Abstract: A scroll vacuum pump includes an orbiting scroll having a wall extending axially from an orbiting scroll base towards a fixed scroll, the fixed scroll having a fixed scroll wall extending axially from a fixed scroll base towards the orbiting scroll; an axially extending drive shaft having an eccentric shaft portion so that rotation of the eccentric shaft portion imparts an orbiting motion to the orbiting scroll relative to the fixed scroll; and an axial thrust bearing arrangement including an array of ball bearings for bearing against the orbiting scroll base in an axial direction, each ball bearing describing a circular path over the orbiting scroll base during orbiting motion; at least one thrust surface for bearing against the array of ball bearings; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the axial position of said at least one thrust surface and thereby the axial position of the orbiting scroll base.

Abstract: A vacuum pumping arrangement comprising multiple pumping stages for evacuating a process chamber and a method of cleaning the vacuum pumping arrangement is discussed. The vacuum pumping arrangement comprises: at least one turbomolecular pumping stage; at least one further pumping stage downstream of the turbomolecular pumping stage; and at least one inlet for admitting radicals into the vacuum pumping arrangement, the at least one inlet being located downstream of the turbomolecular stage and upstream of at least one of the at least one further pumping stage.

Abstract: A turbomolecular pump and method and apparatus for controlling the pressure in a process chamber using such a pump is disclosed. The turbomolecular comprises: a rotor comprising a plurality of blades on a rotatable shaft; a control motor for driving the rotatable shaft; wherein the control motor is sized to output a power that is more than three times larger than a power required to drive the shaft at a constant velocity that is sufficiently high to provide an exhaust pressure of 5 millibars.

Abstract: A drag pump for pumping gas and a set of vacuum pumps including the drag pump are disclosed. The drag pump comprises: a rotor configured to rotate within a stator component and to drive a gas to be pumped from a gas inlet to a gas outlet; magnetic bearings for rotatably mounting the rotor within the pump; wherein at least a portion of the rotor and stator component configured to contact the gas to be pumped are configured for operation at temperatures above 130° C.

Abstract: A twin shaft pump may include two cooperating rotors configured to rotate in opposite directions about parallel axes of rotation; a stator comprising a stator bore in which the rotors are mounted to rotate. The stator bore includes a central part between the two axes of rotation, and an outer part outside of the two axes, the rotors being configured to have cooperating dimensions with the stator bore such that an outer edge of each rotor that is remote from the other rotor seals with the stator bore when rotating in at least a portion of the outer part. A fluid inlet is provided in the stator bore, at least a portion of the fluid inlet being in the central part of the stator bore between the axes of rotation. A fluid outlet is provide in an opposing surface of the stator bore, the fluid outlet being in the central part of the stator bore.

Abstract: A waste disposal device for sealing waste and a cassette for dispensing film are disclosed. The waste disposal device comprises first and second rollers, each comprising first and second end portions and a joining portion therebetween. The end portions of the first and second rollers are arranged to receive and seal first and second film portions therebetween as the first and second rollers rotate. The joining portions of the first and second rollers are arranged to define an aperture for receiving waste in a first rotary configuration of the rollers and to seal the first and second film portions therebetween in a second rotary configuration of the first and second rollers. The cassette comprises first and second portions comprising respective first and second film dispensers. The first portion is mechanically connected to the second portion. The cassette is moveable between a first, compact configuration and a second, extended configuration.

Abstract: A rotary screw vacuum pump 10 comprises a housing 12 that has a lower pressure inlet region 14 and a higher pressure outlet region 16 and two intermeshing screws 18 disposed in the chamber and configured to cooperably rotate to compress a gas in working chambers formed between them and the housing while pumping the gas from the lower pressure inlet region to the higher pressure outlet region. The housing 12 has a least one liquid inlet 20 to admit a sealing liquid to seal the working chambers. The intermeshing screws 18 comprise Quimby-type screws.

Abstract: A multi-stage vacuum pump having an interstage coupling unit vacuum pump may include a first inter-stage coupling part defining a first portion of a void for receiving a common rotor shared by adjacent stages of the multi-stage vacuum pump; and a second inter-stage coupling part separable from the first inter-stage coupling part, the second inter-stage coupling part defining a second portion of the void for receiving the common rotor shared by adjacent stages of the multi-stage vacuum pump. In this way, a coupling is provided which enables an assembled rotor and assembled stages of the vacuum pump to be fixed together, since the assembled rotor can be received within the separable parts of the coupling which, in turn, can be fitted to the assembled adjacent stages. This enables the mechanical integrity of the rotor and adjacent stages to be preserved while still facilitating assembly of the multi-stage vacuum pump.

Abstract: A pump assembly may include a rotor having a rotor shaft portion; a stator having a bore portion defining a bore for receiving the rotor shaft portion; and a circumferential protrusion extending radially into the bore between the bore portion and the rotor shaft portion, wherein at least one of the protrusion and a corresponding surface of the rotor shaft portion or the bore portion is configured to be abraded by the other upon experiencing contact therewith. In this way, the gap between the bore portion and the rotor shaft portion may be at least partially filled by the circumferential protrusion in order to provide a seal. The protrusion and one of the bore portion and the rotor shaft portion may be formed from different hardness materials.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve assembly for a feeding or drinking vessel. The valve assembly comprises a valve seat surface (229), and a valve element having a valve face opposing said valve seat surface (229), a center axis and a rim (232). The valve element further comprises a biasing element (242) configured such that, in a rest position, the valve face is biased against the valve seat surface (229), wherein the valve element rim (232) is arranged to be anchored and the biasing element (242) is arranged intermediate the valve element center axis and rim (232).

