Multi-port valve in a gas collection system and method of using same

Claim 2

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body; a plurality of means for channeling gases into said valve body; means for intercepting gases from said plurality of means for channeling, said means for intercepting having an entrance opening which is movable to select between each of said means for channeling, by moving said opening to intercept gases substantially exclusively from said selected means for channeling, said means for intercepting having an outlet for said intercepted gases; means for moving said means for intercepting into selective alignment with each of said plurality of means for channeling to intercept gases therefrom; wherein said means for channeling comprise inlet ports in said valve body; wherein said means for intercepting gases comprises a sample tube pivotably mounted inside said valve body to move between said inlet ports; wherein said means for moving comprises: a sample tube guide mounted in said valve body and coupled to move said sample tube; and means for actuating said sample tube guide; a position detector for detecting the position of said sample tube guide and to indicate the alignment of said sample tube with each of said inlet ports; and wherein said sample guide has a magnet attached thereto, and wherein said position detector comprises a plurality of magnetic field detecting Hall effect devices positioned on said valve body to detect the position of said magnet.

Claim 3

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; a magnetic coupled between said motor and said guide rotor, said magnetic coupling comprising: an input rotor attached to said motor outside said valve body; and a magnetic follower attached to said guide rotor inside said valve body and magnetically coupled to said input rotor through said valve body, so that rotational torque from said motor is transmitted from said input rotor to said magnetic follower for rotating said guide rotor.

Claim 4

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; a magnetic coupled between said motor and said guide rotor, said magnetic coupling comprising: an input rotor attached to said motor outside said valve body; and a magnetic follower attached to said guide rotor inside said valve body and magnetically coupled to said input rotor through said valve body, so that rotational torque from said motor is transmitted from said input rotor to said magnetic follower for rotating said guide rotor.

Claim 5

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; and a gas tight feedthrough coupler mounted through said valve body, connected to said guide rotor inside said valve body, and connected to said motor outside said valve body, so that rotational torque from said motor is transmitted through said coupler for rotating said guide rotor.

Claim 6

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; and a gas tight feedthrough coupler mounted through said valve body, connected to said guide rotor inside said valve body, and connected to said motor outside said valve body, so that rotational torque from said motor is transmitted through said coupler for rotating said guide rotor.

Claim 7

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; a blockage detector for detecting the blockage of gases flowing into said inlet ports, said blockage detector comprising: an ionizing radiation source mounted on said sample tube entrance end for ionizing gases inside said manifold space; a detector plate mounted inside said sample tube for collecting electrical charge from ionized gases flowing inside said sample tube; and an electrometer for detecting the accumulation of electrical charge on said detector plate and producing an indication of inlet port blockage in response thereto.

Claim 8

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; a blockage detector for detecting the blockage of gases flowing into said inlet ports, said blockage detector comprising: an ionizing radiation source mounted on said sample tube entrance end for ionizing gases inside said manifold space; a detector plate mounted inside said sample tube for collecting electrical charge from ionized gases flowing inside said sample tube; and an electrometer for detecting the accumulation of electrical charge on said detector plate and producing an indication of inlet port blockage in response thereto.

Claim 9

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; a position detector for detecting the position of said guide rotor; wherein said position detector comprises: a magnet attached to sid guide rotor inside said valve body; and a plurality of Hall-effect magnetic detectors positioned around said valve body to respond to the position of said magnet and to indicate the position of said guide rotor.

Claim 10

A multi-port valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet fitting block and a vacuum housing secured thereto to define a manifold space inside said valve body, said inlet fitting block having a plurality of inlet ports, said inlet ports comprising fluid passages through said inlet fitting block, said inlet ports being arranged side-by-side around said inlet fitting block; a sample tube mounted inside said manifold space, said sample tube having a tube entrance end for receiving fluids, said sample tube being positionable to allow said tube entrance end to move between said inlet ports in order to select an inlet port, said tube entrance end being spaced away from said inlet fitting block by a distance large enough to allow fluid from the selected inlet port to both flow past and flow into said tube entrance end; a guide rotor mounted for rotation inside said manifold space, said guide rotor being operatively connected to said sample tube so that said sample tube entrance end moves between said inlet ports as said guide rotor is rotated; a motor coupled to said guide rotor for rotating said guide rotor; a position detector for detecting the position of said guide rotor; wherein said position detector comprises: a magnet attached to sid guide rotor inside said valve body; and a plurality of Hall-effect magnetic detectors positioned around said valve body to respond to the position of said magnet and to indicate the position of said guide rotor.

Claim 11

A gas collection system for collecting gases from a plurality of inlet tubes to provide a gas sample through a sample tube, said system comprising: a vacuum pump; a multi-port valve connected to receive gases from each of said inlet tubes through separate inlet ports, said valve having an internal manifold space into which said inlet ports are connected, said manifold space being connected to said vacuum pump, said vacuum pump operating to pump gases from said manifold space at a rate sufficient so that the volumetric flow rate through each of said inlet ports into said manifold space is greater than a first volumetric flow rate; said valve further comprising a pivoting sample tube inside said manifold space and a movable tube guide for selectively positioning an open end of said sample tube adjacent to said inlet ports to receive sample gases therefrom and to transfer gas samples outside of said valve, said valve further comprising an actuator for moving said tube guide and a position detector for detecting the position of said tube guide and said sample tube; a valve controller having an input connected to said position detector and having an output connected to control said actuator by causing said actuator to move said sample tube guide until said position detector indicates that said sample tube is positioned correctly with respect to the selected inlet port; and wherein said controller operates to selectively skip over the sampling of gases from preselected inlet tubes.

