Turbomolecular Pump Patents (Class 417/423.4)
-
Patent number: 8221098Abstract: A radial turbomolecular pump comprising an electrostatically levitated rotor with a high compression ratio and pump speed at a chip-scale level. The levitated rotor can be sandwiched between a stator plate and a driver and multiple concentric rings of microblades can be fabricated on the rotor plate and the stator plate. The center portions of the driver and the base plate include concentric ring electrodes for rotor levitation by electrostatic forces. The space between two concentric rings of microblades forms a groove that is wide enough to receive the microblades from the opposing disk. The stator disk can be fixed and the rotor disk spins such that the rotor microblades move tangentially relative to the stator microblades. The microblades can be tilted at an angle from the tangent, facilitating momentum transfer to gas molecules in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Wei Yang, Alex Gu
-
Patent number: 8221052Abstract: Disclosed is a turbo-molecular pump, which comprises a rotor including a first cylindrical body formed with a part of a plurality of rotating blades arranged in multistage, a second cylindrical body integrally connected to an outer peripheral region of a downstream end of the first cylindrical body and formed with the remaining rotating blades, and a stress-releasing protrusion extending from the downstream end of the first cylindrical body along a direction of a rotation axis of the rotor. The turbo-molecular pump of the present invention can reduce a stress in the downstream end of the first cylindrical body.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Shimadzu CorporationInventor: Shingo Tsutsui
-
Patent number: 8172515Abstract: A turbo vacuum pump comprising a suction part 23A that sucks gas in an axial direction; a discharge part 50 that discharges the gas sucked by the suction part 23A, the discharge part 50 having a plurality of rotating impellers 70, 80 and a stationary impeller 71 arranged so as to be opposed to each of the plurality of rotating impellers 70, 80; and a rotating shaft 21 that rotates the plurality of rotating impellers 70, 80, wherein the plurality of rotating impellers 70, 80 include at least one stage of a first turbine impeller 70 for discharging the sucked gas in the axial direction, the first turbine impeller 70 being fixed to a suction-part-side end face 15 of the rotating shaft 21, and at least one stage of a second turbine impeller 80 fixed to the rotating shaft 21 that extends through the second turbine impeller 80, the second turbine impeller 80 being arranged downstream of the first turbine impeller 70.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Hiroyasu Kawashima, Shinichi Sekiguchi
-
Patent number: 8147222Abstract: A vacuum divider is positioned between rotor blades of a turbo-molecular pump and a vacuum manifold formed from multiple vacuum chambers. A first coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a first of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump. A second coupling aperture passes through the vacuum divider and allows gas to pass from a second of the multiple vacuum chambers to the turbo-molecular pump.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alexander Mordehai, Mark Werlich
-
Patent number: 8109744Abstract: An oil-free turbo vacuum pump is capable of evacuating gas in a chamber from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum. The turbo vacuum pump includes a pumping section having rotor blades and stator blades which are disposed alternately in a casing, a main shaft for supporting the rotor blades, and a bearing and motor section having a motor for rotating the main shaft and a bearing mechanism for supporting the main shaft rotatably. A gas bearing is used as a bearing for supporting the main shaft in a thrust direction, spiral grooves are formed in both surfaces of a stationary part of the gas bearing, and the stationary part having the spiral grooves is placed between an upper rotating part and a lower rotating part which are fixed to the main shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Hiroaki Ogamino, Hiroshi Sobukawa
-
Patent number: 8106354Abstract: The invention refers to a mass spectrometer arrangement (10) comprising a housing (86) having a mass spectrometer forevacuum vacuum chamber (20) with a mass spectrometer forevacuum outlet (30), at least two mass spectrometer high-vacuum vacuum chambers (21, 22, 23), and an integrated turbomolecular pump (12) connected with the high-vacuum vacuum chambers (21, 22, 23) and having a forevacuum outlet (89). The two forevacuum outlets (30, 89) open into a common forevacuum chamber (98) in the housing (86), which in turn opens into a housing outlet (88).Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbHInventors: Markus Henry, Christian Beyer
-
