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US 12,736,134 B2Granted
Sealing system for components of a gas analyzer
AssigneeInficon GmbH
InventorsKenneth Charles Wright, Jaime Lynne Winfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sealing system includes a first seal, a second seal spaced apart from the first seal and a sealing chamber defined between the first and second seals. The sealing chamber is fluidly connected to a vacuum source. In operation, the sealing chamber is maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure. Contaminants that breach one of the first and second seals are pulled into the sealing chamber and removed by the vacuum source.
Claims20
A sealing system for a gas analyzer, comprising:
- an inner sealing member positioned at an interface between a valve and a housing of a vacuum chamber, wherein the valve includes an inlet and an outlet and the inner sealing member surrounds the inlet and the outlet of the valve;
- an outer sealing member spaced apart from the inner sealing member positioned at the interface between the valve and the housing of a vacuum chamber;
- a sealing chamber defined between the inner and outer sealing members;
- and
- one or more conduits configured to fluidly connect the sealing chamber to the vacuum chamber,
- wherein in operation, the sealing chamber is maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure, and
- wherein contaminants that breach one of the inner and outer sealing members are pulled into the sealing chamber and removed via the one or more conduits.
4 more elements
A sealing system comprising:
- a first seal positioned at an interface between a valve and a housing of a vacuum chamber;
- a second seal spaced apart from the first seal and positioned at the interface between the valve and the housing of a vacuum chamber, wherein the valve includes an inlet and an outlet and the second sealing member surrounds the inlet and the outlet of the valve;
- and
- a sealing chamber defined between the first and second seals,
- wherein the sealing chamber is fluidly connected to the vacuum chamber,
- wherein in operation, the sealing chamber is maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure, and
- wherein contaminants that breach one of the first and second seals are pulled into the sealing chamber and removed through the vacuum chamber.
4 more elements
A method of sealing a junction between a valve and a vacuum chamber:
- structuring a sealing system to comprise,
- a first seal positioned at an interface between the valve and a housing of the vacuum chamber,
- a second seal spaced apart from the first seal and positioned at the interface between the valve and the housing of a vacuum chamber, wherein the valve includes an inlet and an outlet and the second sealing member surrounds the inlet and the outlet of the valve, and
- a sealing chamber defined between the first and second seals;
- fluidly connecting the sealing chamber to the vacuum chamber;
- maintaining the sealing chamber at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure when in operation;
- and
- removing contaminants that breach one of the first and second seals,
- wherein the two components comprise a valve and a vacuum chamber, and
- wherein the sealing chamber is fluidly connected to an interior of the vacuum chamber.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.