Patent · US Active

Method to operate an apparatus for feeding liquid metal to an evaporator device

US11414744B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 1, 2017
Grant dateAug 16, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 2, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C14/56
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method to operate an apparatus for feeding liquid metal to an evaporator device in a vacuum chamber, wherein the feed tube runs from a container adapted to contain a liquid metal to the evaporator device and wherein an electromagnetic pump is provided in the feed tube and a valve in the feed tube between the electromagnetic pump and the evaporator device. An at least partially gas permeable electromagnetic pump, which is enclosed in a pressure controlled enclosure, is used in the method wherein electromagnetic pump and the pressure controlled enclosure are controlled such that filling and draining of the evaporator device and feed tube can be done without affecting the vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.