Patent ID: 8807164

Claim:
A valve module comprising: an anchor plate comprising an inlet port extending through the anchor plate and an outlet port extending through the anchor plate; a fluid transfer plate comprising a first surface comprising an inlet channel and an outlet channel, wherein the inlet channel comprises a first continuous channel linking a plurality of inlet holes extending through the fluid transfer plate and the outlet channel comprises a second continuous channel, separate from the first continuous channel, linking a plurality of outlet holes extending through the fluid transfer plate; and a second surface comprising the plurality of inlet holes, the plurality of outlet holes, and a common channel formed in the second surface, wherein the anchor plate and the fluid transfer plate are aligned so that the inlet port aligns with the inlet channel and the outlet port aligns with the outlet channel; a membrane positioned adjacent the second surface of the fluid transfer plate; a solenoid valve configured to control a flow of a pressurized substance to move at least a portion of the membrane into a closed position to prevent fluid flow, wherein, upon release of pressure on the pressurized substance, the portion of the membrane moves into an open position solely in response to fluid pressure from the fluid flow; and a pneumatic plate comprising a plurality of recesses formed in a surface of the pneumatic plate, wherein the membrane is positioned to cover the plurality of recesses, and further wherein a first recess of the plurality of recesses surrounds an inlet hole of the plurality of inlet holes and a first portion of the common channel, wherein a second recess of the plurality of recesses surrounds an outlet hole of the plurality of outlet holes and a second portion of the common channel to provide fluid communication between the inlet hole and the outlet hole under control of pressure changes within the first recess and the second recess.