Snap-on getter pump assembly and its use

Abstract

The first part, i.e., the getter module subassembly (10; 20; 30; 40), is rigidly but reversibly coupled to the second part, the heater module subassembly (50), and a snap-on getter pump assembly holding the closed cable module (57, 67), and such an assembly of these two parts is easily attached by inserting and screwing into a support containing a matching plug-and-socket type connection.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention is specific to a new getter pump assembly, i.e., a snap-on assembly, in which a first part, i.e., a getter sub-assembly, is rigidly but reversibly joined to a second part to hold the getter heater and closed cable module, and such an assembly of these two parts is easily attached by plugging and screwing into a support containing a matching plug-and-socket type connection. [Background technology]

[0002] Getter pumps have been known for a long time, as described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,699,499, which relates to a getter pump in which a heater is coaxially inserted into a hollow support of several disk-shaped getter elements to form a so-called "getter stack." While such an arrangement provides a very compact getter stack, it requires a heater for each getter stack, which makes the construction very expensive and complex for getter pumps with several getter stacks. Indeed, each heater must be supplied with current through a corresponding wiring, which makes the assembly / disassembly and maintenance of the getter pumps laborious.

[0003] Getter pumps are also becoming more widely used and appreciated thanks to continuous improvements, for example with regard to the properties of getter alloys used in getter pumps as described in US Pat. No. 5,629,499, US Pat. No. 5,629,499 and US Pat. No. 5,629,499, or new advantageous configurations as described in US Pat. No. 5,629,499, US Pat. No. 5,629,499, and International Application No. WO 2004 / 012994 and WO 2004 / 012998.

[0004] More specifically, the configuration described in Patent Document 8 allows for the use of multiple getter pump elements placed directly in specific portions of bulky devices and structures such as particle accelerator rings, and represents the current state of the art for placing multiple getter pumps within a closed environment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 0 742 370 [Patent Document 2] International Application No. 2013 / 175340 Brochure [Patent Document 3] International Application No. 2015 / 075648 Brochure [Patent Document 4] International Application No. 2017 / 203015 Brochure [Patent Document 5] International Application No. 2010 / 105944 Brochure [Patent Document 6] International Application No. 2014 / 060879 Brochure [Patent Document 7] International Application No. 2015 / 150974 Brochure [Patent Document 8] International Application No. 2015 / 198235 Brochure [Patent Document 9] U.S. Patent No. 8,961,816 [Patent Document 10] U.S. Patent No. 9,416,435 [Patent Document 11] U.S. Patent No. 6,521,014 [Patent Document 12] U.S. Patent No. 6,149,392 [Patent Document 13] U.S. Patent No. 3,662,522 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In view of this situation, there is a need to not only address the operational characteristics of getter pumps, aspects that have already been successfully addressed by the aforementioned technical solutions, but also to make their installation and maintenance easier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new getter pump structure that improves overall ease of installation and maintenance, in a manner suitable for high density configurations, i.e. when the pumps are packed into the walls of the system to be evacuated or mounted close to each other in a support structure to be placed and mounted in the final device. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a snap-on getter pump element comprising a getter module subassembly, a heater module subassembly, and a closed cable module, a. a getter module subassembly including one or more getter stacks, the getter module subassembly having a case with a lattice-like sidewall on an outer surface thereof, and two metal bases fixed to the lattice-like sidewalls, the base coupled to the heater module subassembly having a hole in its center, the metal bases having positioning means for the one or more getter stacks arranged around a central empty space within the getter subassembly case; b. the heater module subassembly has one or more heaters mounted at a central location on the first surface of the heater module subassembly base, the one or more heaters being insertable into the central empty space of the getter subassembly case through the perforated getter subassembly base; c. a closed cable module is mounted on a second surface of the heater module subassembly base opposite the first surface and has an electrical connector on a surface opposite the surface in contact with the heater module subassembly; The getter module subassembly and heater module subassembly are rigidly but reversibly coupled via a coupling element, and at least two threaded floating rods reside in a snap-on getter pump element protruding from a second surface of the heater module subassembly base.

