Solenoid valve control system

Abstract

A fluid control system that includes a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form at least first and second passages extending continuously through the manifold and each of the bodies. A plurality of solenoid valves are each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into the body to the fluid passage(s) that extend through the manifold. An electrical connection arrangement is mounted at one end of the manifold for receiving control signals from an external source. A plurality of circuitboards are disposed one within the second passage of each body, with each of the circuitboards including male and female connectors at opposed ends for connecting the circuitboards in series with each other to the electrical connection arrangement at the end of the manifold. A third connector on each circuitboard extends laterally from the circuitboard for connection to the solenoid valve mounted on the side of the associated manifold body.

1. A fluid control system that comprises:
 a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form fluid passage means extending through said manifold, said manifold bodies including first through passage means that align with each other and collectively form said fluid passage means in said manifold, and second through passage means that align with each other and collectively form a continuous second passage through said manifold parallel to and offset from said fluid passage means, ; 
 a solenoid valve being mounted on a side of at least one of said manifold bodies with fluid ports opening into said body to said fluid passage means, ; 
 electrical connection means being mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving control signals from an external source, and ; 
 a plurality of individual circuitboards being disposed one in each of said second through passage means, said plurality of circuitboards having interconnection means and conductors printed thereon, and being electrically interconnected in series through said continuous second passage, by means of said interconnection means and said conductors, electrically connecting said connection means to said solenoid valve;  
   said interconnection means comprising a female connector at one end of each circuitboard and a mating male connector at an opposing end of each said circuitboard for enabling series connection of said circuitboards through said continuous second passage;    
   each of said circuitboards further including a third connector on a lateral side thereof not extending above said passage means adjacent to said side of said manifold body for electrical interconnection of said circuitboard to said solenoid valve mounted on said side of said body; and    
   said second passage means including upper and lower opposed slots extending at least partway through said body for slidably receiving in a longitudinal direction along the axis of the slots and retaining said circuitboard; and    
   said circuitboard being constructed to be slidably receivable in a longitudinal direction in said opposed slots .  
 
     
     
       2. The system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said interconnection means comprising female interconnection means at one end of each said circuitboard and mating male interconnection means at an opposing end of each said circuitboard for enabling said series connection of said circuitboards through said continuous second passage. 
     
     
       3. The system set forth in  claim 2  wherein each of said circuitboards further includes third electrical interconnection means on a lateral side thereof adjacent to said side of said manifold body for electrical interconnection of said circuitboard to said solenoid valve mounted on said side of said body. 
     
     
       4. The system set forth in  claim 3  wherein said second passage means includes a slot extending at least partway through said body for slidably receiving and retaining said circuitboard. 
     
     
       5. The system set forth in claim  4    1  wherein said third electrical interconnection means  connector includes an opening in said body extending from said second through passage means to said side of said body, and an electrical connector disposed in said opening for electrical connection to said circuitboard by mating engagement with said third electrical interconnection means  connector on said circuitboard. 
     
     
       6. A fluid control system that comprises:
   a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end - to - end so as to form fluid passage means extending through said manifold, said manifold bodies including first through passage means that align with each other and collectively form said fluid passage means in said manifold, and second through passage means that align with each other and collectively form a continuous second passage through said manifold parallel to and offset from said fluid passage means;    
   a solenoid valve being mounted on a side of at least one of said manifold bodies with fluid ports opening into said body to said fluid passage means;    
   electrical connection means being mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving control signals from an external source;    
   a plurality of individual circuitboards being disposed one in each of said second through passage means, said plurality of circuitboards having interconnection means and conductors printed thereon, and being electrically interconnected in series through said continuous second passage, by means of said interconnection means and said conductors, electrically connecting said connection means to said solenoid valve;    
   said interconnection means comprising a female connector at one end of each circuitboard and a mating male connector at an opposing end of each said circuitboard for enabling series connection of said circuitboards through said continuous second passage;    
   each of said circuitboards further including a third connector on a lateral side thereof adjacent to said side of said manifold body for electrical interconnection of said circuitboard to said solenoid valve mounted on said side of said body;    
   said second passage means including a slot extending at least partway through said body for slidably receiving and retaining said circuitboard;    
   said third connector including an opening in said body extending from said second through passage means to said side of said body, and an electrical connector being disposed in said opening for electrical connection to said circuitboard by mating engagement with said third electrical interconnection means connector on said circuitboard; and   
 The system set forth in  claim 5 said system being adapted for use in conjunction with single-solenoid and dual-solenoid valves mounted on said body, wherein said connector is color coded to identify said circuitboard for use with either a single-solenoid or a dual-solenoid valve.  
 
