Valve manifold

Abstract

A valve manifold includes a valve body carrying pairs of laterally spaced piston actuated valves controlled by control modules operative to selectively pressurize and exhaust an outlet port connected to a fluid device and configured in groupings permitting varying valve functionalities.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of detecting a leak in a test part comprising the steps of:
 pressurizing a high pressure line and a low pressure line with a high pressure pilot valve and a low pressure pilot valve, respectively, to close a high pressure valve and a low pressure valve, respectively;   deenergizing an exhaust pilot valve and an isolation pilot valve to open an exhaust valve and an isolation valve, respectively;   energizing one of the high pressure pilot valve and the low pressure pilot valve to open the high pressure valve and the low pressure valve, respectively;   energizing the exhaust pilot valve to open the exhaust valve; and   pressurizing a test part with high pressure air to detect a leak.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the step of deenergizing the exhaust pilot valve and the step of deenergizing the isolation pilot valve occur concurrently. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the step of energizing the one of the high pressure pilot valve and the low pressure pilot valve and the step of energizing the exhaust pilot valve occur concurrently. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including monitoring pressure transients to determine if the test part leaks based on the pressure transient. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including indicating if the test part has the leak. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including denoting a pass condition or a fail condition of the test part. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  including denoting a pass condition or a fail condition with an indicator light. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including mounting a test part in a test fixture. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including initializing a control system and selecting a test protocol. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including activating a start button to initiate a test. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 9  including opening the isolation valve with a spring. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the high pressure pilot valve and the lower pressure pilot valve are normally open. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the exhaust pilot valve and the isolation pilot valve are normally closed.