Fluid flow control device

Claim 2

A fluid flow control device comprising: a. a body having a plurality of separate inlet passageways therein, a common outlet passageway therein, and a plurality of valve chambers therein, one each of said valve chambers providing fluid communication between a respective one of said inlet passageways and said outlet passageway; b. a plurality of solenoid valves connected to said body, one each of said solenoid valves being associated with a respective one of said valve chambers, and each of said solenoid valves including means positioned in its associated valve chamber for opening and closing fluid communication between said associated valve chamber and said outlet passageway; c. said portion of each of said valve chambers between said outlet passageway and said opening and closing means having a length of about 0.06 inch, whereby the amount of residual liquid in said portion after fluid communication through said portion is closed, is minimized; and d. wherein said body has flat, parallel, top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of identical side surfaces, wherein each of said inlet passageways includes an inlet port in said top surface, said inlet ports being equally spaced around said top surface adjacent the periphery thereof, each of said ports being approximately centrally located with respect to one of said side surfaces, and wherein said outlet passageway includes an outlet port centrally positioned in said bottom surface.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said valve chambers extends radially inwardly from a central opening in a respective one of said side surfaces to said outlet passageway.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said solenoid valves is sealingly mounted about its respective central opening.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said solenoid valves is connected to said body by means of a bracket connected to said body, said bracket including a hollow sleeve forming an armature cavity of said solenoid valve and said bracket also including an externally threaded pin extending axially from said sleeve for threadingly mating with an internally threaded core of said solenoid valve, for connecting said solenoid valve to said bracket.

Claim 6

A fluid flow control device comprising: a. a body having a regular polygonal shape in horizontal cross section and including a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface parallel to the top surface, and a plurality of identical side surfaces; b. a plurality of inlet ports in said top surface, each port being centrally located with respect to a side surface and each port being located radially outwardly from the vertical axis of said body; c. a single common outlet port centrally located in said bottom surface; d. a single common outlet passageway extending axially upwardly from said outlet port partway up the height of said body; e. a plurality of valve chambers each extending radially inwardly from a side opening in a respective side surface of said body toward an upper terminal end of said outlet passageway; f. a single, minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway connecting a respective one of each of said chambers with only said upper terminal end of said outlet passageway; g. a plurality of solenoid valves each one connected to a respective one of said side surfaces having a side opening therein, said solenoid valves extending radially outwardly therefrom in sealing contact around said side opening, each of said solenoid valves including valve means positioned at least partly in a respective one of said valve chambers for opening and closing fluid communication through the corresponding one of said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageways; h. each of said solenoid valve means including a Plunger assembly radially movably positioned partly in said valve chamber and partly in an armature cavity in said solenoid valve for movement between a closed position preventing fluid flow to said outlet passageway and an open position allowing fluid flow to said outlet passageway; means biasing said plunger assembly to its closed position; and said solenoid valve including means for moving said plunger assembly to its open position when said solenoid valve is electrically energized; i. said plunger assembly including an armature of magnetic material completely coated with a layer of corrosion resistant material; j. said plunger assembly including a conical needle tip made of corrosion resistant material and positioned to seal said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway when said plunger assembly is in said closed position; and k. said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway having a small diameter and having a length not substantially greater than that necessary for the material of said body between said outlet passageway and said chamber to maintain its structural integrity, whereby the amount of residual liquid in said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway after the corresponding plunger assembly moves to its closed position, is minimized.

Claim 7

A fluid flow control device comprising: a. a body having a regular polygonal shape in horizontal cross section and including a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface parallel to the top surface, and a plurality of identical side surfaces; b. a plurality of inlet ports in said top surface, each port being centrally located with respect to a side surface and each port being located radially outwardly from the vertical axis of said body; c. a single common outlet port centrally located in said bottom surface; d. a single common outlet passageway extending axially upwardly from said outlet port partway up the height of said body; e. a plurality of valve chambers each extending radially inwardly from a side opening in a respective side surface of said body toward an upper terminal end of said outlet passageway; f. a single, minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway connecting a respective one of each of said chambers with only said upper terminal end of said outlet passageway; g. a plurality of solenoid valves each one connected to a respective one of said side surfaces having a side opening therein, said solenoid valves extending radially outwardly therefrom in sealing contact around said side opening, each of said solenoid valves including valve means positioned at least partly in a respective one of said valve chambers for opening and closing fluid communication through the corresponding one of said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageways; h. each of said solenoid valve means including a Plunger assembly radially movably positioned partly in said valve chamber and partly in an armature cavity in said solenoid valve for movement between a closed position preventing fluid flow to said outlet passageway and an open position allowing fluid flow to said outlet passageway; means biasing said plunger assembly to its closed position; and said solenoid valve including means for moving said plunger assembly to its open position when said solenoid valve is electrically energized; i. said plunger assembly including an armature of magnetic material completely coated with a layer of corrosion resistant material; j. said plunger assembly including a conical needle tip made of corrosion resistant material and positioned to seal said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway when said plunger assembly is in said closed position; and k. said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway having a small diameter and having a length not substantially greater than that necessary for the material of said body between said outlet passageway and said chamber to maintain its structural integrity, whereby the amount of residual liquid in said minimal residual-liquid holding capacity passageway after the corresponding plunger assembly moves to its closed position, is minimized.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said small passageway has a length of about 0.06 inch and a diameter of about 0.03 inch.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said solenoid valves is connected to said body by means of a bracket connected to said body, said bracket including a hollow sleeve forming an armature cavity of said solenoid valve and said bracket also including an externally threaded pin extending axially from said sleeve for threadingly mating with an internally threaded core of said solenoid valve, for connecting said solenoid valve to said bracket.

