Quick release purge valve and substrate container using same

A quick release purge valve used for a substrate container, comprising:

• a snap member having a circular structure;
• a gasket fitting having an airflow conduit defined therein for providing a gas flow into or from the substrate container;
• and
• a valve element positioned in the airflow conduit for restricting the airflow;
• wherein the gasket fitting has an outer wall and a flange surface formed on the outer wall, the flange surface touches against the circular structure of the snap member such that the snap member fits onto the outer wall of the gasket fitting.

A substrate container, comprising:

• a base including a bottom plate and a cover plate, the bottom plate defining at least one first opening, the cover plate defining at least one second opening, the first opening corresponding to the second opening;
• and
• an outer cover for engaging with the base to form a sealed state;
• and
• at least one quick release purge valve comprising:
• a snap member having a circular structure;
• a gasket fitting defining an airflow conduit therein;
• and
• a valve element positioned within the airflow conduit,
• wherein the airflow conduit communicatively connects to the first opening and the second opening, the gasket fitting has an outer wall and a flange surface formed on the outer wall, the flange surface matches with the circular structure such that the gasket fitting is held within the first opening defined by the bottom plate.

A method for loading at least on quick release purge valve in a substrate container, the quick release purge valve comprising a snap member having a circular structure, a gasket fitting defining an airflow conduit and a valve element, wherein the gasket fitting has an outer wall and a flange surface formed on the outer wall, and the substrate container is provided with at least one first opening and at least one second opening corresponding to the first opening, the second opening is provided with a fitting sleeve, the method comprising following steps:

• loading the valve element into the airflow conduit defined by the gasket fitting;
• fitting the gasket fitting into the fitting sleeve to form a seal between the gasket fitting and the fitting sleeve;
• fitting the circular structure of the snap member onto the outer wall of the gasket fitting until the circular structure touches against the flange surface;
• and
• securing the snap member within the first opening such that the gasket fitting is unable to pass through the snap member.

A method for unloading at least one quick purge release valve from a substrate container providing at least one first opening and at least one second opening corresponding to the first opening, the quick release purge valve comprising a snap member having a circular structure, a gasket fitting defining an airflow conduit and a valve positioned in the airflow conduit, wherein the gasket fitting has an outer wall and a flange surface formed on the outer wall, the snap member is detachably received within the first opening with the circular structure matching the flange surface to thereby restrict the gasket fitting inbetween the first opening and the second opening, the method comprising following steps:

• changing the state of snap member from an engaged state to a disengaged state;
• retrieving the snap member from the first opening such that the circular structure no longer restricts the flange surface;
• and
• retrieving the gasket fitting from the first opening.