Wafer Container Purging Valve with Multi-Rigidity Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing purging valves in wafer containers are inefficient in filling the containers with gas quickly and retaining it for a long duration, often leading to gas leakage due to issues with flap design and material rigidity, which compromises air tightness.
Innovation Solution
A purging valve design comprising a fixed sleeve body, a purging head with a hollow sleeve and vent, an elastic component, and a valve lid that moves between two positions to control gas flow, ensuring efficient filling and retention of gas within the container while preventing external gas entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the rigidity of material is too high, then the flaps maintain structural strength, but the slot between flaps does not expand easily for gas to enter the wafer container quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the flap material by using a multi-layer composite structure with different rigidity characteristics. The first flap uses a more rigid material to maintain structural strength, while the second flap uses a more flexible material to enable easy expansion and quick gas filling, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and filling speed.
2Productivity
If the rigidity of material is too low, then the flaps deform easily for quick gas filling, but the slot cannot completely close causing gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by assigning different rigidity parameters to different flaps through material selection. The first flap has higher rigidity for structural stability, while the second flap has lower rigidity for easy deformation during filling, yet both work together to achieve complete closure for gas retention, resolving the contradiction between filling speed and gas retention.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple purging valve structure is used, then manufacturing is easier, but gas leaks easily and the valve cannot efficiently fill the wafer container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with different rigidity characteristics in a multi-layer flap structure. This composite approach maintains relative manufacturing simplicity while achieving both quick gas filling and reliable gas retention, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and gas tightness.
4Loss of time
If the purging valve allows rapid gas filling, then purging time is reduced, but gas may leak from the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the flap materials to achieve optimal balance between filling speed and leakage prevention. By selecting materials with appropriate rigidity parameters for each flap, the system enables rapid gas filling while ensuring complete closure to prevent gas leakage, resolving the contradiction between time efficiency and substance retention.
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 new design allows for rapid gas filling and long-term retention within the wafer container, minimizing leakage and maintaining air tightness, thus enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the purging process.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic component (44), and a valve lid (43). The elastic component is surroundingly disposed around the hollow sleeve portion (422) and located between the base (411) of the fixed sleeve body and the bottom portion (421) of the purging head
Implementation Method 2
The purging head (42) can move from a first position to a second position inside the fixed sleeve body (41) when being propped up by an upward external force
Data Source
AI summary
A wafer container includes a container body, a door, and a purging valve, wherein the purging valve is disposed in the through hole of the container body. The purging valve includes a fixed sleeve body, a purging head, an elastic component, and a valve lid. The fixed sleeve body comprises a base, and a lower opening is formed at the center of the base for the purging head to be disposed therein. The purging head comprises a bottom portion and a hollow sleeve portion protruding upward from the bottom portion, wherein the hollow sleeve portion is surroundingly disposed with elastic component and with vent disposed on its circumference wall. The valve lid is disposed on top of the hollow sleeve portion so that the purging head can move from the first position to the second position inside the fixed sleeve body when being propped up by an upward force.