Patent US3833018A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3833018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Low leakage vacuum valve and chamber using same
Assignee: PASS PORT SYST CORP
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Filing: 1973-02-21
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A low-leakage vacuum valve provides direct access to the interior of an evacuated chamber when opened while maintaining a substantial pressure differential when closed. A simplified vacuum chamber uses the valve to advantage in processing materials.
Inventors
- 👤 N Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K51/00; F16K51/02; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/56; C23C14/564; C23C14/566; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/02; H01J37/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86815; Y10T137/86863; Y10T137/86871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A low-leakage, pass through value for maintaining a pressure differential thereacross, comprising: A. a rotor having a bore extending completely therethrough; B. a housing 1. having a chamber i. receiving said rotor therein. ii. having walls closely spaced from the surface of the rotor and defining a clearance cavity therewith; iii. having inlet and outlet bores alignable with said rotor bore for passing an article from said inlet bore to said outlet bore through said rotor bore when said bores are aligned, and 2. having a pumping channel for connecting said cavity to a vacuum pump for evacuating said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A low-leakage, pass through value for maintaining a pressure differential thereacross, comprising: A. a rotor having a bore extending completely therethrough; B. a housing 1. having a chamber i. receiving said rotor therein. ii. having walls closely spaced from the surface of the rotor and defining a clearance cavity therewith; iii. having inlet and outlet bores alignable with said rotor bore for passing an article from said inlet bore to said outlet bore through said rotor bore when said bores are aligned, and 2. having a pumping channel for connecting said cavity to a vacuum pump for evacuating said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
having a pumping channel for connecting said cavity to a vacuum pump for evacuating said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
having a pumping channel for connecting said cavity to a vacuum pump for evacuating said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A valve according to claim 1 in which said rotor comprises a cylinder and in which said rotor bore extends radially through the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
having at least one pumping port communicating between said clearance cavity and the exterior of said housing,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
having at least one pumping port communicating between said clearance cavity and the exterior of said housing,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
being rotatable into a first position to align said rotor bore with the corresponding chamber bore to thereby provide a path through said valve into said chamber
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
being rotatable into a first position to align said rotor bore with the corresponding chamber bore to thereby provide a path through said valve into said chamber
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
being rotatable into a second position to misalign with rotor bore and the corresponding chamber bore to thereby block access to said chamber through said valve, and D. means to advance said articles to said chamber bores one at a time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
being rotatable into a second position to misalign with rotor bore and the corresponding chamber bore to thereby block access to said chamber through said valve, and D. means to advance said articles to said chamber bores one at a time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
having an entrance bore and an exit bore extending through said housing and alignable with said rotor bore when said rotor is rotated to a first position, the entrance and exit bores being sealed by the cylindrical surface of said rotor when said member is rotated to a second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
having an entrance bore and an exit bore extending through said housing and alignable with said rotor bore when said rotor is rotated to a first position, the entrance and exit bores being sealed by the cylindrical surface of said rotor when said member is rotated to a second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A valve according to claim 2 in which said cylinder has an axial bore extending in a longitudinal direction therethrough and in communication with said rotor bore to thereby evacuate the clearance cavity through said rotor bore and said axial bore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A valve according to claim 2 in which said cylinder has a plurality of grooves extending in the longitudinal direction along the cylinder surface within the clearance cavity, and communicating with said pumping channel to evacuate fluid from said cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A valve according to claim 4 in which said grooves are in fluid contact with said rotor bore.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A valve according to claim 2 in which said pumping channel includes a plurality of auxiliary channels extending through the walls of the housing and in fluid communication with said cavity for evacuating fluid therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A valve according to claim 1 in which said rotor comprises a sphere and in which said rotor bore extends through said sphere in a radial direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A low leakage, pass-through valve for isolating a vacuum system from its environment comprising A. a cylindrical rotor having a bore extending therethrough in a radial direction; B. a housing
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A low leakage, pass-through valve for isolating a vacuum system from its environment comprising A. a cylindrical rotor having a bore extending therethrough in a radial direction; B. a housing
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A valve according to claim 8 in which said pumping channel includes a plurality of auxiliary fluid channels extending through the walls of said chamber into said cavity intermediate the entrance and exit bores for evacuating fluid from said cavity.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
59 words
A system for transporting articles to a vacuum chamber one at a time, comprising A. a main vacuum chamber in which said articles are to be processed, B. means forming inlet and outlet bores extending through the walls of said chamber for passage of said materials therethrough, C. a rotary member positioned in each of said bores, each member
Claim 23
Independent Claim
59 words
A system for transporting articles to a vacuum chamber one at a time, comprising A. a main vacuum chamber in which said articles are to be processed, B. means forming inlet and outlet bores extending through the walls of said chamber for passage of said materials therethrough, C. a rotary member positioned in each of said bores, each member
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 10 which includes A. means exterior to said main chamber for holding articles to be processed, and B. means for advancing said articles to said inlet bore for passage of said articles therethrough one at a time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 11 which includes means exterior to said main chamber for receiving articles passed from said main chamber through said outlet bore.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 11 which includes means forming a forechamber enclosing said article holding means and in communication with said main chamber only through said inlet bore.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 13 which includes means to evacuate said forechamber to a vacuum intermediate that of the mainchamber and the ambient environment
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 13 in which said forechamber includes a bore extending through a portion therof and a rotary member positioned in said bore, said rotary member having a bore extending therethrough alignable with the chamber bore by rotation of said member to provide a path extending from said forechamber into said main chamber when so aligned.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |