A food article defect removal apparatus includes a manifold that defines one or more chambers for holding pressurized fluid. First channels extend from a first side of the manifold into fluid communication with the chambers. Second channels extend from the first side of the manifold to a second side of the manifold. Valves selectively connect corresponding first channels and second channels together to dispense the pressurized fluid from the manifold. The manifold can have an exterior wall that at least partially defines a first chamber and a second chamber, with an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The interior wall can define the second channels. The valves can be included with a valve assembly, which includes a driver operably coupled with the valves. The valves can be pluggably coupled with the driver.

A solenoid valve system is described which has a solenoid valve and a base operatively connected to the solenoid valve. Each solenoid valve has a compressed air supply conduit, a compressed air delivery conduit, air discharge conduit, air distribution box, configured so as to selectively put in fluid connection the conduits of the solenoid valve, and an electropilot, configured for activating the air distribution box. Each base has a plurality of housings each able to receive a single solenoid valve. Each housing is internally provided with air passage conduits that are put in fluid connection with the conduits of the solenoid valve fixed on the housing. Each base is selected from a group consisting of a base with three housings and a base with four housings.

A modular fluid control system comprised of a plurality of fluid control modules (11), each including a manifold portion (17), and a support element (14) to which the modules are mechanically fixed (12). The manifolds of adjacent units are pneumatically, but not mechanically, connected in order to communicate therebetween. In such an arrangement the modules can be removed from within an array without disturbing neighboring units.

A valve assembly has a basic module and a plurality of valve modules which are mounted on the basic module side by side along a line-up direction, the basic module having a lower portion, an upper portion and a connecting portion connecting the lower and the upper portion, which enclose a receiving space for at least one valve module on three sides. The basic module has a bottom surface facing outwards and an upper side facing outwards. At least one external fluid connection is provided which is arranged on the bottom surface or on the upper side. Furthermore, at least one external electrical connection is provided which is arranged on the bottom surface or on the upper side.

A hydraulic system comprising: a hydraulic fluid pressure source, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a hydraulically driven actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber, and a valve assembly having a first pilot-operated directional control valve and a second pilot-operated directional control valve, each including: an inlet port fluidly connected for receiving high-pressure hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid pressure source, an outlet port fluidly connected for draining hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid reservoir, a first actuator port fluidly coupled with the first chamber of the hydraulically driven actuator, a second actuator port fluidly coupled with the second chamber of the hydraulically driven actuator; first to fourth fail-safe solenoid-controlled pilot valves; and a pilot pressure fluid supply system.

A fluid control system for supplying fluid to a fluid consumer, having a valve module including a channel body to which a fluid switching valve, a fluid pressure regulator and a vacuum switching valve are attached, the channel body having a first fluid channel extending from a fluid input port to an input port of the fluid pressure regulator and having a second fluid channel extending from an output port of the fluid pressure regulator to an input port of the fluid switching valve, and having a third fluid channel extending from an output port of the fluid switching valve to a fluid consumer port, and having a first vacuum channel extending from a vacuum input port to an input port of the vacuum switching valve, and having a second vacuum channel extending from an output port of the vacuum switching valve to the fluid consumer port.

A valve block includes a plurality of control valve disks that form a first block part and a second block part. A supply pressure for the control valve disks of the first block part is limited by a common pressure-limiting valve. The common pressure-limiting valve is arranged such that a prevailing load pressure registered by the control valve disks does not exceed a specific value. The supply pressure for the control valve disks of the second block part is not limited.

A system includes a mounting panel having diffusion-bonded metal plates that form a reservoir to contain a process fluid, multiple channels through which to flow the process fluid, and vias through which to flow the process fluid to and from process fluid control components attached to the mounting panel. At least a pair of the multiple channels are connected with the reservoir. A temperature sensor is attached to a top of the mounting panel, the temperature sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir through one of the vias. A set of inlet ports are attached to the mounting panel, the set of inlet ports to receive the process fluid. At least one outlet port is attached to the mounting panel, the at least one outlet port to output the process fluid from the mounting panel.

An apparatus includes a mounting panel having a plurality of diffusion-bonded metal plates that form: a reservoir to contain a process fluid; and multiple channels through which to flow the process fluid, wherein at least a pair of the multiple channels are connected with the reservoir. A temperature sensor is attached to a top of the mounting panel and is in fluid communication with the reservoir through one of a plurality of vias formed in the mounting panel.

A valve manifold block for a fluid valve manifold has a valve manifold block with a printed circuit board received in a passage in the valve manifold block. A set of conductive valve lines on the circuit board extend between and are connected to a respective set of first electrical connectors and a respective set of second mating electrical connectors. The circuit board also having at least one conductive valve line extending to a third connector on the circuit board operably leading to one voltage side of the valve unit. A conductive common line is operably connected to an opposite voltage side of the valve unit. A serial communication line connects to a respective serial communication line in another valve manifold block for communicating information relating to the valve unit.