Slide lock for vacuum valve

• US 6,443,426 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arthur Brenes
• Original Assignee: Arthur Brenes
• Inventors: Brenes, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Hook, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US09/610,708
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 251/291, 251/329, 251/326, 403/321, 741/09
• US Class Current: 251/291
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 51/02 specially adapted for high-vacuum installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/59 Manually releaseable latch type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18976 Rack and pinion

Abstract

An improved slide lock mechanism for a vacuum valve (10) including an end plate or bonnet (42) mounted to an end flange (46) and a pair of slide lock plates (14). An elongated drive shaft pinion (36) drives a rack (52)connected to slide lock plates (14), to linearly shift the slide lock plates into clamping engagement with guide screws (20), thus achieving a tight seal at upper flange (46) and bonnet (42). Elongated drive shaft pinion (36) provides access from above vacuum valve for disengaging, or unclamping, the valve plate and its actuator for repair or maintenance.

Claims

1. A vacuum valve for controlling vacuum media flow, comprising,

a valve housing defining a valve chamber and adapted to receive a movable valve plate within the valve chamber to prevent vacuum media flow,

the valve housing including a removable end plate to which a valve plate actuator is secured, the valve plate actuator adapted to move the valve plate within the valve chamber, so that removal of the end plate in an upward direction separates the valve plate actuator,

the valve housing also including an end plate engaging member,

a clamp mechanism coupled to one of the end plate or end plate engaging member, the clamp mechanism having a first position allowing separation of the end plate from the end plate engaging member and a second position that securely holds the end plate to the end plate engaging member in a sealed manner, and

a clamp actuator extending through the end plate-from above and connected to the clamp mechanism for moving the clamp mechanism between its first position and its second position.

2. The vacuum valve of claim 1, wherein,

the clamp mechanism is movable between its first and second positions in a direction transverse the direction of removal of the end plate.

3. The vacuum valve of claim 2 wherein,

the clamp actuator includes a pinion component and the clamp mechanism includes a rack component coupled to the pinion component, whereby rotation of the pinion component causes linear movement of the rack component, causing the clamp mechanism to move between its first and second positions.

4. The vacuum valve of claim 3 wherein,

the clamp actuator includes an elongated drive shaft connected to the pinion component, the elongated drive shaft extending away from the end plate beyond an outer end of the valve plate actuator.

5. The vacuum valve of claim 4 wherein,

the drive shaft includes an outer end that has a drive coupling for manual rotation of the drive shaft and connected pinion component.

6. The vacuum valve of claim 3 wherein,

the clamp mechanism includes a series of guide screws mounted to one of the end plate or the end plate engaging member and extending through openings in the other of said end plate and end plate engaging member, and a slide plate that is movable in a plane transverse to the guide screws, the slide plate having a first position that permits separation of the end plate from the end plate engaging member and a second position that securely fastens the end plate to the end plate engaging member.

7. The vacuum valve of claim 6 wherein,

the slide plate includes elongated openings, one for each guide screw, and a guide screw engaging protrusion, and at least one guide screw includes a shoulder adapted to engage a guide screw engaging protrusion when the slide plate is in a second position and thereby prevent movement of the guide screw in a direction along its central axis.

8. The vacuum valve of claim 7 wherein,

the guide screw engaging protrusion includes a cam surface for progressively engaging the shoulder of the guide screw and clamping the end plate and end plate engaging member together.

9. The vacuum valve of claim 3 wherein,

a pair of rack components are provided, one on each side of the valve housing, a pair of pinion components are provided, one for driving each rack component.

10. The vacuum valve of claim 9 wherein,

both pinion components extend outwardly beyond the valve actuator.

11. A vacuum valve for controlling vacuum media flow, comprising,

a valve housing defining a valve chamber, said valve housing being dimensioned and configured to receive a movable valve plate within the valve chamber to prevent vacuum media flow, the valve housing also including an end plate engaging member;

the valve housing including a removable end plate to which a valve plate actuator is secured, the valve plate actuator dimensioned and configured to move the valve plate within the valve chamber, so that removal of the end plate in an upward direction separates the valve plate actuator from the end plate engaging member,

a clamp mechanism coupled to the end plate engaging member, the clamp mechanism having a first position allowing separation of the end plate from the end plate engaging member and a second position that securely holds the end plate to the end plate engaging member in a sealed manner, and

a clamp actuator extending through the end plate from above and connected to the clamp mechanism for causing linear movement of the clamp mechanism between its first position and its second position.

12. The vacuum valve of claim 11 wherein,

the clamp actuator includes an elongated drive shaft connected to a pinion component, the elongated drive shaft extending away from the end plate beyond an outer end of the valve plate actuator.

13. The vacuum valve of claim 12 wherein,

the drive shaft includes an outer end that has a drive coupling for manual rotation of the drive shaft and connected pinion component.

17. The vacuum valve of claim 11 wherein,

a pair of rack components are provided, one on each side of the valve housing, a pair of pinion components are provided, one for driving each rack component.

18. The vacuum valve of claim 17 wherein,

both pinion components extend outwardly beyond the valve actuator.

14. The vacuum valve of claim 14 wherein,

the clamp mechanism includes a guide screw mounted to the end plate and extending through an opening in the end plate engaging member, and a slide plate that is movable in a plane transverse to the guide screw, the slide plate having a first position that permits separation of the end plate from the end plate engaging member and a second position that securely fastens the end plate to the end plate engaging member.

15. The vacuum valve of claim 14 wherein,

the slide plate includes an elongated opening, and a guide screw engaging protrusion, and the guide screw includes a shoulder adapted to engage a guide screw engaging protrusion when the slide plate is in a second position and thereby prevent movement of the guide screw in a direction along its central axis.

16. The vacuum valve of claim 15 wherein,

the guide screw engaging protrusion includes a cam surface for progressively engaging the shoulder of the guide screw and clamping the end plate and end plate engaging member together.

19. A vacuum valve for controlling vacuum media flow, comprising,

a valve housing defining a valve chamber and including an upper flange, said upper flange having a screw aperture;

an actuator assembly dimensioned and configured to move a valve plate within said valve chamber, said actuator assembly including a bonnet removably engageable with said upper flange so that removal of said bonnet separates said actuator assembly from said valve housing,

a slide lock mechanism including a guide screw mounted to said bonnet and extending through said screw aperture, said slide lock mechanism further including a slide plate engageable with said guide screw, said slide plate being movable in a plane transverse to said guide screw between a first position in which said slide plate is disengaged with said guide screw allowing separation of said bonnet from said upper flange and a second position in which said slide plate is engaged with said guide screw thereby securely fastening said bonnet to said upper flange,

a release drive shaft extending through said actuator assembly and connected to said slide lock mechanism for moving said slide plate between said first and second positions, whereby rotation of the said release drive shaft causes transverse movement of said slide plate between said first and second positions.