Multiple fluid control device

Claim 1

A valve apparatus for a multiple fluid-dispensing device comprising: a. a valve apparatus body portion; b. a plurality of fluid chambers within said body portion, each fluid chamber having an inlet channel and an outlet channel connecting said chamber with one of a plurality of inlet ports and outlet ports located along the exterior surface of said body portion; c. a plurality of annularly shaped solenoid coils mounted along the exterior surface of said body portion, each coil having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said exterior surface and cooperating with a respective one of said fluid chambers; d. electrical means for selectively energizing each of said coils; e. a cylindrically shaped paramagnetic core located within the annular cavity of each of said coils in a manner so as to be movable along said longitudinal axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of said body portion so that a change in the energization of any coil will produce a force on the core therein in a direction along said longitudinal axis thereby causing said core to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of said body portion; f. an adjustable stop located within each of said solenoid coils for variably limiting the degree of movement of the corE located within said respective coil in a direction away from said respective fluid chamber; g. a valve head located along the transverse surface of each of said cores opposite the surface of said core adjacent said adjustable stop and adapted to block the flow of fluid from said respective fluid chamber to said outlet channel; and h. biasing means for each of said solenoid coils, each biasing means located between the adjustable stop and the transverse surface of the core adjacent said stop, said biasing means causing respective valve head to block the flow of fluid from said fluid chamber when said respective coil is deenergized.