Patent Description:
Fluid systems often include multiple valves arranged for mixing, switching, purging, and other such controls of one or more types of fluid, for example, for gas distribution employed in the manufacture of semiconductor wafers. While such fluid control systems may be constructed by welding or otherwise connecting individual valves in a desired configuration, such arrangements may be undesirable due to the time and cost of construction, potential leak points at the many connections, overall size of the assembly, and other such factors.

Multiple valve manifolds have often been used to address one or more of these issues by providing a single body block, machined for desired flow path arrangements, in which multiple valve assemblies are installed to control flow at multiple points within the multi-ported manifold body block. The manifold body block itself, however, may be expensive and difficult to machine, and may be limited in the shapes and orientations of internal ports that may be provided. Additionally, polished surface finish requirements for the manifold body flow paths may be difficult to maintain where the flow paths are extended and/or complex (non-straight).

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a manifold body includes at least first and second valve body segments each comprising an upper perimeter wall portion defining a valve cavity and a lower base portion defining one or more flow ports, a unified leak test port, a first branch leak test passage extending from the unified leak test port to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity of the first valve body segment, radially outward of an outer seal surface in the valve cavity, and a second branch leak test passage extending from the unified leak test port to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity of the second valve body segment, radially outward of an outer seal surface in the valve cavity.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a valve body includes an upper perimeter wall portion defining a valve cavity and a lower base portion defining one or more flow ports, and a leak test passage formed in the upper perimeter wall portion of the valve body, with a first portion of the leak test passage extending axially through the upper perimeter wall portion to a leak test port exposed on an end surface of the upper perimeter wall portion, and a second portion of the leak test passage extending laterally or radially through a lower end of the upper perimeter wall portion to the valve cavity to intersect with an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity, radially outward of an outer seal surface in the valve cavity.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a manifold assembly includes a manifold body having at least first and second valve body segments, a first valve subassembly assembled with the first valve body segment and a second valve subassembly assembled with the second valve body segment. Each of the first and second valve body segments includes an upper perimeter wall portion defining a valve cavity and a lower base portion defining a central flow port and an offset flow port; a unified leak test port; a first branch leak test passage extending from the unified leak test port to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity of the first valve body segment, radially outward of an outer seal surface in the valve cavity; and a second branch leak test passage extending from the unified leak test port to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity of the second valve body segment, radially outward of an outer seal surface in the valve cavity. Each of the first and second valve subassemblies includes a flexible diaphragm, an annular seat carrier received in the valve cavity and including a lower seal portion that seals against a recessed surface around the central flow port and an upper seal portion that seals against the diaphragm when the diaphragm is moved to the closed position, and a threaded bonnet nut installed in the valve cavity to clamp the seat carrier against the outer seal surface in the valve cavity to form a body seal.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a valve assembly includes a valve body and a valve subassembly. The valve body includes an upper perimeter wall portion defining a valve cavity and a lower base portion defining one or more flow ports, and a leak test passage formed in the upper perimeter wall portion of the valve body, with a first portion of the leak test passage extending axially through the upper perimeter wall portion to a leak test port exposed on an end surface of the upper perimeter wall portion, and a second portion of the leak test passage extending laterally or radially through a lower end of the upper perimeter wall portion to the valve cavity to intersect with an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity, radially outward of an outer seal surface in the valve cavity. The valve subassembly includes a flexible diaphragm, an annular seat carrier received in the valve cavity and including a lower seal portion that seals against a recessed surface around the central flow port and an upper seal portion that seals against the diaphragm when the diaphragm is moved to the closed position, and a threaded bonnet nut installed in the valve cavity to clamp the seat carrier against the outer seal surface in the valve cavity to form a body seal.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is contemplated for leak testing first and second valves installed in first and second valve cavities in a multi-valve manifold body. In the exemplary method, the manifold assembly is provided in a fluid system under a vacuum, and the manifold assembly is connected with a leak detection device. A test fluid is supplied to a unified leak test port in the manifold body, such that the test fluid is transmitted through first and second branching leak test passages to outer peripheral portions of the first and second valve cavities. The leak detection device is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past first and second body seals between the first and second valves and the first and second valve cavities. In response to detecting leakage past the first and second body seals, the test fluid is sequentially supplied to first and second valve leak test ports, such that the test fluid is sequentially transmitted through first and second valve leak test passages to the outer peripheral portions of the first and second valve cavities. The leak detection device is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past the first body seal, and to measure ingress of the test fluid past the second body seal.

