Integrated gas panel

• US 5,605,179 A
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Celerity Incorporated (ICHOR Holdings, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: InSync Systems, Inc. (ICHOR Holdings, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elliot, Brent D., Strong, Benjamin R. Jr., Balma, Frank R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, John C.
• Application Number:
  US08/404,485
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 137/240, 137/884
• US Class Current: 137/884
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/003 Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0341 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/044 by purging
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/05 for industrial use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4259 With separate material addition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

A novel integrated gas panel is described. The integrated gas panel of the present invention, comprises a plurality of individual process gas modules or blocks coupled together with a plurality of gaskets located between them. Each process gas module comprises an upstream isolation valve coupled between a process gas inlet and an MFC inlet. An upstream purge valve is coupled between an upstream purge port and the MFC inlet. A mass flow controller is coupled between the MFC inlet and an MFC outlet. A mix isolation valve is coupled between the MFC outlet and a mix port. The modules are coupled together such that respective ports of each module are in fluid communication with one another to form a common tube or port. Gaskets placed between the various modules either allow or block the flow of gas between ports of adjacent modules. By arranging blocks and gaskets in different ways, gas panels with a wide variety of different functions and capabilities can be easily designed and fabricated.

Claims

1. An integrated gas panel comprising:

a first process gas module comprising;

a first process gas inlet;

a first upstream isolation valve coupled between said first process gas inlet and a first MFC inlet;

a first upstream purge port;

a first upstream purge valve coupled between said first upstream purge port and said first MFC inlet;

a first mass flow controller (MFC) having an input coupled to said first MFC inlet and an output coupled to a first MFC outlet;

a first mix isolation valve coupled between said first MFC outlet and a first mix port; and

a second process gas module comprising;

a second process gas inlet;

a second upstream isolation valve coupled between said second process gas inlet and a second MFC inlet;

a second upstream purge port;

a second upstream purge valve coupled between said second upstream purge port and said second MFC inlet;

a second mass flow controller (MFC) having an input coupled to said second MFC inlet and an output coupled to a second MFC outlet;

a second mix isolation valve coupled between said second MFC outlet and a second mix port;

wherein said first upstream purge port is coupled to said second upstream purge port and said first mix port is coupled to said second mix port.

2. The integrated gas panel of claim 1 further comprising a gasket coupled between said first module and said second module.

3. The integrated gas panel of claim 1 wherein said gasket isolates said first mix port from said second mix port.