Systems and methods of flow control valves with manifolds
A system includes a manifold and a flow control valve. The flow control valve includes an inlet defining an inlet chamber, an outlet defining an outlet chamber, and a movable member positioned in a control chamber coupled with the inlet and the outlet. The manifold includes a valve actuator, an inlet port that connects with the inlet chamber, an outlet port that connects with the outlet chamber, and a control port that connects the valve actuator with the control chamber to cause the movable member to change from a sealed state that prevents fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet to an unsealed state that allows fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet responsive to operation of the valve actuator.
1 . A manifold, comprising:
a housing comprising a first face, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, the first face between the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
a valve actuator on the first face of the housing, the valve actuator between the first lateral side and a center of the first face;
an inlet channel that extends through the housing to an inlet port on the first face, the inlet port between the center and the second lateral side, the inlet port to connect with an inlet chamber of a flow control valve;
an outlet channel that extends through the housing to an outlet port on the first face, the outlet port between the center and the second lateral side, the outlet port to connect with an outlet chamber of the flow control valve;
an alarm channel that extends through the housing to an alarm port on the first face, the alarm port between the center and the second lateral side, the alarm port to connect with an alarm chamber of the flow control valve; and
a control channel that extends through the housing to a control port in fluid communication with the valve actuator, the control port between the center and the second lateral side, the control port to connect with a control chamber of the flow control valve.
2 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of gauges on the first face of the housing, the plurality of gauges including a pressure gauge connected with the control port to provide a pressure of fluid in the control chamber.
3 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
an air pressure gauge to connect with a pipe of a dry pipe sprinkler system to provide a pressure of air in the pipe.
4 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
a pilot actuator to connect with a sprinkler system, the pilot actuator coupled with the valve actuator to trigger operation of the valve actuator responsive to a pressure drop in the sprinkler system.
5 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
a pilot actuator coupled with the valve actuator to trigger operation of the valve actuator responsive to a pressure drop, the valve actuator is between the pilot actuator and the control port.
6 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
the valve actuator comprises:
a plunger and a seal to couple with the flow control valve; and
a button coupled to the manifold and in communication with the plunger and the seal to drive the plunger.
7 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of mounting holes to couple the manifold with the flow control valve, the plurality of mounting holes defined in the first face of the housing, the plurality of mounting holes proximate the first lateral side relative to the second lateral side.
8 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
a solenoid valve coupled with the valve actuator to cause operation of the valve actuator responsive to an electronic control signal.
9 . The manifold of claim 1 , comprising:
a solenoid valve coupled with the valve actuator, the valve actuator is between the solenoid valve and the control port.