US20050046123A1 - Valve seal assembly - Google Patents
Valve seal assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050046123A1 US20050046123A1 US10/960,799 US96079904A US2005046123A1 US 20050046123 A1 US20050046123 A1 US 20050046123A1 US 96079904 A US96079904 A US 96079904A US 2005046123 A1 US2005046123 A1 US 2005046123A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- seal ring
- seal
- door
- groove
- sidewall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- 229920006169 Perfluoroelastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 229920000459 Nitrile rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001973 fluoroelastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920002943 EPDM rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000005977 Ethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004945 silicone rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004711 α-olefin Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 13
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 210000002381 plasma Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- -1 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004696 Poly ether ether ketone Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002530 polyetherether ketone Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001343 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004810 polytetrafluoroethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- BFKJFAAPBSQJPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetrafluoroethene Chemical group FC(F)=C(F)F BFKJFAAPBSQJPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920012266 Poly(ether sulfone) PES Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004642 Polyimide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012632 extractable Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001721 polyimide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920005992 thermoplastic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000012431 wafers Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J15/00—Sealings
- F16J15/02—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces
- F16J15/06—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces
- F16J15/061—Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with positioning means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/677—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations
- H01L21/67739—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations into and out of processing chamber
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a seal assembly for valves and in particular to a gate valve or pendulum valve seal assembly having a replaceable deformable seal ring, said assembly finding particular use in forming a seal between chambers in vacuum equipment employed in the semiconductor industry for chip manufacture.
- Integrated circuit (IC) chips are typically manufactured in multi-chambered vacuum equipment. Each chamber may contain a different environment, e.g. atmosphere, temperature, and pressure, than adjacent chambers. Chambers are typically isolated from each other by gate valves (or slit valves). Such valves may be utilized for moving semiconductor wafers from one chamber to another. In addition, pendulum valves may be employed to separate chambers from a vacuum source and for the feeding or exhausting of gases. In both gate valves and pendulum valves, sealing is affected by closing a sealing member, also referred to as a disk or door, portion of the valve.
- a sealing member also referred to as a disk or door
- the door comprises a metal plate, sized and shaped for covering the opening within the valve, and a deformable seal, or O-ring, mounted on the sealing surface of the door, near its periphery.
- the deformable seal is typically made from an elastomeric or thermoplastic polymer.
- the deformable door seal is exposed to high temperatures and to corrosive plasmas. The latter conditions, coupled with repeated opening and closing of the door, causes the deformable seal ring to deteriorate and, eventually need to be replaced. Deformable seal replacement has been problematic.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,718 discloses a slit valve door having a removable O-ring seal that is held in place within a groove that is partially formed by the door and partially formed by a removable wedge insert.
- the present invention is directed to a valve seal assembly for use in sealing an opening in a chamber employed in vacuum equipment, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
- valve seal assembly for use in vacuum chambers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, said valve assembly comprising:
- a door having a groove for receiving a seal ring, said groove formed on a sealing surface near a periphery of said door, and wherein a first portion of said groove is formed of a base, an outer sidewall and outer lip in said door;
- a securing means for holding a seal ring within said groove on said door, said securing means having an outer sidewall and lip which forms a second portion of said groove;
- a deformable seal ring shaped and sized to complementarily fit within said groove, said seal ring comprising a first thin portion for complementarily engaging said first portion of said groove and a second thin portion for complementarily engaging said second portion of said groove, and said seal ring having a thick portion located between said first and second thin portions and sized to extend beyond said door lip.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the seal assembly of this invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of the seal assembly of this invention taken along lines 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of another embodiment of the seal assembly of this invention taken along lines 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the valve door seal assembly 10 of this invention wherein a deformable seal ring 12 is mounted in a groove near the periphery of the sealing surface of door 14 and held in place by securing means 16 .
- sealing surface is meant the surface of the door which covers the opening that is sealed when the valve is closed.
- FIG. 2 shows, in cross-section along 2 - 2 , the door assembly of this invention.
- Seal ring 12 is reversibly mounted on the base 18 of a groove on the sealing surface of door 14 .
- the groove has an outer side wall 20 and an outer lip 22 for complementarily engaging a relatively thin outer portion 30 of deformable seal ring 12 .
- Securing means 16 has an outer side wall 24 and outer lip 26 for complementarily engaging a relatively thin inner portion 32 of deformable seal ring 12 .
- Seal ring 12 has a relatively thick portion 34 located between thin portions 30 and 32 . Thick portion 34 is generally parabolic-shaped and it is sized to extend above the lips of both door 14 and securing means 16 for sealing engagement with the surface (i.e.
- seal ring 12 results in the requirement for only a relatively minor compressive force in order to form an effective seal under high vacuum. Much more force would be required if seal ring 12 were an O-ring.
- securing means 16 is shown as a solid disk or wedge in the figures, one skilled in the art would readily recognize that the securing means could equally be a continuous ring, a non-continuous ring, or a series of brackets. Such alternate embodiments are contemplated in this invention.
- Securing means 16 is reversibly attached to door 14 by fastening means 28 .
- Fastening means 28 may include bolts (as shown in FIG. 2 ), screws, pins, adhesives, etc. Such alternative embodiments are included in the present invention.
