Device for maintaining a vacuum in a thermally insulating jacket and method of making such device
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a device for maintaining a vacuum, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a substantially gas-impermeable container having open and closed ends;
b) compressing a powder including a Ba--Li getter alloy at a pressure of between about 30 bar and about 1000 bar to form a first pellet;
c) locating said first pellet in said container proximate to said closed end; and
d) locating a second pellet including a drying agent in said container proximate to said open end such that said second pellet covers substantially said first pellet;
whereby said device is capable of maintaining a nitrogen sorption rate of at least about one cubic centimeter/second after exposure to air for fifteen minutes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for maintaining a vacuum in a thermally insulating jacket is described. The device comprises a container formed of a gas-tight material, preferably aluminum, which has an opening to the atmosphere. Inside the container is a first pellet comprising a powder of a Ba--Li alloy getter material. Arranged above, and completely covering, the first pellet is a second pellet comprising a powder of a drying material, optionally including the oxide of a noble metal and a material to prevent contraction of the drier. A process for manufacturing such a device is also described in which the first pellet is obtained by compression of its constituent powders at a pressure between about 30 bar and 1000 bar.
41 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a device for maintaining a vacuum, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a substantially gas-impermeable container having open and closed ends; b) compressing a powder including a Ba--Li getter alloy at a pressure of between about 30 bar and about 1000 bar to form a first pellet; c) locating said first pellet in said container proximate to said closed end; and d) locating a second pellet including a drying agent in said container proximate to said open end such that said second pellet covers substantially said first pellet; whereby said device is capable of maintaining a nitrogen sorption rate of at least about one cubic centimeter/second after exposure to air for fifteen minutes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for maintaining a vacuum in an enclosed space, comprising:
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a) a substantially gas-impermeable container having open and closed ends, b) a first pellet formed of a getter material including a Ba--Li alloy, said first pellet being located in said container proximate to said closed end; and c) a second pellet including a drying agent, a noble metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silver oxide, osmium oxide, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhodium oxide and palladium oxide, and an anti-contraction agent selected from the group consisting of alumina, zeolites and activated carbon, said second pellet being located in said container proximate to said open end, and said second pellet covering substantially said first pellet; wherein said device is capable of maintaining a nitrogen sorption rate of at least about one cubic centimeter/second after exposure to air for fifteen minutes. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A device for maintaining a vacuum in an enclosed space, comprising:
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a) a substantially gas-impermeable container having open and closed ends, b) a first pellet formed of a getter material including a Ba--Li alloy, said getter material comprising a compressed powder formed by compression of a powder of said getter material at a pressure between about 30 bar and about 1000 bar, said first pellet being located in said container proximate to said closed end; and c) a second pellet including a drying agent, said second pellet being located in said container proximate to said open end, and said second pellet covering substantially said first pellet; wherein said device is capable of maintaining a nitrogen sorption rate of at least about one cubic centimeter/second after exposure to air for fifteen minutes. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification