IP Library Granted Patent US 10,794,508
Granted Patent B2
US 10,794,508 · App. 15/922,623 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Atmosphere control manifold

Inventors: Lyle Oscar Dingman (East Troy, WI); Michael Abraham Schneck (New Berlin, PA); Gary Allen Hanson (Janesville, WI); David Allen Strand (Burlington, WI); Michael Laddie Grande (Elkhorn, WI); Geoffry Allen Gromiuk (Mukwonago, WI); Steven Edward Kempowski (Oconomowoc, WI); Jon Allen Ludlum (Darien, WI); Necat Demiri (East Troy, WI)
Assignee: TPS IP, LLC
F16K27/003A21B3/04F16L41/03F16K37/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,794,508
App. No.
15/922,623
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

One or more techniques regarding an atmosphere controlling manifold are provided. For example, one or more embodiments can regard a manifold that can comprise a first channel connected to a first inlet port. The manifold can also comprise a second channel connected to second inlet port. Further, the manifold can comprise a third channel connecting the first channel, the second channel, and an outlet port. Additionally, the manifold can comprise a valve connected to the third channel and regulating fluid communication through the third channel. Moreover, the first channel, the second channel, and third channel can be defined within a body of the manifold.

Claims (51)

1. A manifold, comprising: a manifold body, comprising:

a first channel connected to a first inlet port;

a second channel connected to a second inlet port; and

a third channel connecting the first channel, the second channel, and an outlet port, wherein the third channel extends from the first channel and the second channel to the outlet port within a body of the manifold;

a valve connected to the third channel and regulating fluid communication through the third channel; and

wherein the third channel connects to the first channel and the second channel outside the valve; and

a second valve connected to the third channel;

wherein the valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the third channel between the first inlet port and the outlet port, and the second valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the third channel between the second inlet port and the outlet port; and

a fourth channel connecting the first channel, the second channel, and a second outlet port together; and

a third valve connected to the fourth channel and configured to regulate fluid communication through the fourth channel.

2. The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the manifold body further comprises:

a fourth channel connecting a third inlet port and a fourth inlet port to a second outlet port.

3. The manifold of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet port facilitates a first attachment of a vacuum supply to the manifold, wherein the second inlet port facilitates a second attachment of an atmosphere supply to the manifold, wherein the third inlet port facilitates a third attachment of a testing device to the manifold, wherein and the fourth inlet port facilitates a fourth attachment of a monitoring device to the manifold.

4. The manifold of claim 3 , wherein the first inlet port is in fluid communication with a vacuum supply, and the second inlet port is in fluid communication with an atmosphere supply.

5. The manifold of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fourth valve connected to the fourth channel; and

wherein the third valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the fourth channel between the first inlet port and the second outlet port, and the fourth valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the fourth channel between the second inlet port and the second outlet port.

6. The manifold of claim 5 , wherein the first inlet port is in fluid communication with a vacuum supply, and the second inlet port is in fluid communication with an atmosphere supply.

7. The manifold of claim 6 , wherein the fourth channel is also defined within the body of the manifold.

8. The manifold of claim 7 , wherein the outlet port is connected to a first device having a first atmosphere controlled by the manifold in accordance with a first parameter, and the second outlet port is connected to a second device having a second atmosphere controlled by the manifold in accordance with a second parameter.

9. A system comprising: a manifold body that houses a plurality of channels and comprises:

a first channel from the plurality of channels connected to a first inlet port;

a second channel from the plurality of channels connected to a second inlet port; and

a third channel from the plurality of channels connecting the first channel, the second channel, and an outlet port, wherein the third channel extends from the first channel and the second channel to the outlet port within a body of the manifold; and

a valve connected to the third channel and regulating fluid communication through the third channel, wherein the third channel connects to the first channel and the second channel outside the valve; and

a second valve connected to the third channel;

wherein the valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the third channel between the first inlet port and the outlet port, and the second valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the third channel between the second inlet port and the outlet port; and

a fourth channel connecting the first channel, the second channel, and a second outlet port together; and