Patent number: 8087907Abstract: An oil-free turbo vacuum pump is capable of evacuating gas in a chamber from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum. The turbo vacuum pump includes a pumping section having rotor blades and stator blades which are disposed alternately in a casing, and a main shaft for supporting the rotor blades. A gas bearing is used as a bearing for supporting the main shaft in a thrust direction, spiral grooves are formed in both surfaces of a stationary part of the gas bearing, and the stationary part having the spiral grooves is placed between an upper rotating part and a lower rotating part which are fixed to the main shaft. A thrust magnetic bearing for canceling out a thrust force generated by the differential pressure between a discharge side and an intake side by an evacuation action of the pumping suction is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Toshimitsu Barada
-
Patent number: 8066495Abstract: A turbo vacuum pump is suitable for evacuating a corrosive process gas or evacuating a gas containing reaction products. The turbo vacuum pump includes a casing having an intake port, a pump section comprising rotor blades and stator blades housed in the casing, bearings for supporting the rotor blades, a motor for rotating the rotor blades; and a rotating shaft comprising a first rotating shaft to which the rotor blades are attached, and a second rotating shaft to which a motor rotor of the motor is attached.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Shinichi Sekiguchi, Hiroaki Ogamino, Hiroyasu Kawashima
-
Patent number: 8021131Abstract: A vacuum pump (50) includes a pumping arrangement, a shaft (10) for driving the pumping arrangement, a motor (60) for rotating the shaft (10) and a bearing arrangement supporting the shaft (10) for rotation, the bearing arrangement having a rolling bearing (12), supporting a first portion of the shaft (10), and a thrust bearing (30). The thrust bearing (30) houses a plurality of rolling elements (36) such that they are maintained in bearing contact with an outer race (18) of the rolling bearing (12) and a race (34) of the thrust bearing (30). In this way axial movement of the rolling bearing (12) can be resisted whilst allowing radial movement of the rolling bearing (12).Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2004Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventors: Jennifer Mary Schooling, Barrie Dudley Brewster
-
Patent number: 7993113Abstract: A damper is configured for a vacuum pump that evacuates a vacuum system via gas transfer by a gas transfer mechanism in the vacuum pump by the rotating action of a rotating body in the vacuum pump. The damper restrains the propagation of vibrations produced in the vacuum pump to the vacuum system during an evacuation operation. The damper comprises a vibration absorbing device that is positionable between the vacuum pump and the vacuum system during an evacuation operation and that has a damping characteristic in a frequency band that coincides substantially with a rotation frequency of the rotating body of the vacuum pump.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2005Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: BOC Edwards Japan LimitedInventors: Hirotaka Namiki, Satoshi Okudera
-
Patent number: 7914265Abstract: A system for evacuating an enclosure is provided. The system includes a first vacuum pump having an inlet selectively connectable to an outlet from the enclosure. A second vacuum pump is also provided together with a conduit for connecting an exhaust of the first vacuum pump to an inlet of the second vacuum pump. An auxiliary chamber is provided, this chamber being selectively connectable to the conduit such that, in a first state, gas can be drawn from the auxiliary chamber by the second vacuum pump in isolation from the enclosure, and, in a second state, gas can be drawn from the enclosure to the auxiliary chamber through the first vacuum pump.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventors: Stuart Charles Coles, Michael Andrew Galtry, David Alan Turrell, Patrick Brian Clayton
-
Patent number: 7900652Abstract: A system (100) for supplying an inert purge gas to a pumping arrangement (106) includes a plurality of flexible capillary tubes (102) each for conveying the gas from a respective outlet of a manifold (12) to a respective port (104) of the pumping arrangement (106). The internal diameter and length of each tube (102) control the gas flow rate to the respective port (104).Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventors: Phillip North, David Paul Manson
-
Patent number: 7896625Abstract: A vacuum pumping system comprises a vacuum pumping arrangement comprising: a drive shaft; a motor for driving said drive shaft; a molecular pumping mechanism comprising a turbomolecular pumping mechanism; and a backing pumping mechanism. The drive shaft drives said molecular pumping mechanism and said backing pumping mechanism. The system also comprises an evacuation mechanism, such as a load lock pump, for evacuating at least, said turbomolecular pumping mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventor: Nigel Paul Schofield
-
