Slide lock gas delivery system
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorDaniel P. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas supply system that is easily assembled and/or installed and includes an initially flexible clamping system that allows for the gas supply system to adapt to the gas components. As the assembly of the gas components is complete, the clamping system becomes rigid thereby securing the gas components to a support rail. The slide lock gas delivery system allows a gas system component bottom surface to establish the sealing plane for the inlet and outlet seals independently. The lateral spacing for the gas component mounting holes float during assembly to reduce the opportunity for misalignment.
Claims22
A gas delivery system comprising:
- a rail for supporting at least one manifold block;
- first and second manifold blocks, each of the first and second manifold blocks having at least one port for connection to a gas component;
- a gas component securable to the first and second manifold blocks and having a mount surface with first and second ports for communicating with respective ports of the first and second manifold blocks when secured thereto;
- and
- a slide lock member for securing the first and second blocks to the rail;
- wherein the slide lock member is configured to secure the first and second manifold blocks to the rail under a first level of preload for assembly of the gas component to the manifold blocks, and wherein the slide lock member secures the first and second manifold blocks to the rail with a second level of preload greater than the first level when the gas component is secured to the manifolds.
A modular gas supply manifold system comprising:
- a rail for supporting at least one manifold block;
- a manifold block having at least one port for connection to a gas component;
- and
- a slide lock member for securing the manifold block to the rail;
- wherein the slide lock member is configured to secure the manifold block to the rail under a first level of preload to facilitate securing a gas component to the manifold block, and wherein the slide lock member is configured to secure the manifold block to the rail under a second level of preload greater than the first level when the gas component is secured to the manifold.
A slide lock member for securing a manifold block to a rail of a modular gas supply manifold comprising:
- a central spacer portion for spacing apart a first and second manifold block on the rail;
- and
- leg portions extending from the central spacer portion and adapted to engage the rail of a gas supply system;
- wherein the slide lock member is configured to secure the manifold block to the rail under a first level of preload to facilitate securing a gas component to the manifold block, and wherein the slide lock member is configured to secure the manifold block to the rail under a second level of preload greater than the first level when a gas component is secured to the manifold.
A method of assembling a gas delivery system comprising the steps of:
- mounting first and second manifold blocks to a support rail with a slide lock member, each of the first and second manifold blocks having at least one port for communicating with a port of a gas component, the slide lock member being adapted to secure the first and second manifold blocks to the rail with a first amount of preload;
- and
- mounting a gas component to the first and second manifold blocks;
- wherein the slide lock member is configured to secure the first and second manifold blocks to the rail under a first level of preload for assembly of the gas component to the manifold blocks, the first level of preload permitting relative movement between the rail and the manifold blocks, and wherein the slide lock member secures the first and second manifold blocks to the rail with a second level of preload greater than the first level when the gas component is mounted to the manifolds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.