Flange plates for fluid port interfaces

Abstract

Flange plates control the flow of fluid between fluid handling devices. In one embodiment, a sealing plate includes an O-ring and a structural support ring disposed within the O-ring. The support ring prevents the O-ring from being dislodged due to fluid pressure in the line. The support ring may have chamfers which aid in centering the O-ring. The support ring may also have a plurality of orifices allowing fluid flow between the interior of the support ring and the O-ring. In another embodiment, a blanking plate includes a domed portion, oriented in a direction towards the fluid being contained. The domed portion imparts strength to the blanking plate, allowing the plate to be made of a thinner piece of material. In another embodiment, an orifice plate includes a domed portion as described above, with an orifice located at the center of the dome. The invention also provides sealing plates which provide structural support for slip-in fluid modules, and which also have central bores which transition from one diameter to another, allowing fluid components having ports of differing diameters to be connected together.

1 - 22 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus for blocking fluid flow in a conduit, comprising: 
 a one-piece plate, the plate having a flat portion having a plurality of bolt holes, and a domed portion connected directly to the flat portion, the domed portion comprising less than a full hemisphere, the flat portion of the plate being defined by two substantially parallel planar surfaces which extend along the entire plate except at said domed portion,    the domed portion defining a surface which is convex in a direction opposite the direction of fluid flow in a conduit to be blocked,    the flat portion defining a plane which is generally perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow,    wherein the domed portion is substantially rigid, non-rupturable and non-perforated.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein there are four bolt holes disposed symmetrically around the domed portion.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the domed portion extends across a generally circular region which matches a port to be blocked.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the domed portion transitions smoothly from a flat surface of the plate to an apex of the domed portion.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for providing a controlled flow of fluid from a first fluid component to a second fluid component, comprising: 
 a one-piece orifice plate adapted to be held in abutment between said first and second fluid components, the orifice plate including a domed portion and a plurality of bolt holes,    the domed portion defining a surface which is convex in a direction of the first component, the convex surface of the domed portion being substantially unobstructed to a flow of fluid from said first component,    wherein the domed portion includes a non-reinforced, sharp-edged orifice.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein there are four bolt holes disposed symmetrically around the domed portion.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the domed portion defines a central region, and wherein the orifice is located in the central region of the domed portion.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the domed portion transitions smoothly from a flat surface of the orifice plate to an apex of the domed portion.