Vacuum chamber connector

A connector configured to fluidly connect a first opening formed in a first vacuum chamber to a second opening formed in a second vacuum chamber, wherein the first opening of the first vacuum chamber is provided within the second vacuum chamber, the connector comprising;

• a tube having an outer wall extending in an axial direction to define a fluid flow path between a first end of the tube and a second end of the tube, wherein
• towards the first end of the tube, a sealing portion of the outer wall of the tube is provided, the sealing portion configured to engage with the first vacuum chamber in order to form a seal, and
• towards the second end of the tube, an O-ring retaining point is provided along the tube spaced apart from the second end of tube;
• and
• a biasing O-ring having an internal diameter less than an end diameter at the second end of the tube, the biasing O-ring provided around the outer wall of the tube such that the biasing O-ring is tensioned by the outer wall of the tube, wherein the biasing O-ring is configured to be moveable along the axial direction of the tube between the O-ring retaining point and a sealing position where the biasing O-ring seals the connector between the first and second openings,
• wherein, towards the second end of the tube, a sloped portion of the tube is provided in which a diameter of the outer wall varies from the end diameter at the second end of the tube to a retaining diameter at the O-ring retaining point, and
• wherein the biasing O-ring has a cross-sectional thickness that is at least equal to the distance in the axial direction between the second end of the tube and the O-ring retaining point.