Fluid tight movable passage

A device for providing a vacuum-tight passage to a wall and displacing said passage along said wall following a predetermined rectilinear path, said device comprising

• a flexible coupling comprising two static bands having an L-shape, symmetrically arranged with respect to said predetermined path, each band being provided with a first face and a second face perpendicular to each other, said first faces of said two bands being in permanent vacuum-tight connection with said wall on either side of said path, whereas said second faces face each other across said path and are deformable between a closed position wherein they are hermetically engaged with each other and an opened position wherein they are disengaged from each other;
• a mobile chamber positioned astride said flexible coupling and displaceable along said predetermined path while in sliding sealing contact with the exposed surface of said bands across portions of said second faces in said closed position;
• means to perform deformation of said bands inside said chamber from the closed position to the opened position near one end of the chamber and from the opened position to the closed position near another end of the chamber, thereby providing a passage through said flexible coupling inside said chamber;
• two level blocks interposed respectively between each of said bands and the wall, said blocks being arranged on each side of said rectilinear path and being provided with temporary cross-bracing members and guiding rails;
• removable band-supporting pieces constituted by two parts having a shape complementary to that of the bands and enclosing the latter for maintaining said bands above the rectilinear path, when subjected to pressure.

A device for providing a vacuum-tight passage to a wall and displacing said passage along said wall following a predetermined rectilinear path, said device comprising

• a flexible coupling comprising two static bands having an L-shape, symmetrically arranged with respect to said predetermined path, each band being provided with a first face and a second face perpendicular to each other, said first faces of said two bands being in permanent vacuum-tight connection with said wall on either side of said path, whereas said second faces face each other across said path and are deformable between a closed position wherein they are hermetically engaged with each other and an opened position wherein they are disengaged from each other;
• a mobile chamber positioned astride said flexible coupling and displaceable along said predetermined path while in sliding sealing contact with the exposed surface of said bands across portions of said second faces in said closed position;
• means to perform deformation of said bands inside said chamber from the closed position to the opened position near one end of the chamber and from the opened position to the closed position near another end of the chamber, thereby providing a passage through said flexible coupling inside said chamber;
• and
• wherein said bands when in the closed position form a profile having the shape of an omega (.OMEGA.).

A device for providing a vacuum-tight passage to a walls and displacing said passage along said wall following a predetermined rectilinear path, said device comprising

• a coupling forming a tunnel having a continuous, progressively openable end re-closable cover over said rectilinear path, said coupling comprising a first portion composed of a fluid-tight sole applied against the wall, a rigid edge coupled by a fluid-tight hinge to a flexible pressure-resistant cover, and a second portion formed by a sole and a supporting edge, said fluid-tight soles being connected to pumping sets;
• temporary spacing devices for stiffening the flexible coupling;
• a mobile chamber positioned astride said coupling and displaceable along said path while in sealing connection with said coupling;
• means to open and re-close said cover inside said chamber, thereby providing a passage through said coupling inside the chamber;
• clamping means for retaining the cover in the closed position outside the chamber.

A device for providing a vacuum-tight passage to a wall and displacing said passage along said wall following a predetermined rectilinear path, said device comprising

• a flexible coupling comprising two static bands having an L-shape, symmetrically arranged with respect to said predetermined path, each band being provided with a first face and a second face perpendicular to each other, said first faces of said two bands being in permanent vacuum-tight connection with said wall on either side of said path, whereas said second faces face each other across said path and are deformable between a closed position wherein they are hermetically engaged with each other and an opened position wherein they are disengaged from each other;
• a mobile chamber positioned astride said flexible coupling and displaceable along said predetermined path while in sliding sealing contact with the exposed surface of said bands across portions of said second faces in said closed position;
• means to perform deformation of said bands inside said chamber from the closed position to the opened position near one end of the chamber and from the opened position to the closed position near another end of the chamber, thereby providing a passage through said flexible coupling inside said chamber;
• supporting rollers for said bands inside said mobile chamber and fluid-tight joints pressing on said bands;
• an electron gun comprising focusing lenses and its accessories coupled by a flexible connection to the fluid-tight passage of said mobile chamber;
• an apparatus for protection against X-rays resulting from the operation of electron welding, disposed at the base of said mobile chamber and in contact with the parts applied against the wall, said protection apparatus being constituted by metallic wires or chains.