High-pressure fluid-flow system having compact two-bolt and four-bolt flanged and modular connectors

Abstract

A one-piece block connects flanged fluid-flow connectors. Each connector includes a central port and at least two tabs, the tabs having apertures for affixing the connector to the block. The dimensions of the block and the connector are such that the block can accommodate a given number of connectors in a smaller space than required in the prior art. Moreover, the maximum working pressure of the connector can still be as large as about 5000 psi. Channels formed within the block allow fluid communication from one connector to another.

1 . Apparatus for connecting flanged, fluid-flow connectors, comprising: 
 a one-piece block having exactly six surfaces, all of said surfaces having a rectangular shape, wherein at least some of said surfaces comprise apertured mounting surfaces, at least two of said mounting surfaces having a first bore which corresponds with a central port of a fluid-flow connector and a pair of second bores which correspond with mounting apertures of a fluid-flow connector, wherein the block includes at least one fluid-flow channel extending from one mounting surface to another mounting surface of the block,    wherein a distance between members of said pair of second bores is designated by Z,    wherein adjacent first bores of said block are spaced apart by a distance dd, as measured center-to-center,    and wherein, for a given value of Z, a value of dd is chosen such that a ratio Z/dd is in a range of about 1.16 to about 1.28,    the apparatus also including a fluid connector comprising:    a) a base having a generally flat port face mounting surface on one end, and a connection piece fixed to and extending from the other end of said base,    b) a plurality of mounting tabs fixed to and extending outwardly from said base, each of said tabs having an aperture extending therethrough,    c) a central, elongate, cylindrical channel extending lengthwise through said connector from a port on said mounting surface to a port on said connection piece,    wherein said base has a reinforcement portion, said connection piece being contiguously formed with and extending from said reinforcement portion,    wherein said reinforcement portion comprises a generally conical extension intermediate said tabs and said connection piece, wherein said conical extension transitions continuously from a lesser thickness adjacent one of said tabs to a greater thickness adjacent to said connection piece,    wherein the connector is affixed to the block by bolts passing through the apertures of said tabs and into said second bores of the block.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of said block includes a sufficient number of first bores to accommodate more than one fluid-flow connector.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the block has a maximum working pressure of at least 3000 psi.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the block has a maximum working pressure of at least 5000 psi.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus for connecting flanged, fluid-flow connectors, comprising: 
 a one-piece block having exactly six surfaces, all of said surfaces having a rectangular shape, wherein at least some of said surfaces comprise apertured mounting surfaces, at least two of said mounting surfaces having a first bore which corresponds with a central port of a fluid-flow connector and a pair of second bores which correspond with mounting apertures of a fluid-flow connector, wherein the block includes at least one fluid-flow channel extending from one mounting surface to another mounting surface of the block,    wherein said first bores have a nominal diameter S,    wherein a distance between members of said pair of second bores is designated by Z,    wherein adjacent first bores of said block are spaced apart by a distance dd, as measured center-to-center,    and wherein, for given values of S and Z, a value of dd is chosen such that a ratio S/(Z)(dd) is in a range of about 0.19 to about 0.38,    the apparatus also including a fluid connector comprising:    a) a base having a generally flat port face mounting surface on one end, and a connection piece fixed to and extending from the other end of said base,    b) a plurality of mounting tabs fixed to and extending outwardly from said base, each of said tabs having an aperture extending therethrough,    c) a central, elongate, cylindrical channel extending lengthwise through said connector from a port on said mounting surface to a port on said connection piece,    wherein said base has a reinforcement portion, said connection piece being contiguously formed with and extending from said reinforcement portion,    wherein said reinforcement portion comprises a generally conical extension intermediate said tabs and said connection piece, wherein said conical extension transitions continuously from a lesser thickness adjacent one of said tabs to a greater thickness adjacent to said connection piece,    wherein the connector is affixed to the block by bolts passing through the apertures of said tabs and into said second bores of the block.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one surface of said block includes a sufficient number of first bores to accommodate more than one fluid-flow connector.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the block has a maximum working pressure of at least 3000 psi.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the block has a maximum working pressure of at least 5000 psi.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus for connecting flanged, fluid-flow connectors, comprising: 
 a one-piece block having exactly six surfaces, all of said surfaces having a rectangular shape, wherein at least some of said surfaces comprise apertured mounting surfaces, at least two of said mounting surfaces having a first bore which corresponds with a central port of a fluid-flow connector and a pair of second bores which correspond with mounting apertures of a fluid-flow connector, wherein the block includes at least one fluid-flow channel extending from one mounting surface to another mounting surface of the block,    wherein said first bores have a nominal diameter S,    wherein a distance between members of said pair of second bores is designated by Z,    wherein adjacent first bores of said block are spaced apart by a distance dd, as measured center-to-center,    and wherein, for given values of S and Z, a value of dd is chosen such that a ratio S/(Z)(dd) is in a range of about 0.19 to about 0.23,    the apparatus also including a fluid connector comprising:    a base having a central port and a pair of tabs located on either side of the central port, each tab including an aperture,    the base having rounded edge portions intermediate said tabs, each of the rounded edge portions having a radius of curvature R 1  which is measured from a center of the central port,    the apertures being spaced apart by said distance Z,    wherein a ratio Z/R 1  is in a range of about 2.36 to about 2.67,    wherein the connector is affixed to the block by bolts passing through the apertures of said tabs and into said second bores of the block.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one surface of said block includes a sufficient number of first bores to accommodate more than one fluid-flow connector.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the block has a maximum working pressure of at least 3000 psi.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the block has a maximum working pressure of at least 5000 psi.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus for connecting flanged, fluid-flow connectors, comprising: 
 a one-piece block having exactly six surfaces, all of said surfaces having a rectangular shape, wherein at least some of said surfaces comprise apertured mounting surfaces, at least two of said mounting surfaces having a first bore which corresponds with a central port of a fluid-flow connector and a pair of second bores which correspond with mounting apertures of a fluid-flow connector, wherein the block includes at least one fluid-flow channel extending from one mounting surface to another mounting surface of the block,    wherein a distance between members of said pair of second bores is designated by Z,    wherein adjacent first bores of said block are spaced apart by a distance dd, as measured center-to-center,    and wherein, for a given value of Z, a value of dd is chosen such that a ratio Z/dd is in a range of about 1.16 to about 1.28,    the apparatus also including a fluid connector comprising:    a base having a central port and a pair of tabs located on either side of the central port, each tab including an aperture,    the base having rounded edge portions intermediate said tabs, each of the rounded edge portions having a radius of curvature R 1  which is measured from a center of the central port,    the apertures being spaced apart by said distance Z,    wherein a ratio Z/R 1  is in a range of about 2.36 to about 2.67,    wherein the connector is affixed to the block by bolts passing through the apertures of said tabs and into said second bores of the block.