Patent US4074209A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5379984A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5379984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gate valve for vacuum processing system
Assignee: Intevac Inc
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Filing: 1994-01-11
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Granted: 1995-01-10
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Expires: 2014-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum gate valve includes a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening, and a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. The swing gate assembly includes a swing gate body, a resilient seal gasket mounted to the swing gate body so as to sealingly engage the valve seat in the closed position, and a spreader for flattening the resilient seal gasket in a region that engages the valve seat. The gate valve further includes an actuator for rotating the swing gate assembly between the open position and the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the seal gasket is a resilient tube, and the spreader is located within the tube. The swing gate assembly may include a mechanism for adjusting the spreader to thereby adjust the tension applied to the seal gasket.
Inventors
- 👤 George L. Coad
- 👤 George Matthias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:18
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K1/00; F16K1/16; F16K1/18; F16K51/00; F16K51/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A vacuum gate valve comprising: a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening; a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position wherein said opening is unobstructed and a closed position wherein said opening is sealed, said swing gate assembly comprising a swing gate body and a seal gasket, said seal gasket comprising a resilient sheet mounted to said swing gate body so as to sealingly engage said valve seat in the closed position, said seal gasket being pressed into engagement with said valve seat in the closed position by a differential pressure between opposite sides of said valve body, said swing gate assembly including a spreader for applying tension to said seal gasket and flattening said seal gasket at least in a region that engages said valve seat; and means for rotating said swing gate assembly about said pivot axis between said open position and said closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A vacuum gate valve comprising: a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening; a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position wherein said opening is unobstructed and a closed position wherein said opening is sealed, said swing gate assembly comprising a swing gate body and a seal gasket, said seal gasket comprising a resilient sheet mounted to said swing gate body so as to sealingly engage said valve seat in the closed position, said seal gasket being pressed into engagement with said valve seat in the closed position by a differential pressure between opposite sides of said valve body, said swing gate assembly including a spreader for applying tension to said seal gasket and flattening said seal gasket at least in a region that engages said valve seat; and means for rotating said swing gate assembly about said pivot axis between said open position and said closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said spreader comprises a channel having opposed sides, said seal gasket being affixed to the opposed sides of said channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said swing gate assembly further includes means for adjusting said spreader to thereby adjust the tension applied to said seal gasket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said seal gasket comprises a resilient tube and wherein said spreader is located within said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said spreader comprises a channel having opposed sides that apply tension to said resilient tube, at least in the region that engages said valve seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 5 wherein said swing gate assembly further includes means for adjusting a spacing between the opposed sides of said channel to thereby adjust the tension applied to said seal gasket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient tube covers said opening when said swing gate assembly is in the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient tube comprises an elastic material that is free of pinholes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said valve seat comprises a ridge surrounding said opening for engaging said seal gasket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said opening comprises an elongated slit having a length to width ratio of 10 or greater.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 10 wherein said pivot axis is parallel to a long axis of said elongated slit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
A vacuum gate valve comprising: a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening; a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position wherein said opening is unobstructed and a closed position wherein said opening is sealed, said swing gate assembly comprising a swing gate body and a seal gasket, said seal gasket comprising a resilient sheet mounted to said swing gate body so as to sealingly engage said valve set in the closed position, said seal gasket being pressed into engagement with said valve seat in the closed position by a differential pressure between opposite sides of said valve body, said swing gate assembly being rotatably coupled to said valve body at opposite ends; and means for rotating said swing gate assembly about said pivot axis between said open position and said closed position and wherein means for rotating said swing gate assembly comprises a rotary actuator coupled to said swing gate assembly through a rotary vacuum seal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A vacuum gate valve comprising: a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening; a swing gate assembly rotatable about a pivot axis between an open position wherein said opening is unobstructed and a closed position wherein said opening is sealed, said swing gate assembly comprising a swing gate body and a seal gasket, said seal gasket comprising a resilient sheet mounted to said swing gate body so as to sealingly engage said valve set in the closed position, said seal gasket being pressed into engagement with said valve seat in the closed position by a differential pressure between opposite sides of said valve body, said swing gate assembly being rotatably coupled to said valve body at opposite ends; and means for rotating said swing gate assembly about said pivot axis between said open position and said closed position and wherein means for rotating said swing gate assembly comprises a rotary actuator coupled to said swing gate assembly through a rotary vacuum seal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A vacuum gate valve comprising: a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening; a swing gate assembly rotatably mounted to said valve body for rotation about a pivot axis, said swing gate assembly being rotatable about said pivot axis between an open position wherein said opening is unobstructed and a closed position wherein said opening is sealed, said swing gate assembly comprising a swing gate body, a resilient seal gasket mounted to said swing gate body so as to sealingly engage said valve seat in the closed position, and a spreader for flattening said resilient seal gasket in a region that engages said valve seat; and an actuator for rotating said swing gate assembly between said open position and said closed position in response to a control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
134 words
A vacuum gate valve comprising: a valve body having an opening therethrough and a valve seat surrounding the opening; a swing gate assembly rotatably mounted to said valve body for rotation about a pivot axis, said swing gate assembly being rotatable about said pivot axis between an open position wherein said opening is unobstructed and a closed position wherein said opening is sealed, said swing gate assembly comprising a swing gate body, a resilient seal gasket mounted to said swing gate body so as to sealingly engage said valve seat in the closed position, and a spreader for flattening said resilient seal gasket in a region that engages said valve seat; and an actuator for rotating said swing gate assembly between said open position and said closed position in response to a control signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 13 wherein said swing gate assembly further includes means for adjusting said spreader to thereby adjust tension applied to said resilient seal gasket.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 13 wherein said resilient seal gasket comprises a resilient tube and wherein said spreader is located within said tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 15 wherein said spreader comprises a channel having opposed sides that apply tension to said resilient tube, at least in the region that engages said valve seat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 13 wherein said valve seat comprises a ridge surrounding said opening for engaging said resilient seal gasket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vacuum gate valve as defined in claim 13 wherein said opening comprises an elongated slit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-09 | 1998-07-11 | 1999-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-09 | 2002-07-11 | 2003-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-09 | 2006-07-11 | 2007-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |