# US 8,651,137 B2 · Gas manifold system for steady gas supply at outlet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,651,137 B2 - Document ID: US8651137B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/278,657 - Filed: 2011-10-21 - Published: 2013-04-25 - Granted: 2014-02-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-21 - Assignees: Crossroads Machine, Inc. - Applicants: Gary E Keffer - Inventors: Gary E Keffer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8651137B2 ## CPC - F02M 21/0239: {Pressure or flow regulators therefor} - Y02T 10/30: Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels - Y10T 137/87265: Dividing into parallel flow paths with recombining - Y10T 137/87539: Having guide or restrictor - Y10T 137/87547: Manually variable - Y10T 137/87708: With common valve operator - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A gas manifold system includes a plenum that receives a gas at a positive pressure and a manifold having at least one exit port. One or more valves are disposed between the plenum and the manifold. When opened, the valve(s) permit a stream of the gas at positive pressure to flow from the plenum into the manifold. A baffle is disposed in the manifold between the valve(s) and the exit port(s). The baffle obstructs each stream of gas entering the manifold such that the gas is reduced to substantially zero pressure in the manifold at the exit port(s). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas manifold system, comprising: a plenum adapted to receive a gas at a positive pressure; a manifold having at least one exit port; at least one valve disposed between said plenum and said manifold wherein, when opened, said at least one valve permits a stream of said gas at said positive pressure to flow from said plenum into said manifold; and a baffle disposed in said manifold between said at least one valve and said at least one exit port, said baffle defined by solid wall portions and at least one hole, said baffle positioned relative to said at least one valve such that each said stream impinges only on said solid wall portions thereby obstructing each said stream entering said manifold wherein said gas is reduced to substantially zero pressure in said manifold at each said exit port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gas manifold system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one valve comprises a plurality of valves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A gas manifold system as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of valves are distributed in an annular region defined between said plenum and said manifold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A gas manifold system as in claim 1, wherein said baffle comprises a plate coupled to said manifold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A gas manifold system as in claim 4, wherein an inner wall of said manifold includes at least one annular channel formed therein for receiving said plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A gas manifold system as in claim 2, wherein one of said valves comprises a manually-controlled valve that includes: a valve body defining a flow region; a first threaded hole formed through said valve body in a direction transverse to said flow region; a second threaded hole formed through said valve body in a direction transverse to said flow region and aligned with said first threaded hole; a screw for threaded engagement with and through said first threaded hole and partial threaded engagement with said second threaded hole, wherein said screw spans and obstructs said flow region; and a plug for partial threaded engagement with said second threaded hole. ### Claim 7 A gas manifold system, comprising: a plenum having a removable end adapted to have a gas line coupled thereto wherein a gas at a positive pressure is introduced into said plenum; a manifold having a removable end with at least one exit nozzle formed therein; an adjustable valve incorporated in each said exit nozzle; a plurality of valves disposed between said plenum and said manifold wherein, when any of said valves is opened, each of said valves so-opened emits a stream of said gas at said positive pressure into said manifold; and a baffle disposed in said manifold between said valves and said at least one exit nozzle for obstructing each said stream entering said manifold wherein said gas is reduced to substantially zero pressure in said manifold at each said exit nozzle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A gas manifold system as in claim 7, wherein said plurality of valves are distributed in an annular region defined between said plenum and said manifold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A gas manifold system as in claim 7, wherein said baffle includes a solid wall portion spaced apart from said valves and encompassing a cross-section of each said stream thereat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A gas manifold system as in claim 7, wherein said baffle comprises a plate coupled to said manifold, said plate including a solid wall portion spaced apart from said valves and encompassing a cross-section of each said stream thereat, said plate further including at least one hole therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A gas manifold system as in claim 8, wherein said baffle comprises a plate coupled to said manifold, said plate including a solid wall portion spaced apart and aligned with said annular region and encompassing a cross-section of each said stream thereat, said plate further including at least one hole therethrough. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A gas manifold system as in claim 11, wherein said at least one hole does not overlap any of said cross-section of each said stream at said solid wall portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A gas manifold system as in claim 10, wherein an inner wall of said manifold includes at least one annular channel formed therein for receiving said plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A gas manifold system as in claim 7, wherein one of said valves comprises a manually-controlled valve that includes: a valve body defining a flow region; a first threaded hole formed through said valve body in a direction transverse to said flow region; a second threaded hole formed through said valve body in a direction transverse to said flow region and aligned with said first threaded hole; a screw for threaded engagement with and through said first threaded hole and partial threaded engagement with said second threaded hole, wherein said screw spans and obstructs said flow region; and a plug for partial threaded engagement with said second threaded hole. ### Claim 15 A gas manifold system, comprising: a first cylinder sealed at one end thereof by a removable gas inlet end cap having an exterior face that includes a raised annular flange and a plurality of threaded rods extending from said exterior face and distributed around said annular flange, said annular flange and said threaded rods being adapted to have a gas line coupled thereto wherein a gas at a positive pressure is introduced into said first cylinder, said first cylinder having an opposing end that is open; a second cylinder sealed at one end thereof by a removable gas outlet end cap with at least one exit nozzle formed therein, said second cylinder having an opposing end that is open; a valve arrangement sealed to said opposing end associated with said first cylinder and said opposing end associated with said second cylinder, said valve arrangement including at least one valve disposed between said first cylinder and said second cylinder wherein, when any of said at least one valve is opened, each said valve so-opened emits a stream of said gas at said positive pressure into said second cylinder; and a baffle disposed in said second cylinder between said at least one valve and said at least one exit nozzle for obstructing each said stream of said gas entering said second cylinder wherein said gas is reduced to substantially zero pressure in said second cylinder at each said exit nozzle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A gas manifold system as in claim 15, wherein said at least one valve comprises a plurality of valves distributed in an annular region of said valve arrangement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A gas manifold system as in claim 15, wherein said baffle includes a solid wall portion spaced apart from said at least one valve and encompassing a cross-section of each said stream of said gas thereat. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A gas manifold system as in claim 15, wherein said baffle comprises a plate coupled to said second cylinder, said plate including a solid wall portion spaced apart from said at least one valve and encompassing a cross-section of each said stream of said gas thereat, said plate further including at least one hole therethrough. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A gas manifold system as in claim 16, wherein said baffle comprises a plate coupled to said second cylinder, said plate including a solid annular portion spaced apart and aligned with said annular region and encompassing a cross-section of each said stream of said gas thereat, said solid annular portion circumscribing at least one hole in said plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A gas manifold system as in claim 18, wherein an inner wall of said second cylinder includes at least one annular channel formed therein for receiving said plate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) A gas manifold system as in claim 15, wherein said at least one valve comprises a manually-controlled valve that includes: a valve body defining a flow region; a first threaded hole formed through said valve body in a direction transverse to said flow region; a second threaded hole formed through said valve body in a direction transverse to said flow region and aligned with said first threaded hole; a screw for threaded engagement with and through said first threaded hole and partial threaded engagement with said second threaded hole, wherein said screw spans and obstructs said flow region; and a plug for partial threaded engagement with said second threaded hole. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) A gas manifold system as in claim 15, further comprising an adjustable valve incorporated in each said exit nozzle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) A gas manifold system as in claim 15, wherein said valve arrangement further includes end caps with said at least one valve being disposed therebetween, a first of said end caps sealed to said opposing end associated with said first cylinder and a second of said end caps sealed to said opposing end associated with said second cylinder.