Warner Instrument Corporation

John Keeler

Nigel Cox

An apparatus and method for effecting transfer of fluid from any one of a plurality of fluid sources to single fluid outlet. The apparatus comprises a valve head having (i) a bore longitudinally extending therethrough, (ii) a plurality of radially extending fluid channels, each channel having an inlet in fluid communication with a corresponding fluid source and an outlet in communication with the bore, and (iii) a valve head fluid outlet in communication with the bore, a valve stem movably disposed within the bore of the valve head, the valve stem having an axially extending fluid channel that has a fluid outlet in communication with the valve head fluid outlet and a fluid inlet, and a valve control system for effecting rotation and axial displacement of the valve stem so as to effect or terminate fluid communication between the valve stem fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of any one of the radially extending fluid channels. The valve control system is configured to effect rotation of the valve stem from a current position directly to any other position without stopping at intervening positions. In a preferred embodiment, the valve head further includes a longitudinally extending channel that has an inlet coupled to the bore and an outlet coupled to a vacuum source to effect removal of fluid residue from the bore.

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North Haven, CT, United States of America

John Keeler