# US 9,038,985 B2 · Vacuum valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,985 B2 - Document ID: US9038985B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/068,092 - Filed: 2013-10-31 - Published: 2014-05-01 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-31 - Assignees: VAT Holding AG - Applicants: VAT Holding AG - Inventors: Hanspeter Frehner; Claudio Zanetti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038985B2 ## CPC - F16K 3/184: {by means of cams} - F16K 31/1221: {one side of the piston being spring-loaded} - F16K 3/18: by movement of the closure members - F16K 31/1225: {with a plurality of pistons} - F16K 51/02: specially adapted for high-vacuum installations - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A valve, in particular a vacuum valve, in which, in order to close a passage opening, in particular of the valve, at least one closure member can be moved by a valve drive, starting from a maximum open position, in which the closure member opens the passage opening at least partially, first on a first partial path into an intermediate position, and the closure member can be moved, starting from the intermediate position, on at least one second partial path which is angled away from the first partial path into a closed position, in which the closure member closes the passage opening, the valve drive having at least two cylinder spaces which are loadable in each case with a pressure medium, at least one piston being mounted displaceably in each of the cylinder spaces, and the pistons being supported on one another by way of at least one prestressing element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve for closing at least one passage opening, comprising: at least one closure member that is movable by a valve drive, starting from a maximum open position, in which the closure member opens the passage opening at least partially, first of all on a first partial path into an intermediate position, and the closure member is movable, starting from the intermediate position, on at least one second partial path which is angled away from the first partial path into a closed position, in which the closure member closes the passage opening, the valve drive having at least two cylinder spaces which are loadable in each case with a pressure medium, wherein at least one piston is mounted displaceably in respective ones of the cylinder spaces, and the pistons are supported on one another by at least one prestressing element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder spaces are connected to one another by a common pressure line for the pressure medium. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder spaces are connected in a first operating state to a pressure source, in order to move the closure member from the closed position into the maximum open position, and are connected in a second operating state to a pressure outlet in order to move the closure member from the maximum open position into the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein, during operation of the valve, a same pressure prevails in the one of the cylinder spaces as in the other of the cylinder spaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pistons have piston faces of different sizes which are loaded in each case by the pressure medium in the respective cylinder spaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piston with a smaller piston face is connected to the closure member in order to move the closure member on the first partial path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piston with a larger piston face is connected to a part of a slotted guide in order to move the closure member on the second partial path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first partial path extends linearly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve drive has at least one pivot pin which is stationary with respect to a valve housing of the valve and on which at least one of the cylinders which have the cylinder spaces is mounted pivotably. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prestressing element prestresses or presses the pistons in each case against the pressure medium which is present in the respective cylinder space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prestressing element is a spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylinder spaces are permanently connected to one another by the common pressure line which is permanently open. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cylinder spaces are connected in the first operating state to the pressure source at least one of the common pressure line or via a control valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second partial path is curved. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prestressing element prestresses or presses the pistons in each case against the pressure medium which is present in the respective cylinder space in a direction away from one another.