Claim 12

A gas collection system for collecting gases from a plurality of inlet tubes to provide a gas sample through a sample tube, said system comprising: a vacuum pump; a multi-port valve connected to receive gases from each of said inlet tubes through separate inlet ports, said valve having an internal manifold space into which said inlet ports are connected, said manifold space being connected to said vacuum pump, said vacuum pump operating to pump gases from said manifold space at a rate sufficient so that the volumetric flow rate through each of said inlet ports into said manifold space is greater than a first volumetric flow rate; said valve further comprising a pivoting sample tube inside said manifold space and a movable tube guide for selectively positioning an open end of said sample tube adjacent to said inlet ports to receive sample gases therefrom and to transfer gas samples outside of said valve, said valve further comprising an actuator for moving said tube guide and a position detector for detecting the position of said tube guide and said sample tube; a valve controller having an input connected to said position detector and having an output connected to control said actuator by causing said actuator to move said sample tube guide until said position detector indicates that said sample tube is positioned correctly with respect to the selected inlet port; and wherein said controller operates to selectively skip over the sampling of gases from preselected inlet tubes.

Claim 13

A gas collection system for collecting gases from a plurality of inlet tubes to provide a gas sample through a sample tube, said system comprising: a vacuum pump; a multi-port valve connected to receive gases from each of said inlet tubes through separate inlet ports, said valve having an internal manifold space into which said inlet ports are connected, said manifold space being connected to said vacuum pump, said vacuum pump operating to pump gases from said manifold space at a rate sufficient so that the volumetric flow rate through each of said inlet ports into said manifold space is greater than a first volumetric flow rate; said valve further comprising a pivoting sample tube inside said manifold space and a movable tube guide for selectively positioning an open end of said sample tube adjacent to said inlet ports to receive sample gases therefrom and to transfer gas samples outside of said valve, said valve further comprising an actuator for moving said tube guide and a position detector for detecting the position of said tube guide and said sample tube; a valve controller having an input connected to said position detector and having an output connected to control said actuator by causing said actuator to move said sample tube guide until said position detector indicates that said sample tube is positioned correctly with respect to the selected inlet port; and a blockage detector for detecting the blockage of flow through said inlet ports to indicate the presence of contamination in said gas samples.

Claim 14

A gas collection system for collecting gases from a plurality of inlet tubes to provide a gas sample through a sample tube, said system comprising: a vacuum pump; a multi-port valve connected to receive gases from each of said inlet tubes through separate inlet ports, said valve having an internal manifold space into which said inlet ports are connected, said manifold space being connected to said vacuum pump, said vacuum pump operating to pump gases from said manifold space at a rate sufficient so that the volumetric flow rate through each of said inlet ports into said manifold space is greater than a first volumetric flow rate; said valve further comprising a pivoting sample tube inside said manifold space and a movable tube guide for selectively positioning an open end of said sample tube adjacent to said inlet ports to receive sample gases therefrom and to transfer gas samples outside of said valve, said valve further comprising an actuator for moving said tube guide and a position detector for detecting the position of said tube guide and said sample tube; a valve controller having an input connected to said position detector and having an output connected to control said actuator by causing said actuator to move said sample tube guide until said position detector indicates that said sample tube is positioned correctly with respect to the selected inlet port; and a blockage detector for detecting the blockage of flow through said inlet ports to indicate the presence of contamination in said gas samples.

Claim 15

A gas sampling system for collecting gas samples from a plurality of gas inlet tubes, said system comprising: a vacuum pump; a multi-port valve having inlet ports for connection of said plurality of gas inlet tubes, a sampling tube which moves continuously between said inlet ports to selectively intercept gas flowing therefrom as gas flows over said sampling tube, an outlet port in said valve coupled to said vacuum pump for removing gases flowing inside said valve from said gas inlet ports, and a position detector for detecting the position of said sample tube; a measuring device coupled to said sample tube for continuously measuring the gas flowing therefrom and producing a measurement output; a data system having an input coupled to receive said measurement output and responsive to said position detector for indicating the measurements of the gas provided by said gas inlet ports; and a blockage detector for detecting the blockage of flow through said inlet ports, and wherein said data system is responsive to said blockage detector to inhibit the indication of measurements when contamination is present in said gas samples.

Claim 16

A gas sampling system for collecting gas samples from a plurality of gas inlet tubes, said system comprising: a vacuum pump; a multi-port valve having inlet ports for connection of said plurality of gas inlet tubes, a sampling tube which moves continuously between said inlet ports to selectively intercept gas flowing therefrom as gas flows over said sampling tube, an outlet port in said valve coupled to said vacuum pump for removing gases flowing inside said valve from said gas inlet ports, and a position detector for detecting the position of said sample tube; a measuring device coupled to said sample tube for continuously measuring the gas flowing therefrom and producing a measurement output; a data system having an input coupled to receive said measurement output and responsive to said position detector for indicating the measurements of the gas provided by said gas inlet ports; and a blockage detector for detecting the blockage of flow through said inlet ports, and wherein said data system is responsive to said blockage detector to inhibit the indication of measurements when contamination is present in said gas samples.