Scroll apparatus
AssigneeThe BOC Group, Inc.
InventorNigel P. Schofield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum pump of the scroll type having first and second scroll components each having a scroll structure defined thereon. The scroll components are arranged in the pump such that the respective scroll structures inter-engage with the first scroll component being held stationary and the second scroll component orbiting the first scroll component to trap a volume of gas and urge the volume from one end of the respective scroll structures to the other end. The first and second scroll components define inter-engaging scroll structures having an initial multi-start portion including at least two pump inlets and a subsequent single-start portion including a pump outlet.
Claims7
A vacuum pump of the scroll type comprising:
- fast and second scroll components, each having a scroll structure defined thereon;
- said first and second scroll components arranged in the vacuum pump such that the respective scroll structures inter-engage with the fast scroll component held stationary and the second scroll component orbiting to the first scroll component to trap a volume of gas and urge the volume from one end to the other end of the respective scroll structures;
- the first and second scroll components having an initial multi-start portion and a subsequent single start portion including a pump outlet;
- the initial multi-start portion positioned to receive gas and urge the volume of gas to the subsequent single start portion;
- the initial multi-start portion having at least two passageways defined between at least two said first and at least two second scroll structures and at least two pump inlets for the gas to enter the at least two passageways, said pump inlets being located at substantially the same circumferential location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.