Publication number: 20110020142Abstract: A vacuum pumping arrangement is described for pumping a gas stream containing hydrogen or other hydrogen-containing gas. The arrangement comprises a pumping mechanism for receiving the gas stream and exhausting a pumped gas stream at a sub-atmospheric pressure, and, downstream from the pumping mechanism, an ionic conducting membrane having one side exposed to the pumped gas stream and another side exposed to oxygen or other source of oxygen. In one example, the membrane is permeable to hydrogen, which permeates across the membrane to react with oxygen adsorbed on the other surface of the membrane. In another example, the membrane is permeable to oxygen anions, which permeate across the membrane to react with hydrogen within the gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2007Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventor: Robert Bruce Grant
-
Publication number: 20110014073Abstract: A turbo-molecular pump includes a base 3; a rotor 4 rotatably supported thereon; a stator 400 disposed around the rotor 4; and a tubular casing 2 configured to accommodate the stator 400. The stator 400 includes multiple stages of stator blades 43 and spacers 48 alternately stacked one upon another on a flange surface 31 of the base 3. At least one of the spacers 48 is provided with a circular ring part 483 continuously formed thereof covering the outer circumferential surface of other spacers 48 inside the casing 2.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2008Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventor: Toshiki Yamaguchi
-
Publication number: 20100322798Abstract: A rapidly rotating vacuum pump includes: a magnet-mounted rotor driven by an electric drive motor with a predetermined constant nominal rotational frequency (fnom). The rotor and a rotor bearing are embodied in such a way that the bending-critical counter-rotational resonance frequency (fcrit) is between 3% and a maximum of 30% above the nominal rotational frequency (fnom), thereby preventing an overspeed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2008Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: OERLIKON LEYBOLD VACUUM GMBHInventors: Heinrich Englaender, Christian Harig
-
Publication number: 20100322799Abstract: A turbomolecular pump (10) includes a rotor (12) connected to a drive shaft (10). The rotor (12) has multiple rotor vanes (16). The rotor (12) is surrounded by stator rings (26) with one stator ring (26) is provided for each rotor vane (16). In order to enable radial expansion of the rotor vanes during operation, the stator rings (26) have annular grooves (32).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2008Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: Oerlikon Leybold Vacum GmbHInventor: Heinrich Englaender
-
Patent number: 7850434Abstract: A differentially pumped system comprises a plurality of pressure chambers; and a pumping arrangement (100) attached thereto for evacuating the chambers, the pumping arrangement comprising first and second compound pumps (102, 104) each comprising at least a first inlet (120); (124), a second inlet (122); (126), a first pumping section (110) and a second pumping section (112) downstream from the first pumping section, the sections being arranged such that fluid entering the pump from the first inlet passes through the first and second pumping sections and fluid entering the pump from the second inlet passes through, of said sections, only the second section, wherein the first inlet (120) of the first pump (102) is attached to an outlet from a first, relatively low, pressure chamber (10), the second inlet (122) of the first pump (102) and the first inlet (124) of the second pump (104) are attached to an outlet or respective outlets from a second, common medium pressure chamber (16), and the second inlet (126) oType: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventor: Ian David Stones
-
Publication number: 20100303653Abstract: A turbomolecular pump (10) includes a rotor (18) which is mounted on a housing (12) by at least one roller bearing (16). The roller bearing (16) comprises a non-rotating bearing shell (20) and a rotating bearing shell (22). The non-rotating bearing shell (20) is mounted on the housing (12) by an elastic vibration ring (14). The vibration ring (14) is of an anisotropic form, such that the spring stiffness is inhomogeneous over the circumference.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2008Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: OERLIKON LEYBOLD VACUUM GMBHInventor: Rainer Hoelzer
-
Publication number: 20100303650Abstract: The vacuum pump comprises a casing (10) closed by a vacuum cover (20). Between an end wall (14) of the casing (10) and the vacuum cover (20), a circuit board (16) is arranged for current feedthrough. The circuit board (16) is sealed by two sealing elements (15, 21) of different diameters so that an annular partial region (22) is on its outer side subjected to the atmospheric pressure and is on its inner side subjected to the vacuum. It is avoided that the circuit board (16) laterally projects beyond the contour of the casing (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: OERLIKON LEYBOLD VACUUM GMBHInventor: Heinrich Englaender