     
     
       7. The system set forth in claim  3    1  wherein each said circuitboard has at least one first conductor printed thereon that extends from a preselected contact of said male connector to the same preselected contact of said female connector so as to extend continuously through said manifold and supply a common connection to all valves on said manifold, and a plurality of second conductors at least one of which extends to said third connector and the remainder of which extend from corresponding contacts of one of said male and female connectors to a contact on the other of said male and female connectors reduced as compared with said corresponding contacts by the number of said second conductors that connect to said third connector. 
     
     
       8. The system set forth in  claim 7  for use in conjunction with single-solenoid and dual-solenoid valves mounted on said body, wherein said circuitboard has either one of said second conductors extending to said third connector for use in conjunction with single-solenoid valves or two of said second conductors extending to said third connector for use in conjunction with dual-solenoid valves. 
     
     
       9. A fluid control system that comprises:
   a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end - to - end so as to form fluid passage means extending through said manifold, said manifold bodies including first through passage means that align with each other and collectively form said fluid passage means in said manifold, and second through passage means that align with each other and collectively form a continuous second passage through said manifold parallel to and offset from said fluid passage means;    
   a solenoid valve being mounted on a side of at least one of said manifold bodies with fluid ports opening into said body to said fluid passage means;    
   electrical connection means being mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving control signals from an external source;    
   a plurality of individual circuitboards being disposed one in each of said second through passage means, said plurality of circuitboards having interconnection means and conductors printed thereon, and being electrically interconnected in series through said continuous second passage, by means of said interconnection means and said conductors, electrically connecting said connection means to said solenoid valve;    
   said interconnection means comprising a female connector at one end of each circuitboard and a mating male connector at an opposing end of each said circuitboard for enabling series connection of said circuitboards through said continuous second passage;    
   each of said circuitboards further including a third connector on a lateral side thereof adjacent to said side of said manifold body for electrical interconnection of said circuitboard to said solenoid valve mounted on said side of said body;    
   said second passage means including a slot extending at least partway through said body for slidably receiving and retaining said circuitboard; and    
 The system set forth in  claim 3  wherein  said solenoid valve comprisescomprising a valve body mounted on said manifold body with valve ports coupled to said first passage means, a solenoid mounted to said valve body and operatively coupled to a valve element in said valve body, and valve circuitboard means sandwiched between said solenoid and said valve body, said valve circuitboard means including first valve connection means for interconnection with said third connector and second valve connection means for connection to said solenoid and thereby operatively interconnecting said solenoid to said third connector.  
 
     
     
       10. The system set forth in  claim 9  wherein said solenoid has connector means for mating engagement with said second valve connection means on said valve circuitboard means when said valve circuitboard means is sandwiched between said solenoid and said valve body. 
     
