Universal manifold for delivering hazardous liquid

Abstract

The current invention teaches a universal manifold for delivering chemical liquids to a storage container. The universal manifold contains a universal mating system that enables a single manifold to attach to a number of variously sized storage containers that include a number of variously sized fill apertures. This enables the use of the same universal manifold for the delivery and collection of liquid chemical to the storage container at different times.

Claims

1. A universal manifold for delivery and collection of chemical liquid to and from a storage container; the universal manifold comprising: a main receiving port configured to receive a main supply tube; a main transportation port that extends cylindrically from the main receiving port to a distal end of the universal manifold; a sloped multi-port receiving surface comprising a plurality of additional receiving ports extending from the sloped multi-port receiving surface to the main transportation port for additional supply tubes to be attached; and a universal mating system configured to attach to variously sized storage containers with variously sized fill apertures, the universal mating system including: a mating receiving surface of the universal manifold distal to the sloped multi-port receiving surface and surrounding the main transportation port; a gasket; and a mating washer configured to attach to the mating receiving surface of the universal manifold, wherein the mating washer is interchangeable to correspond to a size of a fill aperture.

2. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein a larger size of the mating washer of the universal mating system is selected to attach to a larger storage container with a larger fill aperture.

3. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein a smaller size of the mating washer of the universal mating system is selected to attach to a smaller storage container with a smaller fill aperture.

4. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein the main transportation port is configured to receive the main supply tube that extends through the main receiving port and the main transportation port.

5. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein the main receiving port is threaded to engage the main supply tube.

6. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein the mating receiving surface of the universal manifold is configured to receive a plurality of screws that extend through the gasket and the mating washer.

7. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein a number of the plurality of additional receiving ports is limited such that a diameter of the main transportation port is not too small as to restrict chemical liquid from adequately traveling during delivery and collection.

8. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein the plurality of additional receiving ports includes different sizes of ports.

9. The universal manifold of claim 1, wherein the sloped multi-port receiving surface extends away from the main receiving port at an angle between one hundred and thirty (130) degrees and one hundred and forty-live (145) degrees.

10. The universal manifold of claim 1, further comprising a manifold adaptor configured to attach to a storage container than includes a fill aperture that is less than a circumference of the distal end of the main transportation port.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the accompanying drawings that form a part of the specification and that are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

(2) FIG. 1 is an illustration of the universal manifold of the present invention as configured for collecting;

(3) FIG. 2 is an illustration of the universal manifold of the present invention as configured for delivery;

(4) FIG. 3 is an illustration of top view of the universal manifold of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of the matting system of the universal manifold of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is an illustration of the exchangeable washer;

(7) FIG. 6 is an illustration of the manifold adaptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

(9) A portion of the invention may be described herein in terms of steps. It should he appreciated that such steps may be realized by alternative order.

(10) The overall purpose of the universal manifold described herein is to provide a universal manifold for attaching to variously sized storage containers with variously sized fill apertures for transporting chemical liquid and that also contains multiple ports for attaching supply tubes while providing adequate space for fingers and tools to attach supply tubes to the multiple ports thereof.

(11) The universal manifold (100) of which is represented in FIG. 1 for the purpose of collecting, where the universal manifold (100) is smartly configured and attached to a storage container (116) to enable the collection of chemical liquids from an HPLC machine to a storage container (116). Such universal manifold (100) is constructed out of polypropylene, plastic, steel or any ridged material and includes a main receiving port (101) that contains a means for attaching a main supply tube (105) which is located proximal to the main receiving port (101). The main receiving port (101) continues to extend cylindrically through the universal manifold (100) to the distal end (108) of the universal manifold (100) thereby providing a main transportation port (109) for transporting chemical liquid to the distal end (108) of the universal manifold (100). The distal end (108) of the universal manifold (100) is presented to the aperture (115) of the storage container (116) such that chemical liquid. may travel from the distal end (108) of the universal manifold (100) into the fill aperture (115) of the storage container (116).

(12) On the exterior of the universal manifold (100), near the proximal end, a mating surface (102) is provided which extends perpendicular to the main transportation port (109) and provides a surface where the main receiving port (101) ends. The distal end of the mating surface (102) meets with a sloped multi-port receiving surface (110) which extends away from the main receiving port (101) at an angle and in a manner to offering a plane that extends throughout the circumference of the universal manifold (100) for additional receiving ports. The angle (111) of the sloped multi-port receiving surface (110) in reference to the mating surface (102) is approximately between one hundred and thirty (130) degrees and one hundred and forty-five (145) degrees. The multi-port receiving surface (110) includes at least one additional receiving port (107). A number of additional receiving ports may be added to the universal manifold (100) as long as the diameter of the transportation port (109) is not too small as to restrict chemical liquids from adequately traveling during delivery and collection, As further illustrated one end of the additional receiving port (107) which is proximal to the sloped multi-port receiving surface (110) is configured to enable an additional supply tube (106) to attach thereto and be used for collection. The additional receiving port (107) extends perpendicularly away from the sloped multi-port receiving surface (110) and towards the distal end (108) of the universal manifold (100) in a manner that enables the additional transportation port (111) to present an opening into the main transportation port (109). When in use for collecting, the chemical liquid will flow from the additional supply tube (106) to the additional receiving port (107), through the additional transportation port (111) and into the main transportation port (109), through the distal end (108) and through the fill aperture (115) and into the storage container (116). More specifically, when in use for collecting, the chemical liquid will come into contact with the additional receiving port (107), the additional transportation port (111), the main transportation port (109), and the distal end (108).