-
Publication number: 20100303640Abstract: A vacuum pump (10) has a pump rotor (14) and a pump stator (12). The pump rotor (14) has an electrical measuring transducer (44), for example a temperature sensor. A transmitting antenna (40), which is connected with the measuring transducer (44), is provided on the pump rotor (14). A receiving antenna (30), which receives measurement values of the measuring transducer (44) from the transmitting antenna (40), is provided on the pump stator (12) so as to be situated opposite the transmitting antenna (40). In this way, accurate measurement values can be transmitted from the pump rotor (14) to the pump stator (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2006Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Alois Greven, Thomas Longerich
-
Patent number: 7819635Abstract: A multi-stage vacuum pump comprises, between adjacent stages of the pump, a continuous ignition source for igniting a fuel within a pumped fluid. This can ensure that the concentration of the fuel in fluid exhaust from the pump is below its lower explosive limit.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventors: Graeme Huntley, Andrew James Seeley, James Robert Smith
-
Patent number: 7811065Abstract: A differentially pumped mass spectrometer system comprises a mass spectrometer having first and second pressure chambers through which, during use, ions are conveyed along a path. A pump assembly (10) for differentially evacuating the chambers (62, 66, 68) is attached to the mass spectrometer. The pump assembly comprises a housing (12) attached to the mass spectrometer and a cartridge (14) inserted into the housing. The cartridge has a plurality of inlets (16, 18, 20) each for receiving fluid from a respective pressure chamber (62, 68, 66) and a pumping mechanism (30, 32, 34) for differentially pumping fluid from the chambers. The cartridge is inserted into the housing such that the pumping mechanism (10) is inclined relative to the ion path (76), but with the cartridge protruding into the mass spectrometer to such an extent that at least one of the inlets (16, 18) at least partially protrudes into its respective chamber (62, 68) without crossing the ion path.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Edwards LimitedInventors: Martin Nicholas Stuart, David John Goodwin, Ian Olsen
-
Publication number: 20100196180Abstract: A vacuum pump (10) has a pump rotor (16), an active magnetic bearing (20,21), a safety bearing (22,23) associated with the magnetic bearing (20,21), an electric drive motor (18) having a motor stator having a plurality of stator coils (191,192,193) for driving the pump rotor (16), a brake relay (42) having a plurality of changers each having a base contact (62,63,64), a brake contact (44,45,46) and an operational contact (47,48,49), and a short circuit point (60) by way of which all brake contacts (44,45,46) of the brake relay (42) are directly connected to each other. All stator coils (191,192,193) are connected to the base contacts (62,63,64) of the changer, and can be connected directly to each other by way of the brake contacts (44,45,46) of the brake relay (42) and by way of the short circuit point (60), and can be connected to an inverter module (32) by way of the operational contacts (47,48,49).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2008Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: OERLIKON LEYBOLD VACUUM GMBHInventors: Ulrich Jung, Christian Harig
-
Patent number: 7753661Abstract: A vacuum pump evacuates gas from a chamber by coaction of a rotationally driven rotor and a stator. An electrical equipment section that rotates the rotor is housed within a stator column integral with the stator. A cooling water pipe is buried in a wall of the stator column near the electrical equipment section. One end of the cooling water pipe branches into a plurality of water inlet ports and the other end branches into a plurality of water outlet ports. One pair of water inlet and outlet ports opens to the outside of the vacuum pump at a side surface of the stator column and another pair of water inlet and outlet ports opens to the outside at the underside of the stator column.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2004Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Boc Edwards Japan LimitedInventors: Satoshi Okudera, Yasushi Maejima, Yoshiyuki Sakaguchi
-
Patent number: 7717684Abstract: A turbo vacuum pump is suitable for evacuating a corrosive process gas or evacuating a gas containing reaction products. The turbo vacuum pump includes a casing having an intake port, a pump section comprising rotor blades and stator blades housed in the casing, bearings for supporting the rotor blades, a motor for rotating the rotor blades; and a rotating shaft comprising a first rotating shaft to which the rotor blades are attached, and a second rotating shaft to which a motor rotor of the motor is attached.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Shinichi Sekiguchi, Hiroaki Ogamino, Hiroyasu Kawashima