[0008] The invention is further illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting figures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the inside of a getter module subassembly coupled with a heater module subassembly, where only one getter stack is present. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the inside of a getter module subassembly coupled with a heater module subassembly, with two getter stacks present. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the inside of a getter module subassembly coupled with a heater module subassembly, with six getter stacks present. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the inside of a getter module subassembly coupled with two heater module subassemblies, in which two getter stacks are present. [Figure 5a] FIG. 10 is a schematic side perspective view of an alternative form of heater module subassembly suitable for use in a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention. [Figure 5b] FIG. 10 is a schematic side perspective view of an alternative form of heater module subassembly suitable for use in a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention. [Figure 5c] FIG. 10 is a schematic side perspective view of an alternative form of heater module subassembly suitable for use in a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic side perspective view of a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] With respect to the above diagrams, it should be clearly indicated that, for better understanding, in some cases, changes to the dimensions and dimensional ratios of some elements may be made, with specific, non-exclusive reference to the number of turns of heating wire wound around the cylindrical support. Also, while reference is often made below to the diameters of some components, these elements may not be circular or may not have a circular cross-section, such as the diameter of the heater module subassembly base and the base of the getter subassembly case, and in these cases, the "diameter" should be intended and interpreted as the diameter of the inscribed circle (the smallest circle that encompasses the element or its cross-section). This is to take into account the most general alternative embodiments that are still encompassed by the general concept of the present invention, as already outlined; for example, the getter subassembly case, and therefore its base, need not be cylindrical, but other shapes, such as a polygon, may also be usefully adopted, which is preferable in the case of three or more getter stacks, with the getter stacks corresponding to the vertices of the polygon.

[0011] The simplest snap-on getter pump configuration according to the present invention is shown in the schematic diagram of Figure 1, in which a getter module subassembly 10 has a circular base 11 (or more generally a base that can be inscribed within a circle), and a heater module subassembly is inserted into the center of the circular base 11 and comprises a cylindrical heater support 12 and one or more heating wires 14 wound thereon. A single getter stack has multiple getter disks 13 stacked on a cylindrical getter support 15.

[0012] A first alternative snap-on getter pump configuration in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 2, in which a getter module subassembly 20 has a circular base 21 (or more generally a base that can be inscribed within a circle), and a heater module subassembly is inserted into the center of the circular base 21 and is comprised of a cylindrical heater support 22 and one or more heating wires 24 wound thereon. Two getter stacks have multiple getter disks 23, 23' stacked on cylindrical getter supports 25, 25', respectively.

[0013] One of the preferred embodiments of the snap-on getter pump of the present invention is shown in Figure 3, in which a getter module subassembly 30 has a hexagonal base 31. A heater module subassembly is inserted into the center of the hexagonal base 31 and is comprised of a cylindrical heater support 32 and one or more heating wires 34 wound thereon. Six getter stacks are arranged in a circular pattern and are equally spaced apart from the cylindrical heater support 32 in this pattern. Each getter stack is attached to a cylindrical getter support 35, 35', 35'', 35''', 35' IV , 35 V Multiple getter disks 33, 33´, 33´´, 33´´´, 33 IV , 33 V It has.

[0014] Another possible alternative configuration of a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, in which a getter module subassembly 40 has an elliptical base 41 with two getter stacks located at the center of the focal point, each consisting of multiple getter disks 43, 43' stacked on cylindrical getter supports 45, 45'. Another base 46, e.g., a circular base, is inserted into the elliptical base 41 and has two heater module subassemblies mounted thereon, each consisting of a cylindrical heater support 42, 42' and one or more heating wires 44, 44' wound thereon, as in the other embodiments, with the heaters positioned at the same distance from the center of the circular base. After insertion, the circular base 46 is raised relative to the elliptical base 41, with the centers of the two heaters aligned along the minor axis of the elliptical base 41.

[0015] Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c are schematic side views of three possible alternative forms of heater module subassemblies suitable for use in a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention. Figure 5a shows a heater module subassembly 50 having only one heating wire 54 wound on a cylindrical heater support 52, preferably with a pitch in the range of 1 to 2.5 mm. The heater is fixed on a first surface 59 of the base, and on its opposite second surface is a cable module 57 and two electrical connectors 58, although only one electrical connector is visible; the other is hidden behind it.

