The compression ratio upper limit and a ratio compression lower limit are predetermined values based on the O-ring. For example, the compression ratio upper limit to the compression ratio lower limit defines a range at which the O-ring provides stable sealing. The sealing provided by an O-ring can become unstable (e.g., allow leakage under certain operating conditions) when compressed above its compression ratio upper limit and/or when compressed below its compression ratio lower limit. The compression ratio upper limit and lower limit for an O-ring may vary based on, for example, one or more of the material that the O-ring is made of, the dimensions of the O-ring, its operation conditions, etc..

The compression ratio upper limit and lower limit of an O-ring can be predetermined values based on previous testing of the O-ring. For example, the compression ratio upper limit and the compression ratio lower limit may be values provided by the manufacturer of the O-ring. For example, the compression ratio upper limit and the compression ratio lower limit may be determined accordingly an industry standard such as, for example, according to International Standard ISO-<NUM>-<NUM> (e.g., ISO-<NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM>) for a hydraulic dynamic system. For example, according to International Standard ISO-<NUM>-<NUM>, an O-ring with a diameter of <NUM> has a lower compression ratio limit of at or about <NUM>% and an upper compression ratio limit of at or about <NUM>%.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the pipe connectors 10A and 10B are configured to be aligned with their respective ports 7A and 7B. For example, first pipe connector 10A is configured to connect with the first port 7A such that an axis A<NUM> of the first pipe connector 10A extends parallel to an axis A<NUM> of the first port 7A. A side force can cause one or more of the pipe connectors 10A, 10B, 10C to become tilted (e.g., relative to their respective port 7A, 7B, etc.). The third pipe connector 10C (e.g., see <FIG>) is similarly configured to be aligned with its respective port (not shown) of the filter <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the pipe connectors 10A, 10B when tilted by a side force Fi. The side force F<NUM> may be caused through an external force being applied to the filter <NUM>, the connection assembly <NUM>, and/or component(s) connected to one of the pipe connectors 10A, 10B, 10C (e.g., downstream piping, tubing, etc.).

The tilting of the pipe connectors 10A, 10B, 10C can change the compression of their respective O-rings 80A, 80B. Tilting of the first pipe connector 10A can increases the force applied to a first portion <NUM> of the O-ring 80A connector 10A and decreases the force applied to a second first portion <NUM> of the O-ring 80A by the first pipe connector 10A. The tilting increases the compression of the first portion <NUM> of the O-ring 80A and decreases the compression of the second portion <NUM> of the O-ring 80A. The first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are on opposite sides of the O-ring 80A.

As shown in <FIG>, the interference between the flange 12A of the first pipe connector 10A and the manifold <NUM> limits the amount that the first pipe connector 10A can be tilted. The flange 12A is configured to limit the maximum amount of tilting of the first pipe connector 10A. The flange 12A limits the tilting of the first pipe connector 10A to an angle that is at or below a maximum tilt angle (e.g., prevents axis A<NUM> of the first pipe connector 10A from being tilted by more than the maximum tilt angle. The maximum tilt angle can be based on the compression ratio upper limit and the compression ratio lower limit of the O-ring 80A.

The first pipe connector 10A at the maximum tilt angle causes the O-ring 80A to be compressed to at least one of its compression ratio upper limit and/or its compression ratio lower limit. For example, the first pipe connector 10A at the maximum tilt angle compresses the first portion <NUM> of the O-ring 80A above its compression ratio upper limit of the O-ring 80A and/or compresses the second portion <NUM> below its compression ratio lower limit.

A gap <NUM> is provided between the flange 12A and at least one of the upper plate <NUM> and/or the lower plate <NUM>. In <FIG>, the gap <NUM> is provided between the flange 12A and the lower plate <NUM>. In other embodiments, the gap <NUM> may be provided between the flange 12A and the upper plate <NUM>, or the gap <NUM> may include an upper portion between the flange 12A and upper plate <NUM> and a lower portion located between the flange 12A and the lower plate <NUM>. The gap <NUM> has a height h<NUM>. For example, height is measured along the vertical direction D<NUM>. In an embodiment, the height h<NUM> of the gap is the difference between a height h<NUM> of the space between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> and a height h<NUM> of the flange 12A.

The flange 12A has a width W. As discussed above, the flange 12A can have a circular shape. In such an embodiment, the width W can be the diameter of the flange 12A. In other embodiments, the flange 12A can have a different shape then circular. In such embodiments, width W may correspond to the shortest width of said flange. The flange 12A has a length that satisfies the following relationship: <MAT>.

C is the compression ratio of the O-ring 80A. CL is the compression ratio lower limit for the O-ring 80A. Cu is the compression ratio upper limit of the O-ring 80A. TO is the thickness of the O-ring 80A when not being compressed. h is the height h<NUM> of the gap <NUM> between the flange 12A and the manifold <NUM>. L is a distance of the length Li of the first pipe connector 10A from the flange 12A to the O-ring 80A. The length Li can extend from the bottom of the flange 12A to the middle of the O-ring 80A. In an embodiment, the length Li may be the length Li from the bottom of the flange 12A to a position along the shoulder 16A at which the O-ring is configured to rest.

