# US 11,078,916 B2 · Vacuum pump

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- Number: US 11,078,916 B2
- Document ID: US11078916B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/052,761
- Filed: 2018-08-02
- Published: 2019-02-07
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-04
- Assignees: Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
- Applicants: Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
- Inventors: Jan Hofmann; Florian Schneider
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078916B2

## CPC

- F04D 19/042: {Turbomolecular vacuum pumps}
- F04D 19/04: specially adapted to the production of a high vacuum, e.g. molecular pumps
- F04D 19/048: {comprising magnetic bearings}
- F04D 27/001: {Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring}
- F04D 29/048: magnetic; electromagnetic
- F04D 29/058: magnetic; electromagnetic
- F16C 17/045: {with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. spiral groove thrust bearings}
- F04B 2205/01: Pressure before the pump inlet
- F05D 2270/3011: Inlet pressure
- F16C 2360/45: Turbo-molecular pumps
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum pump, in particular to a turbomolecular pump, having at least one pump stage and having a pressure determination unit for determining a pressure present at a suction side of the vacuum pump, said pump comprising a measurement device, with a measurement tap of the measurement device being provided in the region of the pump stage or downstream of the pump stage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vacuum pump having:
at least one pump stage, and
a pressure determination unit configured to determine a pressure present at a suction side of the vacuum pump and the pressure determination unit comprising a measurement device,
a measurement tap of the measurement device provided in a region of at least one of the at least one pump stage and downstream of the at least one pump stage;
wherein the pressure determination unit is configured to receive input signals corresponding to pressure measurements taken at the measurement tap, the pressure determination unit determining the pressure present at the suction side of the vacuum pump based on a product of the pressure measurement taken at the measurement tap and a correction factor, the correction factor being a quotient of internal suction capacity of the vacuum pump at the measurement tap to suction capacity of the vacuum pump at the suction side of the vacuum pump; and
at least one means with which at least one operating parameter of the vacuum pump is determined and transmitted and/or input into the pressure determination unit, and wherein the pressure determination unit is configured such that the correction factor is modified on a basis of the determined at least one operating parameter or an input operating parameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one pump stage comprises at least one rotor and a stator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one pump stage comprises a Holweck stage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement tap is configured as an opening in a housing of the vacuum pump receiving the at least one pump stage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 4, wherein the opening is also usable as a flood opening for flooding the vacuum pump or as a carrier gas opening.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement device comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure tapped at the measurement tap, with the measurement tap being in fluid communication with the pressure sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor is a Pirani vacuum gauge or comprises a capacitive measuring tube.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter of the vacuum pump is selected from at least one of a revolution speed, a drive power, a unit temperature, a pre-vacuum pressure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pressure determination unit is configured such that the correction factor is modified on a basis of a gas mixture being conveyed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an inlet port formed at the suction side of the vacuum pump and an exhaust port, wherein the at least one measurement tap is positioned intermediate of the inlet port and the exhaust port.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one means comprises a sensor to provide the at least one operating parameters to the pressure determination unit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one means comprises a data communication line to provide the at least one operating parameter to the pressure determination unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vacuum pump in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one means comprises a manual input device to input the at least one operating parameter into the pressure determination unit.