[0016] In FIG. 5 b , the heater module subassembly 50 is almost identical to that of FIG. 5 a , the only difference being the presence of two heating wires 54 , 54 ′ wound on a cylindrical heater support 52 .

[0017] Figure 5c shows the same embodiment as Figure 5b, but with the addition of a hexagonal case 505 with a lattice-like side wall that encloses two heating wires 54, 54' wound on a cylindrical heater support 52. Additionally, an enlarged view of a portion of the case 505 with the two heating wires 54, 54' is shown on the right side of the same figure.

[0018] 6 shows a perspective view of a snap-on getter pump assembly 60 according to the present invention in a preferred embodiment, in which a heater module subassembly like that of FIG. 5c is inserted into a getter module subassembly like that of FIG. 3 containing six getter stacks, and a case having a lattice-like sidewall 603 on its outer surface is added, and two metal case bases are fixed to the lattice-like sidewall 603 via a holding frame placed on the metal base, with a hole in the center for the base to be joined to the heater module subassembly. The lattice-like sidewall 603 has one or more bands (only bands 604 and 604' are shown) with a tighter mesh of the lattice to achieve both aesthetic and functional purposes, and in fact a logo, serial number, or other written reference may be inserted (or shown) therein.

[0019] The getter module subassembly and heater module subassembly are rigidly yet reversibly coupled through their bases via three coupling elements 602, 602', 602", each consisting of a tension rod (see dashed lines) that penetrates the base of the getter module subassembly and heater module subassembly and projects sufficiently downward to be engaged by an associated nut, in this embodiment held by a Seeger ring. In this way, the getter module subassembly and heater module subassembly are rigidly yet reversibly coupled, thereby facilitating subsequent intervention (e.g., heater replacement).

[0020] Additionally, there are two threaded floating rods 601, 601' that are similar to the tension rods of coupling elements 602, 602', 602" (i.e., they also pass from the top to the base of pump 60 and are held in place by Seeger rings), but are longer since their purpose is to rigidly, yet reversibly, connect the assembled getter module subassembly and heater module subassembly to an external support through their lower threaded ends. Electrical connectors 68, 68' are present on the lower surface of cable module 67, which is attached to the lower surface 69 of the heater base (defined and represented in the drawings by first surface 59 and second surface 69). Obviously, coupling elements 602, 602', 602" must not interfere with the electrical connection and therefore do not protrude beyond cable module 67, while threaded floating rods 601, 601' must protrude beyond cable module 67 by an amount sufficient to provide a secure threaded connection to the aforementioned external support.

[0021] The maximum number of getter stacks in a single snap-on pump element is preferably limited to eight for high speed pumps; higher numbers, while possible, would either result in a more complex assembly (smaller stack diameters) to keep the pump volume compact, or if the pump volume were to be increased to accommodate more stacks, the thermal management of the getter stacks at the periphery could be compromised, not to mention the increased requirements and complexity for the heater module.

[0022] The getter stack is preferably arranged to leave a central free space that can be inscribed in a circle of diameter D in the range of 20 to 70 mm. A small diameter free space is beneficial for most compact pumps, as less available space means the heaters are smaller and less powerful. Preferably, the heater or heaters are sized so that their cross section can be inscribed in a circle having a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 times the diameter D.

[0023] Most typically, the total internal free volume of the getter module subassembly after being combined with the heater module subassembly is between 50 and 500 cm 3 , which places a limit on the number and size of active elements (getters and heaters) that can be mounted or inserted therein.

[0024] With respect to heater module subassemblies, the specific configuration of the heating element is known to those skilled in the art, but most commonly the heater includes a cylindrical ceramic support, typically in the range of 10 to 50 mm in diameter, made of a heat-resistant material such as alumina or a high-temperature mechanical glass-ceramic such as MACOR®, wound with one or more heating wires. The most common and more useful materials for the heating wire are tantalum, molybdenum, or tungsten (pure or alloyed), with diameters in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.