a third valve connected to the fourth channel and configured to regulate fluid communication through the fourth channel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the manifold body further comprises:

a fourth channel connecting a third inlet port and a fourth inlet port to a second outlet port.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first inlet port facilitates a first attachment of a vacuum supply to the manifold body, wherein the second inlet port facilitates a second attachment of an atmosphere supply to the manifold body, wherein the third inlet port facilitates a third attachment of a testing device to the manifold body, and wherein the fourth inlet port facilitates a fourth attachment of a monitoring device to the manifold.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the outlet port facilitates a connection to a device having an atmosphere controlled by the system in accordance with a parameter, and the second outlet port facilitates another connection to the device.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a second manifold body that houses a plurality of channels and comprises:

a fourth channel from the second plurality of channels connected to a third inlet port;

a fifth channel from the second plurality of channels connected to a fourth inlet port;

a sixth channel from the second plurality of channels connecting the fourth channel, the fifth channel, and a second outlet port; and

a second valve connected to the sixth channel and regulating fluid communication through the sixth channel, wherein the sixth channel connects to the fourth channel and the fifth channel outside the second valve.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the manifold body further comprises a third outlet port connected to the first channel, and a conduit connects the third outlet port of the manifold to the third inlet port of the second manifold body.

15. A manifold comprising: a manifold body that houses a plurality of channels comprising:

a vacuum channel from the plurality of channels connected to a vacuum inlet port;

an atmosphere channel from the plurality of channels connected to an atmosphere inlet port; and

a work channel from the plurality of channels connecting the vacuum channel, the atmosphere channel, and an outlet port, wherein the work channel extends from the vacuum channel and the atmosphere channel to the outlet port within a body of the manifold; and

a valve connected to the work channel and configured to regulate fluid communication through the work channel, wherein the work channel connects to the vacuum channel and the atmosphere channel outside the valve; and

a second valve connected to the work channel;

wherein the valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the work channel between the vacuum inlet port and the outlet port, and the second valve is configured to regulate fluid communication through the work channel between the atmosphere inlet port and the outlet port; and

a test channel connecting the vacuum channel, the atmosphere channel, and a second outlet port together; and

a third valve connected to the test channel and configured to regulate fluid communication through the test channel.

16. The manifold of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of channels further comprises a test channel connecting a test inlet port and a monitoring inlet port to a second outlet port.

17. The manifold of claim 16 , wherein the vacuum inlet port facilitates a first attachment of a vacuum supply to the manifold body, wherein the atmosphere inlet port facilitates a second attachment of an atmosphere supply to the manifold body, wherein the test inlet port facilitates a third attachment of a testing device to the manifold body, and the monitoring inlet port facilitates a fourth attachment of a monitoring device to the manifold body.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2022
From: THERMAL PRODUCT SOLUTIONS, LLC; TPS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; TPS, LLC; WISCONSIN OVEN CORPORATION
To: MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY (AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT)
Reel/Frame 060425/0501 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2022
From: WEBSTER BUSINESS CREDIT, A DIVISION OF WEBSTER BANK, N.A.
To: TPS, LLC; WISCONSIN OVEN CORPORATION; TPS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; THERMAL PRODUCT SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060375/0289 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2020
From: TPS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: WEBSTER BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054765/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2020
From: TPS IP, LLC
To: TPS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 054570/0882 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2020
From: TPS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: PROSPECT CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054541/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2020
From: TPS IP, LLC
To: TPS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 054517/0966 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2018
From: DINGMAN, LYLE OSCAR; SCHNECK, MICHAEL ABRAHAM; HANSON, GARY ALLEN; STRAND, DAVID ALLEN; GRANDE, MICHAEL LADDIE; GROMIUK, GEOFFRY ALLEN; KEMPOWSKI, STEVEN EDWARD; LUDLUM, JON ALLEN; DEMIRI, NECAT
To: TPS IP, LLC
Reel/Frame 045242/0075 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62585984 · Nov 14, 2017
Related Publication 20190145539A1 · May 16, 2019