Fluid handling – Systems – With flow control means for branched passages
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-25
2001-10-16
Fox, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
With flow control means for branched passages
C137S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302149
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a solenoid-valve manifold in which each of a plurality of manifold blocks connected together has a solenoid valve mounted thereon and having a feeding mechanism for feeding electrical power to the solenoid valves.
BACKGROUND ART
A solenoid-valve manifold in which a plurality of manifold blocks, each having a valve-mounting surface for mounting a solenoid valve and a channel for supplying the solenoid valve with a pressure fluid, are connected together, and in which the manifold blocks each have the solenoid valve mounted thereon, is already well known. Such a solenoid-valve manifold has a feeding mechanism for supplying the solenoid valves with electrical power.
In general, in the conventional feeding mechanism, a manifold-block connecting body has a terminal block attached to a connecting end thereof, and a multipolar connector for connecting to an external power source is fixed to the terminal block, and then the multipolar connector and each solenoid valve are directly connected using a lead wire or are connected via a relay connector.
In the conventional feeding mechanism, however, since the multipolar connector is located at one end of the solenoid-valve manifold, a number of lead wires must be led out from the multipolar connector in one direction. Consequently, in the case where a number of solenoid valves are connected together, the number of lead wires also increases, as a result, a wiring operation is complicated such that not only are the lead wires intertwined but also long lead wires are required for connecting to a solenoid valve separated from the connector. Moreover, changing the connection or the like in the case of increasing or decreasing the number of solenoid valves or rearranging them is extremely troublesome.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is a technical object of the present invention to provide a solenoid-valve manifold having a highly convenient feeding mechanism in which a connector for connecting to a power source and each solenoid valve can be easily connected together and in which the connection structure can be easily changed in accordance with the increase or decrease in the number of the solenoid valves.
In order to attain the above object according to the present invention, there is provided a solenoid-valve manifold having a feeding mechanism characterized by comprising: a plurality of manifold blocks each having a valve-mounting surface for mounting the solenoid valve and a channel for supplying a pressure fluid to the mounted solenoid valve, which are detachably connected together; one or a plurality of fixing grooves provided on at least one of front and rear surfaces of each manifold block, which extend in a connecting direction, and which are connected to the fixing groove of the adjacent manifold block; a solenoid valve mounted on the valve-mounting surface of each of the manifold blocks; a power-receiving connector provided for each of the solenoid valves; a connector holder fixed to the fixing groove of the manifold blocks along the fixing groove in such a manner that the fixing position can be freely adjusted; a multipolar connector provided for the connector holder for connecting to an external power source; a plurality of distributing connectors provided for the connector holder and connected to the multipolar connector, which correspond to the plurality of solenoid valves; and a splicer for electrically connecting each of the distributing connectors to the power-receiving connector of the solenoid valve.
In the solenoid-valve manifold having the above construction, since the connector holder can be moved along the fixing groove and fixed to any location where wiring can be easily performed depending on the number of the solenoid valves and the like, it is highly convenient because not only is the wiring operation remarkably simplified, but also a connection structure can be easily changed in accordance with an increase or decrease in the number of the solenoid valves.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of distributing connectors are mounted on one connector base plate, and the connector base plate is removably attached to the connector holder. The connector holder is constructed so as to allow the connector base plate to be installed in a state where part of the connector base plate is protruded from the side-end surface thereof. The connector holder can have an auxiliary case covering the protruded portion of the connector base plate and an end cover for closing an open end of the auxiliary case connected thereto.
According to the embodiment of the invention, the fixing groove provided for each manifold block has an extended section having a large groove width therein, and fixing screws each having a nut attached at a tip thereof are attached to the connector holder and the end cover at positions corresponding to the fixing groove in a manner so as to be freely fastened or loosened. By inserting the nuts into the extended section of the fixing groove via a groove end and by tightening the fixing screws, the connector holder and the end cover are fixed to the fixing groove.
With the above construction, mounting of the connector holder and the end cover to the fixing groove and adjustment of the positions thereof can be remarkably easily performed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4815496 (1989-03-01), Nishitani et al.
patent: 4938258 (1990-07-01), Sato
patent: 7-22540 (1995-05-01), None
Matsumoto Takumi
Sato Hideharu
Fox John
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
SMC Corporation
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