[0025] The present invention is not limited to any particular type of non-evaporable getter (NEG) material, which are known to those skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,629,999, 5,729,985, 5,733,102, and 5,829,111, and more generally are Zr-based or Ti-based alloys, i.e., alloys in which this element is most prevalent in the composition.

[0026] The term "getter stack" refers to and encompasses the general vertical structure that holds the getter material; it does not encompass the heater as a support, as shown in the various figures, but merely a common passive holder, since the heater is instead present in the heater module subassembly. The present invention is not limited to a particular type of getter stack, although useful ones are those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,629,999, for example. The most common and preferred structure is provided by a disk of sintered getter material fixed on a central rod, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,629,999, for example. Preferably, the getter stack employed in a snap-on getter pump according to the present invention has a height within the range of 80 to 200 mm and a diameter within the range of 20 to 50 mm. The heights of the getter stacks (preferably equal to each other) also determine the most useful height of the getter heater (or, less preferably, the average height, where there is a meaningful difference in the getter stack heights)—ideally, the stack heights are the same, even though a 20% difference only slightly affects performance.

[0027] Finally, it is also important to emphasize that it is not strictly necessary to have matching shapes between the getter module subassembly base and the heater module subassembly base, as long as the shape of the heater module subassembly base is geometrically compatible with the corresponding getter module subassembly base, i.e., the opening in the getter module subassembly base should allow for insertion of the heater, and there is sufficient overlap between the getter module subassembly base and the heater module subassembly base to allow for a secure connection.

[0028] Preferably, there is a shape match (e.g., hexagonal for hexagonal) as this solution allows for easier installation, and also for purely aesthetic reasons, but it is also possible that a standard shape for the heater module subassembly, such as circular, could be adopted "universally" on different getter subassemblies.

[0029] The sidewalls of the getter module subassembly for all embodiments of the snap-on getter pump element according to the present invention are essentially made of grid elements 603, preferably made of metal, with a void / fill ratio in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 to ensure a good compromise between mechanical protection of the getter stack (e.g., during shipping, handling, and installation) and not compromising module pumping speed. A grid element is also preferably present at the internal boundary of the getter module subassembly (the portion facing the heater(s)).

[0030] Similarly, the heater module subassembly 50 is wrapped in a grid element 505 fixed to its base for the same protective purposes, in particular to avoid damage or displacement of the heating wires 54, 54' (which could result in a short circuit). The presence of the grid walls on both the inner part of the getter module subassembly and the outer part of the heater module subassembly 50 ensures that there is no accidental contact between the getter stack and the heater(s) while inserting the heater module subassembly 50 into the getter module subassembly, which is particularly advantageous for longer snap-on getter pump elements.

[0031] Preferably, all grid-like side walls have a gap fill ratio in the range of 0.3 to 0.7. Such grid-like walls may differ from each other, for example, those that serve as the external interface of the getter module have the highest gap fill ratio (which does not affect the pump speed), while those on the inside and even on the subassembly of the heater module have lower gap fill ratios (more protection).

[0032] The closed cable module, which represents the part that is "snap-on" onto a suitable external support, provides mechanical stability and allows current supply to the heating wires. At the bottom, the module is provided with matching plug-and-socket electrical connections with respect to those present on the support; preferably, the closed cable module comprises two to four plugs, most preferably such plugs have a length in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm and a diameter in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, which also serves to stabilize the module during the installation phase.

[0033] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the closed cable module is integrated into the bottom surface 69 of the heater base.

[0034] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the detailed solutions shown in the figures already described can be appropriately combined to result in other configurations that are still encompassed by the present invention. For example, one or more strips on the grid-like sidewalls can also be used with any number of getter stacks housed in a getter module subassembly. Also, several embodiments that are readily derivable from what has already been shown are not depicted as trivial modifications, and in particular the present invention is not limited to a specific number of getter stacks or heaters or coupling elements, as long as the final coupling between the getter module subassembly and the heater module subassembly meets the requirements specified in claim 1.

[0035] Similarly, mechanically equivalent members may be used to replace any of the specific elements described in the previous embodiments. For example, coupling element 602, 602', 602'' may be different from the Seger ring-tension rod-nut configuration described above, as long as it performs its function of reversibly coupling the getter module subassembly and the heater module subassembly.

