Fluid Transfer Device And System

Abstract

Fluid transfer apparatus including a body having a bore formed through at least a portion of its interior. Contained within the bore is a movable plunger that moves without changing the axial dimensions of the body. A first end of the body contains a face designed to be attached to an upstream component. A second end of the body is connected to a downstream component such as a filter, pipeline, etc. A first end of the plunger, when it is in the closed position, is in alignment with the face of the body, which combined form a steamable surface and a sterile barrier against the environment to the remainder of the interior of the body, the plunger and downstream components. An outer annular collar is rotatable relative to the body and causes the plunger to move axially within the bore from an open to a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve, comprising a body having a bore, a plunger axially moveable within said bore between a valve open position and a valve close position; an actuator operatively connected to said plunger such that movement of said actuator causes axial movement of said plunger from said valve open to said valve closed position. 
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of radially inwardly extending plunger engaging members and a pair of radially outwardly extending actuator engaging members, said members providing said connection between said actuator and said plunger. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein said actuator comprises first and second collars, each having a groove for receiving a respective one of said radially outwardly extending actuator engaging members in sliding relation. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is movable rotationally. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein said plunger is moveable within said bore from said valve open position to said valve closed position without altering the axial length of said valve. 
     
     
         6 . A manifold assembly, comprising at least one filter having a feed port and a permeate port, a pair of fluid transfer devices in fluid communication with said feed port and a pair of fluid transfer devices in fluid communication with said permeate port, wherein each said fluid transfer device comprises a body having a bore, a plunger axially moveable within said bore between a valve open position and a valve close position; an actuator operatively connected to said plunger such that movement of said actuator causes axial movement of said plunger from said valve open to said valve closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The manifold assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said pair of fluid transfer devices in fluid communication with said feed port are coaxially aligned. 
     
     
         8 . The manifold assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said pair of fluid transfer devices in fluid communication with said permeate port are coaxially aligned. 
     
     
         9 . The manifold assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each said plunger is moveable within each said respective bore from said valve open position to said valve closed position without altering the axial length of said valve.