Methods and systems for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure
US9574564B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 2011 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF04D25/16
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure such as cryostat, for example, is described. The system includes a high-vacuum pump having an input that is connected to the cryostat and an output. A vacuum vessel is connected to the output of the high-vacuum pump. A second vacuum pump is connectable to the vacuum vessel. The system is operated such that the high-vacuum pump maintains the cryostat at a high vacuum and the second vacuum pump is periodically operated to maintain the pressure of the vacuum vessel below a threshold pressure. The second vacuum pump may be either permanently connected to, or removable from, the vacuum vessel. The vacuum vessel acts to maintain the output of the high-vacuum pump within a suitable pressure range. This removes the need for the output of the high-vacuum pump to be connected to a continuously operating, second-stage vacuum pump. Furthermore, the second vacuum pump is only required to be operated periodically in order to maintain the pressure in the vacuum vessel below the threshold pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.