[0036] In a second aspect thereof, the present invention resides in a getter pump system installation comprising a plurality of snap-on getter pump elements mounted on a metallic holder adapted to hold a plurality of such snap-on getter pump elements, the number of such snap-on getter pump elements per holder typically being in the range of 2 to 256.

[0037] The metal holder has a front and a back side, which have different purposes. The front side has electrical connectors that match those on the closed cable modules 57, 67, as well as fastening means for the threaded floating rods 601, 601'. The back side has the purpose of fixing the metal holder in place to an external element such as a wall or suitable support structure, either directly or with other sandwiched metal sheets. Those optional sheets, acting as separators, may perform different functions, for example they may provide clearance for power distribution circuits or, in the case of removable sheets, temporary protection for shipping.

[0038] In view of the above, the most useful configuration contemplates up to two additional metal sheets to the metal holder according to the invention. It should be emphasized that the assembled structure comprising the metal holder and one or more optional sheets has at least one, and preferably all, open side to facilitate evacuation from the gap.

[0039] The most common and useful configurations for metal holders contemplate that the metal holder is planar or has a curvature with a radius in the range of 0.5 m to 3 m.

[0040] Most usefully, the thickness (intended as average thickness) of the metal holder is in the range of 2 to 15 mm, which is also the preferred (average) thickness for the other optional metal sheets of the metal holder.

[0041] The combined use of a snap-on getter pump and metal holder according to the present invention makes it possible to have a form-fitting pump system that includes a fully configurable arrangement of blocks of snap-on getter pump elements, and this is determined by the fact that the metal holder is modular and can be adjusted to fit within different frames and spatial constraints.

[0042] In this regard, it is important to emphasize that when more metal holders are connected via suitable mechanical coupling means, keeping the metal holders spaced apart with no direct points of contact between them, this ensures proper drainage from the gap between the back surface of the metal holder and the wall or suitable support structure to which it is attached, while at the same time ensuring that the distance between adjacent elements is not too large, as this would make the system less efficient.

[0043] In one preferred embodiment, the support structure is circular so that the conformable pump system is ring-shaped. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 Getter module subassembly 11 Circular base, base, getter subassembly base 12 Cylindrical heater support, ceramic support 13 Getter Disk 13, 23´, 23, 33, 33´, 33´´, 33´´´, 33 IV , 33 V Getter Stack 35, 35´, 35´´, 35´´´, 35 IV , 35 V Cylindrical getter support 14 Heating wire 15 Cylindrical getter support 20 Getter module subassembly 21 Circular base, base, getter subassembly base 22 Cylindrical heater support, ceramic support 23, 23´ Getter Disk 24 Heating wire 25, 25´ Cylindrical getter support 30 Getter Module Subassembly 31 Hexagonal base, base, getter subassembly base 32 Cylindrical heater support, ceramic support 34 Heating wire 40 Getter Module Subassembly 41 Oval base, base, getter subassembly base 42, 42´ Cylindrical heater support, ceramic support 43, 43´ Getter disk 44, 44´ heating wire 45, 45´ cylindrical getter support 46 base, circular base 50 Heater Module Subassembly 52 Cylindrical heater support, ceramic support 54, 54´ heating wire 57 Cable module, closed cable module 58 Electrical Connectors 59 First Surface 60 Getter pump assembly, snap-on getter pump assembly, snap-on getter pump element 67 Cable module, closed cable module 68, 68´ Electrical Connector 69 Lower surface, second surface, bottom surface 505 Hexagonal case, grid element, protective element 601, 601´ Threaded Floating Rod 602, 602´, 602´´ coupling element 603 Lattice side wall 604 and 604´ Strips

