# US 2009/0260693 A1 · Valve Unit and Methods for Fastening a Valve Unit to a Base > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260693 A1 - Document ID: US20090260693A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/438,446 - Filed: 2006-09-26 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-26 - Assignees: Fluid Automation Systems S.A. - Inventors: Raphael Alvarez; Pierre Sirdey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260693A1 ## CPC - F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements} - F15B 13/0821: {Attachment or sealing of modular units to each other} - Y10T 137/0491: Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing - Y10T 137/598: With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means - Y10T 137/87885: Sectional block structure - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A valve unit (120) is provided according to the invention. The valve unit (120) includes a valve body (121), two or more fasteners (128) adapted for affixing the valve body (121) to a base, and two or more fastener grooves (125) formed in two or more sides of the valve body (121). The two or more corresponding fasteners (128) rest in the two or more fastener grooves (125). The valve unit (120) further includes a fastener link (100) extending between the two or more fasteners (128) and holding the two or more fasteners (128) substantially in the two or more grooves (125). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve unit (100) being characterized by: a valve body (121); two or more fasteners (128) adapted for affixing the valve body (121) to a base; two or more fastener grooves (125) formed in two or more sides of the valve body (121), wherein the two or more corresponding fasteners (128) rest in the two or more fastener grooves (125); and a fastener link (100) extending between the two or more fasteners (128) and holding the two or more fasteners (128) substantially in the two or more grooves (125). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve unit (100) of claim 1, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression (122) formed in the valve body (121) and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link (100). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve unit (100) of claim 1, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression (122) formed in the valve body (121) and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link (100), with the fastener link depression (122) including a depth that is substantially equal to a thickness of the fastener link (100), wherein the fastener link (100) is at least substantially flush with an exterior surface of the valve body (121) when the fastener link (100) is located in the fastener link depression (122). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve unit (100) of claim 1, with the fastener link (100) comprising: enlarged ends (105); fastener apertures (103) formed in the enlarged ends (105); and a central link (106) that joins the enlarged ends (105). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve unit (100) of claim 1, with the fastener link (100) comprising: enlarged ends (105), with the enlarged ends (105) being split and deformed; fastener apertures (103) formed in the enlarged ends (105); and a central link (106) that joins the enlarged ends (105). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve unit (100) of claim 1, with the fastener link (100) being formed of a substantially elastic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve unit (100) of claim 1, further comprising an indicium formed on the fastener link (100). ### Claim 8 A method of fastening a valve unit to a base, the method comprising: placing a fastener link onto the valve unit; inserting two or more fasteners through two or more corresponding fastener apertures in the fastener link, wherein the two or more fasteners are held substantially in two or more corresponding fastener grooves formed in two or more sides of the valve unit; and affixing the two or more fasteners to the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, with the valve unit comprising: a valve body; the two or more fasteners adapted for affixing the valve body to a base; the two or more fastener grooves formed in two or more sides of the valve body, wherein the two or more corresponding fasteners rest in the two or more fastener grooves; and the fastener link extending between the two or more fasteners and holding the two or more fasteners substantially in the two or more grooves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression formed in the valve body and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression formed in the valve body and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link, with the fastener link depression including a depth that is substantially equal to a thickness of the fastener link, wherein the fastener link is at least substantially flush with an exterior surface of the valve body when the fastener link is located in the fastener link depression. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, with the fastener link comprising: enlarged ends; fastener apertures formed in the enlarged ends; and a central link that joins the enlarged ends. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, with the fastener link comprising: enlarged ends, with the enlarged ends being split and deformed; fastener apertures formed in the enlarged ends; and a central link that joins the enlarged ends. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, with the fastener link being formed of a substantially elastic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising an indiciuni formed on the fastener link. ### Claim 16 A method of fastening three or more valve units to a base, the method comprising: placing two fastener links onto two outer valve units of the three or more valve units; inserting two pairs of fasteners through two pairs of corresponding fastener apertures in the two fastener links, wherein a pair of fasteners is held substantially in a pair of corresponding fastener grooves formed in two or more sides of the corresponding valve unit; and affixing the two pairs of fasteners to the base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, with the valve unit comprising: a valve body; the two or more fasteners adapted for affixing the valve body to a base; the two or more fastener grooves formed in two or more sides of the valve body, wherein the two or more corresponding fasteners rest in the two or more fastener grooves; and the fastener link extending between the two or more fasteners and holding the two or more fasteners substantially in the two or more grooves. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression formed in the valve body and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression formed in the valve body and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link, with the fastener link depression including a depth that is substantially equal to a thickness of the fastener link, wherein the fastener link is at least substantially flush with an exterior surface of the valve body when the fastener link is located in the fastener link depression. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, with the fastener link comprising: enlarged ends; fastener apertures formed in the enlarged ends; and a central link that joins the enlarged ends. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, with the fastener link comprising: enlarged ends, with the enlarged ends being split and deformed; fastener apertures formed in the enlarged ends; and a central link that joins the enlarged ends. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, with the fastener link being formed of a substantially elastic material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising an indicium formed on the fastener link. ### Claim 24 A method of fastening two or more valve units to a base, the method comprising: placing at least one fastener link onto the two or more valve units; inserting fasteners through corresponding fastener apertures in the at least one fastener link, wherein the fasteners are held substantially in corresponding fastener grooves formed in two or more sides of the corresponding valve unit; and affixing the fasteners to the base. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, with the valve unit comprising: a valve body; the two or more fasteners adapted for affixing the valve body to a base; the two or more fastener grooves formed in two or more sides of the valve body, wherein the two or more corresponding fasteners rest in the two or more fastener grooves; and the fastener link extending between the two or more fasteners and holding the two or more fasteners substantially in the two or more grooves. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression formed in the valve body and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising a corresponding fastener link depression formed in the valve body and shaped to substantially receive the fastener link, with the fastener link depression including a depth that is substantially equal to a thickness of the fastener link, wherein the fastener link is at least substantially flush with an exterior surface of the valve body when the fastener link is located in the fastener link depression. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, with the fastener link comprising: enlarged ends; fastener apertures formed in the enlarged ends; and a central link that joins the enlarged ends. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, with the fastener link comprising: enlarged ends, with the enlarged ends being split and deformed; fastener apertures formed in the enlarged ends; and a central link that joins the enlarged ends. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, with the fastener link being formed of a substantially elastic material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising an indicium formed on the fastener link.