Modular surface mount fluid system

Abstract

A bridge fitting for use with two or more surface mounted components includes a housing having at least a first port disposed on a first side of the housing, at least a second port non-coaxial with the first port and disposed on a second side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing, and an internal fluid passageway connecting the first and second ports. The internal fluid passageway is configured to limit fluid flow within the bridge fitting to a single path between the first and second ports.

1 . A bridge fitting for use in a fluid manifold system for being in fluid communication with two or more surface mounted fluid components, the bridge fitting comprising: 
 a housing comprising a first port disposed at a first end portion of the housing, a second port disposed at the first end portion of the housing opposite the first port, and a third port disposed at a second end portion of the housing, with an internal fluid passageway joining said first, second, and third ports and spacing the first, second, and third ports apart, and a locating feature extending from less than an entirety of a substantially planar surface of the housing, wherein the locating feature is spaced apart from the first, second, and third ports.    
   
   
       2 . The bridge fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the second port is coaxial with the first port.  
   
   
       3 . The bridge fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the third port is coplanar with the first port.  
   
   
       4 . The bridge fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the locating feature comprises a projection.  
   
   
       5 . The bridge fitting of  claim 4 , wherein the projection is of a different size than the second port.  
   
   
       6 . The bridge fitting of  claim 4 , wherein the second port and the projection are configured to prevent incorrect orientation of the bridge fitting within the fluid manifold system.  
   
   
       7 . The bridge fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the locating feature is disposed at the second end portion of the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The bridge fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the locating feature is disposed opposite the third port.  
   
   
       9 . A modular fluid system for connecting with two or more surface mount type fluid components, the modular system comprising: 
 a bridge fitting, comprising a housing having a first port disposed at a first end portion of the housing, a second port disposed at the first end portion of the housing opposite the first port, and a third port disposed at a second end portion of the housing, with an internal fluid passageway joining said first, second, and third ports and spacing the first, second, and third ports apart, and a bridge fitting locating feature spaced apart from the first, second, and third ports; and    a block having a complementary shaped block locating feature for engaging the bridge fitting locating feature, such that the block is configured to receive the bridge fitting in a desired location.    
   
   
       10 . The modular fluid system of  claim 9 , wherein one of the bridge fitting locating feature and the block locating feature comprises a projection, and the other of the bridge fitting locating feature and the block locating feature comprises a hole.  
   
   
       11 . The modular fluid system of  claim 9 , wherein the bridge fitting locating feature comprises a projection, and the block locating feature comprises a hole.  
   
   
       12 . The modular fluid system of  claim 11 , wherein the hole in the block is sized to prevent insertion of the second port in the hole.  
   
   
       13 . The modular fluid system of  claim 9 , wherein the block further comprises a groove for receiving the bridge fitting therein, the block locating feature being disposed in the groove.  
   
   
       14 . The modular fluid system of  claim 9 , wherein the bridge fitting and the block are configured to prevent incorrect orientation of the bridge fitting within the block.  
   
   
       15 . A bridge fitting for use in a fluid manifold system for being in fluid communication with two or more surface mounted fluid components, the bridge fitting comprising: 
 a housing comprising a first port disposed at a first end portion of the housing and a second port disposed at the first end portion of the housing opposite the first port, with an internal fluid passageway joining said first and second ports and spacing the first and second ports apart, and a projection extending from less than an entirety of a substantially planar surface of a second end portion of the housing, wherein the projection is spaced apart from the first, and second ports.    
   
   
       16 . The bridge fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the second port is coaxial with the first port.  
   
   
       17 . The bridge fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the projection and the second port extend from a bottom side of the housing.  
   
   
       18 . The bridge fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the projection is of a different size than the second port.  
   
   
       19 . The bridge fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the second port and the projection are configured to prevent incorrect orientation of the bridge fitting within the fluid manifold system.  
   
   
       20 . The bridge fitting of  claim 15 , further comprising a third port disposed at the second end portion of the housing, the internal passageway joining the first and second ports with the third port.  
   
   
       21 . The bridge fitting of  claim 20 , wherein the projection is disposed opposite the third port.  
   
   
       22 . The bridge fitting of  claim 20  wherein the third port is coplanar with the first port.