The width W of the flange 12A being equal to or greater than the left portion of above relationship prevents tilting that can cause compression of the O-ring 80A above its compression ratio upper limit, and the width W of the flange 12A being equal to or greater than the right portion of the relationship prevents tilting that can cause the O-ring 80A to be compressed below its compression ratio lower limit. The flange 12A is configured to satisfy the relationship and advantageously ensures that the seal is maintained between the inserted connector pipe 10A and its port 7A.

A width W of the flange 12A may have a maximum size based on the size of the space available between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> of the manifold <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C may be located near each other along the horizontal plane. A maximum width of the first connector pipe 10A can be a distance from the first connector pipe 10A to the closest other connector pipe (e.g., the distance from the first connector pipe 10A to third connector pipe 10C).

For simplicity, the connection of the first connector pipe 10A with its respective first port 7A is described above. It should be appreciated that the other connector pipes 10B, 10C can each independently have a similar configuration and connection with their respective port 7B (a third port not shown). For example, a second O-ring 80B can be disposed in the second port 7B similar to the first O-ring 80A, and the second pipe connector pipe 10B can be configured to independently satisfy the relationship above.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the connection assembly <NUM> with an attached flushing container <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The flushing container <NUM> is attached to the manifold <NUM> of the connection assembly <NUM> in a similar manner as described above for the filter <NUM>. For example, the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C are fluidly connected in a sealed manner to respective ports (not shown) of the attached flushing container <NUM>, as similarly above described for the filter <NUM>. The flushing container <NUM> is another example of a removable cartridge. The flushing container <NUM> can operate as a flow-through between the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C to allow for flushing of the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C and/or their attached system. For example, fluid is supplied from the second connector pipe 10B into the flushing container <NUM> and passes through the flushing container <NUM> and exits through one or both of the other connector pipes 10A, 10C. The fluid can flow through the flushing shell <NUM> without being treated (e.g., filtered, reacted, etc.).

<FIG> is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connection assembly <NUM>. A filter <NUM>, similar to the filter <NUM> in <FIG>, is attached to the connection assembly <NUM>. The connection assembly <NUM> has a similar configuration to the connection assembly <NUM> as discussed above, except for the configuration of an upper plate <NUM> and a lower plate <NUM> of a manifold <NUM>. For example, the connection assembly <NUM> includes the connector pipes 110A, 110B, 110C that fluidly connect in a sealed manner to ports (not shown) of the attached filter <NUM>, and the manifold <NUM> includes supports <NUM>, <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the upper plate <NUM> can be attached to the lower plate <NUM>. The supports <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to the lower plate <NUM>. The connector pipes 110A, 110B, 110C have a similar configuration as the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C in <FIG>, except for their upper ends (e.g., the non-insertion ends) include a coupling mechanism. For example, the connector pipes 110A, 110B, 110C each include a flange (not shown) that is disposed between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> as similarly discussed above for the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a front view of another embodiment of a connector pipe <NUM> of a connection assembly. In an embodiment, one or more of the connector pipes 10A, 10B, 10C in the connection assembly <NUM> may have a configuration similar to the connector pipe <NUM>. The connector pipe <NUM> includes a flange <NUM> and an insertion end <NUM>. The flange <NUM> can have a similar configuration as discussed above for the flange 12A of the first connector pipe 10A.

As shown in <FIG>, the insertion end <NUM> of the connector pipe <NUM> includes a trench <NUM>. The trench <NUM> can retain the O-ring (e.g., O-ring 80A, O-ring 80B, etc.) that forms a seal between the connector pipe <NUM> and the port (e.g., port 7A, port 7B) of the attached removable cartridge (e.g., filter <NUM>, flushing container <NUM>, etc.). When the removable cartridge is unattached/removed from the connection assembly, the O-ring remains on the connector pipe <NUM>. Accordingly, the O-ring is not removed with the removable cartridge. The O-ring is retained in the trench <NUM> and is inserted along with the insertion end <NUM> of the connector pipe <NUM> into the port of the removable cartridge. The O-ring being disposed in the port of the attached removable cartridge.

Claim 1:
A connection assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a manifold (<NUM>) including an upper plate (<NUM>) and a lower plate (<NUM>); and
a connector pipe (10A) extending through the lower plate and the upper plate, the connector pipe including a flange (12A) disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, wherein
the manifold is configured to attach a removable cartridge such that the connector pipe is inserted into a port (7A) of the removable cartridge and an O-ring (80A) is compressed between the connector pipe and an inner wall (8A) of the port, and
the flange is configured to satisfy the following relationship: <MAT>
W being the width of the flange of the connector pipe,
C being a compression ratio of the O-ring,
CL being the compression ratio lower limit of the O-ring,
CU being the compression ratio upper limit of the O-ring,
TO being a thickness of the O-ring without compression,
L being a length between the flange and the O-ring, and
h being a height of a gap provided between the flange and at least one of the upper plate and the lower plate of the manifold.