Vacuum System Valve Delay Mechanism for Power Failure Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum systems fail to maintain high vacuum conditions during power failures, leading to undesirable venting and contamination, which disrupts measurement operations in professional setups like mass spectrometry.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum system design featuring an operationally controlled valve device with a delay mechanism between the end vacuum pump and the backing pump, which automatically closes during power failures and opens with a set time delay after restoration, ensuring pressure-tight sealing and minimizing contamination risks without the need for additional pressure sensors or ventilation valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vacuum system uses conventional valve arrangements without delay devices, then the response time to malfunctions is fast, but the high vacuum cannot be maintained during power failures leading to venting and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is pre-configured with a delay device that automatically triggers closure after a predetermined time following power failure. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the valve closes at the optimal moment to maintain high vacuum without requiring complex real-time monitoring or multiple coordinated valves, thus achieving reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The delay device acts as an intermediary between the power failure event and the valve closure action. It introduces a controlled time delay that allows the system to respond appropriately to malfunctions while maintaining the high vacuum in the receiver, simplifying the overall control architecture compared to direct or multi-stage valve arrangements
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the valve closes immediately upon power failure, then contamination is prevented, but the system takes longer to resume operation after power restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The delay device is pre-set with an optimal time constant that balances contamination prevention and quick resumption. This preliminary configuration ensures that the valve remains closed during the critical period after power restoration until the backing pump has sufficiently evacuated the connecting line, preventing contamination while minimizing downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The delay device allows adjustment of the time constant parameter to optimize system performance. By tuning this parameter, the system achieves the right balance between maintaining contamination prevention and enabling quick resumption of high vacuum operation after power failures
3Reliability
If additional pressure sensors and control systems are added to maintain vacuum during malfunctions, then vacuum maintenance improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly with integrated delay device operates autonomously upon power failure, automatically closing to maintain high vacuum without requiring external pressure sensors, control electronics, or additional monitoring systems. This self-service mechanism achieves reliability while minimizing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of malfunction response from the complex control system and implements it through a simple mechanical/electromechanical delay device integrated into the valve assembly. This extraction eliminates the need for additional sensors and control components while maintaining vacuum reliability
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 reliably maintains high vacuum conditions for several hours during power failures and ensures quick system readiness upon restoration, minimizing operational interruptions and contamination risks, making it suitable for long-term measurement campaigns.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first valve with a first delay device, on which a time constant can be set
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
To operate a receiver in high vacuum, a two-stage vacuum system with a final vacuum pump and a backing pump is typically used. In the event of a power failure, the vacuum pumps are slowly vented. This can lead to disruptive back-diffusion, particularly from wet-running, oil-sealed backing pumps, and also to venting of the receiver. However, cleaning and re-establishing the high vacuum are time-consuming and costly. According to the invention, a first valve (09) is provided between the final vacuum pump (03) and the backing pump (05), which closes abruptly in the event of a power failure and maintains the high vacuum (Pvac) and the final vacuum pump (03) for several hours.After power is restored, the first valve (03), which may be an electropneumatic solenoid valve (13), is only reopened after a time delay (TVZ1) adjustable via a delay device (10), thus ensuring reliable pump operation and preventing back-diffusion and venting. As a modification, a second valve (14) can be provided analogously on the forevacuum pump (05). Such receivers (01) are used, for example, in mass spectrometry for material analysis in connection with climate research.