Claim 10

The new use of the structure recited in claim 5 comprising providing as sharp a liquid interface as is possible between a plurality of different liquids fed seriatim to said outlet port, comprising feeding different liquids to said inlet ports, and sequentially feeding said different liquids through said device and out said outlet port.

Claim 11

A fluid flow control device comprising: a. a body having a single common outlet passageway approximately centrally located therein and extending from a closed end inside said body to an outlet opening on a surface of said body; b. said body including a plurality of at least three separate inlet passageways therein, said inlet passageways each having a separate inlet opening on a surface of said body and a separate outlet opening in a wall of said outlet passageway, each of said inlet passageway outlet openings being immediately adjacent said closed end of said common outlet passageway; c. said body including a plurality of valve chambers therein, one each of said valve chambers being in one each of said inlet passageways; d. a plurality of solenoid valves connected to said body, one each of said solenoid valves being associated with a respective one of said valve chambers, and each of said solenoid valves including means positioned in its associated valve chamber for opening and closing fluid communication between said associated valve chamber and said outlet passageway; and e. the portion of each of said inlet passageways between its respective opening and closing means and its opening into said outlet passageway having a length of approximately 0.06 inch, whereby the amount of residual liquid in said portion is minimized to provide a sharp liquid interface between successive, different charges of liquid from said inlet passageways to said outlet opening.

Claim 12

A fluid flow control device comprising: a. a body having a single common outlet passageway approximately centrally located therein and extending from a closed end inside said body to an outlet opening on a surface of said body; b. said body including a plurality of at least three separate inlet passageways therein, said inlet passageways each having a separate inlet opening on a surface of said body and a separate outlet opening in a wall of said outlet passageway, each of said inlet passageway outlet openings being immediately adjacent said closed end of said common outlet passageway; c. said body including a plurality of valve chambers therein, one each of said valve chambers being in one each of said inlet passageways; d. a plurality of solenoid valves connected to said body, one each of said solenoid valves being associated with a respective one of said valve chambers, and each of said solenoid valves including means positioned in its associated valve chamber for opening and closing fluid communication between said associated valve chamber and said outlet passageway; and e. the portion of each of said inlet passageways between its respective opening and closing means and its opening into said outlet passageway having a length of approximately 0.06 inch, whereby the amount of residual liquid in said portion is minimized to provide a sharp liquid interface between successive, different charges of liquid from said inlet passageways to said outlet opening.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of said solenoid valves includes: an armature cavity positioned in-line with its associated valve chamber, and a plunger assembly slidably mounted partly in said armature cavity and partly iN said valve chamber, for movement between an open position allowing fluid flow to said outlet passageway and a closed position preventing fluid flow to said outlet passageway, means for biasing said plunger assembly to its closed position, and said solenoid valve including means for moving said plunger assembly to its open position when said solenoid valve is electrically energized.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said plunger assembly includes an armature of magnetic material completely coated with a layer of corrosion resistant material.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said plunger assembly includes a needle positioned primarily in said valve chamber, said needle being connected to said armature and including a needle tip positioned to seal said portion of said inlet passageway when said plunger assembly is in said closed position.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said needle is made of corrosion resistant non-magnetic material.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein both said armature and needle are made of stainless steel, wherein said needle is brazed to said armature, and wherein said layer also extends over at least part of the length of said needle.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said portion of said inlet passageway includes a valve seat facing said valve chamber, and wherein said needle tip is made of a silicon rubber shaped to sealingly fit in said valve seat.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said small passageway has a diameter of about 0.03 inch.