(13) FIG. 2, illustrates universal manifold (200) for the delivery of chemical liquid from a storage container to a machine. When in use for delivery the main receiving port (201) of the universal manifold (200) contains a means for attaching a main supply tube (205) whereby the main receiving port (201) is configured to allow the supply tube (205) to pass through the main receiving port (201), through the main transportation port (209), through die distal end (208), through the fill aperture (215) and into the chemical liquid storage container (216). In use for delivery the chemical liquid through the supply tube (205) and therefore the chemical liquid does not come into contact with the main receiving port (201), the main transportation port (209) and the distal end (208) and the fill aperture (215). Additional receiving port (207), may also be used for delivery as represented in FIG. 2, whereby the additional receiving port (207) is configured to allow the additional supply tube (206) to pass through the additional receiving port (207), through the additional transportation port (211), through the main transportation port (209), through the distal end (208), through the fill aperture (215) and into the storage container (214). In use for delivery, the chemical liquid passes through the additional supply tube (206) therefore the chemical liquid does not come into contact with the additional receiving port (207), additional transportation port (209), the main transportation port (211) and the distal end (208). A number of additional receiving ports may be added to the universal manifold (200) as long as the diameter of the transportation port is not too small as to restrict chemical liquid from adequately traveling during delivery and collection.

(14) FIG. 3 represents a top view of the universal manifold. A main receiving port (301) of which may be threaded to enable the attachment of the main supply tube (305) as represented at the center of FIG. 3. Also, the sloped multi-port receiving surface (310) extends distally throughout the circumference of the universal manifold (300). Additionally, a multitude of ports are represented in FIG. 3 as they are configured throughout the sloped multi-port receiving surface (310). FIG. 3 represents three different sizes of ports (301, 320, and 321) where the largest port being the main receiving port (301). The present invention enables various sizes and numbers of ports only limited by the total surface available on the multi-port receiving surface (310).

(15) The mating system (FIG. 1: 104; FIG. 2: 204) which enables the ability for the universal manifold (400) to attach to a wide range of storage containers is represented in FIG. 4. The mating system (422) includes the universal manifold (400) a gasket (423), a universal mating washer (424) a plurality of screws (425) and a mating receiving surface (426) designed to accept the screws (425) while providing a means for securing the mating system (422) to the universal manifold (400). In practice, the mating system (422) is secured onto the mating receiving surface (426) by way of the screws (425) which pass through the gasket (423) and the universal mating washer (424). The particularly innovative part of the present invention is the universal mating washer (424) which enables the universal manifold (400) to attach to the threaded storage container cap (430) for the storage container (416).

(16) Furthermore in practice, as represented in FIG. 5, the universal mating washer (524) includes an inner most surface (527) which resides cylindrically alongside the exterior of the main transportation port and an outer most surface of the universal mating washer (528) which resides along the interior of the threaded cap of the storage container (FIG. 4: 416) thereby providing a surface which enables the attachment of the universal manifold to the storage container all while enabling a plurality of ports to supply chemical liquid from a plurality of supply tubes. In the event one needs to attach the universal manifold to a larger storage container, the universal mating washer (524) can be easily replaced by a larger universal mating washer whereby the circumference of the outer most surface of the universal mating washer has been increased such that universal manifold may attach to a range of storage containers with fill holes. In the event one needs to attach the universal manifold to a smaller storage container the universal mating washer can he easily replaced by a smaller universal mating washer whereby the circumference of the outer most surface of the universal mating washer has been decreased. The universal mating washer (524) consists of a rigid material such as poly polypropylene, stainless steel, or other known plastic that provides enough rigidity to enable a rigid mating surface. The limit not of decreasing the size of the universal mating washer (524) as represented in FIG. 4 is based on the outside circumference or the distal end of the main transportation port (409).

(17) In the event one needs to attach the universal manifold to a smaller storage container (616) whereby the fill port on the storage container is smaller than the outside circumference of the distal end of the main transportation port, the distal end is configured as represented in FIG. 6, such that the distal end of the main transportation port (609) may attach to a manifold adaptor (629) which is smartly configured to attach to a storage container cap (630) that attaches to a storage container that includes a fill aperture (615) that is less than the circumference of the distal end of the main transport port (609).

(18) There are several benefits to providing a universal manifold that is enabled to attach multiple supply tubes that supply chemical liquid while enabling the ability to attach the universal manifold to a number of variously sized storage containers. One benefit relates to cost in that one may use one universal manifold and replace the universal mating washer such that the universal mating washer is increased or decreased respectively to enable the universal manifold to it a number of variously sized storage containers. Therefore the universal manifold removes the costly requirement to produce a manifold for each variously sized storage container. Another important benefit is that in the event the storage container is damaged or has reached its shelf life, the universal adaptor can be removed and attached to the new storage container regardless of the new storage container's size. In fact, many times the supply tubes may remain in place as one attaches the universal manifold to the new and variously sized storage container. There are additional benefits that are not described herein but are realized in practice.