Peripheral Drive Carousel Carrier for Vacuum Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum treatment installations require complex coupling mechanisms to drive a carousel with a central axle, which complicates the movement and integration of the carousel into the vacuum chamber while maintaining vacuum compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral drive system is used, where a gearwheel engages with a gear rim on the carousel's perimeter after the carousel carrier is inserted, allowing for a simple and vacuum-compatible coupling without additional mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central axle drive is used for the carousel, then the carousel can be driven inside the vacuum chamber, but a complicated coupling mechanism is required to engage the drive with the central axle while maintaining vacuum compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of driving the carousel from the center through a complex coupling mechanism, the invention inverts the approach by driving the carousel from the periphery. The drive unit is positioned on the carousel carrier outside the vacuum chamber and engages with the carousel rim through the chamber wall, eliminating the need for a complicated internal coupling mechanism while maintaining vacuum integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the carousel is placed on a base frame with wheels for easy movement into the vacuum treatment installation, then loading and unloading is simplified, but a complicated coupling mechanism is required to connect the external drive to the central axle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the drive system into two independent parts: the carousel carrier with wheels that can be easily moved into position, and the drive unit that remains outside the vacuum chamber. The drive unit connects to the carousel through a simplified peripheral interface on the chamber wall, allowing the carousel to be freely positionable while eliminating complex internal coupling requirements.
3Device complexity
If a peripheral drive system is used with the drive outside the vacuum chamber, then the coupling mechanism is simplified, but the drive must engage through the chamber wall
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral drive system serves multiple functions: it provides simplified coupling mechanics, maintains vacuum chamber integrity, and allows flexible positioning of the carousel. The drive unit positioned outside the chamber engages with the carousel rim through a standardized interface on the chamber wall, creating a universal solution that simplifies both mechanical coupling and vacuum compatibility.
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
This solution simplifies the loading and unloading of workpieces by enabling easy integration and operation of the carousel within the vacuum chamber, reducing the complexity of the coupling mechanism and ensuring reliable vacuum compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a gearwheel which, after the carousel carrier has been moved completely into the vacuum treatment installation, engages with a gear rim provided on the carousel perimeter, so that the gearwheel is capable of driving the carousel through the gear rim
Implementation Method 2
rails are provided in the vacuum chamber in which the wheels can be made to roll in a guided fashion
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum treatment installation having carousel carriers, in which the carousel drive is arranged on the wall that is located opposite the door of the vacuum treatment installation. In this way, the coupling of the carousel of the carousel carrier to the carousel drive is ensured without any further mechanism.