     
       11. The system set forth in  claim 10  wherein  A fluid control system that comprises:
   a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end - to - end so as to form fluid passage means extending through said manifold, said manifold bodies including first through passage means that align with each other and collectively form said fluid passage means in said manifold, and second through passage means that align with each other and collectively form a continuous second passage through said manifold parallel to and offset from said fluid passage means;    
   a solenoid valve being mounted on a side of at least one of said manifold bodies with fluid ports opening into said body to said fluid passage means;    
   electrical connection means being mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving control signals from an external source;    
   a plurality of individual circuitboards being disposed one in each of said second through passage means, said plurality of circuitboards having interconnection means and conductors printed thereon, and being electrically interconnected in series through said continuous second passage, by means of said interconnection means and said conductors, electrically connecting said connection means to said solenoid valve;    
   said interconnection means comprising a female connector at one end of each circuitboard and a mating male connector at an opposing end of each said circuitboard for enabling series connection of said circuitboards through said continuous second passage;    
   each of said circuitboards further including a third connector on a lateral side thereof adjacent to said side of said manifold body for electrical interconnection of said circuitboard to said solenoid valve mounted on said side of said body;    
   said solenoid valve comprising a valve body mounted on said manifold body with valve ports coupled to said first passage means, a solenoid mounted to said valve body and operatively coupled to a valve element in said valve body, and valve circuitboard means sandwiched between said solenoid and said valve body, said valve circuitboard means including first valve connection means for interconnection with said third connector and second valve connection means for connection to said solenoid and thereby operatively interconnecting said solenoid to said third connector;   
   said solenoid having connector means for mating engagement with said second valve connection means on said valve circuitboard means when said valve circuitboard means is sandwiched between said solenoid and said valve body; and    
 said solenoid valve comprises  comprising a dual-solenoid valve having a second solenoid mounted at an opposing end of said valve body, and solenoid interconnection means extending through a passage within said valve body from said valve circuitboard to the connection means on said second solenoid thereby operatively interconnecting said second solenoid to said third connector.  
 
     
     
       12. The system set forth in claim  11    41  wherein said solenoid interconnection means is adapted for releasable mating engagement with said second solenoid and with said valve circuitboard such that said second solenoid may be disconnected from said valve body and said solenoid interconnection means and said valve body and said solenoid interconnection means may be disconnected from said solenoid and said valve circuitboard. 
     
     
       13. The system set forth in  claim 10  wherein said connector means on said solenoid is adapted for releasable mating engagement with said valve circuitboard such that said solenoid may be disconnected from said valve circuitboard and said valve body. 
     
     
       14. The system set forth in  claim 9  further comprising fluid control means mounted between said valve body and said side of said manifold body, and valve interconnection means extending through said fluid control means between said third connectors and said first valve interconnection means. 
     
     
       15. The system set forth in  claim 14  wherein said valve interconnection means is adapted for releasable mating engagement with said third connector and said first valve interconnection means such that said solenoid valve may be disconnected from said fluid control means and said fluid control means may be disconnected from said body. 
     
     
       16. The system set forth in  claim 9  wherein said first valve interconnection means is adapted for releasable mating engagement with said third connector. 
     
     
       17. The system set forth in  claim 9  wherein said solenoid valve further comprises indicator means on said valve circuitboard means and visible from outside of said valve body for indicating energization of said solenoid. 
     
     
       18. The system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising means on each of said bodies for fastening said bodies to each other. 
     
     
       19. The system set forth in  claim 18  wherein said fastening means comprises at least one screw carried by each of said bodies having a male end and a female end for receiving the male end of the at least one screw in the adjacent body. 
     
     
       20. The system set forth in  claim 19  further comprising a gasket on each said body for sealing engagement with the adjacent body for sealingly surrounding said first through passage means. 
     
     
       21. The system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said bodies are identical. 
     
     
       22. The system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said electrical connection means comprises a circuitboard assembly having first connection means for connection to the external source and second connection means for connection to said circuitboards. 
     
     
       23. The system set forth in  claim 22  wherein said first connection means comprises terminal strip means for hardwire connection to the external source. 
     
     
       24. The system set forth in  claim 22  for communication with the external source in accordance with a predetermined input/output protocol, wherein said first connection means is of a configuration coordinated with said predetermined input/output protocol. 
     
     
       25. The system set forth in  claim 22  wherein said circuitboard assembly includes electronic circuit means for communication with the external source. 
     
     
       26. The system set forth in  claim 25  wherein said electronic circuit means includes valve driver circuit means responsive to control signals from the external source for feeding valve solenoid control signals to said solenoid valve through said circuitboards. 
     
