Front-loading valve assembly for manifold for processing fluid sample

Abstract

A valve assembly used in a manifold system for processing fluid samples includes a body, a valve member, and a coupling assembly. The body defines a fluid passage and a valve passage in communication with the fluid passage and receiving at least a portion of the valve member therein. The valve member is selectively movable over a range of travel between an open position, in which fluid can flow through the fluid passage, and a closed position, in which the valve member occludes the fluid passage. The coupling assembly includes a coupling member and a retention lug. The retention lug is connected to one of the body and the coupling member. The other of the body and the coupling member defines a lug raceway configured to removably receive the retention lug therein to removably mount the coupling member to the body with the valve member being movably retained therebetween.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A manifold assembly for processing a fluid sample, the manifold assembly comprising:
 a manifold, the manifold including a manifold housing defining a main manifold passage, at least one manifold inlet port in fluid communication with the main manifold passage, and a main manifold passage outlet in fluid communication with the main manifold passage;   a body, the body connected to one of said at least one manifold inlet port of the manifold housing, the body defining a fluid passage and a valve passage, the fluid passage extending axially between a first fluid opening and a second fluid opening and including a cross-bore opening disposed axially between the first and second fluid openings, the second fluid opening being in fluid communication with the main manifold passage, and the valve passage being in communication with the fluid passage via the cross-bore opening of the fluid passage;   a valve member, at least a portion of the valve member being disposed in the valve passage of the body, the valve member being selectively movable over a range of travel between an open position, in which the first fluid opening and the second fluid opening of the fluid passage of the body are in fluid communication with each other, and a closed position, in which the valve member occludes the fluid passage to fluidly isolate the first fluid opening and the second fluid opening;   a coupling assembly, the coupling assembly adapted to removably mount the valve member to the body, the coupling assembly including a coupling member and a retention lug, the coupling member defining an internal cavity, at least a portion of the valve member being disposed within the internal cavity of the coupling member, the retention lug being connected to one of the body and the coupling member, and the other of the body and the coupling member including a retention surface, the retention surface defining a lug raceway, the lug raceway being configured to removably receive the retention lug therein such that the retention lug and the retention surface are in interfering relationship with each other to removably mount the coupling member to the body with the valve member being movably retained therebetween.   
     
     
         14 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a filter device, the filter device associated with the body, the filter device including a porous filter medium and a funnel portion, the funnel portion having an interior surface defining a reservoir, the reservoir in fluid communication with the first fluid opening of the fluid passage of the body via the filter medium.   
     
     
         15 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a vacuum source, the vacuum source in fluid communication with the main manifold passage outlet of the manifold, the vacuum source adapted to selectively generate a vacuum within the main manifold passage of the manifold.   
     
     
         16 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the valve passage of the body comprises a blind cross bore. 
     
     
         17 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the lug raceway of the coupling assembly includes a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending at an angle with respect to the first portion, the first portion including an opening, and the second portion including a closed terminal surface, and wherein the coupling member is removably mounted to the body when the retention lug is positioned in the second portion of the lug raceway. 
     
     
         18 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the valve member includes a core, at least a portion of the core being disposed within the valve passage of the body, the core defining a longitudinal axis, the core being rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body to move the valve member over the range of travel between the open position and the closed position, the core defining a core through passage, the core through passage being in communication with the fluid passage of the body when the valve member is in the open position such that the first fluid opening and the second fluid opening of the fluid passage of the body are in fluid communication with each other via the core through passage of the core, and the core through passage of the core being in fluid isolation from the fluid passage of the body when the valve member is in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the coupling assembly includes a stop lug, the stop lug being connected to one of the body and the core of the valve member, and the other of the body and the core including a first stop surface and a second stop surface, the first stop surface being adapted to interferingly engage the stop lug when the core is in the open position to prevent the core of the valve member from rotating in a first direction about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body and to permit the core of the valve to rotate in a second direction about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body, the second direction being in opposing relationship to the first direction, and the second stop surface being adapted to interferingly engage the stop lug when the core is in the closed position to prevent the core of the valve member from rotating in the second direction about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body and to permit the core of the valve to rotate in the second direction about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body. 
     
     
         20 . The manifold assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the valve member includes a mounting flange, the mounting flange circumscribing the core and extending radially therefrom, and wherein the coupling assembly includes a biasing member, the coupling member being removably mounted to the body, the coupling member defining an internal cavity, the biasing member and at least the mounting flange of the valve member being disposed within the internal cavity of the coupling member, the biasing member interposed between the mounting flange of the valve member and the coupling member when the coupling member is removably mounted to the body such that the biasing member exerts an opposing force against the mounting flange of the valve member and against the coupling member.