Patent ID: 8047815

Claim:
A pump for use in handling a plurality of different process fluids, comprising: a plurality of pumping chambers, each pumping chamber adapted to independently pump one of the plurality of different process fluids, each pumping chamber including at least one process fluid inlet and at least one process fluid outlet, the at least one process fluid outlet on each pumping chamber coupled to at least one process fluid valve on each pumping chamber for selectively preventing and allowing the flow of process fluid through the pumping chamber; at least one actuation mechanism for selectively pumping actuating fluid to and from a plurality of actuating fluid chambers, where each of said at least one actuation fluid mechanism is for selectively pumping actuating fluid to and from more than one actuating fluid chambers, said at least one actuation mechanism in fluid communication with the plurality of actuating fluid chambers to permit flow into and out of each actuating fluid chamber of substantially incompressible actuating fluid, said at least one actuation mechanism selectively actuatable in a first direction to force actuating fluid into one of the plurality of actuating fluid chambers when dispensing of one of the plurality of different process fluids is desired, said at least one actuation mechanism selectively actuatable in a second direction to draw actuating fluid out of one of the plurality of actuating fluid chambers thereby drawing one of the plurality of different process fluids into one of the plurality of pumping chambers, said actuating fluid in a closed system such that substantially no actuating fluid is removed from the system; at least one diaphragm separating each pumping chamber from an associated actuating fluid chamber, for separating process fluid from actuating fluid; whereby operation of the at least one actuation mechanism to displace actuating fluid causes actuating fluid to flow only into each of the plurality of actuating fluid chambers having an opened process fluid valve, resulting in pumping of process fluid; and wherein the at least one actuation mechanism is comprised of a piston translated by a screw turned by a motor.