     
       27. The system set forth in  claim 22  wherein said circuitboard assembly includes electronic circuit means for driving multiple input/output connector means. 
     
     
       28. The system set forth in  claim 27  including a shell mounted to said manifold and having a predetermined number of input/output connectors thereon, and wherein said circuitboard assembly includes master circuitboard means having an input/output driver with plural input/output capability connected to said input/output connectors. 
     
     
       29. The system set forth in  claim 28  including a plurality of said shells and associated input/output connectors mounted in series to said manifold, said master circuitboard means being mounted within one of said shells and connected to the associated connectors, and slave circuitboard means being mounted in the other of said shells and connecting said driver with the connectors on said shells. 
     
     
       30. The system set forth in  claim 1  comprising a plurality of said solenoid valves mounted on associated ones of said bodies. 
     
     
       31. A fluid control system that comprises; :
 a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form first passage means and second passage means parallel to and offset from each other and extending continuously through said manifold and each of said bodies,  
 a plurality of solenoid valves each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into said body to said first passage means,  
 electrical connector means mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving valve control signals from an external source, and ; 
 a plurality of circuitboards disposed one within the second passage means of each body, each said  circuitboard including male and female connection means  connectors at opposed ends connecting said circuitboards in series with each other to said electrical connector means, and third connection means  connectors extending laterally from each circuitboard for connection to the valve mounted on the side of the associated body;  
   each circuitboard having at least one first conductor printed thereon that extends from a preselected contact of said male connector to the same preselected contact of said female connector so as to extend continuously through said manifold and supply a common connection to all valves on said manifold through said third connector, and a plurality of second conductors at least one of which extends to said third connector and the remainder of which extend from corresponding contacts of one of said male and female connectors to a contact on the other of said male and female connectors reduced as compared with said corresponding contacts by the number of said second conductors that connect to said third connector; and    
   at least one said circuitboard having two of said second conductors extending to said third connector for providing two control lines for use in conjunction with dual-solenoid valves having two solenoids mounted on one of said manifold bodies;    
   the remainder of second conductors in said at least one said circuitboards extending from a preselected contact position at one of said male or female connectors and decremented two contact positions at the other of said male or female connectors .  
 
     
     
       32. The system set forth in  claim 31  wherein each said circuitboard has at least one first conductor printed thereon that extends from a preselected contact of said male connector to the same preselected contact of said female connector so as to extend continuously through said manifold and supply a common connection to all valves on said manifold, and a plurality of second conductors at least one of which extends to said third connector and the remainder of which extend from corresponding contacts of one of said male and female connectors to a contact on the other of said male and female connectors reduced as compared with said corresponding contacts by the number of said second conductors that connect to said third connector. 
     
     
       33. The system set forth in  claim 32  for use in conjunction with single-solenoid and dual-solenoid valves mounted on said body, wherein each said circuitboard has either one of said second conductors extending to said third connector for use in conjunction with single-solenoid valves or two of said second conductors extending to said third connector for use in conjunction with dual-solenoid valves. 
     
     
       34. A fluid control system that comprises:
   a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form first passage means and second passage means parallel to and offset from each other and extending continuously through said manifold and each of said bodies;    
   a plurality of solenoid valves each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into said body to said first passage means;    
   electrical connector means mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving valve control signals from an external source;    
   a plurality of circuitboards disposed one within the second passage means of each body, each circuitboard including male and female connectors at opposed ends connecting said circuitboards in series with each other to said electrical connector means, and third connectors extending laterally from each circuitboard for connection to the valve mounted on the side of the associated body;    
   each circuitboard having at least one first conductor printed thereon that extends from a preselected contact of said male connector to the same preselected contact of said female connector so as to extend continuously through said manifold and supply a common connection to all valves on said manifold, and a plurality of second conductors at least one of which extends to said third connector and the remainder of which extend from corresponding contacts of one of said male and female connectors to a contact on the other of said male and female connectors reduced as compared with said corresponding contacts by the number of said second conductors that connect to said third connector;    
   at least one said circuitboard having two of said second conductors extending to said third connector for providing two control lines for use in conjunction with dual-solenoid valves having two solenoids mounted on one of said manifold bodies; and    
 The system set forth in  claim 31   wherein each said solenoid valve comprises a valve body mounted on said manifold body with valve ports coupled to said first passage means, a solenoid mounted to said valve body and operatively coupled to a valve element in said valve body, and valve circuitboard means sandwiched between said solenoid and said valve body, said valve circuitboard means including first valve connection means for interconnection with said third connector and second valve connection means for connection to said solenoid and thereby operatively interconnecting said solenoid to said third connector.  
 
