GB1347607A - Apparatus for transferring materials or instruments into and out of a vacuum system - Google Patents

Abstract

1347607 Vacuum apparatus HEWLETT-PACKARD CO 16 June 1972 [22 June 1971] 28237/72 Heading F1N [Also in Division F2] Apparatus for transferring materials or instruments into and out of a vacuum system 22 by means of a probe 24 which carries such materials and instruments, comprises a first port 16 for insertion of the probe 24 into a chamber 10, a second port 18 axially aligned with port 16 and connected to the vacuum system 22, and a third port 20 connected to a vacuum roughing pump. First valve means 37 includes a seal member 36 normally closing port 20 under the bias of a compression spring 66 acting on the end of a lever 32 pivoted to the housing 14. Second valve means 50 includes a plate 44 with a captive "O" ring 46 which normally seals port 18 under the action of swivel plate 42 pivoted at 52 to housing 14, attached to plate 44 loosely by spools 48, and urged against plate 44 by tension spring 56 and the pressure in chamber 10. The probe 24 is inserted through an "O" ring 26 in port 16 and engages an inclined end surface 30 of lever 32 to open port 20 whereby evacuation of chamber 10 begins. The probe 24 is then stopped by a lever 38 pivoted to housing 14 and connected to plate 42 by a link rod 40, the force of probe 24 on lever 38 being at this time insufficient to overcome the forces of the spring 56 and chamber pressure acting on plates 42, 44. When a predetermined low pressure is attained, the lever 38 is able to overcome these forces and is swung down in direction 58 by probe 24. This pulls valve means 50 away from port 18 in direction 60 and the probe 24 then moves on into port 18 and vacuum system 22.