Method of producing a vacuum

US4973227A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• HWT Gesellschaft fur Hydrid-und Wasserstofftechnik m.b.H. · DE

Inventors

• Otto Bernauer · Waiblingen, DE
• Clemens Halene · Düsseldorf, DE
• Manfred Keller · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 16, 1989
• Grant date: Nov 27, 1990
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F04B37/02
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of producing a vacuum in a volume of a hollow body which has at least one outlet opening for the gaseous atmosphere present therein, the method includes the following steps: introducing at least about 3 g/dm.sup.3 of evacuation volume of a metal hydride into the hollow body so as to take up less than about 5% of the volume 3. The metal hydride comprises a hydride forming alloy of the formula EQU Ti(V.sub.1-a-b Fe.sub.a Al.sub.b).sub.xy Mn.sub.z, wherein PA0 1<x.ltoreq.2 PA0 0<y.ltoreq.0.2 PA0 x+y.ltoreq.2 PA0 0<a.ltoreq.0.4 PA0 0<b.ltoreq.0.2 PA0 a+b.ltoreq.0.5 PA0 (1-a-b) x.gtoreq.1 PA0 0<z.ltoreq.2-x-y. The metal hydride is heated to a temperature so that a substantial amount of the gaseous hydrogen is released from the hydride, the heating step is performed so that heating of the hollow body will not exceed a temperature of about 500.degree. C.; flushing the volume with the gaseous hydrogen released from the hydride thereby replacing said gaseous atmosphere present in the volume prior to the release thereof; closing the outlet of the hollow body; cooling the hollowing body; and absorbing the gaseous hydrogen with the hydride forming alloy.