Sliding Sole Plate Evacuation for Irregular Samples
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus for evacuating samples are limited to flat, rigid samples with precise outlines, as they require a tight seal to prevent vacuum leaks, making it difficult to handle irregularly shaped or deformable samples like biological samples or plastic foils without risking damage or vacuum disturbance.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus allows for the evacuation of entire samples regardless of shape by using a sole plate that fully covers the hole, eliminating the need for a tight seal between the sample and the plate, and employs vacuum buffer volumes to efficiently lower pressure, enabling the handling of non-rigid samples and those with irregular forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sole plate seals tightly to the sample surface to prevent vacuum leaks, then vacuum stability is improved, but the sample must be flat and rigid, limiting sample type versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vacuum sealing function into two separate interfaces: the sole plate seals to the sheet (providing vacuum stability), while the sample is contained within a cavity on the sheet (enabling versatility). This segmentation allows the sealing surface to be rigid and flat while the sample can be any shape or rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet with cavity acts as an intermediary between the sole plate and the sample. The sole plate seals to the sheet rather than directly to the sample, and the sample is contained within the cavity. This intermediary structure decouples the sealing requirements from the sample requirements, allowing both vacuum stability and sample versatility.
2Reliability
If the hole outline matches the sample outline precisely to prevent gaps, then vacuum leak prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases due to precise positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the sealing function (sole plate to sheet) from the sample containment function (cavity on sheet). The hole in the sheet is surrounded by a flange that provides the sealing surface, decoupling the sealing geometry from the sample geometry. This allows simple circular or rectangular holes without complex contour matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing interface is moved to a different dimensional level: instead of sealing around the sample perimeter in the same plane, the flange creates a stepped structure where sealing occurs on a larger outer diameter surface. This dimensional change eliminates the need for precise contour matching between hole and sample.
3Reliability
If the gap between sole plate and sample is kept very small to prevent vacuum leaks, then vacuum stability is improved, but the sole plate cannot move freely across irregular sample surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the mobility function (sole plate sliding on smooth surface) from the sealing function (flange sealing to hole). The sole plate moves on the external smooth surface of the sheet while the flange provides the sealing interface. This segmentation allows free movement during positioning while maintaining seal integrity during evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange structure acts as an intermediary that provides the sealing surface without interfering with sole plate movement. The sole plate seals to the flange's outer surface rather than directly to the sample, allowing the sole plate to move freely across the smooth external surface while the flange maintains the vacuum seal at the hole interface.
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 enables the evacuation of samples with irregular forms and non-rigid materials without deformation or vacuum leaks, allowing for more versatile sample analysis in environments like SEM inspection, while maintaining a stable vacuum seal.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the presence of an air bearing in the sole plate, the sole plate can be moved across the upper surface of the sheet using very little force.
Implementation Method 2
In the sole plate, in the surface that neighbors the sheet, a number of hollows are created concentrically around the central through-hole, which hollows are connected to vacuum pumps. In this manner, it is possible to create a local vacuum at the location of the through-hole
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for evacuating samples. A sample 4 is hereby placed in a cavity 3 of a sheet 1 with a smooth surface 2. A sole plate 5 Is placed upon this smooth surface 2, whereby the smooth surface 2 and the sole plate 5 placed thereupon together form a vacuum seal. The sole plate 5, upon which a vacuum column 6 is mounted, can be slid across the smooth surface 2. By sliding the sole plate 5 over the cavity 4, the cavity 4 is evacuated in several steps.In an embodiment of the invention, the vacuum column 6 takes the form of an ESEM (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope). In this way, it is possible to inspect the evacuated sample 4 with the ESEM.