High-vacuum seal

A seal assembly forming a vacuum tight seal between a first component to a second component, comprising:

• a first seal sub-assembly including:
• a first o-ring;
• a first flange attached in a vacuum tight manner to the first component, the first flange including a first groove for capturing the first o-ring, the first groove having a lip that prevents the first o-ring from extending beyond the first flange, the groove being sufficiently wide to provide space for a gas to flow between the outer surface of the first o-ring and the outer edge of the groove opposite the lip;
• a second flange attached in a vacuum tight manner to the second component, the second flange including a second groove aligned with the first groove for capturing the first o-ring and having a lip preventing the first o-ring from extending beyond the second component, the first o-ring being fixed within the first and second grooves and not capable of sliding to seal against any element other than the first and second flanges;
• the first flange including a first passage connecting to the first groove on the side opposite the lip to provide a flow of dry gas to the outer surface of the o-ring on the side of the o-ring opposite the lip;
• the second flange including a second passage connected to the second groove on the side opposite the lip to provide an exit for the dry gas from the first passage,
• a second seal sub-assembly including:
• a second o-ring;
• a third flange attached in a vacuum tight manner to the first component, the third flange including a third groove for capturing the second o-ring, the third groove having a lip that prevents the second o-ring from extending beyond the third flange, the groove being sufficiently wide to provide space for a gas to flow between the outer surface of the second o-ring and the outer edge of the groove opposite the lip;
• a fourth flange attached in a vacuum tight manner to the second component, the fourth flange including a fourth groove aligned with the third groove for capturing the second o-ring and having a lip preventing the second o-ring from extending beyond the second component, the second o-ring fixed within the third and fourth grooves;
• the third flange including a third passage connecting to the third groove on the side of the second o-ring opposite the lip to provide a flow of dry gas to the o-ring surface on the side opposite the lip;
• the fourth flange including a fourth passage connecting to the fourth groove on side of the second o-ring opposite from the lip to provide an exit for the dry gas from the third passage,
• the second passage in the second flange being connected to the third passage in the third flange, so that a dry gas can flow into the first passage in the first flange, out of the second passage of the second flange, into the third passage of the third flange and out of the fourth passage of the fourth flange.