Multiport gas chromatograph piston valve

Abstract

A multiport gas chromatograph piston valve includes a first plate, a first diaphragm, a second plate, a second diaphragm, a plurality of pistons, and a third plate. The first plate has a bottom surface and includes a plurality of analytical gas ports. The first diaphragm is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the first plate. The first diaphragm includes a gas flow path in fluidic communication with the plurality of analytical gas ports. The second plate has a plurality of apertures therethrough. The plurality of pistons, each piston having a base and a cylindrical portion that is configured to be slidably received by a respective aperture in the second plate, are disposed such that the bases of the pistons are in substantially one plane when the valve is not actuated. A second diaphragm includes a first plurality of gas pockets and a second plurality of gas pockets, wherein the first plurality of gas pockets are disposed adjacent a first set of pistons, and the second plurality of gas pockets are disposed adjacent a second set of pistons. The third plate includes a first gas activation port and a second gas activation port, the first gas activation port being fluidically coupled to the first plurality of gas pockets, and wherein the second gas activation port is coupled to the second plurality of gas pockets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.