Annular Vacuum Chamber Seal for Mass Spectrometer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional O-ring seals in mass spectrometers require high mechanical compression and tight tolerance control, making them difficult to insert and remove, especially in applications that require frequent disassembly for maintenance, and are sensitive to surface finish imperfections.
Innovation Solution
An annular vacuum chamber seal with a main body portion and blade or rib portions that protrude from the main body, forming a radial, diametric, or piston seal, which is easier to insert and remove, requires less mechanical compression, and is more tolerant to surface finish variations, allowing for a gas or vacuum tight seal with non-round or misaligned parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional O-ring seals are used to provide gas or vacuum seal between vacuum chambers, then the seal is readily available and inexpensive, but substantial force is required to insert and remove the seal which is beyond user comfort levels
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into a stationary annular body portion and a movable blade or rib portion. The blade portion can be independently deformed and displaced, allowing the sealing function to be separated from the high-force insertion requirement. This segmentation enables the seal to be installed with minimal force while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade portion is designed to be flexible and deformable, transitioning from a relaxed state during insertion to a compressed state during sealing. This dynamic behavior allows the seal to accommodate insertion forces and then maintain sealing under operational loads without requiring excessive insertion force.
2Reliability
If conventional O-ring seals are compressed under mechanical load to provide gas/vacuum seal, then the seal forms a tight seal, but tight tolerance control is required and surface finish imperfections affect sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design changes the sealing mechanism from relying on uniform compression of a circular cross-section to utilizing the deformation of a blade portion with a different cross-sectional profile. This parameter change in the seal geometry allows the blade to conform to surface imperfections and maintain sealing without requiring tight tolerances on the sealing surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the seal have different functions: the annular body portion provides structural support and positioning, while the blade portion provides the actual sealing contact. This local differentiation allows the blade to be optimized for conforming to surfaces and maintaining seal integrity even when surface finish varies.
3Reliability
If conventional O-ring seals are used in sections requiring regular disassembly for maintenance, then the seal provides vacuum sealing, but it is hard for users to insert and remove the seal
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the seal into a stationary body and a movable blade portion, the design allows the blade to be compressed and displaced independently during assembly and disassembly. This segmentation makes the seal much easier to install and remove while maintaining vacuum sealing capability, facilitating regular maintenance operations.
4Reliability
If an arcuate domed exposed portion seal protrudes axially from the groove as disclosed in US2010/0301207, then the seal provides improved sealing, but the seal requires mechanical compression in the axial direction which still demands substantial force
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design uses an asymmetric cross-sectional profile where the blade portion has a different geometry than a conventional circular O-ring. This asymmetry allows the blade to deform and seal in a direction that requires minimal insertion force, rather than requiring axial compression of a symmetric circular section.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The annular seal reduces the force required for insertion and removal, is more forgiving of surface imperfections, and lowers manufacturing costs by relaxing tolerance requirements, while maintaining a reliable vacuum or gas tight seal.
Implementation Method 1
the second component is arranged and adapted to be slid along the surface of the first component and to thereby deform the one or more blade or rib portions so that the one or more blade or rib portions form a radial, diametric or piston seal between the first and second components
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first component, an annular vacuum chamber seal and a second component. The first component has a groove. The annular vacuum chamber seal comprises a main body portion and one or more blade or rib portions which protrude from the main body portion. The main body portion is located in the groove and the one or more blade or rib portions protrude above or beyond a surface of the first component. The second component is slid, in use, along the surface of the first component thereby deforming the one or more blade or rib portions so that the one or more blade or rib portions form a radial, diametric or piston seal between the first and second components.