-
Publication number: 20100047095Abstract: A vacuum pump (10) has a vacuum-tight housing (12) and having a gas-tight electrical leadthrough assembly (20) for producing an electrical connection between an electrical component (14,16,18) within the housing (12) and the exterior of the housing. The leadthrough assembly (20) is formed by a housing opening (22), by a sealing compound body (24) seated on the opening, by an electric line in the sealing compound body (24), by a sealing ring (26) between the opening edge of the housing opening (22) and the sealing compound body (24), and by a fixing means (32) for fastening the sealing compound body (24) to the housing (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: OERLIKON LEYBOLD VACUUM GMBHInventors: Heinrich Englaender, Christian Harig
-
Publication number: 20100047096Abstract: A turbo vacuum pump is suitable for evacuating a corrosive process gas or evacuating a gas containing reaction products. The turbo vacuum pump includes a casing having an intake port, a pump section comprising rotor blades and stator blades housed in the casing, bearings for supporting the rotor blades, a motor for rotating the rotor blades; and a rotating shaft comprising a first rotating shaft to which the rotor blades are attached, and a second rotating shaft to which a motor rotor of the motor is attached.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Sekiguchi, Hiroaki Ogamino, Hiroyasu Kawashima
-
Patent number: 7645126Abstract: To provide a vacuum pump capable of evacuating in pressure ranges from an atmospheric pressure to a high vacuum, capable of rotating at a high speed to be downsized and improved in pumping performance, and capable of producing a completely oil-free vacuum. A vacuum pump for exhausting a gas comprises: a main shaft 5 rotatably supported by a bearing 22; a motor 23 for driving the main shaft 5 for rotation; a first exhaust section 10 having a first rotary vane 13 attached to the main shaft 5, a first fixed vane 14 fixed in a first casing 12, and an intake port 11; and a second exhaust section 30 having a second rotary vane 33 attached to the main shaft 5, a second fixed vane 34 fixed in a second casing 32, and an exhaust port 31. The intake port 11 is located in the vicinity of an end of the main shaft 5, and the first exhaust section 10, the bearing 22 and the second exhaust section 30 are arranged in this order axially along the main shaft 5.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Shinichi Sekiguchi, Matsutaro Miyamoto
-
Patent number: 7641451Abstract: A turbo pump for evacuating a process chamber minimizes the amount time necessary to reduce the speed of the rotor in preparation for performing maintenance in the process chamber or the like. The turbo pump includes a housing communicating with the reaction chamber, a plurality of fixed stator rings spaced from one another along an inner peripheral surface of the housing, a shaft supported for rotation in the housing, a stator base surrounding the shaft and having an electric coil, a plurality of rotor blades each extending between an adjacent pair of the stator rings, and an electrode disposed at an outer peripheral surface of the housing. The electrode can receive an electric charge opposite to that applied to the rotor to forcibly stop the rotation of the rotor. Also, an electrical contact can be conductively connected to the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sung-Il Lee
-
Patent number: 7600989Abstract: A leak detector includes an inlet, a high-vacuum pump, and a test gas detector, which is connected to the entry of the high-vacuum pump. A backing pump is connected to an outlet area of the high-vacuum pump, and a test gas line extends between the inlet of the leak detector and the backing pump, the test gas line being connected to the outlet area of the high-vacuum pump via a line section. In order to shorten the response time of the leak detector, the line and the backing pump are connected via separate connections to the outlet area of the high-vacuum pump.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventor: Thomas Böhm
-
Publication number: 20090246048Abstract: An oil-free turbo vacuum pump is capable of evacuating gas in a chamber from atmospheric pressure to high vacuum. The turbo vacuum pump includes a pumping section having rotor blades and stator blades which are disposed alternately in a casing, and a main shaft for supporting the rotor blades. A gas bearing is used as a bearing for supporting the main shaft in a thrust direction, spiral grooves are formed in both surfaces of a stationary part of the gas bearing, and the stationary part having the spiral grooves is placed between an upper rotating part and a lower rotating part which are fixed to the main shaft. A thrust magnetic bearing for canceling out a thrust force generated by the differential pressure between a discharge side and an intake side by an evacuation action of the pumping suction is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: EBARA CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Kawasaki, Toshimitsu Barada