Further advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as claimed is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning. For example, while specific exemplary embodiments in the present application describe multiple diaphragm valve manifolds, one of more of the features described herein may additionally or alternatively be applied to other types of multiple valve manifolds (e.g., bellows valves, needle valves, etc.), single valve assemblies, and other fluid system components (e.g., pressure regulators, filters, etc.). Additionally, while the geometries and arrangements of many of the manifold body features described herein are such that their production is facilitated by additive manufacturing, such as <NUM>-D printing, other manufacturing methods may be utilized to fabricate body components having one or more of the features described herein, such as, for example, stacked plate assembly, machining, welding, brazing, and casting (e.g., investment casting, sand casting, lost wax casting), independently or in combination.

In the present disclosure, the term "vertical" is used to describe a direction substantially perpendicular to a base (or bottom) surface of the fluid component body, and the term "horizontal" is used to describe a direction substantially parallel to the base surface of the fluid component body. It is to be understood that the fluid component body may be mounted or arranged in any suitable orientation (e.g., with the base surface of the fluid component body extending substantially vertically, or at some other angle).

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary conventional three-valve manifold <NUM> having a manifold body block <NUM> and diaphragm valves <NUM> installed in corresponding valve cavities <NUM> machined in the body block <NUM>. Each valve cavity <NUM> includes a recessed surface or trepan <NUM> and a bore wall <NUM> (<FIG>), with at least first and second ports <NUM>, <NUM> provided in the recessed surface <NUM>.

Referring to the cross-sectional view of <FIG>, each valve <NUM> includes a valve subassembly <NUM> and an actuator <NUM>. The exemplary valve subassemblies <NUM> each include a flexible diaphragm <NUM> and an annular seat carrier <NUM> received in the valve cavity <NUM> and including a lower seal portion <NUM> that seals against the recessed surface <NUM> around the first port <NUM> and an upper seal portion <NUM> that seals against the diaphragm <NUM> when the diaphragm is moved to the closed position. A threaded retainer or bonnet nut <NUM> is installed in the valve cavity <NUM> to clamp the seat carrier <NUM> and diaphragm <NUM> against the recessed surface <NUM>, with an outer male threaded portion of the retainer <NUM> mating with an inner female threaded portion of the bore wall <NUM>. A male threaded bonnet portion <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> is threaded into a female threaded portion of the retainer <NUM> to connect the actuator <NUM> with the valve subassembly <NUM> and to position the actuator stem <NUM> for operative engagement (e.g., using intermediary button <NUM>) with the diaphragm <NUM>. A similar actuated valve assembly is shown and described in co-owned <CIT> (the "'<NUM> Patent").

According to an aspect of the present application, a multi-valve manifold body may be formed as a plurality of discrete valve body segments and conduit segments integrated into a single-piece, monolithic construction having a reduced size, weight, and raw material usage as compared to a corresponding manifold body block. Exemplary multi-valve manifold bodies including integrated valve body and conduit segments are shown and described in co-pending <CIT> (the "'<NUM> Application").

Many valves, such as, for example, the valve arrangements of the above incorporated '<NUM> Patent and '<NUM> Application, and as shown in <FIG> herein, include a body seal <NUM> (e.g., gasket, packing, annular sealing bead) providing a leak-tight seal between an internal valve cavity and the external atmosphere surrounding the valve. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the seat carrier <NUM> is provided with a lower circumferential bead <NUM> that seals against an outer periphery of the valve cavity <NUM> when the threaded retainer <NUM> is tightened against the seat carrier <NUM>. To detect leakage past the body seal <NUM>, a leak test passage may be provided with the valve, extending from an exterior opening or leak test port to the valve cavity, at a location radially outward of the body seal. To detect leakage, a test fluid (e.g., a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen) may be supplied to the leak test port and the valve may be installed in a fluid system under a vacuum and connected with a leak detection device (e.g., mass spectrometer) configured to detect the ingress of the test fluid past the body seal and into the valve cavity. Alternatively, the valve may be installed in a fluid system under positive pressure, with leak testing being implemented (e.g., using a sensor or bubbling leak detection fluid) at the leak detecting port to detect leakage of the positive pressure system fluid past the body seal.

