Manifold assembly for a portable leak tester

A manifold assembly for a portable leak tester, the manifold assembly comprising:

• a manifold housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a pressure port, and a fluid passage connecting the fluid inlet, the pressure port, and the fluid outlet in fluid communication, wherein the pressure port is operatively disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
• a supply control valve mounted to and supported by the manifold housing, and operable to open and close fluid communication through the fluid passage, between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the supply control valve is operatively disposed between the fluid inlet and the pressure port;
• a pressure transducer coupled to the pressure port and operable to sense a fluid pressure in the fluid passage at the pressure port, wherein the pressure transducer senses fluid pressure between the supply control valve and the fluid outlet;
• and
• a manifold controller mounted to and supported by the manifold housing, and connected to and in electrical communication with the supply control valve and the pressure transducer, wherein the manifold controller includes software and hardware necessary to control opening and closing of the supply control valve, operation of the pressure transducer, and to communicate information sensed by the pressure transducer to a testing controller.

A manifold assembly for a portable leak tester, the manifold assembly comprising:

• a manifold housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a pressure port, a bleed port, and a fluid passage operatively connecting the fluid inlet, the pressure port, the bleed port, and the fluid outlet in fluid communication;
• wherein the fluid passage is at least partially defined by a plurality of bores machined into the manifold housing, and interconnected in fluid communication to define a continuous fluid flow path;
• a supply control valve mounted to and supported by the manifold housing, operable to open and close fluid communication through the fluid passage, and disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to control fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet;
• a bleed valve mounted to and supported by the manifold housing, operable to open and close fluid communication through the fluid passage, and disposed between the fluid inlet and the supply control valve;
• wherein the pressure port is disposed between the supply control valve and the fluid outlet;
• wherein the bleed port is disposed in fluid communication with the fluid passage, between the fluid inlet and the supply control valve;
• wherein the bleed valve is disposed in fluid communication with the fluid passage, between the fluid inlet and the bleed port, to control fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the bleed port;
• a pressure transducer coupled to the pressure port and operable to sense a fluid pressure in the fluid passage, at the pressure port, between the supply control valve and the fluid outlet;
• and
• a manifold controller mounted to and supported by the manifold housing, and connected to and in electrical communication with the supply control valve, the bleed valve, and the pressure transducer, wherein the manifold controller includes all software and hardware necessary to control opening and closing of the supply control valve, control the opening and closing of the bleed valve, control the operation of the pressure transducer, and to communicate information sensed by the pressure transducer to a testing controller;
• wherein the manifold controller includes a first, 2-amp digital output interconnecting the manifold controller and the supply control valve, wherein the first, 2-amp digital output connecting the manifold controller and the supply control valve is operable to carry an electrical control signal having a current between 0.5 and 2 amps;
• and
• wherein the manifold controller includes a second, 2-amp digital output interconnecting the manifold controller and the bleed valve, wherein the second, 2-amp digital output connecting the manifold controller and the bleed valve is operable to carry an electrical control signal having a current between 0.5 and 2 amps.