Fluid circuit with integrated electrostatic discharge mitigation

Abstract

A fluid circuit includes a plurality of tubing segments and a plurality of operative components. Each tubing segment includes i) a non-conductive polymer portion defining a fluid passageway and ii) one or more interior conductive fluoropolymer stripes extending axially to the ends of each of the respective tubing segments. Each operative component includes a conductive fluoropolymer that extends between a plurality of tubing connector fittings forming a part of the fluid circuit, wherein each of the tubing connector fittings conductively connect the respective conductor of the operative component to the interior conductive fluoropolymer stripes of the tubing segment to provide a path to ground that extends through each operative component and each tubing segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An operative component for reducing charge accumulation, the operative component comprising:
 a fluid passageway connecting an entrance of the fluid passageway to an exit of the fluid passageway;   a conductive polymer comprising a portion of a wall of the fluid passageway; and   an attachment feature that conductively connects the conductive polymer of the respective operative component to ground.   
     
     
         17 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component comprises a valve, a straight connector, a T-connector, an elbow connector, a multi-connector manifold, a filter, a heat exchanger, or a sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component is a valve comprising a body portion having a fluid passageway valve to adjust flow through a fluid passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component is a filter comprising a body portion having a housing with the fluid passageway, a filter element and two conductive end caps with tubing connector fittings and conductive fitting nuts to conductively connect tubing segments connected to the filter, wherein the body portion has conductive exterior stripes to conductively connect the end caps. 
     
     
         20 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component comprises a filter having a conductive sleeve conductively connecting two conductive end caps to the exterior of the body portion. 
     
     
         21 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component is a filter comprising a body portion having a housing with the fluid passageway, a filter element, and a single conductive end cap with tubing connector fittings and conductive fitting nuts to conductively connect tubing segments connected to the filter. 
     
     
         22 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component is a filter. 
     
     
         23 . The operative component of  claim 16 , wherein the operative component is configured to conductively connect to a second operative component. 
     
     
         24 . A tubing segment to reduce charge accumulation, the tubing segment comprising:
 a non-conductive polymer portion defining a fluid passageway; and   an interior conductive stripe of conductive fluoropolymer extending axially to ends of the respective tubing segment, the interior conductive stripe comprising a portion of a wall of the fluid passageway.   
     
     
         25 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the interior stripe of conductive fluoropolymer comprises a conductive filler comprising carbon. 
     
     
         26 . The tubing segment of  claim 25 , wherein the carbon comprises carbon black. 
     
     
         27 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises a perfluoroalkoxy alkane polymer (PFA). 
     
     
         28 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene tetrafluoroethylene polymer (ETFE). 
     
     
         29 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises at least one polymer selected from a group consisting of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene polymer (ETFE), ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene polymer (EFEP), fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer (FEP), and tetrafluoroethylene polymer (PTFE). 
     
     
         30 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the tubing segment comprises a plurality of exits. 
     
     
         31 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the tubing segment comprises a plurality of entrances. 
     
     
         32 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the tubing segment comprises a plurality of interior conductive stripes of conductive fluoropolymer extending axially to ends of the respective tubing segment. 
     
     
         33 . The tubing segment of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of interior conductive stripes of conductive fluoropolymer comprises four stripes. 
     
     
         34 . The tubing segment of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of interior conductive stripes of conductive fluoropolymer comprises eight stripes. 
     
     
         35 . The tubing segment of  claim 24 , wherein the interior conductive stripe of conductive fluoropolymer forms a spiral on the wall of the fluid passageway.