Shell stator for a vacuum pump

A vacuum pump, comprising:

• shell stators defining at least one pumping chamber, a shell stator of the shell stators comprising:
• a seal groove formed in a surface of the shell stator, the seal groove being defined by a first side wall, a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, and a bottom surface disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall, the bottom surface being opposite to an opening of the seal groove;
• wherein:
• the seal groove comprises:
• a protrusion formed in the first side wall and extending towards the second side wall, and
• an indentation formed in the second side wall opposite to the protrusion;
• end pieces mounted at either end of the shell stators;
• and
• a sealing gasket disposed between the shell stators and the end pieces, the sealing gasket being disposed in the seal groove,
• wherein the protrusion biases at least part of the sealing gasket against the second side wall.

A vacuum pump comprising:

• shell stators defining at least one pumping chamber, a shell stator of the shell stators comprising:
• a seal groove formed in a surface of the shell stator, the seal groove being defined by a first side wall, a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, and a bottom surface disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall, the bottom surface being opposite to an opening of the seal groove;
• wherein
• the seal groove comprises:
• a first protrusion formed in the first side wall and extending towards the second side wall, and
• a first indentation formed in the second side wall opposite to the first protrusion;
• end pieces mounted at either end of the shell stators;
• and
• a sealing gasket disposed between the shell stators and the end pieces, the sealing gasket being disposed in the seal groove, wherein
• the first protrusion biases at least part of the sealing gasket against the second side wall, the vacuum pump further comprising:
• two closed-shape sealing grooves, each closed-shape sealing groove being formed in a respective end of the shell stators;
• wherein
• the sealing gasket comprises two sealing members each defining a closed shape, each of the sealing members being disposed in a respective one of the closed-shape sealing grooves;
• each closed-shape sealing groove is defined by an outer wall, an inner wall opposite to the outer wall, and a bottom surface disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall, the bottom surface being opposite to an opening of the closed-shape sealing groove;
• wherein
• each closed-shape sealing groove comprises:
• a second protrusion formed in the outer wall and extending towards the inner wall;
• and
• a second indentation formed in the inner wall opposite to the second protrusion;
• and
• the second protrusion of a closed-shape sealing groove biases at least part of the sealing members disposed in that closed-shape sealing groove against the inner wall of that closed-shape sealing groove.