Unitary slot valve actuator with dual valves
US6913243B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16K51/02
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A unitary slot valve actuator is in a vacuum body between adjacent vacuum chambers, such as a process module and a transport module. Separate valves are provided on the unitary actuator for each of two valve body slots, each body slot being closed or opened according to the position of the unitary actuator. The separate valves allow a vacuum condition to be maintained in the transport module while an adjacent process module is open to the atmosphere for servicing. The unitary actuator allows access to an open valve for servicing the open valve by way of a resilient bias assembly that releasably holds the valves in an open, but not vertically-spaced, position relative to the respective slots. The open valves are easily reached by a gloved hand of a service worker. A separate actuator motor moves the unitary actuator with the valves vertically down from the open position and away from the slots to expose seal surfaces around the slots for cleaning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.