Many different types of leak test passages may be provided. As one example, as shown in <FIG>, a valve <NUM> (e.g., similar to the valve <NUM> of <FIG>) having a bonnet nut <NUM> that is threadably installed in the valve cavity <NUM> to clamp an outer peripheral bead portion or body seal <NUM> of a seat carrier <NUM> against an outer seal surface <NUM> of the valve cavity <NUM>, is provided with an axially extending outer peripheral groove <NUM> in the bonnet nut <NUM> (see <FIG>) that defines a leak test passage extending to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity <NUM>, radially outward of the outer seal surface <NUM>. An upper or outer end of the groove <NUM> defines a leak test port <NUM>, such that a test fluid (e.g., a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen) supplied to the leak test port <NUM> flows to the outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity <NUM>. When the valve <NUM> is installed in a fluid system under a vacuum and connected with a leak detection device (e.g., mass spectrometer), ingress of the test fluid past the body seal <NUM> (e.g., due to a discontinuity or contaminant on the bead portion <NUM> or outer seal surface <NUM>) and into the valve cavity may be detected to identify a body seal leak.

The bonnet nut <NUM>, shown in greater detail in <FIG>, may be provided with multiple outer peripheral grooves <NUM>, for example, to facilitate convenient positioning of a leak test port regardless of rotational orientation of the bonnet nut <NUM> with respect to the valve body <NUM>. Additionally, the bonnet nut <NUM> may include one or more test holes or axially extending inner test passages <NUM> that extend through the bonnet nut <NUM> to intersect with the valve cavity radially inward of the body seal and above the diaphragm <NUM>, for example, to test for leakage through the diaphragm <NUM> (e.g., due to a crack in the diaphragm), for example, during the same vacuum leak test procedure described above. Circumferential alignment of the grooves <NUM> and holes <NUM> may facilitate simultaneous leak testing of the diaphragm <NUM> and body seal <NUM>. In another embodiment, instead of test holes <NUM>, the bonnet nut <NUM> may instead be provided with one or more radially extending test passages to permit test fluid flow between the outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity <NUM> and a portion of the valve cavity radially inward of the body seal and above the diaphragm <NUM>. While many different types of radial test passages may be utilized, in an exemplary embodiment, as shown in phantom in <FIG>, the lower, diaphragm engaging bead <NUM> of the bonnet nut <NUM> may be provided with one or more notches <NUM> defining radial test passages (see <FIG>).

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, in another exemplary embodiment, a valve may be provided with a valve body having an integrated leak test passage extending from an external surface of the valve body to an outer peripheral portion of a valve cavity radially outward of a body seal surface. Such an arrangement may provide for consistent placement of the leak test port on the valve (e.g., as compared to a leak test port defined by a bonnet nut).

While many different valve body integrated leak test passage arrangements may be utilized, in one exemplary embodiment, a leak test passage may be disposed in an upper perimeter wall portion of the valve body that defines the valve cavity. In one such arrangement, as shown in <FIG>, a valve <NUM> includes a valve body <NUM> having an upper perimeter wall portion <NUM> defining a valve cavity <NUM>, and a lower base portion <NUM> defining a central flow port <NUM> and an offset flow port <NUM> (see <FIG>). A leak test passage <NUM> is formed in the upper perimeter wall portion <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>, with a first portion <NUM> of the leak test passage extending vertically or axially through the upper perimeter wall portion <NUM> to a leak test port <NUM> exposed on an end surface <NUM> of the upper perimeter wall portion, and a second portion <NUM> of the leak test passage <NUM> extending laterally or radially through a base or lower end of the upper perimeter wall portion to the valve cavity to intersect with an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity <NUM>, radially outward of an outer seal surface <NUM> in the valve cavity <NUM>.