Abstract: A scroll vacuum pump includes an orbiting scroll having a wall extending axially from an orbiting scroll base towards a fixed scroll, the fixed scroll having a fixed scroll wall extending axially from a fixed scroll base towards the orbiting scroll; an axially extending drive shaft having an eccentric shaft portion so that rotation of the eccentric shaft portion imparts an orbiting motion to the orbiting scroll relative to the fixed scroll; and an axial thrust bearing arrangement including an array of ball bearings for bearing against the orbiting scroll base in an axial direction, each ball bearing describing a circular path over the orbiting scroll base during orbiting motion; at least one thrust surface for bearing against the array of ball bearings; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the axial position of said at least one thrust surface and thereby the axial position of the orbiting scroll base.

Abstract: An improved vacuum pump mechanism is described in which an intersecting solid or perforated element is arranged to intersect a channel member. Relative movement of the intersecting solid or perforated element and channel member causes gas molecules to be urged from inlet to an outlet of the pump. Gas molecules are constrained within the channel member and interaction of the gas molecules with the flat and smooth surfaces of the intersecting solid or perforated member influence momentum of the gas molecules so that they are directed towards the outlet. In one embodiment, the channel member is formed as a helix and the intersecting solid or perforated elements are disk-shaped. An alternative embodiment is provided having the channel member configured as a spiral and the perforated elements as cylindrical skirts. The pump provides significant improvements in pump capacity, reduced power consumption and size of pump.

Abstract: A vacuum exhaust system which exhausts gas from chambers and which comprises a plurality of branch channels for the exhaustion of the gas from the chambers, a main pipeline in the form of a confluence of the plurality of branch channels, channel open-close valves fitted to correspond with each of the said plurality of branch channels, a channel-switching valve connecting the main channel and a plurality of selection channels and allowing flow between the main channel and any one of the plurality of selection channels, a first pump which functions as a gas exhaust means in the molecular flow region of the gas and is fitted to one of the plurality of branch channels, and second pumps which function as gas exhaust means in the viscous flow region of the gas and are fitted to the plurality of selection channels.

Abstract: A waste storage device is provided comprising a waste storage compartment for storing waste and a lid. The device further comprises a dispenser for dispensing an agent inside the waste storage device and an actuator arranged to activate the dispenser. A waste cartridge is also provided comprising a relatively rigid upper portion and a relatively flexible lower portion. The relatively flexible lower portion is arranged for storing waste items and the relatively rigid upper portion is arranged to be folded about an axis in a direction substantially towards the relatively flexible lower portion of the waste cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scroll pump comprising: a scroll mechanism having an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll; a drive shaft having a concentric shaft portion and an eccentric shaft portion connected to the orbiting scroll. The shaft is arranged to be driven by a motor so that rotation of the shaft imparts an orbiting motion to the orbiting scroll relative to the fixed scroll for pumping fluid along a flow path from an inlet to an outlet of the scroll mechanism. An axial lip seal is located between the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll for resisting leakage of fluid from outside the scroll mechanism into the flow path.

Abstract: A twin-shaft pump comprising: two shafts configured to rotate in synchronisation, each of the shafts comprising a gear mounted thereon, the gears each comprising gear wheels, the gear wheels being configured to intermesh to provide the synchronised rotation; an oil reservoir comprising a porous material, the reservoir being configured when supplied with oil to retain the oil within the porous material; and at least one wick extending from the oil reservoir towards a first of the two shafts and operable to supply oil by capillary action from the porous material along the wick to lubricate the gears.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the filtering of coherent noise signals. In an illustrative embodiment, a pulsed electronic signal receives varying phase shifts for each of its pulses prior to transmission. When coherent noise interferes with the transmitted signal, received signal receives a phase shift opposite of that applied prior to transmission such that the electronic signal is restored and the coherent noise becomes non-coherent. In another embodiment, width of each transmitted pulses can be varied prior to transmission, but a constant midpoint-to-midpoint time is maintained. After receiving a signal with coherent noise interference, the midpoints of the pulses are aligned causing the coherent noise to become non-coherent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor for a vacuum pump 150 having a roots pumping mechanism, the rotor comprising at least two hollow lobes 160, 162, 164, 166, each lobe having an outer wall 208 which defines a lobe profile, a hollow cavity 210 generally inward of the outer wall, and at least one strengthening rib 226 located in the cavity to resist stress on the lobes generated during rotation.

Abstract: A rotary screw vacuum pump 10 comprises a housing 12 that has a lower pressure inlet region 14 and a higher pressure outlet region 16 and two intermeshing screws 18 disposed in the chamber and configured to cooperably rotate to compress a gas in working chambers formed between them and the housing while pumping the gas from the lower pressure inlet region to the higher pressure outlet region. The housing 12 has a least one liquid inlet 20 to admit a sealing liquid to seal the working chambers. The intermeshing screws 18 comprise Quimby-type screws.

Abstract: A vacuum exhaust system which exhausts gas from chambers and which comprises a plurality of branch channels for the exhaustion of the gas from the chambers, a main pipeline in the form of a confluence of the plurality of branch channels, channel open-close valves fitted to correspond with each of the said plurality of branch channels, a channel-switching valve connecting the main channel and a plurality of selection channels and allowing flow between the main channel and any one of the plurality of selection channels, a first pump which functions as a gas exhaust means in the molecular flow region of the gas and is fitted to one of the plurality of branch channels, and second pumps which function as gas exhaust means in the viscous flow region of the gas and are fitted to the plurality of selection channels.