Fluid handling – Convertible – Units interchangeable between alternate locations
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2002-08-20
Fox, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Convertible
Units interchangeable between alternate locations
C251S367000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435205
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluidic device comprising a plurality of fluidic modules, and a passage block to which the plurality of fluidic modules are connected and which is provided, in its inside, with fluid passages for communicating the plurality of fluidic modules with one another.
For example, a device as shown in
FIGS. 9
,
10
and
11
is known as a background-art fluidic device. The device comprises a plurality of fluidic modules such as a fluid pump not shown, a tank not shown, a fluid-controlled valve
11
and an actuator
12
, and a passage block
13
to which the fluid pump, the tank, the fluid-controlled valve
11
, and the actuator are attached. The passage block
13
is provided, in its inside, with four fluid passages. That is, in the passage block
13
, there are provided a feed passage
14
for connecting the fluid pump and the fluid-controlled valve
11
to each other, an exhaust passage
15
for connecting the tank and the fluid-controlled valve
11
to each other, a head-site feed and exhaust passage
17
for connecting the fluid-controlled valve
11
and a head-site chamber
16
of the actuator
12
to each other, and a rod-site feed and exhaust chamber
19
for connecting the fluid-controlled valve
11
and a rod-site chamber
18
of the actuator
12
to each other.
Incidentally, the feed passage
14
, the exhaust passage
15
and the feed and exhaust passages
17
and
19
are bent meanderingly because both ends of each passage is generally not on one and the same axis. Taking the rod-site feed and exhaust passage
19
as an example, the passage
19
is bent three times because the passage
19
has a first passage portion
19
a
extending downward from an upper surface of the passage block
13
, a second passage portion
19
b
extending backward from a lower end of the first passage portion
19
a
, a third passage portion
19
c
extending leftward from an intermediate portion of the second passage portion
19
b
, and a fourth passage portion
19
d
extending downward from an intermediate portion of the third passage portion
19
c
. Further, an opening end of an intermediately located passage portion (straight hole) such as the second passage portion
19
b
is closed by a plug
23
which has, as shown in
FIG. 12
, a body
20
inserted from its forward end side into the opening end portion of the second passage portion
19
b
, a hole
21
formed in the body
20
, and a plug
22
implanted in the hole
21
to widen the diameter of a rear end portion of the body
20
.
If the fluid passages are bent meanderingly as described above, each fluid passage needs passage portions of the number obtained by addition of one to the number of bends. When, for example, the fluid passage is bent three times, the fluid passage needs four passage portions (straight holes). As a result, there is a problem that the cost of the resulting device is increased because a troublesome drilling process is required as well as the structure of the device is complicated. Moreover, the opening end portion of each intermediate passage portion (straight hole) must be processed with sufficiently high accuracy to be closed by the aforementioned plug
23
. As a result, there is also a problem that the cost of the device is increased more greatly. Moreover, stress concentration is apt to occur in each bending portion of the fluid passage, that is, in a joint between adjacent passage portions of the fluid passage because such adjacent passage portions is crossed each other at 90 degrees. To prevent such stress concentration, it is necessary to chamfer each bending portion. As a result, there is a further problem that the cost of the device is increased more and more greatly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a fluidic device which is simple in structure and which can be produced inexpensively.
The above object can be achieved by a fluidic device comprising a plurality of fluidic modules, and a passage block to which the plurality of fluidic modules are connected and which is provided, in its inside, with fluid passages for communicating the plurality of fluidic modules to one another, wherein: a space is formed in the passage block; and an internal body is received in the space liquid-tightly, channels being formed in an outer surface of the internal body so that the channels form part of the fluid passages.
In the present invention, the fluid passages are partially formed by the channels formed in the internal body. Since such channels are formed in the outer surface of the internal body, the work for forming the channels becomes so easy that the resulting device can be produced inexpensively as well as the channels becomes simple in structure compared with a plurality of straight drill holes. Moreover a process of closing each opening end with a plug and a process of chamfering each bending portion become needless, so that the resulting device can be produced more inexpensively. Incidentally, since the internal body is received in the space so liquid-tightly that the channels are sealed securely individually, there is no fluid leakage.
Further, according to the configuration as described in Claim
2
, the work for forming the space, the internal body and the channels becomes easy.
Further, according to the configuration as described in Claim
3
, the work for forming the channels becomes easy.
Further, according to the configuration as described in Claim
4
, the internal body can be positioned easily with sufficiently high accuracy.
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent application No. Hei. 11-347184 (filed on Dec. 7, 1999), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4011887 (1977-03-01), Raymond
patent: 4080983 (1978-03-01), Stumpmeier
patent: 4308892 (1982-01-01), Van Ausdal
patent: 4526343 (1985-07-01), d'Agostino et al.
patent: 5297469 (1994-03-01), Raymond
patent: 5816290 (1998-10-01), Altshuler
patent: 5846611 (1998-12-01), Stanevich
Hattori Masakazu
Yasui Tsutomu
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Fox John
Teijin Seiki Co. Ltd.
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