-
Publication number: 20090208354Abstract: A support for a rolling bearing of the kind equipped with an outer rotating ring for a rotary vacuum pump, the support comprising an inner portion that can be associated with the rotating ring, a fastening outer portion and a connecting portion, interposed between the inner and outer portions, wherein the connecting portion is a frusto-conical resilient element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: Aldo Crisi, Alessandro Follo, Vincenzo Pandolfo, Carmelo Quartarone
-
Publication number: 20090136361Abstract: A vacuum turbomolecular pump (10) is driven by a brushless direct-current drive motor (16) comprising stator coils and a permanent-magnetically excited motor rotor. When rotating, the motor rotor produces an electromotive force oriented counter to the direction of rotation. A motor controller (22) is connected to the stator coils and which generates a current from the supply voltage, this current being induced in the stator coils. In addition, a rotational frequency regulator (32) limits the rotational frequency (f) of the drive motor (16) to a nominal rotational frequency (fN). A power supply (20) is connected to the motor controller (22) and supplies a constant direct current voltage as a supply voltage (UV) for the motor controller (22). The power supply (20) is designed so that the constant supply voltage (UV) is low enough that, at a limit rotational frequency (fG), the electromotive force is equal to the drive force that can be maximally generated by the motor controller (22) and by the stator coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2006Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: Alois Greven, Christian Harig
-
Publication number: 20090081056Abstract: To form a shock absorbing structure more easily. A shock absorbing structure for consuming shock energy is provided on the flange of a molecular pump. An insertion hole is provided in the flange, and a shock absorbing member formed by an independent and small part is fitted and fixed in this insertion hole. A bolt hole is provided to cause a bolt for fixing the flange and a vacuum vessel in the shock absorbing member to pass therethrough. The shock absorbing member is provided with a thin-wall portion by forming a cavity portion. In the case where a shock in the rotation direction of a rotor portion is produced in the molecular pump, for example, by fracture of the rotor portion, the flange slides in the rotation direction of the rotor portion together with the molecular pump. Thus, the bolt that fixes the flange to the flange of the vacuum pump hits the shock absorbing member, thereby the shock absorbing member is subjected to plastic deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Yasushi Maejima, Yoshinobu Ohtachi, Rumiko Wada, Yoshihiro Enomoto, Chris Bailey, Dawn Stephenson, Kate Wilson
-
Patent number: 7501782Abstract: A method and a controller for controlling a magnetic bearing device, in which a rotor is suspended for rotation around a shaft, are disclosed. Sensor signals are transformed to yield tilt displacement signals (S?x, S?y) which correspond to tilting displacements of the shaft in predetermined directions (x, y). From the tilt displacement signals (S?x, S?y), tilt control signals A?x, A?y) are derived; these are transformed to yield actuator control signals for driving electromagnetic actuators in the magnetic bearing device. According to the invention, tilting displacements for which the tilt vector rotates about the device axis (z) with a first predetermined sense of rotation are controlled separately from tilting displacements for which the tilt direction vector rotates about the device axis (z) with a second sense of rotation opposite to the first predetermined sense of rotation. In this way, control of nutation and precession can be achieved without influence from blade vibrations or shaft bending modes.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Mecos Traxler AGInventors: Philipp Bühler, René Larsonneur
-
Publication number: 20090028720Abstract: A vacuum pump capable of accurately detecting a rotor temperature based on a change in permeability of a magnetic material. Two targets are fixed to a nut opposed to a gap sensor. The nut is made of pure iron, and a surface of the nut opposed to the gap sensor serves as a target. The target has a Curie temperature greater than a temperature monitoring range, and each of the targets has a Curie temperature falling within the temperature monitoring range. When the targets become opposed to the gap sensor in turn according to rotation of a rotor, three types of signals are output from the gap sensor. The difference-signal generation means generates a difference signal of each the targets, on the basis of a signal of the target. The difference signal is compared with a reference signal V0 for detecting the Curie temperatures to detect a rotor temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshio Tsunazawa, Akira Arakawa, Junichiro Kozaki, Masaki Ohfuji
