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US3581766A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Supplying liquid to a vacuum chamber

Assignee: Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp
•
Filing: 1968-08-02
•
Granted: 1971-06-01
•
Expires: 1988-08-02
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Abstract

Abstract Liquid is supplied to a receptacle in a vacuum chamber through a barometric leg, the outer end of which dips into a feed chamber. This chamber is interconnected with a reservoir by filling means including a pump and draining means arranged to maintain a flow of liquid between reservoir and feed chamber. Means are provided to maintain a constant liquid level in the feed chamber.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph Paul Gimigliano
  • 👤 John Francis Butler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 06:27
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/24; C23C14/246; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/85954; Y10T137/86236

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
Apparatus for supplying a liquid to an evaporation receptacle enclosed in a vacuum chamber comprising a liquid reservoir open to the circumambient atmosphere positioned outside the vacuum chamber, a feed chamber positioned outside the vacuum chamber, filling means including a pump interconnecting the liquid reservoir and the feed chamber and draining means interconnecting the liquid reservoir and the feed chamber, the filling means and the draining means being adapted and adjusted to maintain a circulating flow of liquid between liquid reservoir and feed chamber, a feedpipe having its lower end positioned in the feed chamber rising therefrom and extending through a wall of the vacuum chamber into the evaporation receptacle and control means positioned in the feed chamber adapted to maintain a constant level of liquid therein, the feed chamber being positioned below the evaporation receptacle a distanCe such that the levels of the liquid in them differ by the height of the column of the liquid supported by the pressure of the atmosphere in the feed chamber less the pressure of the atmosphere in the vacuum chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 178 words
Apparatus for supplying a liquid to an evaporation receptacle enclosed in a vacuum chamber comprising a liquid reservoir open to the circumambient atmosphere positioned outside the vacuum chamber, a feed chamber positioned outside the vacuum chamber, filling means including a pump interconnecting the liquid reservoir and the feed chamber and draining means interconnecting the liquid reservoir and the feed chamber, the filling means and the draining means being adapted and adjusted to maintain a circulating flow of liquid between liquid reservoir and feed chamber, a feedpipe having its lower end positioned in the feed chamber rising therefrom and extending through a wall of the vacuum chamber into the evaporation receptacle and control means positioned in the feed chamber adapted to maintain a constant level of liquid therein, the feed chamber being positioned below the evaporation receptacle a distanCe such that the levels of the liquid in them differ by the height of the column of the liquid supported by the pressure of the atmosphere in the feed chamber less the pressure of the atmosphere in the vacuum chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the feed pipe slopes so as to drain the liquid out of the evaporation receptacle and back into the feed chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
Apparatus of claim 1 including heating means surrounding the liquid reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the feed chamber is open to the circumambient atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 71 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the reservoir is positioned at a higher level than the feed chamber and the draining means comprise an orifice in the bottom of the reservoir through which the liquid drains therefrom into the feed chamber, and the liquid pump is positioned with its intake in the feed chamber and discharge in the reservoir so as to pump liquid from the feed chamber into the reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the control means comprise liquid level sensing means, and including means actuated by the liquid level sensing means adapted to control the operation of the pump.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the feed chamber is positioned so as to permit vertical movement thereof with respect to to the liquid reservoir and the evaporation receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the feed chamber is closed and is maintained at a pressure intermediate the circumambient atmospheric pressure and the pressure of the atmosphere in the vacuum chamber.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2548696A Cited
US2690764A Cited
US3059612A Cited
US3050798A Cited
US3408224A Cited
US3447951A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-05-31 1974-11-30 1975-06-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-05-31 1978-11-30 1979-06-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-05-31 1982-11-30 1983-06-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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