The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 24, 1999
Nigel Cox, Cheshire, CT (US);
John Keeler, North Haven, CT (US);
Warner Instrument Corporation, Hamden, CT (US);
Abstract
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.