-
Publication number: 20080304985Abstract: Disclosed is a turbo-molecular pump, which comprises: a blade pumping section having a plurality of rotor blades and a plurality of stator blades which are alternately arranged in plural stages along an axial direction of the pump; and a thread groove pumping section having a cylindrical-shaped screw stator, and a rotor cylinder adapted to be rotated inside the screw stator. The rotor cylinder has a lower edge surface located on an upstream side relative to a downstream edge of the screw stator with respect to the axial direction. The turbo-molecular pump of the present invention can minimize flying-out of broken pieces of the rotor cylinder from a discharge port.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventor: Takuto ONISHI
-
Patent number: 7438534Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for controlling a process flow rate and a pressure in a vacuum process chamber that is evacuated by a turbomolecular pump. A throttle valve between the pump and the process chamber is controlled to regulate the pressure and flow rate. A backing valve downstream of the pump is also controlled to maintain the setting of the throttle valve within a preferred, stable operating range.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Edwards Vacuum, Inc.Inventors: Peter John Holland, Kate Wilson, Dawn Stephenson
-
Patent number: 7438538Abstract: A pump for moving a liquid including a rotor rotatable within a housing and slidable relative to the housing between a first axial rotor position during normal pump operation and a second axial rotor position during a pump inoperative condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
-
Patent number: 7436093Abstract: The turbomolecular vacuum pump with active magnetic bearings comprises an enclosure (110) defining a primary vacuum chamber (116), a rotor (120), an electric motor (107), an axial magnetic bearing (103), radial magnetic bearings (101, 102), an axial detector (106), and radial detectors (104, 105). Remote external electric circuits associated with the electric motor (107) and with the axial and radial magnetic bearings (103 and 101, 102) essentially comprise power supply electric circuits (191). Circuits (194) for controlling the axial and radial magnetic bearings (103 and 101, 102) from signals issued by the axial and radial detectors (106 and 104, 105) are embedded in a resin and placed inside the enclosure (110) in the primary vacuum chamber (116). A hermetic leaktight electrical connector (180) and an electric cable (183, 184) providing a connection with the remote external electric circuits (191, 192) each have a number of connection wires that is less than ten.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Societe de Mecanique MagnetiqueInventor: Maurice Brunet
-
Publication number: 20080240948Abstract: A device for containing the catastrophic failure of a vacuum pumping system is described. The vacuum pumping system includes a turbo-molecular pump (TMP) configured to be coupled to a vacuum processing system at an inlet end. The TMP includes a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the TMP and a first lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The vacuum system also includes a containment device configured to mitigate the catastrophic failure of the TMP by impeding only one translational degree of freedom (DOF) and only one rotational DOF of the movement of the TMP. Impeding only one translational DOF includes impeding translational motion of the TMP in a first lateral direction substantially parallel to the first lateral axis. Impeding only one rotational DOF includes impeding rotation of the TMP about the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Jeffrey Burgess
-
Publication number: 20080206079Abstract: A touchdown bearing device includes an outer ring fixed to a housing, an inner ring radially opposed to the outer ring, an intermediate ring radially interposed between the outer ring and the inner ring, a first ball interposed between the outer ring and the intermediate ring, and a second ball interposed between the intermediate ring and the inner ring. The touchdown bearing device is configured so that when a magnetic bearing normally operate, a rotary shaft and the inner ring are brought into a noncontact state, and that meanwhile, when the magnetic bearing does not normally operate, the rotary shaft is supported by the inner ring so as to support the rotary shaft against the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Kouichi Okuda, Osamu Higashimoto
-
