Cryopump

• US 20090282841A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hidekazu
• Application Number:
  US12/453,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/55.500
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 37/08 by condensing or freezing, e.g. cryogenic pumps

Abstract

A cryopump includes: a refrigerator having a first cooling stage and a second cooling stage cooled to a temperature lower than that of the first cooling stage; a radiation shield on side surface of which is formed an opening, in which the refrigerator is inserted through the opening such that the first cooling stage is arranged outside and the second cooling stage is arranged inside, and which is thermally connected to the first cooling stage; and a refrigerator cover thermally connected to the second cooling stage, which extends through the opening from the inside to the outside of the radiation shield, and which is spaced apart from the radiation shield at the opening.

Claims

1. A cryopump comprising:

a refrigerator including a first cooling stage and a second cooling stage cooled to a temperature lower than that of the first cooling stage;

a radiation shield on side surface of which is formed an opening, in which the refrigerator is inserted through the opening such that the first cooling stage is arranged outside and the second cooling stage is arranged inside, and which is thermally connected to the first cooling stage; and

a refrigerator cover thermally connected to the second cooling stage, which extends through the opening from the inside to the outside of the radiation shield, and which is spaced apart from the radiation shield at the opening.

2. The cryopump according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is arranged outside the radiation shield with the first cooling stage having an offset extending toward outside from the opening, and

wherein the refrigerator cover has a terminal portion protruding by a length smaller than that of the offset, from the opening to the outside of the radiation shield.

3. The cryopump according to claim 2, wherein a gap between the radiation shield and the refrigerator cover, and the length by which the refrigerator cover protrudes and extends from the opening, are sized such that an ice layer accumulating on the refrigerator cover due to condensation of a gas is not in contact with the radiation shield and the first cooling stage before reaching a maximum pumping capacity of the cryopump.

4. The cryopump according to claim 2 further comprising a cryopanel thermally connected to the second cooling stage, wherein a gap between the radiation shield and the refrigerator cover, and the length by which the refrigerator cover protrudes and extends from the opening, are sized such that an ice layer accumulating on the refrigerator cover is not in contact with the radiation shield and the first cooling stage, before a gas vapor pressure on a surface of the ice layer accumulating on the cryopanel due to condensation of a gas is higher than a recovery pressure set as a pressure to be reached within a predetermined period after gas flow into the cryopump has been stopped.

5. The cryopump according to claim 2, wherein the refrigerator cover is arranged such that the length by which the refrigerator cover protrudes and extends from the opening is equal to or larger than a gap between the radiation shield and the refrigerator cover.

6. The cryopump according to claim 2 further comprising a shielding member that surrounds the terminal portion and connects the first cooling stage and the radiation shield together.

7. A cryopump comprising:

a radiation shield having a tubular side surface on which an opening is formed;

a refrigerator including a first cooling stage cooled to a first temperature and thermally connected to the radiation shield;

a second cooling stage cooled to a second temperature lower than the first temperature; and

a connecting member connecting the first cooling stage and the second cooling stage together and having on its surface temperature distribution between the first temperature and the second temperature, the refrigerator inserted through the opening so as to arrange the second cooling stage inside the radiation shield;

a refrigerator cover thermally connected to the second cooling stage and extending toward the first cooling stage along the surface of the connecting member; and

an interference restraining structure defining a space that houses an ice layer deposited on the refrigerator cover in a way that interference with the radiation shield is avoided, between the radiation shield and an end portion of the refrigerator cover adjacent to the first cooling stage.

8. The cryopump according to claim 7, wherein the interference restraining structure includes a member protruding from the radiation shield so as to surround the connecting member and the end portion adjacent to the first cooling stage of the refrigerator cover.