Similar to the valve <NUM> of <FIG>, the valve <NUM> of <FIG> incudes a valve subassembly <NUM> and an actuator <NUM>. The exemplary valve subassembly <NUM> includes a flexible diaphragm <NUM> and an annular seat carrier <NUM> received in the valve cavity <NUM> and including a lower seal portion <NUM> that seals against the recessed surface <NUM> around the central flow port <NUM> and an upper seal portion <NUM> that seals against the diaphragm <NUM> when the diaphragm is moved to the closed position. A threaded retainer or bonnet nut <NUM> is installed in the valve cavity <NUM> to clamp an outer peripheral bead portion or body seal <NUM> of the seat carrier <NUM> against the outer seal surface <NUM> of the valve cavity <NUM>, with an outer male threaded portion of the retainer <NUM> mating with an inner female threaded portion of the upper perimeter wall portion <NUM>. A male threaded bonnet portion <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> is threaded into a female threaded portion of the bonnet nut <NUM> to connect the actuator <NUM> with the valve subassembly <NUM> and to position the actuator stem <NUM> for operative engagement (e.g., using intermediary button <NUM>) with the diaphragm <NUM>.

When the valve <NUM> is installed in a fluid system under a vacuum and connected with a leak detection device (e.g., mass spectrometer) and a test fluid (e.g., a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen) is supplied to the leak test port <NUM>, ingress of the test fluid past the body seal <NUM> (e.g., due to a discontinuity or contaminant on the bead portion <NUM> or outer seal surface <NUM>) and into the valve cavity may be detected to identify a body seal leak. Additionally, the bonnet nut may be provided with one or more inner test passages or radial test passages (as shown in the embodiment of <FIG>) to simultaneously test for leakage through the diaphragm (e.g., due to a crack in the diaphragm).

An integrated leak test passage may be provided in a valve body for a single valve assembly or in multiple valve body segments of a valve manifold, such as, for example the multi-valve manifold bodies of the above '<NUM> Patent and '<NUM> Application. <FIG> illustrate an exemplary two-valve manifold assembly <NUM> having a manifold body <NUM> (see <FIG>) including first and second valve body segments 610a, 610b assembled with corresponding first and second valves 630a, 630b, each including a valve subassembly 640a, 640b and an actuator 650a, 650b. As shown, the valve subassemblies 640a, 640b may be similar to the valve subassembly <NUM> of <FIG>, as described in greater detail above, the components for which are numbered accordingly.

Each of the first and second valve body segments 610a, 610b has an upper perimeter wall portion 611a, 611b defining a valve cavity 612a, 612b, and a lower base portion 614a, 614b defining a central flow port 616a, 616b and offset flow ports 617a, 617b, 618b. Adjacent perimeter wall portions 611a, 611b of adjacent valve body segments 610a, 610b may be joined or fused together, for example, to facilitate manufacturing, to reduce overall size of the manifold body <NUM> and/or to strengthen or reinforce these wall portions. Apertured mounting bosses <NUM> may be provided, for example, fused with an adjacent portion of the upper perimeter wall of one of the first and second valve segments, to facilitate mounting of the manifold within a system (e.g., to a plate or other such base component of a fluid system).

While many different flow porting configurations may be utilized, in the illustrated embodiment, the first and second valve body segments 610a, 610b are connected with first, second, third, and fourth flow conduit segments 620a, 620b, 620c, 620d, as shown in <FIG>. The first flow conduit segment 620a includes a first flow passage 621a extending between a first end port 623a and the central flow port 616a of the first valve body segment 610a. The second flow conduit segment 620b includes a second flow passage 621b extending between a second end port 623b and the central flow port 616b of the second valve body segment 610b. The third flow conduit segment 620c includes a third flow passage 621c extending between a third end port 623c and the second offset port 618b of the second valve body segment 610b. The fourth flow conduit segment 620d includes a fourth flow passage 621d extending between the offset port 617a of the first valve body segment 610a and the first offset port 617b of the second valve body segment 610b.

While many different types of end ports may be utilized, in the illustrated embodiment, the end ports 623a, 623b, 623c include tubular portions 622a, 622b, 622c extending upward or vertically, spaced apart from the valve body segment perimeter wall portions 611a, 611b, to modular mount surfaces 627a, 627b, 627c including seal counterbores 631a, 631b, 631c and fastener bores 632a, 632b, 632c for accommodating modular C-seal connections.

The base portions 614a, 614b of the valve body segments 610a, 610b may be tapered (e.g., to have an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the perimeter wall 611a, 611b), for example, to reduce material usage and/or to provide clearance for one or more of the flow conduit segments 620a, 620b, 620c, 620d, such that a horizontal flow path portion 624a, 624b, 624c of the flow conduit segment is at least partially laterally aligned with the valve cavity of at least one of the valve body segments.

A leak test passage 660a, 660b is formed in the upper perimeter wall portion 611a, 611b of each valve body segment 610a, 610b, with a first portion 661a, 661b of the leak test passage extending vertically or axially through the upper perimeter wall portion 611a, 611b to a leak test port 663a, 663b exposed on an end surface 613a, 613b of the upper perimeter wall portion, and a second portion 662a, 662b of the leak test passage 660a, 660b extending laterally or radially through a base or lower end of the upper perimeter wall portion to the valve cavity 612a, 612b to intersect with an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity, radially outward of the outer seal surface 625a, 625b.

To test for leakage past each valve body seal in the manifold valve assembly, in an exemplary method, the manifold assembly <NUM> is installed in a fluid system under a vacuum and connected with a leak detection device (e.g., mass spectrometer) and a test fluid (e.g., a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen) is sequentially supplied to each of the leak test ports 663a, 663b, and the leak detection device is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past the body seal 643a, 643b (e.g., due to a discontinuity or contaminant on the bead portion 643a, 643b or outer seal surface 625a, 625b) and into the valve cavity to identify a body seal leak. Additionally, the bonnet nuts 646a, 646b may be provided with one or more inner test passages or radial test passages (as shown in the embodiment of <FIG>) to simultaneously test for leakage through the diaphragm (e.g., due to a crack in the diaphragm).

Where the leak testing is performed sequentially for each valve body seal in a multi-valve manifold assembly, this testing may be relatively time consuming. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a multi-valve manifold body may be provided with an integrated, unified leak test port with branching leak test passages intersecting with a plurality of valve cavities of the manifold body, for simultaneously testing of the valve body seals of two or more of the manifold valves. In such an arrangement, application of a test fluid to the unified leak test port may provide for confirmation of leakage past at least one of the body seals of the plurality of valve body segments. In the event of such a confirmation, individual leak test ports and passages (e.g., in the bonnet nut and/or manifold body, as described and shown in the embodiments of <FIG>) may be utilized to identify which of the valve body segments is exhibiting body seal leakage.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a multi-valve manifold assembly <NUM> including a unified leak test port <NUM> connected by branching leak test passages 770a, 770b, 770c to the valve cavities 712a, 712b, 712c of multiple valve body segments 710a, 710b, 710c for collectively testing for leakage past the body seals 743a, 743b, 743c of the multiple valves 730a, 730b, 730c of the manifold assembly, and individual leak test ports 763a, 763b, 763c connected by leak test passages 760a, 760b, 760c to the valve cavities for independently testing for leakage past the body seals of each valve of the manifold assembly. While the manifold assembly <NUM> of <FIG> includes three valve assemblies, in other embodiments, unified and individual leak test ports may be provided for manifold assemblies having a different number of valves (e.g., two, or four or more). Additionally, a unified leak test port may be connected with fewer than all of the valves of a multi-valve manifold assembly. For example, a manifold assembly may include a first unified leak test port for testing leakage past the body seals of a first plurality of valves of the manifold assembly, and a second unified leak test port for testing leakage past the body seals of a second plurality of valves of the manifold assembly.

In an exemplary method of leak testing the manifold assembly <NUM>, the manifold assembly is installed in a fluid system S under a vacuum and connected with a leak detection device D (e.g., mass spectrometer) and a test fluid (e.g., a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen) is supplied to the unified leak test port <NUM> and transmitted through the branching leak test passages 770a, 770b, 770c to outer peripheral portions of the valve cavities 712a, 712b, 712c, and the leak detection device D is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past the body seals 743a, 743b, 743c and into the valve cavities to identify a body seal leak. If no leakage is detected by the leak detection device D (e.g., detected helium sufficient to indicate leakage), no further leak testing is needed. If leakage is detected by the leak detection device, the test fluid is sequentially supplied to each of the individual leak test ports 763a, 763b, 763c and the leak detection device D is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past each body seal 743a, 743b, 743c to determine which valve body seals are exhibiting leakage.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the manifold body <NUM> includes an integrated unified leak test port <NUM> connected with the valve cavities 612a, 612b of the valve body segments 610a, 610b by leak test passages 670a, 670b branching from the leak test port, such that a first end of each leak test passage intersects with the leak test port, and a second end of each leak test passage intersects with an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity 612a, 612b, radially outward of the outer seal surface 625a, 625b. In the illustrated embodiment, the leak test port <NUM> and leak test passages 670a, 660b are defined by vent conduit segments <NUM>, 671a, 671b integrally formed with the manifold body <NUM>. In other embodiments (not shown), the leak test port and leak test passages may be defined by conduits attached to or assembled with the manifold body (e.g., by welding, brazing, fitting connections), or by passages formed in a manifold block body (e.g., by drilling, machining, etc.). As shown, the leak test port <NUM> is centrally disposed between the two valve body segments 610a, 610b, for example, to facilitate uniform flow of a supplied test fluid (e.g., helium) to the two leak test passages 670a, 670b. The interior bore of the leak test port <NUM> may be contoured (e.g., conical) to closely receive a test fluid supply tube, for example, to more efficiently deliver test fluid to the leak test passages.

