Vacuum gate valve having a limb element

• US 7,980,529 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VAT Holding AG (VAT Group AG)
• Original Assignee: VAT Holding AG (VAT Group AG)
• Inventors: Seitz, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr.; John K
• Application Number:
  US12/135,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 251/176, 251/193, 251/203, 251/204
• US Class Current: 251/203
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/182 by means of toggle links
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 51/02 specially adapted for high-vacuum installations

Abstract

A vacuum gate valve includes a closure disk for gas-tight closing of an opening. A connecting rod with which the closure disk is coupled is linearly adjustable by means of a linear drive unit and the closure disk is thus displaceable between a position uncovering the opening and an intermediate position pushed over the opening. At least two limbs are pivotably mounted at one limb end on the back of the closure disk via a first joint and at the other limb end on a support via a second joint to press the closure disk into the closed position. The limbs, the back and the support form an articulated parallelogram. Each of the limbs forms, with the respective first and second joints, a common integral part which includes a resilient material, the first joint and the second joint being formed by a flexible section on the limb.

Claims

1. A vacuum gate valve comprising

a valve wall which has an opening and a valve seat running around the opening;

a closure disk having a closing side for substantially gas-tight closing of the opening;

at least one connecting rod which is mechanically coupled to the closure disk,

wherein the connecting rod can be displaced linearly along its connecting rod axis in the two displacement directions and hence the closure disk is displaceable substantially parallel to the valve seat between;

a position uncovering the opening; and

an intermediate position in which said disk is pushed over the opening and in which the closing side is present at least partly in a position opposite the valve seat, substantially parallel and a distance away,

at least two limbs which are parallel and a distance apart in the displacement direction of the connecting rod,

each of the limbs in each case

being pivotably mounted at one limb end on the back of the closure disk which is opposite the closing side, via a first joint, and

being pivotably mounted at the other limb end on a support via a second joint,

the at least two limbs, the back of the closure disk and the support forming a parallelogram which is articulated by the first joints and second joints so that the closure disk and the support are pivotable in the two displacement directions of the connecting rod, parallel and a distance apart,

each of the limbs, with the respective first joint and the respective second joint, forming a common integral part which comprises a resilient material, the first joint and the second joint being formed in each case from a thin-walled, flexible section on the limb, and

an engagement element which is ordered and formed in such a way that a section of the articulated parallelogram is prevented from further displacement in the closing direction of the connecting rod in the closing direction of the connecting rod after reaching the intermediate position, the limbs swivelling out on further displacement of the connecting rod in the closing direction so that the closure disk is pressed with its closing side onto the valve seat in the closed position and the opening is closed gas-tight.

2. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first joints and second joints are in the form of living hinges, the thin-walled, flexible section being formed in each case by a fold.

3. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the at least two limbs,

the first joints,

the second joints,

a first limb connecting part which connects the first joints and is arranged on the back of the closure disk and

a second limb connecting part which connects the second joints and is arranged on the support parallel to the first limb connecting part or forms the support are in the form of an integral limb element which consists of a resilient material.

4. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of limb elements are provided side by side.

5. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second limb connecting part forms the support.

6. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limbs, with the respective first joint and second joint, includes a plastic of the following groups or subgroups:

thermoplastics,

thermosetting plastics,

polymers or

polypropylene.

7. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limb, with the respective first joint and second joint, consists of silicon or a metal material of the following group:

aluminum, or

steel materials.

8. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the closure disk is arranged on the connecting rod and

the engagement element is formed for preventing the support, swivelled relative to the closure disk in the closing direction, from further displacement in the closing direction after reaching the intermediate position, so that the closure disk is pressed onto the valve seat into the closed position on further displacement of the connecting rod in the closing direction.

9. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 8, wherein the engagement element is coupled to the valve wall and is opposite the valve seat and a distance away.

10. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closure disk is mounted on the connecting rod so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation of the closure disk which is perpendicular to the connecting rod axis.

11. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 8, wherein the linear drive, including the connecting rod, is mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation of the linear drive which is perpendicular to the connecting rod axis.

12. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 8, comprising a spring mechanism which is arranged so that the support is held so as to be pivotable in the closing direction relative to the closure disk.

13. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the support is arranged on the connecting rod and

the engagement element is formed for preventing the closure disk, swivelled relative to the support in the closing direction, from further displacement in the closing direction after reaching the intermediate position,

so that the closure disk is pressed onto the valve seat into the closed position on further displacement of the connecting rod in the closing direction.

14. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the engagement element) is in the form of a cable or a chain, and extends between the closure disk and the linear drive unit and limits the maximum distance between the closure disk and the linear drive unit when the closing side and the valve seat are opposite one another.

15. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 13, comprising a spring mechanism which is arranged so that the closure disk is held so as to be pivotable in the closing direction relative to the support.

16. The vacuum gate valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum gate valve is in the form of a vacuum transfer valve.