Vertical transfer system for a vacuum chamber and gate valve assembly
First Claim
1. A vacuum-oriented vertical transfer system comprising:
- a cylindrical partition wall provided externally of a vacuum container, the cylindrical partition wall having a first end open to an open bottom of the vacuum container and a second closed end;
a rod capable of vertical movement through the open bottom of the vacuum container, the rod having a front end located within the vacuum container and a rear end located within the partition wall;
radial magnetic support means for applying a magnetic force from outside of the partition wall to floatingly support the rod in a radial direction;
axial magnetic support means for applying a magnetic force from outside of the partition wall to floatingly support the rod in an axial direction; and
vertical transfer means for vertically moving the radial magnetic support means along the partition wall.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum-oriented vertical transfer system which provides super vacuum/super clean environments, and a gate valve assembly which reduces the size of electromagnet sections. The vacuum-oriented vertical transfer system includes a cylindrical partition wall, and a rod vertically moved through an open bottom of a vacuum container. The rod is floatingly supported in radial and axial directions thereof by a radial magnetic support device and an axial magnetic support device, respectively. The gate valve assembly comprises a closure member mounted for positioning adjacent to and away from a port of a container to close and open the port, respectively. A neck member is integrally connected to the closure member and is mounted for movement to position the closure member to open and close the port of the container. A radial magnet device levitates the neck member by magnetic forces in a radial direction thereof. An axial magnetic device levitates the neck member by magnetic forces in an axial direction thereof. A moving mechanism moves the neck member to position the closure member to open and close the port of the container.
75 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A vacuum-oriented vertical transfer system comprising:
-
a cylindrical partition wall provided externally of a vacuum container, the cylindrical partition wall having a first end open to an open bottom of the vacuum container and a second closed end; a rod capable of vertical movement through the open bottom of the vacuum container, the rod having a front end located within the vacuum container and a rear end located within the partition wall; radial magnetic support means for applying a magnetic force from outside of the partition wall to floatingly support the rod in a radial direction; axial magnetic support means for applying a magnetic force from outside of the partition wall to floatingly support the rod in an axial direction; and vertical transfer means for vertically moving the radial magnetic support means along the partition wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A gate valve assembly comprising:
-
a closure member arranged to face with a port of a container; a neck integrally formed on one side of the closure member; radial magnetic support means for floatingly supporting the neck in a radial direction under a magnetic force; inner permanent magnets integrally connected to the neck; outer permanent magnets for floatingly supporting the neck in an axial direction under a repulsive force generated between the outer permanent magnets and the inner permanent magnets; and swing means for swinging the neck back and forth toward the port of the container, whereby the port is opened and closed by the closure member. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 9)
-
-
8. A gate valve assembly comprising:
-
a cylindrical seal block having an inclined front end and a rear end connected to a port of a container; a closure member located adjacent to the seal block and having an inclined portion arranged in face-to-face relation to the inclined front end of the seal block; a resilient seal member disposed between the inclined portion of the closure member and the inclined front end of the seal block; a neck mounted to a lower end of the closure member; a radial electromagnet section for floatingly supporting the neck in a radial direction under a magnetic force; inner permanent magnets integrally mounted to the neck; outer permanent magnets for floatingly supporting the neck in an axial direction under a repulsive force generated between the outer permanent magnets and the inner permanent magnets; and a sealing electromagnet for axially attracting the neck, whereby the inclined portion of the closure member is brought into close contact with the inclined front end of the seal block.
-
-
10. A transfer system comprising:
-
an enclosure having a closed end and an open end for connection to an open end of a vacuum container to provide a vacuum environment within the enclosure; a transfer member extending into the enclosure for movement through the open end of the enclosure and the open end of the vacuum container in an axial direction of the transfer member; radial magnetic means for floatingly supporting the transfer member by magnetic forces in a radial direction thereof; axial magnetic means for floatingly supporting the transfer member by magnetic forces in the axial direction; and transfer means for moving the radial magnetic means and the axial magnetic means in the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A gate valve assembly comprising:
-
a closure member mounted for positioning adjacent to and away from a port of a container to close and open the port, respectively; a neck member integrally connected to the closure member and mounted for movement to position the closure member to open and close the port of the container; radial magnetic means for floatingly supporting the neck member by magnetic forces in a radial direction thereof; axial magnetic means for floatingly supporting the neck member by magnetic forces in an axial direction thereof; and moving means for moving the neck member to position the closure member to open and close the port of the container. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A gate valve assembly comprising:
-
a block member having a first open end for connection to a port of a container, and a second open end; a closure member for positioning adjacent to and away from the second open end of the block member to close and open the port of the container, respectively; a neck member integrally connected to the closure member; radial magnetic means for floatingly supporting the neck member by magnetic forces in a radial direction thereof; axial magnetic means for floatingly supporting the neck member by magnetic forces in an axial direction thereof; and electromagnetic means for moving the neck member by magnetic forces in the axial direction to bring the closure member adjacent to the second open end of the block member to close the port of the container. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
Specification