Chemical delivery system

Abstract

An expandable chemical delivery system sharing a common bulk fluid inlet and bulk fluid flow path to direct a bulk fluid through one or more selected chemical eductors. Each chemical eductor is slidably insertable into an eductor port on the manifold body such that rotation of the chemical eductor is not required for installation. After installation, the orientation of the chemical eductor can be rotatably adjusted so as to avoid interference with adjacent chemical eductors. Delivery of a bulk fluid to each chemical eductor is controlled via a corresponding valve assembly that selectively allows or blocks flow of the bulk fluid from the bulk fluid flow path to the corresponding chemical eductor. The manifold body can include a plurality of individual manifold bodies approximated with a coupling system to define the bulk fluid flow path. Alternatively, the manifold body can comprise a single fabricated body for high pressure operation.

1 . A chemical delivery system, comprising:
 a manifold block including a bulk fluid inlet connected to a bulk fluid flow conduit, and wherein a plurality of individual fluid flow conduits fluidly intersect the bulk fluid flow conduit, each individual fluid flow conduit being intersected by a valve bore having a valve mounting port and each individual fluid flow conduit having an educator mounting port;   at least one eductor assembly, each eductor assembly being individually attached to one of the educator mounting ports; and   a plurality of valve assemblies, each valve assembly being individually mounted to one of the valve mounting ports so as to selectively control flow of a bulk fluid through the individual fluid flow conduits such that individual eductor assemblies can removed from operation without preventing flow of the bulk fluid through the bulk fluid flow conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein each eductor assembly attaches to the corresponding eductor mounting port with a quick-connect fitting. 
     
     
         3 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein a removable locking member retains attachment of the eductor member to the eductor port. 
     
     
         4 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein each eductor port comprises a pair of continuous locking bores for receiving a pair of locking legs on the removable locking member, the locking legs being retained within opposed sides of a radial locking groove on a dispensing inlet of the eductor member. 
     
     
         5 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein each eductor assembly includes a chemical inlet and wherein the chemical inlet can be selectively rotatably positioned with respect to the eductor mounting port. 
     
     
         6 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly includes a valve cap, the valve cap being adapted to physically mount the valve assembly within the valve mounting port while simultaneously retaining internal actuation elements of the valve assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of eductor assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual fluid flow conduits are arranged in linear relation along the manifold block. 
     
     
         9 . The chemical delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual fluid flow conduits are arranged in radial relation on the manifold block. 
     
     
         10 . A method of educting bulk chemicals, comprising:
 fabricating a manifold block having a bulk fluid inlet connected to a bulk fluid flow conduit, and wherein a plurality of individual fluid flow conduits fluidly intersect the bulk fluid flow conduit, each individual fluid flow conduit being intersected by a valve bore having a valve mounting port and each individual fluid flow conduit having an educator mounting port;   attaching at least one eductor assembly to the manifold block, each eductor assembly being individually attached to one of the educator mounting ports; and   mounting a plurality of valve assemblies to the manifold block, each valve assembly being individually mounted to one of the valve mounting ports such that each valve assembly selectively controls flow of a bulk fluid through the corresponding fluid flow conduit.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of attaching at least one eductor assembly to the manifold block comprises:
 attaching a plurality of eductor assemblies to the manifold block.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing one of the individual eductor assemblies from the manifold block without preventing flow of the bulk fluid through the bulk fluid flow conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 replacing one of the individual eductor assemblies for the manifold block without preventing flow of the bulk fluid through the bulk fluid flow conduit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 rotating each eductor assembly such that a chemical inlet on each eductor assembly is selectively positioned with respect to the eductor mounting port.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein fabricating the manifold block, further comprises:
 arranging the individual fluid flow conduits linearly along the bulk fluid flow conduit.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein fabricating the manifold block, further comprises:
 arranging the individual fluid flow conduits radially around the bulk fluid flow conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein attaching the at least one eductor assembly to the manifold block further comprises:
 coupling the at least one eductor assembly to the eductor mounting port with a quick-connect fitting.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 locking the at least one eductor assembly to the eductor mounting port with a removable locking member.