Hydraulic system and manifold assembly

An improved hydraulic system including one or more pumps, valves, hydraulic lines, controls, and accessories having the same or different fluid pressure and control functions, the improvement comprising a manifold assembly for use in interconnecting the lines in the hydraulic system according to a preselected design, said improved manifold assembly comprising:

• a baseplate having a plurality of inlet and outlet ports connected to components in the hydraulic system, the baseplate having a plate side and a base side;
• connecting means having segregated fluid passageways for connecting inlet ports with outlet ports in the baseplate, said connecting means being arranged to connect inlet ports with outlet ports according to a preselected hydraulic circuit design and said connecting means being assembled as a single unit and capable of independent removal from said baseplate without itself being disassembled;
• one or more channel plates attached to said baseplate, and the channel plates having fluid channels formed therein for conducting fluid from one or more of the inlet ports to the corresponding preselected outlet ports in the baseplate;
• and
• keying elements formed in the baseplate and channel plate(s) for assuring proper alignment of the channel plate(s) with the baseplate, said keying elements being the heads of bolts used to secure the channel plates together and corresponding countersunk holes in the plate side of the baseplate.

An improved manifold assembly for use in connecting lines in a hydraulic circuit according to a preselected circuit design, the improved manifold comprising:

• a baseplate having a plurality of inlet and outlet ports and having a hose and a plate side;
• hydraulic lines connected to the inlet and outlet ports in the baseplate;
• a first and a second channel plate attached to the baseplate having segregated fluid passageways for conducting fluid from preselected inlet ports to preselected outlet ports according to the circuit design with the first plate having apertures corresponding to the preselected inlet and outlet ports in the baseplate, and the second plate having channels or ditches for forming a fluid passageway between preselected holes in the first plate and said channel plates being held together by securing bolts offset from keying elements to allow the independent removal of said channel plates from said baseplate without said channel plates being separated;
• O rings surrounding each inlet and outlet port on the plate side of the baseplate;
• gasket means interposed between said channel plates for preventing leakage between the plates;
• and
• keying elements formed in the baseplate and channel plates for securing proper alignment of the channel plates with the baseplate, said keying elements being the heads of bolts use to secure the channel plates together and corresponding countersunk holes in the plate side of the baseplate.