Patent number: 7417398Abstract: A vacuum pump includes at least one magnetic body located on a circle about a rotor rotational axis and having a Curie temperature within a rotor temperature monitoring range; an inductance detecting portion facing the circle so as to establish a gap between the circle and the inductance detecting portion, for detecting a change of magnetic permeability of the magnetic body as an inductance change when the magnetic body rotates; and a carrier generation device generating a carrier signal for providing in the inductance detecting portion. An A/D conversion device samples a detection signal of the inductance detecting portion synchronously with a carrier generation by the carrier generation device, and converts the detection signal to a digital signal. A determination device determines whether or not a temperature of the rotor exceeds a predetermined temperature, based on the change of the magnetic permeability of the magnetic body.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Shimadzu CorporationInventors: Junichiro Kozaki, Yoshio Tsunazawa, Akira Arakawa, Masaki Ohfuji
-
Patent number: 7413411Abstract: A vacuum system comprises, as an integral assembly, a vacuum pump with drive motor, a purge valve, a roughing valve and an electronic control module. A cryogenic vacuum pump and a turbomolecular vacuum pump are disclosed. The control module has a programmed processor for controlling the motor and valves and is user programmable for establishing specific control sequences. The integral electronic control module is removable from the assembly and is connected to the other devices through a common connector assembly. In the turbomolecular pump system proper introduction of a purge gas through the purge valve is detected by detecting the current load on the pump drive or by detecting foreline pressure. To test the purge gas status, the purge valve may be closed and then opened as drive current or pressure is monitored. After power failure, the controller will continue normal drive of the turbomolecular pump so long as the speed of the pump has remained above a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventors: Peter W. Gaudet, Robert J. Lepofsky, Alan L. Weeks, Gerald J. Fortier, Stephen R. Matté, Martin Stein, Steven C. Rosner
-
Patent number: 7404698Abstract: The present invention relates to turbomolecular vacuum pumps and an arrangement for reducing or eliminating an accumulated static charge in the rotor caused by an interaction of the rotor with either electrically charged or neutral particles in the pumped media. Electrical charge exchange between the rotor and the electrically grounded stator is effected through a wire or other means of electrical contact, or through charge emission devices such as a field emission tip. In either case, electrostatic charges in the rotor are reduced or eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Edwards Vacuum, Inc.Inventor: Frank Jansen
-
Publication number: 20080138219Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2004Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Ian David Stones, Nigel Paul Schofield, Martin Nicholas Stuart
-
Publication number: 20080138202Abstract: An arrangement for supporting a shaft of a vacuum pump includes a first bearing for supporting the shaft at one of its end, a second bearing for supporting the shaft at another of its ends and formed as a rolling bearing, a holder for receiving the second bearing and including an oscillating base, a fixation member secured in the vacuum pump housing, metallic connection members for connecting the oscillating base with the fixation member and axial springs arranged between the oscillating base and the fixation member and providing for the axial stiffness of the holder which is greater than its radial stiffness thereof and greater than the axial stiffness of the first bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Martin Eilers, Andreas Rippl, Christopher-Mark Rippl, Tobias Stoll
-
Publication number: 20080101966Abstract: A radial blower comprising an impeller, an electric drive and a housing. The impeller comprises an impeller disk with the first and second sides, radial blades protruded from the first side, a central hub mounting on an axle, and an inflow hub integrated with the impeller disk. The electric drive comprises a magnetized rotor located from the second side of the impeller disk and a stator with a central opening surrounded by circumferentially arrayed flat coil windings. The magnetized rotor comprises spaced apart by an axial gap a flat ferromagnetic ring and a layer of magnetic means. The housing comprises a base, a shaped upper side, and a side part. The shaped upper side at least partially surrounds the magnetized rotor. The stator at the outer is rigidly bounded with the shaped upper side while the inner part of the stator is placed at the axial gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Edward Lopatinsky, Lev Fedoseyev, Daniel Schaefer
-
Patent number: 7354254Abstract: A compact turbomolecular vacuum pump (1) is driven by a cup-type motor (8). The cup-shaped rotor of the motor is preferably integrated into the pump rotor (14) and may define corresponding pumping stages, for instance Holweck stages, wherein the stators (11, 12) of said stages being preferably obtained by superimposing stator rings (11?, 12?).Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Varian, S.p.A.Inventors: Romina Silvia Gotta, Cinzia Del Missier, Cristian Maccarrone, Fausto Casaro