Claims

1. A snap-on getter pump element (60) comprising getter module subassemblies (10; 20; 30; 40), heater module subassembly (50), and closed cable modules (57, 67), a. The getter module subassemblies (10; 20; 30; 40) include one or more getter stacks (13; 23', 23; 33, 33', 33'', 33'''', 33'''', 33'''' ＩＶ ,33 Ｖ The heater module subassembly (50) has a case comprising a grid-like side wall (603) on its outer surface, and two metal case bases fixed to the grid-like side wall (603), the bases (11, 21, 31, 41) having a hole in the center, and at least one of the metal case bases having one or more getter stacks (13; 23', 23; 33, 33', 33'' ＩＶ ,33 Ｖ A positioning means is provided for ) b. The heater module subassembly (50) houses one or more heaters mounted at the center of the first surface (59) of the heater module subassembly base, and the one or more heaters are insertable into the central empty space of the getter module subassembly case via the perforated getter subassembly base (11; 21; 31; 41). c. The closed cable module (57; 67) is mounted on the second surface (69) of the heater module subassembly base, opposite to the first surface (59), and has an electrical connector (58; 68, 68') on the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the heater module subassembly (50). The getter module subassemblies (10; 20; 30; 40) and the heater module subassembly (50) are rigidly but reversibly connected through coupling elements (602, 602', 602''), and at least two threaded floating rods (601, 601') protrude from the second surface (69) of the base of the heater module subassembly. The coupling elements (602, 602', 602'') do not protrude beyond the closed cable module (57, 67), but the threaded floating rod (601, 601') protrudes beyond the closed cable module (57, 67) by an amount sufficient to provide a secure threaded connection to the external support, while allowing the electrical connector (58; 68, 68') to connect to the electrical connection portion of a matching plug-and-socket present on the external support, a snap-on getter pump element (60).

2. The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein the grid-like sidewalls also exist on the boundary of the central empty space of the getter module subassemblies (10; 20; 30; 40).

3. The closed cable modules (57; 67) are integrated into the second surface (69) of the heater module subassembly base, the snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1.

4. The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein the metal case base and the lattice-shaped side wall (603) are fixed via a retaining frame placed on the metal case base.

5. The aforementioned getter stack (13; 23', 23; 33, 33', 33'', 33'''', 33 ＩＶ ,33 Ｖ The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein the number of ) is in the range of 1 to 8.

6. The aforementioned central empty space is inscribed within a circle having a diameter D in the range of 20 mm to 70 mm, the snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1.

7. The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of one or more heaters is inscribed within a circle having a diameter in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 times D.

8. The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein the grid-like side wall (603) has a void / filling ratio in the range of 0.3 to 0.

7.

9. The total internal free volume of the getter module subassemblies (10; 20; 30; 40) is 50 to 500 cm³ after being coupled with the heater module subassembly (50). ３ A snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, which is within the range.

10. The one or more getter stacks (13; 23', 23; 33, 33', 33'', 33''', 33 ＩＶ , 33 Ｖ ) and each of the one or more heaters has a height within the range of 80 to 200 mm, the snap-on getter pump element according to claim 1.

11. The coupling elements (602, 602', 602'') are tension rods that protrude from the getter module subassembly to be inserted into corresponding holes and enter into the base of the heater module subassembly (50), preferably the number of rods and the number of corresponding holes being in the range of 2 to 4, the snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1.

12. The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein the number of threaded floating rods (601, 601') is in the range of 2 to 4.

13. The snap-on getter pump element (60) according to claim 1, wherein one or more heaters comprises a ceramic support (12; 22; 32; 42; 42'; 52) on which a spirally wound heating wire (14; 24; 34; 44, 44'; 54, 54') is preferably wound at a pitch in the range of 1 to 2.5 mm.

14. The electrical connectors (68, 68') of the closed cable module are plugs for matching to external socket connectors, according to claim 1, the snap-on getter pump element (60).

15. A getter pump system installation comprising a plurality of snap-on getter pump elements (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the snap-on getter pump elements (60) being mounted on a metal holder having a front surface having an electrical connector that matches one on a closed cable module of a snap-on getter pump and a means for securing the threaded floating rods (601, 601'), and a rear surface for mounting the metal holder onto an external element.

16. The getter pump system installation according to claim 15, wherein the metal holder is flat or has a curve with a radius in the range of 0.5 m to 3 m.

17. A method for assembling a pump system, comprising mounting a number of getter pump system fixtures in the range of 2 to 64 according to claim 15, wherein each getter pump system fixture is spaced apart from adjacent getter pump system fixtures without any direct contact points.

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