Vacuum chamber seal

A vacuum chamber comprising:

• a first wall and a second wall defining the outer surface of the vacuum chamber;
• a load within the vacuum chamber;
• a first power transmission plate that extends from an interior of the vacuum chamber to an exterior of the vacuum chamber between the first and second walls of the vacuum chamber;
• a second power transmission plate that extends from the interior of the vacuum chamber to the exterior of the vacuum chamber between the first and second walls of the vacuum chamber, wherein the first and second power transmission plates are arranged to deliver a voltage to the load;
• and
• a seal for sealing between the first and second walls, and between the first and second power transmission plates;
• wherein the seal comprises:
• a first outer insulation block sealing between the first wall of the vacuum chamber and the first power transmission plate;
• a second outer insulation block sealing between the second wall of the vacuum chamber and the second power transmission plate;
• an intermediate insulation block sealing between the first and second power transmission plates, wherein the intermediate insulation block comprises a first slot formed in a first side of the intermediate insulation block facing the exterior of the vacuum chamber;
• and
• an exterior insulation sheet extending between the first and second power transmission plates on the exterior of the vacuum chamber, wherein the exterior insulation sheet is arranged in the first slot in the first side of the intermediate insulation block.

An electric power feed apparatus for delivering a voltage to a load within a vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum chamber comprises a first wall and a second wall, the electric power feed apparatus comprising:

• a first power transmission plate for extending from an interior of the vacuum chamber to an exterior of the vacuum chamber between the first and second walls of the vacuum chamber;
• a second power transmission plate for extending from the interior of the vacuum chamber to the exterior of the vacuum chamber between the first and second walls of the vacuum chamber, wherein the first and second power transmission plates are arranged to deliver the voltage to the load;
• and
• a seal for sealing between the first and second walls, and between the first and second power transmission plates, wherein the seal comprises:
• a first outer insulation block for sealing between the first wall of the vacuum chamber and the first power transmission plate;
• a second outer insulation block for sealing between the second wall of the vacuum chamber and the second power transmission plate;
• an intermediate insulation block sealing between the first and second power transmission plates, wherein the intermediate insulation block comprises a first slot formed in a first side of the intermediate insulation block for facing the exterior of the vacuum chamber;
• and
• an exterior insulation sheet extending between the first and second power transmission plates on the exterior of the vacuum chamber, wherein the exterior insulation sheet is arranged in the first slot in the first side of the intermediate insulation block.

A pulsed power apparatus comprising:

• a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber comprising:
• a first wall and a second wall defining the outer surface of the vacuum chamber;
• and
• a load within the vacuum chamber;
• the pulsed power apparatus further comprising:
• a first power transmission plate that extends from an interior of the vacuum chamber to an exterior of the vacuum chamber between the first and second walls of the vacuum chamber;
• a second power transmission plate that extends from the interior of the vacuum chamber to the exterior of the vacuum chamber between the first and second walls of the vacuum chamber, wherein the first and second power transmission plates are arranged to deliver a voltage to the load;
• a voltage generation system for applying a voltage between the first and second power transmission plates;
• and
• a seal for sealing between the first and second walls, and between the first and second power transmission plates;
• wherein the seal comprises:
• a first outer insulation block sealing between the first wall of the vacuum chamber and the first power transmission plate;
• a second outer insulation block sealing between the second wall of the vacuum chamber and the second power transmission plate;
• an intermediate insulation block sealing between the first and second power transmission plates, wherein the intermediate insulation block comprises a first slot formed in a first side of the intermediate insulation block facing the exterior of the vacuum chamber;
• and
• an exterior insulation sheet extending between the first and second power transmission plates on the exterior of the vacuum chamber, wherein the exterior insulation sheet is arranged in the first slot in the first side of the intermediate insulation block.