US 11,808,374 B2
Fluid management system
Stefano Nicola, Windsor (CA); Maxime Samain, Harelbeke (BE); Daniel Schmitz, Altdorf (DE); Renato Colja, Windsor (CA); and Robert J. McMillen, Tecumseh (CA)
Assigned to Leggett & Platt Canada Co., Halifax (CA)
Filed by Leggett & Platt Canada Co., Halifax (CA)
Filed on Dec. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/561,281.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/132,113, filed on Dec. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0205551 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 31/02 (2006.01); F16K 11/08 (2006.01); F16K 31/126 (2006.01); F16K 11/085 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/025 (2013.01) [F16K 11/085 (2013.01); F16K 31/1264 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid management system comprising:
a housing including
a central manifold in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid,
a plurality of first ports in communication with the central manifold,
a plurality of second ports in communication with the environment surrounding the housing, and
a plurality of third ports each configured to be coupled to a vessel for containing the pressurized fluid;
a plurality of first valves each positioned and configured to close an associated one of the plurality of first ports in a first position and to permit fluid flow through the associated first port in a second position;
a plurality of second valves each positioned and configured to close an associated one of the plurality of second ports in a first position and to permit fluid flow through the associated second port in a second position;
a plurality of first actuators each including a smart material and each associated with one of the plurality of first valves;
a plurality of second actuators each including a smart material and each associated with one of the plurality of second valves;
an energy source operatively associated with each of the first actuators and each of the second actuators, wherein the energy source is configured to selectively operate each of the first actuators and each of the second actuators,
wherein in response to activation by the energy source, each first actuator is configured to move the associated first valve to one of the first position or the second position, and
wherein in response to activation by the energy source, each second actuator is configured to move the associated second valve to one of the first position or the second position.