Patent ID: 8104506

Claim:
A valve comprising: a valve cap having a first interface and a plurality of grooves extending in said first interface, the valve cap further comprising a plurality of process conduits extending therethrough, each process conduit ending in a process port opening on a corresponding one of the grooves; a valve body having a second interface facing the first interface of the valve cap, the valve body comprising a plurality of passages extending transversally therein and a plunger assembly comprising a plurality of plungers each placed in one of said passages and being slideable therein between a closed position where said plunger projects towards the first interface and an open position where said plunger is retracted within said valve body; a diaphragm compressibly positioned between the first and second interfaces; and at least one communication mechanism each operatively connecting a neighbouring pair of said grooves, each communication mechanism comprising: a communication port opening in the first interface between the grooves of the corresponding pair; a communication conduit extending within the valve cap and connecting the communication port and a first one of the grooves of said pair; a recess within the second interface connected to a corresponding one of the passages and aligned with the communication port and with a second one of the grooves of said pair; and a flexible sealing surface integral to the diaphragm and resiliently biased away from the first interface, the flexible sealing surface being seated within the recess of the second interface when the plunger placed within the corresponding passage is in the open position, said flexible sealing surface sealingly closing the communication port when said plunger is in the closed position.