Claims
- 8. A quick-connect manifold assembly for a disposable fluid separation module, comprising:
a fluid connector member having a first set of connectors extending through the fluid connector member, the connectors being spaced apart and parallel to one another; and a module receptor configured with the fluid connector member so as to provide the module receptor a limited range of substantially vertical movement relative to the fluid connector member, the module receptor adapted to support a disposable fluid separation module in alignment with the fluid connector member so that the first set of connectors can be substantially simultaneously engaged to, or disengaged from, a second set of connectors on the disposable fluid processing module by the substantially vertical movement of the module receptor.
- 9. The quick-connect manifold of claim 8, wherein the module receptor is attached to the fluid connector member.
- 10. The quick-connect manifold of claim 9, wherein the module receptor is attached to the fluid connector member by a hinge.
- 11. The quick-connect manifold of claim 8, further comprising:
a locking mechanism that locks the receptor to the fluid connector member by a movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion required for engagement of the first set of connectors to the second set of connectors on the fluid processing module.
- 12. The quick-connect manifold of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism is spring-loaded.
- 13. The quick-connect manifold of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism unlocks the receptor from the fluid connector member by a movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion required for engagement of the first set of connectors to the second set of connectors on the fluid separation module.
- 14. The quick-connect manifold of claim 8, wherein the receptor comprises at least one slot that is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion on a fluid separation module to facilitate alignment of the fluid separation module with the fluid connector member.
- 15. The quick-connect manifold of claim 8, wherein the first set of connectors extend in a substantially vertical direction from a first surface of the fluid connector member.
- 16. The quick-connect manifold of claim 8, wherein the first set of connectors comprises a fluid feed source and a fluid outlet conduit.
- 17. The quick-connect manifold of claim 16, wherein at least one of the fluid feed source and fluid outlet conduit is in fluid communication with a fluid pump.
- 18. The quick-connect manifold of claim 17, wherein the pump is close-coupled to the fluid connector member to minimize extraneous fluid connections.
- 19. The quick-connect manifold of claim 16, wherein the first set of connectors comprises a vent conduit for removing gas from a fluid separation module.
- 20. A method of replacing a disposable fluid separation module in a quick-connect manifold assembly, the quick-connect manifold assembly comprising a fluid connector member having a set of connectors engaged with a mating set of connectors on the disposable module, a module receptor attached to the fluid connector member so as to provide the module receptor a limited range of substantially vertical movement relative to the fluid connector member, the module receptor retaining the disposable fluid separation module in fluid-tight engagement with the fluid connector member, comprising:
moving a locking mechanism in a horizontal direction to permit the receptor to move in a first substantially vertical direction a distance sufficient to disengage the connectors on the disposable module from the connectors on the fluid connector member; removing the disposable module from the receptor; inserting a replacement module in the receptor; and moving the receptor in a second substantially vertical direction a distance sufficient to engage a set of connectors on the replacement module with the set of connectors on the fluid connector member, so that when the replacement module is in sealing engagement with the fluid connector member, the locking mechanism moves in a horizontal direction to prevent the receptor from moving in the first substantially vertical direction.
- 21. A fluid processing system, comprising:
a fluid pump apparatus having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and a quick-connect manifold comprising:
a fluid connector member having a first set of connectors extending through the fluid connector member, the connectors being spaced apart and parallel to one another, at least one connector being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet of the pump apparatus; and a module receptor attached to the fluid connector member so as to provide the module receptor a limited range of substantially vertical movement relative to the fluid connector member, the module receptor adapted to support a disposable fluid separation module in alignment with the fluid connector member so that the first set of connectors can be substantially simultaneously engaged to, or disengaged from, a second set of connectors on the disposable fluid processing module by the substantially vertical movement of the module receptor.
- 22. The fluid processing system of claim 21, wherein the quick-connect manifold is mounted underneath the pump apparatus.
- 23. The fluid processing system of claim 22, wherein the pump apparatus and the manifold have width dimensions, and the width of the manifold does not exceed the width of the pump.
- 24. The fluid processing system of claim 21, wherein the system is part of a fluid dispensing apparatus.
- 25. The fluid processing system of claim 24, wherein the pump apparatus comprises a dispense pump for dispensing process fluids onto a semiconductor wafer.
- 26. The fluid processing system of claim 24, wherein the pump apparatus comprises a feed pump for pumping fluid through the fluid separation module.
- 27. The fluid processing system of claim 24, wherein the pump apparatus comprises a dispense pump and a feed pump.
- 28. A dispense pump and manifold assembly for a disposable fluid separation module having at least two connectors on a top end of the module, comprising:
a dispense pump; a quick-connect manifold piped to the dispense pump, the quick-connect manifold arranged to provide simultaneous connection and sealing of the at least two connectors on the top end of the fluid separation module.
- 29. The process for purging a fluid delivery system of a first fluid within the system, said system including a pump pumping the first fluid throughout the system and a separation module having a configuration of an inlet and an outlet on the outer surface of the separation module for delivering fluid into the separation module and removing fluid from the separation module which comprises:
replacing the separation module with a connector apparatus having the same configuration on its outer surface of an inlet and an outlet as the configuration of inlet and outlet of the separation module, the connector apparatus including a fluid pathway connecting the inlet and outlet on its outer surface; and activating the pump to pass a second fluid throughout the fluid delivery system thereby purging the system of the first fluid.
- 30. A fluid separation apparatus comprising:
a separation module; a fluid connector member; said separation module including:
a housing; a separation element contained within the housing; a first set of at least three connectors on one end of the housing and being in fluid communication with the interior thereof, at least two connectors for introducing and withdrawing fluids from the interior of the housing, and at least one connector for venting a gas from the housing, said first set of a plurality of connectors being parallel and spaced apart from one another and being exclusive of one another, said fluid connector member including a second set of at least three connectors being positioned and sized and shaped to engage in fluid tight relationship with the first set of connectors, wherein the fluid tight engagement is effected through a first motion which, during said engagement, is substantially linear and parallel to the axes of both the first and second sets of connectors.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a locking mechanism to lock the separation element to the fluid connector member with engagement of the first and second sets of connectors.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a hinge for facilitating the substantially linear and parallel motion of the separation module with respect to the fluid connector member.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the hinge couples to the fluid connector member and allows the fluid connector member to effect the substantially linear first motion of the separation module for mating the first and second sets of connectors.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a hinge for facilitating the substantially linear and parallel motion of the separation module with respect to the fluid connector member.
- 35. A separation module for engaging a fluid connector member comprising:
a housing; a separation element contained within the housing; a first set of at least three connectors on one end of the housing and being in fluid communication with the interior thereof, at least two connectors for introducing and withdrawing fluids from the interior of the housing, and at least one connector for venting a gas from the housing, said first set of connectors being parallel and spaced apart from one another and being exclusive of one another, said first set of connectors engaging a second set of a of connectors on the fluid connector member and forming a fluid tight relationship with the second set of connectors.
- 36. The separation module of claim 35 wherein the fluid tight engagement is effected through a first motion which, during said engagement, is substantially linear and parallel to the axes of both the first and second sets of connectors.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/079,360, filed Feb. 20, 2002, which is a Divisional of 09/113,837 filed Jul. 10, 1998 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,907), which is a Continuation-in-Part of 08/678,795, filed Jul. 12, 1996 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,770), the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09113837 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Child |
10079360 |
Feb 2002 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10079360 |
Feb 2002 |
US |
Child |
10440458 |
May 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08678795 |
Jul 1996 |
US |
Child |
09113837 |
Jul 1998 |
US |