Valve manifold box and method of making same

Details Valve manifold box and method of making same Valve manifold box and method of making same

2000-07-10

2001-03-13

Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

With casing, support, protector or static constructional...

Guards and shields

C137S382000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06199580

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a manifold box containing manifolds for valves controlling the flow of potentially hazardous liquids. More specifically this is a sealed box enclosing the valves to contain any leaks from the valve and allow any leaking liquid to drain from the box through a drain tube at the bottom of the box to prevent the liquid from leaking onto surfaces below or adjacent to the box.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the prior art to provide sealed junction boxes containing either electrical wiring, plumbing or both and which contain and divert leaking liquid so that it will not damage adjacent surfaces or equipment.
A typical example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,907 issued to Harald Philipp which shows an enclosure divided into two compartments with one containing electronic circuitry and the other containing liquid controlling valves. The compartments are divided by a slanted wall which causes any water leaks to drain from the enclosure without contacting the electronic equipment.
Another example of such an enclosure is a washing machine outlet box which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,624 issued to Constantine R Doumany which shows a plastic box having a downwardly extending neck around a drain opening in the bottom of the box to drain away any water leaking within the box to prevent water from escaping from the box and leaking onto adjacent surfaces and equipment.
Other similar examples of plastic boxes with bottom drains are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,471 (Logsdon) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,422 (Izzi, Sr).
The manufacturing of plastic boxes for specific applications such as to contain certain manifolds carrying hazardous liquids such as those containing acid materials and the like are often manufactured by hand lay up from sheet plastic materials to meet the needed requirements of the size, shape and the particular valve fittings to be mounted within a particular container. This can be very expensive and time consuming.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, easy to manufacture sealed container for a valve manifold which contains and drains away hazardous liquids which may leak from the connections of the manifold.
Another object of this invention is to provide a manufacturing method for a sealed container which can produced in mass production with a minimum of hand labor.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a container which can be mounted for use in either the vertical or horizontal position and still provide effective drainage of liquid from the bottom of the container regardless of whichever mounting position is selected.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in the following specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a valve manifold box to enclose manifolds controlling the flow of potentially hazardous liquids which need containment in the event of valve or connection leaks, the box comprising: a substantially rectangular non-metallic box having five sides integral with each other, four of said sides defining an opening; a cover panel sealingly held against adjacent edges of four of the sides to form a liquid retaining enclosure to contain any leakage from valves or connection points of a manifold within the box; and a plurality of fittings attached in sealing relationship to at least part of the walls; said fittings adapted to be in communication with the inside of the box and with liquid carrying tubes passing therethrough.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3831624 (1974-08-01), Doumany
patent: 4158471 (1979-06-01), Logsdon
patent: 4637422 (1987-01-01), Izzi, Sr.
patent: 4913183 (1990-04-01), Vogel et al.
patent: 5253670 (1993-10-01), Perrott
patent: 5381902 (1995-01-01), Dumser et al.
patent: 5555907 (1996-09-01), Philipp
patent: 5875812 (1999-03-01), Miller

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