Valve for sequential chemical operations

• US 4,597,412 A
• Filed: 01/23/1985
• Issued: 07/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anton W. Stark
• Original Assignee: Anton W. Stark
• Inventors: Stark, Anton W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nilson, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US06/693,690
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 137/606, 137/883, 251/331
• US Class Current: 137/606
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00398 in multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/02 for feeding measured , i.e. prescribed quantities of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/06 using a magnet , e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/16 the diaphragm being mechanically actuated, e.g. by screw-spindle or cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

A valve for multiple sequential operations such as biosynthesis, in which the valve body has a longitudinal groove as a common passage for a longitudinal sequence of local ports, and a unitary diaphragm controlled by a plurality of solenoid operable plungers opens and closes the local ports to the common passage by blocking fluid flow across the lands intervening between the local ports and the common passage.

Claims

1. Valve apparatus for the sequential delivery of different fluids from a plurality of different fluid sources through a common passage to a predetermined destination such as a common vessel, said apparatus comprising a valve body having a valve seat-defining surface, and a separable valve body cover adapted to fluid tightly cover said surface;

a plurality of separate passages through said valve body each communicating a valve body port beyond said valve seat surface with a local opening in said surface for delivery thereof of fluid from one of said different fluid sources;

a groove in said valve seat surface extending longitudinally in said valve body to define said common passage, said groove being continuously upwardly open toward said valve cover in juxtaposed relation with each said valve seat surface opening across a respective intervening land;

means controlling flow of fluid into said common passage from said separate passages, said fluid flow control means including a valve between said valve body and cover adapted to cooperate with said intervening lands in locally actuated relation to block or unblock flow from any or all of said separate passages to said common passage in any predetermined timed relation corresponding to a desired sequence of delivery of different fluids through said common passage, means providing positive fluid pressure within a plurality of said separate passages tending to locally unseat said valve for fluid flow locally from one of said separate passages to said common passage, individually actuable valve control means acting against said valve in local unseating blocking relation, the sequence of actuation of said valve control means determining the sequence of fluid flows to said common passage when a plurality of said separate passages are under positive fluid pressure, each of said valve control means comprising a solenoid operate plunger operative to seat said valve between a given separate passage and said common passage in seal maintaining relation against positive fluid pressure in said separate passage, said solenoid being carried by said cover and comprising a cylindrical body having an outer wall, and means securing said solenoid body to said cover in rapidly removable relation, said means comprising a cam element and cooperating structure on the solenoid body outer wall.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, including also a fluid source supply to one or more of said valve body ports.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said valve body defines a rectangular sealing surface, and said valve body cover is generally congruent with and overlies said sealing surface, and including also a valve body base supporting said valve body, said base defining a plurality of inlets in registry with said valve body ports, and a series of perimetrically distributed fasteners fastening said cover to said base in valve body sealing relation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said separate passages are respectively adapted to pass liquid or gas inert or active fluids from a series of ports in one side of said valve body to said openings in a second side of said valve body relatively angularly disposed to said first side and defining said sealing surface.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, including also means providing positive fluid pressure within a plurality of said separate passages tending to locally unseat said valve for fluid flow locally from one of said separate passages to said common passage, and including also individually actuable valve control means acting against said valve in local unseating blocking relation, the sequence of actuation of said valve control means determining the sequence of fluid flows to said common passage when a plurality of said separate passages are under positive fluid pressure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which each said valve control means comprises a solenoid operated plunger operative to seat said valve between a given separate passage and said common passage in seal maintaining relation against positive fluid pressure in said separate passage.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, in whcih said valve comprises a unitary diaphragm overlying said groove and a plurality of said surface openings.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, including also a plurality of valve control means paired respectively with said plurality of surface openings, said valve diaphragm being locally responsive to individual ones of said valve control means in particular surface opening blocking and unblocking controlling relation and independently of the blocked or unblocked condition of others of said surface openings.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said valve body is generally rectangular and has a planar valve seat-defining surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, in which said sealing surface groove is free of surface-intersecting undulations throughout its juxtaposed length with said surface openings.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which said sealing surface groove is free of surface-intersecting undulations throughout its juxtaposed length with said surface openings.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, including also a valve body base comprising a block having a deep central recess adapted to snugly receive said valve body in shallow recess-defining relation, said base block defining a plurality of inlets to said valve body ports.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, including also a valve diaphragm adapted to fill said shallow recess in simultaneous common passage and separate passage opening overlying relation.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, in which said cover is fastened to said base and blocked against said valve diaphragm, said cover being locally relieved opposite said surface openings in diaphragm-deflection permitting relation.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, including also a plurality of solenoid operated plungers independently operatively associated with said cover to control displacement of said valve diaphragm into the locally relieved portions of said cover, whereby fluid flow from a sealing surface opening past said valve diaphragm to said common passage is locally blocked or unblocked by separate operation of each said solenoid plunger in fluid flow sequence defining relation responsive to control of deflection of said diaphragm with respect to locally relieved portions of said cover.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, including also a pressurized fluid source supply to one or more of said valve body ports, whereby said ports are continuously hydraulically full.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, in which said valve body is generally rectangular in longitudinal and transverse cross section, said sealing surface is rectangular, said valve body cover is generally congruent with and overlies said sealing surface, said valve body base supports said valve body and including also a series of perimetrically distributed fasteners fastening said cover to said base in valve body sealing relation.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, in which said separate passages are respectively adapted to pass liquid or gas inert or active fluids from a series of said ports in one normally vertical side of said valve body to said openings in the normally upper horizontal side of said valve body.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, in which said pressurized fluid supply provides positive fluid pressure within said separate passages tending to locally unseat said valve diaphragm, each said solenoid plunger associated with a separate passage opening normally blocking displacement of said diaphragm local portion against said fluid supply pressure at said separate passage opening.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, in which said solenoid plungers define individually actuable valve control means acting against said valve diaphragm in local unseating blocking relation, the sequence of actuation of said valve control means solely determining the sequence of fluid flows to said common passage when a plurality of said separate passages are under positive fluid pressure.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, including also means to purge said common passage of fluids including an inert fluid valve body inlet and outlet communicated by said common passage.

22. Valve apparatus for the sequential delivery of different fluids from a plurality of different fluid sources through a common passage to a predetermined destination such as a common vessel, said apparatus comprising a valve body having a valve seat-defining surface, and a separable valve body cover adapted to fluid tightly cover said surface;

a plurality of separate passages through said valve body each communicating a valve body port beyond said valve seat surface with a local opening in said surface for delivery thereof of fluid from one of said different fluid sources;

a groove in said valve seat surface extending longitudinally in said valve body to define said common passage, said groove being continuously upwardly open toward said valve cover in juxtaposed relation with each said valve seat surface opening across a respective intervening land;

means controlling flow of fluid into said common passage from said separate passages, said fluid flow control means including a valve between said valve body and cover adapted to cooperate with said intervening lands in locally actuated relation to block or unblock flow from any or all of said separate passages to said common passage in any predetermined timed relation corresponding to a desired sequence of delivery of different fluids through said common passage, means providing positive fluid pressure within a plurality of said separate passages tending to locally unseat said valve for fluid flow locally from one of said separate passages to said common passage, individually actuable valve control means determining the sequence of fluid flows to said common passage when a plurality of said separate passages are under positive fluid pressure, each of said valve control means comprising a solenoid operated valve between a given separate passage and said common passage in seal maintaining relation against positive fluid pressure in said separate passage, said solenoid being carried by said cover and comprising a cylindrical body having an outer wall, and cooperating structure on said solenoid body outer wall and said cover camming said solenoid body to said cover in rapidly removable relation.