Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for maintaining constant gas pressure in an evacuated chamber of minute total volume, said method comprising the steps of: injecting gas through an inlet of small diameter, directing a beam of ions from an ion source through the injected stream of gas at a point just below the inlet in the chamber, detecting the amount of ions at a point opposing the ion source and near the inlet, the amount of ions detected being proportional to the pressure of the chamber, generating an electrical signal in response to the sensed pressure, the strength of the electrical signal varying with the amount of ions detected, and occluding the inlet at which the gas is injected in response to the strength of the electrical signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for maintaining constant gas pressure in an evacuated chamber of minute total volume, said method comprising the steps of: injecting gas through an inlet of small diameter, directing a beam of ions from an ion source through the injected stream of gas at a point just below the inlet in the chamber, detecting the amount of ions at a point opposing the ion source and near the inlet, the amount of ions detected being proportional to the pressure of the chamber, generating an electrical signal in response to the sensed pressure, the strength of the electrical signal varying with the amount of ions detected, and occluding the inlet at which the gas is injected in response to the strength of the electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 in which the occluding step further comprises: orienting a diamond tipped needle above the inlet on the outer surface of the chamber, and positioning the needle tip in the inlet at a variety of positions in response to the strength of the electrical signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: closing the inlet in the event of power failure for the electrical signal thereby maintaining the pressure in the chamber constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A valve for maintaining constant pressure in a small evacuated chamber, said valve comprising: an inlet in said chamber, means for selectively injecting gas through said inlet, means in said chamber for directing a beam of ions through the injected stream of gas at a point just below the inlet in the chamber, means in said chamber opposite said directing means for detecting the amount of ions at a point near said inlet, said detected ions being proportional to said pressure in said chamber, and means responsive to detected ions for regulating the flow of gas through said inlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A valve for maintaining constant pressure in a small evacuated chamber, said valve comprising: an inlet in said chamber, means for selectively injecting gas through said inlet, means in said chamber for directing a beam of ions through the injected stream of gas at a point just below the inlet in the chamber, means in said chamber opposite said directing means for detecting the amount of ions at a point near said inlet, said detected ions being proportional to said pressure in said chamber, and means responsive to detected ions for regulating the flow of gas through said inlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The valve of claim 4 in which said regulating means comprises: means cooperative with said detecting means for generating an electrical signal, the strength of said electrical signal varying with the amount of the ions detected, and means receptive of said signal for occluding said inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The valve of claim 5 in which said occluding means comprises: a diamond tipped needle oriented above said inlet on the outersurface of said chamber, and means responsive to said electrical signal for positioning the tapered tip of the needle at a plurality of locations in said inlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A valve for maintaining constant pressure in a small evacuated chamber, said valve comprising: a tapered inlet in said chamber, means for injecting gas in said chamber through said inlet, means in said chamber for monitoring the pressure in said chamber, a needle having a tapered diamond point positioned above said inlet, the taper of said needle point corresponding in a mating relationship with the taper of said inlet, and means cooperative with said monitoring means for selectively positioning, said diamond point in said inlet thereby regulating the flow of said gas into said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A valve for maintaining constant pressure in a small evacuated chamber, said valve comprising: a tapered inlet in said chamber, means for injecting gas in said chamber through said inlet, means in said chamber for monitoring the pressure in said chamber, a needle having a tapered diamond point positioned above said inlet, the taper of said needle point corresponding in a mating relationship with the taper of said inlet, and means cooperative with said monitoring means for selectively positioning, said diamond point in said inlet thereby regulating the flow of said gas into said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The valve of claim 7 in which said positioning means firmly maintains said needle point in said tapered inlet in the event of inoperation of said valve thereby maintaining constant pressure in said chamber over a period of time.