Patent ID: 6868867

Claim:
A fluid control apparatus comprising a device layer ( 3 ) provided by parallel rows each comprising a plurality of fluid control devices ( 11 )( 12 )( 13 )( 14 )( 15 )( 16 )( 17 )( 18 )( 19 ) ( 20 )( 21 )( 22 )( 23 ) arranged in series, and a connecting layer ( 4 )( 5 ) positioned under the device layer, interconnecting the fluid control devices of each of the rows in series and interconnecting the fluid control devices of the adjacent rows in parallel, the fluid control apparatus being characterized in that the connecting layer ( 4 )( 5 ) comprises a lower connecting layer ( 5 ) comprising a plurality of block couplings ( 51 )( 56 )( 57 )( 58 ) attached to a base plate ( 2 ) from above with screws, and an upper connecting layer ( 4 ) comprising a plurality of block couplings ( 41 )( 42 )( 43 )( 44 ) attached to the block couplings ( 51 )( 56 )( 57 )( 58 ) of the lower connecting layer ( 5 ) from above with screws, the fluid control devices ( 11 )( 12 )( 13 )( 14 )( 15 )( 16 )( 17 )( 18 )( 19 ) ( 20 )( 21 )( 22 )( 23 ) being attached to the block couplings ( 41 )( 42 )( 43 )( 44 ) of the upper connecting layer ( 4 ) from above with screws ( 35 ); and wherein the upper connecting layer ( 4 ) is provided by parallel rows each comprising a plurality of block couplings ( 41 )( 42 )( 43 )( 44 ) arranged longitudinally of the apparatus, each of the block couplings ( 41 )( 42 )( 43 )( 44 ) having a longitudinal channel ( 61 ) for interconnecting the adjacent fluid control devices in the row and an upward or downward through channel ( 62 ) communicating with the fluid control device at a specified location, and the lower connecting layer ( 5 ) is provided by at least one lateral communication block coupling ( 56 )( 57 )( 58 ) having a lateral channel ( 64 ) for interconnecting the through channels ( 62 ) of the block couplings ( 41 )( 42 )( 43 )( 44 ) of the upper connecting layer ( 4 ) which are arranged laterally and by inlet-side and outlet-side communication block couplings ( 51 ) each adapted to cause the through channel ( 62 ) of the block coupling ( 41 )( 43 )( 44 ) of the upper connecting layer ( 4 ) to communicate with an inlet-side or outlet-side coupling ( 52 )( 53 )( 54 )( 55 ) for connection to the outside; and wherein the lower connecting layer ( 5 ) has a support block ( 59 ) having the same shape as one of the block couplings ( 51 )( 56 )( 57 )( 58 ) of the lower connecting layer ( 5 ) and having no channel for supporting the block coupling ( 41 )( 42 )( 43 ) of the upper connecting layer ( 4 ).