In an exemplary method of leak testing a manifold assembly <NUM>, the manifold assembly is installed in a fluid system under a vacuum and connected with a leak detection device (e.g., mass spectrometer) and a test fluid (e.g., a tracer gas, such as helium or hydrogen) is supplied to a unified leak test port <NUM> and transmitted through branching leak test passages 670a, 670b to outer peripheral portions of the valve cavities 612a, 612b, and the leak detection device is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past the body seal (e.g., due to a discontinuity or contaminant on the bead portion 643a, 643b or outer seal surface 625a, 625b) and into the valve cavity to identify a body seal leak. Additionally, the bonnet nuts 646a, 646b may be provided with one or more inner test passages or radial test passages (as shown in the embodiment of <FIG>) to simultaneously test for leakage through the diaphragm (e.g., due to a crack in the diaphragm).

If no leakage is detected by the leak detection device (e.g., detected helium sufficient to indicate leakage), no further leak testing is needed. If leakage is detected by the leak detection device, the test fluid is sequentially supplied to each of the individual leak test ports 663a, 663b, and the leak detection device is used to measure ingress of the test fluid past each body seal (and optionally, through each diaphragm) to determine which valve body seals (and/or diaphragms) are exhibiting leakage.

The overall shape and internal flow path arrangements of a fluid component body (e.g., a manifold body) may make the body difficult to manufacture using conventional machining, molding, or casting techniques. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid component body, for example, the manifold bodies of the above incorporated '<NUM> Patent and '<NUM> Application, and the manifold bodies explicitly described and shown herein, may be fabricated using additive manufacturing to produce a monolithic body having discrete, but partially joined or fused, valve body segments and conduit segments. Examples of additive manufacturing techniques that may be utilized include, for example: laser powder bed fusion (direct metal laser sintering or "DMLS," selective laser sintering/melting or "SLS/SLM," or layered additive manufacturing or "LAM"), electron beam powder bed fusion (electron beam melting or "EBM"), ultrasonic additive manufacturing ("UAM"), or direct energy deposition (laser powder deposition or "LPD," laser wire deposition or "LWD," laser engineered net-shaping or "LENS," electron beam wire deposition). Providing a manifold body as a single, monolithic component may eliminate assembly costs, reduce component wear, reduce adverse effects from heat cycling, improve corrosion behavior (galvanic effects, crevice, stress corrosion cracking), and reduce lead time to manufacture. Further, fabrication using additive manufacturing may reduce the amount of raw material used, and may reduce the size and weight of the finished body.

Claim 1:
A manifold body (<NUM>) comprising:
at least first and second valve body segments (610a,610b) each comprising an upper perimeter wall portion (611a,611b) defining a valve cavity (612a,612b) and a lower base portion (614a,614b) defining one or more flow ports (616a, 616b, 617a, 617b)
characterised in that the manifold body further comprising:
a unified leak test port (<NUM>);
a first branch leak test passage (671a) extending from the unified leak test port to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity (612a) of the first valve body segment (610a), radially outward of an outer seal surface (625a) in the valve cavity; and
a second branch leak test passage (671b) extending from the unified leak test port to an outer peripheral portion of the valve cavity (612b) of the second valve body segment (610b), radially outward of an outer seal surface (625b) in the valve cavity.