     
     
       35. The system set forth in  claim 34  wherein said solenoid has connector means for mating engagement with said second valve connection means on said valve circuitboard means when said valve circuitboard means is sandwiched between said solenoid and said valve body. 
     
     
       36. The system set forth in  claim 35  wherein at least one of said solenoid valves comprises a dual-solenoid valve having a second solenoid mounted at an opposing end of said valve body, and solenoid interconnection means extending through a passage within said valve body from said valve circuitboard to the connection means on said second solenoid thereby operatively interconnecting said second solenoid to said third connector. 
     
     
       37. The system set forth in  claim 34  further comprising fluid control means mounted between said valve body and said side of said manifold body, and valve interconnection means extending through said fluid control means between said third connector and said first valve interconnection means. 
     
     
       38. The system set forth in  claim 31  further comprising means on each of said bodies for fastening said bodies to each other. 
     
     
       39. The system set forth in  claim 38  wherein said bodies are identical. 
     
     
       40. A fluid control system for use with dual solenoid valves that comprises:
   a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form fluid passage means extending through said manifold, said manifold bodies including first through passage means that align with each other and collectively form said fluid passage means in said manifold, and second through passage means that align with each other and collectively form a continuous second passage through said manifold parallel to and offset from said fluid passage means;        a solenoid valve being mounted on a side of at least one of said manifold bodies with fluid ports opening into said body to said fluid passage means;        electrical connection means being mounted at one end of said manifold for receiving control signals from an external source;        a plurality of individual circuitboards being disposed one in each of said second through passage means, said plurality of circuitboards having interconnection means and conductors printed thereon, and being electrically interconnected in series through said continuous second passage, by means of said interconnection means and said conductors, electrically connecting said connection means to said solenoid valve;        said interconnection means comprising a first connector at one end of each said circuitboard and a mating connector at an opposing end of each said circuitboard for enabling said series connection of said circuitboards through said continuous second passage;        each of said circuitboards further including a third connector on a lateral side thereof adjacent to said side of said manifold body for electrical interconnection of said circuitboard to said solenoid valve mounted on said side of said body;        each circuitboard having at least one first conductor printed thereon that extends from a preselected contact of said mating connector to the same preselected contact of said first connector so as to extend continuously through said manifold and supply a common connection to all valves on said manifold, through said third connector and a plurality of second conductors at least one of which extends to said third connector and the remainder of which extend from corresponding contacts of one of said first and mating connectors to a contact on the other of said first and mating connectors reduced as compared with said corresponding contacts by the number of said second conductors that connect to said third connector; and        at least one of said circuitboards having more than one of said second conductors extending to said third connector for providing two control lines for use in conjunction with dual - solenoid valves having two solenoids mounted on one of said manifold bodies, the remainder of second conductors in said at least one of said circuitboards extending from a preselected contact position at one of said first and mating connectors and decremented two contact positions at the other of said first and mating connector.     
     
     
       41. The system set forth in  claim 10  wherein said solenoid valve comprises a dual- solenoid valve having a second solenoid mounted at an opposing end of said valve body, and solenoid interconnection means extending through a passage within said valve body from said valve circuitboard to the connection means on said second solenoid thereby operatively interconnecting said second solenoid to said third connector.