Shear-resistant modular fluidic blocks

Abstract

A block for a modular fluid block assembly is disclosed. The block includes first and second opposed faces and first and second apertures from the first face to the second face for receiving a fastener. Each aperture includes a first end and a second end and a head receiving cavity disposed adjacent the first end. The block further includes a fluidic passage passing from the first face to the second face and a pair of fastener receiver cavities in the first face. The block further includes a pair of head receiving cavities in the second face.

1 . A modular fluid block system comprising: 
 a first block having a first face and a second face and a pair of opposed fastener passages, each fastener passage having a first end opening to the first face and a second end opening to the second face, the first block further including a pair of fastener receiving cavities in the first face and a fluid passage from the first face to the second face and wherein each fastener passage includes a head receiving portion at the first end opening;    a second block having a third face and a fourth face and a pair of opposed fastener passages, each fastener passage having a third end opening to the third face and a fourth end opening to the fourth face, the second block further including a pair of fastener receiving cavities in the third face and a fluid passage from the third face to the fourth face and wherein each fastener passage includes a head receiving portion at the third end opening;    wherein the first and second blocks are joined between the second and third faces by a fastener passing through the each of the fastener passages in the first block, wherein each fastener is removably secured a corresponding fastener receiving cavity in the third face of the second block; and    wherein each fastener includes a head portion received into a corresponding head receiving portion when the fastener is secured into a corresponding fastener receiving cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first block includes the head receiving cavities in the first face oriented along a first diagonal axis and the head receiving cavities in the second face oriented along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid passages includes two fluid passage ends, each fluid passage end further including a seal receiving portion having a diameter larger than a central portion of the fluid passage.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a third block, the a third block having a fifth face and a sixth face and a pair of opposed fastener passages, each fastener passage having a third end opening to the fifth face and a sixth end opening to the fifth face, the third block further including a pair of fastener receiving cavities in the third face and a fluid passage from the third face to the fourth face and wherein each fastener passage includes a head receiving portion at the third end opening.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the fastener passages in the first clock are collinear with the fastener passages in the third block.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first block includes the head receiving cavities in the first face oriented along a first diagonal axis and the head receiving cavities in the second face oriented along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular.  
   
   
       7 . A block for a modular fluid block assembly comprising: 
 first and second opposed faces;    first and second apertures from the first face to the second face for receiving a fastener; 
 each aperture including a first end and a second end and a head receiving cavity disposed adjacent the first end;  
   a fluidic passage passing from the first face to the second face;    a pair of fastener receiver cavities in the first face; and    a pair of head receiving cavities in the second face.    
   
   
       8 . The block of  claim 7 , wherein the head receiving cavities in the first face are oriented along a first diagonal axis and the head receiving cavities in the second face are oriented along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular.  
   
   
       9 . The block of  claim 7 , wherein each head receiving cavities include a circular perimeter.  
   
   
       10 . The block of  claim 7 , wherein the head receiving cavities in the first face are oriented along a first diagonal axis and the fastener receiving cavities in the first face are oriented along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are perpendicular.