Scroll pump and scroll pump inlet valve
OwnerNigel Paul Schofield, Alan Ernest Kinnaird Holbrook +1inventors
InventorsNigel Paul Schofield, Alan Ernest Kinnaird Holbrook, David Bedwell
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Abstract
A scroll pump inlet valve and scroll pump are disclosed. The scroll pump inlet valve comprises: a valve seat formed by at least one of a stator and an inlet cover of the scroll pump; and a sealing mechanism, mounted to the stator or the inlet cover. The sealing mechanism comprises an actuator configured to move the sealing mechanism between an open position in which a scroll mechanism and an inlet port of the scroll pump are fluidly connected and a closed position in which the sealing mechanism engages the valve seat to seal the scroll mechanism from the inlet port.
Claims17
A scroll pump inlet valve comprising:
- a valve seat formed by at least one of a stator and an inlet cover of a scroll pump;
- and
- a sealing mechanism, mounted to the stator or the inlet cover, comprising an actuator configured to move the sealing mechanism between an open position in which a scroll mechanism and an inlet port of the scroll pump are fluidly connected and a closed position in which the sealing mechanism engages the valve seat to seal the scroll mechanism from the inlet port.
A method of controlling an inlet valve of a scroll vacuum pump comprising the steps of:
- powering up a motor driving the rotor of the scroll pump;
- determining whether an inlet valve opening condition has been met, said inlet valve opening condition comprising one of the following:
- a predetermined time having elapsed or a control signal indicating said rotor has reached a predetermined speed has been received;
- in response to said condition being met, opening said inlet valve of said scroll pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.