Fittingless pneumatic multiport selector valve for analytic instruments

1. A pneumatic multiport selector valve comprising:

a base having a mounting surface configured to mount to an analytic instrument, the mounting surface having a plurality of apertures therein for coupling to flow conduits of the analytic instrument, wherein the base includes a flange having a plurality of mounting holes therethrough;

at least one piston plate having a number of apertures therethrough;

a set of pistons slidably disposed in respective apertures of the at least one piston plate;

a cushion layer disposed between the at least one piston plate and the base, the cushion layer having a plurality of apertures to allow actuation gas therethrough; and

a plate clamping the at least one piston plate to the base.

2. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 1 , and wherein the cushion layer is isolated from the actuation gas.

3. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 2 , wherein the cushion layer is porous.

4. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 3 , wherein the cushion layer is formed of a meta-aramid material.

5. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 3 , and further comprising a plurality of seals isolating the cushion layer from the actuation gas.

6. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 1 , wherein the plate is urged toward the base by a threaded member engaged with the base.

7. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 6 , wherein the threaded member is a bolt having threads engaged within the base.

8. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 6 , wherein the threaded member is torqued to a specified amount.

9. The pneumatic multiport selector valve of claim 1 , wherein the mounting holes are evenly distributed about a periphery of the flange to facilitate even sealing force to the mounting surface.

10. The pneumatic multiport valve of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface is substantially planar and wherein fluidic connections for all ports and actuation gas couplings are performed simultaneously.

11. The pneumatic multiport valve of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface has a plurality of bores therein, the plurality of bore being configured to receive alignment pins of an analytic instrument.

12. An analytic instrument comprising:

a base plate having a plurality of fluid flow apertures arranged thereon;

a pneumatic multiport selector valve, having:

a base having a mounting surface mounted to the base plate, the mounting surface having a plurality of apertures therein coupled to respective fluid flow apertures of the base plate;

a flange comprising a plurality of mounting holes, with threaded connector passing through each respective mounting hole to engage with the base:

at least one piston plate having a number of apertures therethrough;

a set of pistons slidably disposed in respective apertures of the at least one piston plate;

a cushion layer disposed between the at least one piston plate and the base, the cushion layer having a plurality of apertures to allow actuation gas therethrough; and

a plate clamping the at least one piston plate to the base.

13. The analytic instrument of claim 12 , wherein the plate is urged toward the base by a threaded member engaged with the base.

14. The analytic instrument of claim 13 , wherein the threaded member is a bolt passing through the center of the plate and being threaded into the base of the multiport selector valve.

15. The analytic instrument of claim 12 , wherein an o-ring couples each aperture of the base of the multiport selector valve to a respective aperture of the base plate of the analytic instrument.