Sliding-Guide Vacuum Valve for Low-Particle Gas-Tight Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum valves face challenges in ensuring gas-tight closure and minimizing particle formation, particularly when handling large workpieces, due to the generation of shear forces and friction, which lead to wear and contamination issues.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum valve design featuring a closure element with a lever mechanism and a guide system that allows orthogonal movement, incorporating a damping mechanism and a restoring element to control the closing movement, ensuring a gas-tight seal and reducing particle formation through controlled and precise movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a closure element is pressed directly onto the valve seat to achieve gas-tight closure, then sealing reliability is improved, but shear forces and friction increase leading to wear and particle formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidparticle formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic closing movement where the closure element is tilted during the closing process rather than moving purely linearly. This dynamic approach allows the closure element to be pressed onto the valve seat at an angle, reducing shear forces and friction while maintaining sealing reliability. The tilting movement transforms the closing action from a direct sliding motion to a more controlled angular approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a rotational dimension to the closing movement by tilting the closure element. Instead of moving only in the linear direction toward the valve seat, the closure element rotates during closing, creating a two-dimensional movement path. This dimensional change reduces the harmful shear forces and friction that occur in pure linear sliding while still achieving gas-tight closure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the closure element is moved quickly to improve productivity, then handling efficiency is improved, but wear and particle formation increase due to higher forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling efficiencyVSAvoidwear
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic closing mechanism that allows for controlled high-speed operation. By tilting the closure element during closing, the system can maintain higher speeds while reducing the forces that cause wear. The angular approach distributes the closing forces more favorably, enabling faster operation without proportionally increasing wear and particle formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple linear drive is used to reduce device complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but control precision over the closing movement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive simplicityVSAvoidclosing movement control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dynamic tilting mechanism that can be implemented with relatively simple mechanical components. The tilting action is achieved through guide elements and support surfaces that are straightforward to manufacture, yet they provide precise control over the closing movement. The guide elements ensure the closure element follows the correct angular path, maintaining control precision without requiring complex drive mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces guide elements as intermediary components between the linear drive and the closure element. These guide elements mediate the motion, converting simple linear movement into the required tilting closing motion. The guide surfaces and support elements act as intermediaries that provide precise control while keeping the overall drive system relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design achieves reliable gas-tight closure with reduced wear and particle formation, allowing for efficient handling of large workpieces while minimizing contamination and ensuring precise control over the closing process.

Implementation Method 1

minimizing particle formation, particularly when handling large workpieces, due to the generation of shear forces and friction, which lead to wear and contamination issues

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

A vacuum valve design featuring a closure element with a lever mechanism and a guide system that allows orthogonal movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 3

incorporating a damping mechanism and a restoring element to control the closing movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11460113B2Gate valve with sliding guide
Publication Date: 2022.10.04 VAT HOLDING AG
  • US11460113B2 patent drawing
  • US11460113B2 patent drawing
  • US11460113B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum valve for the substantially gas-tight closure of an opening, comprising a closure element having a closure side and a coupling unit arranged on a rear side opposite the closure side, and a valve wall having valve seat surrounding the opening. The valve further comprises a linear drive unit enabling the closure element to be adjustable in at least two adjustment directions. The closure element is adjustable between an open position releasing the opening, an intermediate position pushed over the opening and a closed position closing the opening. The vacuum valve comprises a guide for the closure element associated with the opening. The closure element comprises a guide element interacting with the guide during an adjustment from the open position to the closed position and back.