# US 11,906,479 B2 · Portable self-contained pressure testing manifold and associated methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,479 B2 - Document ID: US11906479B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/916,437 - Filed: 2020-06-30 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-30 - Assignees: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC - Applicants: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC - Inventors: Roger A. Milholland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906479B2 ## CPC - G01M 3/3209: {Details, e.g. container closure devices} - G01N 3/12: Pressure testing - G01M 3/26: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors - G01N 2203/0048: Hydraulic means - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A portable, case-enclosed pressure test manifold, configured to support both pneumatic and hydrostatic pressure testing, and comprising a downstream fluid path (e.g., a system test gauge, a ball valve, a system test port, a system relief valve, and other components/piping) and an upstream fluid path (e.g., a low-pressure gauge, a high-pressure gauge, and other components/piping). A regulator and/or the ball valve selectively operate the downstream fluid path, defining a hydrostatic pressure testing path, to receive a liquid; and the upstream fluid path in combination with the downstream fluid path, defining a pneumatic pressure testing path, to receive a gas. Manifold components are pressure rated based on use and are ASME Code B31.3 compliant. A flexible hose connects with either of the pneumatic pressure testing path and the hydrostatic pressure testing path of the manifold. The case includes parking receptables and a carrying handle configured to stow the hose during transport. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure test assembly comprising: a manifold comprising: a pneumatic pressure testing path comprising a plurality of piping components configured to join, in gaseous fluid communication, a regulator having a high-pressure gauge, a low-pressure gauge, and a source gas inlet configured to receive an input gas, a ball valve, system test gauge, a vent valve, a system test port, and a system relief valve; a hydrostatic pressure testing path comprising a subset of the plurality of piping components configured to join, in liquid fluid communication, a spare port, the system test gauge, the vent valve, the system test port, the system relief valve, and the ball valve configured in a closed state; and a case configured to carry the manifold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1, wherein the low-pressure gauge is characterized by a low-pressure range of 0-600 psi and the high-pressure gauge is characterized by a high-pressure range of 0-4000 psi. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1, wherein the system relief valve in the pneumatic pressure testing path is pressure rated between 50 and 500 psig. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a flexible hose configured to join in gaseous fluid communication with the source gas inlet of the regulator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pressure test assembly according to claim 4, wherein the case further comprises a parking receptacle configured to mechanically secure an end of the flexible hose. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pressure test assembly according to claim 5, wherein the case further comprises at least one carrying handle configured to mechanically secure a substantially medial section of the flexible hose. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1, wherein the system relief valve in the hydrostatic pressure testing path is of a cartridge-type. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is characterized by a regulated pressure range of 0-500 psi. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1, wherein the system test port comprises a connection fitting of a fitting type selected from the group consisting of CGA-580, CGA-590, and CGA-326. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pressure test assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of piping components are ASME Code B31.3 compliant. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a pressure testing assembly to perform a hydrostatic pressure test on a test subject, the pressure testing assembly comprising: a manifold comprising: a pneumatic pressure testing path comprising a plurality of piping components configured to join, in gaseous fluid communication, a regulator having a high-pressure gauge, a low-pressure gauge, and a source gas inlet, a ball valve, system test gauge, a vent valve, a system test port, and a system relief valve; a hydrostatic pressure testing path comprising a subset of the plurality of piping components configured to join, in liquid fluid communication, a spare port, the system test gauge, the vent valve, the system test port, the system relief valve, and the ball valve; and a case configured to mechanically carry the manifold; the method comprising the steps of: receiving, using a cartridge valve coupling, the system relief valve pressure rate between 50 and 500 psig; closing the ball valve; connecting in liquid fluid communication the system test port to the test subject; receiving, using the spare port, an input liquid; measuring, using the system test gauge, a cumulative pressure of the input fluid until upon leak detection at the cumulative pressure, reducing the cumulative pressure by a percentage of the cumulative pressure, and upon the cumulative pressure equaling a test pressure, holding the test pressure for a time step. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11 further comprising mechanically stabilizing the case of the pressure testing assembly upon a horizontal surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of piping components further comprise ASME Code B31.3 compliant components. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the system test gauge is rated at 0-600 psi both for gas pressure measurement and for liquid pressure measurement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the percentage of the cumulative pressure is 50%. ### Claim 16 A method of operating a pressure testing assembly to perform a pneumatic pressure test on a test subject, the pressure testing assembly comprising: a manifold comprising: a pneumatic pressure testing path comprising a plurality of piping components configured to join, in gaseous fluid communication, a regulator having a high-pressure gauge, a low-pressure gauge, and a source gas inlet, a ball valve, system test gauge, a vent valve, a system test port, and a system relief valve; a hydrostatic pressure testing path comprising a subset of the plurality of piping components configured to join, in liquid fluid communication, a spare port, the system test gauge, the vent valve, the system test port, the system relief valve, and the ball valve; and a case configured to mechanically carry the manifold; the method comprising the steps of: receiving, using a cartridge valve coupling, the system relief valve; closing the ball valve; connecting in gaseous fluid communication the system test port to the test subject; receiving, using the source gas inlet of the regulator, an input gas; iteratively increasing, by a step pressure, a cumulative pressure of the input gas at the system test gauge until upon leak detection at the cumulative pressure using the system test gauge, reducing the cumulative pressure by a percentage of the cumulative pressure, and upon the cumulative pressure equaling a test pressure, holding the test pressure for a time step. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 further comprising mechanically stabilizing the case of the pressure testing assembly upon a horizontal surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the pressure testing assembly further comprises a flexible hose; the method further comprising conveying, using the flexible hose, the input gas to the source gas inlet of the regulator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the step pressure is 100 psig. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the percentage of the cumulative pressure is 50%.