Abstract: A pump comprises a regenerative pumping mechanism. A rotor of the pump has a generally disc-shaped pump rotor mounted on an axial driveshaft for rotation relative to a stator, the pump rotor having rotor formations disposed in a surface and defining at least a portion of a flow path for pumping gas from an inlet to an outlet. The rotor formations are formed between the pump rotor and the stator of the pumping mechanism. The pump rotor and the stator comprise an axial gas bearing arrangement for controlling axial clearance between the rotor and the stator during pump operation. The gas bearing is located at a radially outward position on the rotor.

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 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: 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 pump comprises a molecular drag pumping mechanism and a regenerative pumping mechanism. A rotor element of the molecular drag pumping mechanism surrounds rotor elements of the regenerative pumping mechanism.

Abstract: A vacuum pump comprises a molecular drag pumping mechanism and a regenerative pumping mechanism. A rotor element of the molecular drag pumping mechanism surrounds rotor elements of the regenerative pumping mechanism.

Abstract: A waste storage device (200) is provided comprising a waste storage compartment for storing waste and a lid (206). The device (200) further comprises a dispenser (208) for dispensing an agent inside the waste storage device (200) and an actuator (212) arranged to activate the dispenser (208).

Abstract: A method of coating a honeycomb monolith substrate comprising a plurality of channels with a liquid comprising a catalyst component comprises the steps of: (i) holding a honeycomb monolith substrate substantially vertically; (ii) introducing a pre-determined volume of the liquid into the substrate via open ends of the channels at a lower end of the substrate; (iii) sealingly retaining the introduced liquid within the substrate; (iv) inverting the substrate containing the retained liquid; and (v) applying a vacuum to open ends of the channels of the substrate at the inverted, lower end of the substrate to draw the liquid along the channels of the substrate.

Abstract: A vacuum pumping arrangement comprises a turbomolecular pumping mechanism and a molecular drag pumping mechanism connected in series. A rotor of the molecular drag pumping mechanism is supported by the rotor blades of the turbomolecular pumping mechanism.

Abstract: A multistage vacuum pump includes a stator housing a multistage rotor assembly, each stage having intermeshing Roots rotor components, wherein the tip radius of the rotor components at an inlet stage of the pump is larger than the tip radius of the rotor components at an exhaust stage of the pump, wherein a meshing clearance between the rotor components at the inlet stage of the pump is greater than a meshing clearance between the rotor components at the exhaust stage of the pump.

Abstract: A method of coating a honeycomb monolith substrate comprising a plurality of channels with a liquid comprising a catalyst component comprises the steps of: (i) holding a honeycomb monolith substrate substantially vertically; (ii) introducing a pre-determined volume of the liquid into the substrate via open ends of the channels at a lower end of the substrate; (iii) sealingly retaining the introduced liquid within the substrate; (iv) inverting the substrate containing the retained liquid; and (v) applying a vacuum to open ends of the channels of the substrate at the inverted, lower end of the substrate to draw the liquid along the channels of the substrate.

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

Abstract: A differentially pumped vacuum system including apparatus having at least first and second chambers; and a vacuum pump for differentially pumping fluid from the chambers to generate a first pressure above 0.1 mbar in the first chamber and a second pressure lower than the first pressure in the second chamber, the pump having at least first and second pump inlets each for receiving fluid from a respective pressure chamber and a plurality of pumping stages positioned relative to the inlets so that fluid received from the first chamber passes through fewer pumping stages than fluid from the second chamber, the inlets being attached to the apparatus such that at least 99% of the fluid mass pumped from the apparatus passes through at least one of the pumping stages of the pump.

Abstract: A Roots vacuum pump stator is arranged to house a pair of intermeshing rotors, said stator being characterized in that it comprises a director or deflector arranged to direct solid material entrained in a gas pumped through the pump towards the outlet. In other words, the stator according to the present invention has a means for directing or deflecting powder or solid material entrained in a gas being pumped directly towards an outlet of the pump or out of the pump. The directing means can comprise a channel disposed between the arcuate surface and the outlet, said channel comprising a portion that engages the arcuate surface prior to the bottom-dead-centre position and which extends away from the rotor's axis of rotation towards the pump outlet.

Abstract: A vacuum pump housing comprises first (12) and second half-shell stator components (14) defining a plurality of pumping chambers separated by partition members (26, 28, 30, 32). Each pumping chamber comprises an inlet port (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) for receiving fluid and an outlet port (54, 56, 58, 60, 62) through which pumped fluid is exhausted from the chamber. The inlet ports are open on an external surface of the first stator component, and the outlet ports are open on an opposing external surface of the second stator component. The stator components further define transfer channels (66, 68, 70, 72) for conveying fluid between the pumping chambers. Each transfer channel preferably comprises first and second portions located on opposite sides of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scroll pump (10) comprising a pump housing (12), a drive shaft having a concentric shaft portion (14) and an eccentric shaft portion (16) connected to an orbiting scroll (20). The shaft is arranged to be driven by a motor (18) so that during use rotation of the shaft imparts an orbiting motion to the orbiting scroll relative to a fixed scroll (22) for pumping fluid between a pump inlet (24) and pump outlet (26) of the compressor. The fixed scroll has an opening through which the shaft extends and is connected to the orbiting scroll on an opposing side of the fixed scroll to the motor. A high vacuum region is located on an orbiting scroll side of the scroll arrangement and a low vacuum region is located generally on a fixed scroll side of the scroll arrangement.

Abstract: Scroll-type pumping apparatus comprises a stator (104) comprising a fixed scroll member (106) having an end plate with a first spiral wrap (110) extending therefrom; an orbital scroll member (108) having an end plate with a second spiral wrap (112) extending therefrom to intermesh with the first spiral wrap; a plurality of flexible supports (118) each having one end connected to the orbital scroll member and another end connected to the stator to support the orbital scroll member relative to the stator, and a linear drive system (120) for driving the orbital scroll member to orbit relative to the fixed scroll member. The use of a linear drive system in combination with the flexible supports can provide apparatus having no rotational or rubbing parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump comprising a regenerative pumping mechanism having a generally disc-shaped rotor mounted on an axial shaft for rotation relative to a stator. The rotor has first and second surfaces each having a series of shaped recesses formed in concentric circles thereon, and a stator channel formed in a surface of the stator which faces one of the rotor's first or second surfaces. Each of the concentric circles is aligned with a portion of a stator channel so as to form a section of a gas flow path extending between an inlet and an outlet of the pump, and the rotor divides the section of flow path into sub-sections such that gas can flow towards the outlet simultaneously along any sub-section, channel or rotor side. As a result, the gas being pumped flows in a parallel fashion along both surfaces of the rotor. Thus, this configuration can provide a pumping mechanism where gas pressures on either side of the rotor can be substantially equal or balanced.