Vacuum chamber gate valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gate valve assembly for mounting on a port in a chamber wall, said gate valve comprising:
- an elongate housing having means at one end for sealing to the chamber wall about the port;
a bearing block pivotally mounted within the housing;
a shaft slidably received by the bearing block and extending through said one end of the housing;
a gate member attached to one end of the shaft;
an expandable seal member sealing the shaft to the housing to prevent leakage through the one end; and
means in the other end of the housing for translating the shaft through the bearing block and for pivoting the bearing block to move the gate member between an opened position and a closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gate valve assembly includes a housing, a shaft axially mounted within the housing, and a gate member secured to one end of the shaft. A mechanism within the housing is provided for axially extending and rotating the shaft in order to move the gate member into sealing engagement with a port in a processing chamber. By providing an expandable seal about the shaft and secured to the housing, the mechanical drive portion of the valve may be isolated from the interior of the chamber. The valve is particularly suitable for use with loadlocks and other chambers having a low pressure environment.
66 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A gate valve assembly for mounting on a port in a chamber wall, said gate valve comprising:
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an elongate housing having means at one end for sealing to the chamber wall about the port; a bearing block pivotally mounted within the housing; a shaft slidably received by the bearing block and extending through said one end of the housing; a gate member attached to one end of the shaft; an expandable seal member sealing the shaft to the housing to prevent leakage through the one end; and means in the other end of the housing for translating the shaft through the bearing block and for pivoting the bearing block to move the gate member between an opened position and a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A gate valve assembly comprising:
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an elongate housing having at least one opening; a bearing block pivotally mounted within the housing; a shaft slidably received by the bearing block and extending through the one opening; a gate member attached to the end of the shaft which extends through the one opening; and means for translating the shaft through the bearing block and for pivoting the bearing block so that the gate member moves between an opened position and a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A gate valve assembly for mounting on a port in a chamber wall, said gate valve comprising:
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an elongate housing having at least one opening and means proximate the one opening for sealing the housing about the port; a bearing block pivotally mounted within the housing; a shaft slidably received by the bearing block and extending through the one opening; a gate member attached to the end of the shaft which extends through the opening so that said gate member will extend through the port into the chamber when the housing is mounted on the chamber; an expandable seal member sealing the shaft to the housing to prevent leakage through the one opening; and means for translating the shaft through the bearing block and for pivoting the bearing block so that the gate member moves between an opened and a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification