Integrated Vacuum Recipient Housing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum systems for high vacuum pumps are complex, space-intensive, and costly due to the need for customer-specific configurations, particularly when flanges have different diameters or unfavorable mounting positions, making them difficult to maintain and integrate into compact designs.

Innovation Solution

A recipient system that integrates a high vacuum pump and fore-vacuum connection section with a common housing, allowing for a compact and flexible design, where the fore-vacuum connection is part of the customer application, and a closing element covers the high vacuum pump to secure and connect it to the fore-vacuum pump, enabling efficient gas routing and heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional separate mounting of high vacuum pump and forevacuum pump is used, then each pump can be independently installed, but the system becomes complex and space-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent installation and maintenance of pumpsVSAvoidSystem complexity and space requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the high vacuum pump and forevacuum pump into a single integrated pump unit with a common housing. The high vacuum pump and forevacuum pump share the same housing structure, mounting flanges, and support infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate installations. This merging reduces system complexity while maintaining operational independence through modular pump modules that can be separately serviced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If customized solutions are developed to meet customer-specific requirements, then unique mounting configurations can be achieved, but development time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCustom mounting configurationsVSAvoidDevelopment time and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated pump unit employs universal mounting flanges and standardized connection interfaces that can accommodate various customer-specific requirements without requiring custom development. The housing design incorporates multiple mounting options and adaptable connection points, allowing the same basic unit to serve different application needs. This universality eliminates the need for time-consuming customized solutions while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If high vacuum pump is integrated into recipient with common housing, then space optimization is achieved, but maintenance accessibility may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSystem space requirementsVSAvoidPump maintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The pump system is divided into modular pump modules (high vacuum pump module and forevacuum pump module) that are contained within the common housing. Each module can be independently accessed, removed, and serviced. The housing includes access ports and removable sections that allow maintenance personnel to reach individual pump modules without disassembling the entire integrated unit, thus maintaining ease of repair while achieving space optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4108932B1Recipient and system with recipient and high vacuum pump
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 PFEIFFER VACUUM TECH AG
  • EP4108932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4108932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4108932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The receiver comprises at least one pump housing and at least one vacuum chamber, which includes a pump port for establishing a connection with an inlet side of a high-vacuum pump, in particular a turbomolecular pump. According to the invention, the receiver has a forevacuum port section fixedly connected to the vacuum chamber, which includes a forevacuum port for establishing a connection with an inlet side of a forevacuum pump.