Patent · US Expired

Sealing mechanism for sealing a vacuum chamber

US6296255A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
4References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1999
Grant dateOct 2, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S277/927
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A sealing mechanism comprises a support member forming part of the semiconductor producing apparatus which has a vacuum chamber, a rotation shaft rotatably received in the support member, and at least three seal rings axially spaced apart from each other between the support member and the rotation shaft to form a first fluid chamber close to the atmosphere and a second fluid chamber close to the vacuum chamber. The first fluid chamber is vacuumized to have a first pressure, and the second fluid chamber is also vacuumized to have a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure. The first and second fluid chambers work together to enhance the sealing performance of the sealing mechanism.

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