- the number and location of fastening means required to adequately attach securing means 16 to door 14 depends upon the shape and size of the securing means and may be readily determined by the skilled practitioner.
- second seal 36 may be used with fastening means 28 ( FIG. 3 ) to form an airtight seal between the fastening means and the door. This ensures that a vacuum leak does not occur due to poor mating between door 14 , seal ring 12 and securing means 16 .
- Second seal 36 may be a washer, 0 -ring, square gasket, or the like.
- Door 14 and securing means 16 can be fabricated from metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other non-deformable metal.
- the door and securing means may be made of the same material or of different material.
- Securing means 16 can also be made from polymers having either a modulus or a hardness much greater than that of the material used as the seal ring 12 .
- Polymers, useful for preparation of the securing means include, but are not limited to nylon, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether sulfone (PES), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimide, or an organic or inorganic composite.
- PEEK polyether ether ketone
- PES polyether sulfone
- PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
- the door and securing means are made of steel or aluminum, most preferably a stainless steel such as 316L, or anodized aluminum.
- Seal ring 12 may be fashioned out of elastomer (preferably) or other deformable material such as a thermoplastic resin (e.g. copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene) that is thermally stable and inert to the plasma which is employed in the chip manufacturing equipment.
- a thermoplastic resin e.g. copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene
- Suitable elastomers include silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, EPDM, copolymers of ethylene and an alpha olefin having at least four carbon atoms, and fluoroelastomers, including perfluoroelastomers.
- a perfluoroelastomer is the preferred elastomer.
- perfluoroelastomer copolymers comprising copolymerized units of tetrafluoroethylene and copolymerized units of a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) or a perfluoro(alkoxy vinyl ether). Such copolymers may also contain a minor amount (preferably less than 7 mole percent, based on the total number of moles of comonomers) of a cure site such as Br, I, CN, or H.
- Perfluoroelastomers have been extensively described in the prior art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,035,565; 4,281,092; 4,529,784; 4,487,903; 5,789,489; 5,936,060; 6,140,437; 6,211,319 B1 and 6,281,296 B1.
- Optional second seal 36 may be fashioned out of any of the materials mentioned above as suitable for seal ring 12 . However, since second seal 36 is never exposed to plasmas, it need not be made from expensive perfluoroelastomer or other plasma inert material.
- Worn seal ring 12 may easily be replaced in the present invention by the steps of a) disengaging fastening means 28 , b) removing securing means 16 , c) replacing the worn seal ring with a new seal ring, d) repositioning securing means 16 and e) engaging fastening means 28 .
- the new seal ring easily slides into the groove without twisting.
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) studies of 1) the valve seal assembly of the present invention in the embodiment of a slit valve and 2) the door seal assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,718 indicate that the door seal of the present invention has a higher contact pressure against the mating flange (while under the same compressive load) than does the U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,718 door seal assembly. This results in better vacuum sealing performance for the seal assembly of the present invention.
- the present valve seal assembly finds use in vacuum sealing applications, particularly in gate or slit valves and in pendulum valves utilized in the sealing of vacuum chambers in semiconductor chip manufacturing equipment.
- the invention is capable of alternative embodiments.
- the groove sidewall radius, seal ring width and the undercut geometry of the securing means may be adjusted. Accordingly the invention should not be strictly limited in scope to the preferred embodiments.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Gasket Seals (AREA)
- Sliding Valves (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a valve seal assembly for use in multi-chamber vacuum devices. The seal assembly comprises a door and a deformable seal ring running along the periphery of the door, wherein the seal ring is held in place by a reversibly mounted securing means such as a disk, ring or clamp.
Description
- This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/359,374, filed Feb. 6, 2003 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/346,833, filed Jan. 17, 2003 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/353,400, filed Jan. 31 2002.
- The present invention relates to a seal assembly for valves and in particular to a gate valve or pendulum valve seal assembly having a replaceable deformable seal ring, said assembly finding particular use in forming a seal between chambers in vacuum equipment employed in the semiconductor industry for chip manufacture.
- Integrated circuit (IC) chips are typically manufactured in multi-chambered vacuum equipment. Each chamber may contain a different environment, e.g. atmosphere, temperature, and pressure, than adjacent chambers. Chambers are typically isolated from each other by gate valves (or slit valves). Such valves may be utilized for moving semiconductor wafers from one chamber to another. In addition, pendulum valves may be employed to separate chambers from a vacuum source and for the feeding or exhausting of gases. In both gate valves and pendulum valves, sealing is affected by closing a sealing member, also referred to as a disk or door, portion of the valve. Generally, the door comprises a metal plate, sized and shaped for covering the opening within the valve, and a deformable seal, or O-ring, mounted on the sealing surface of the door, near its periphery. The deformable seal is typically made from an elastomeric or thermoplastic polymer.
- During use in the manufacture of IC chips, the deformable door seal is exposed to high temperatures and to corrosive plasmas. The latter conditions, coupled with repeated opening and closing of the door, causes the deformable seal ring to deteriorate and, eventually need to be replaced. Deformable seal replacement has been problematic.
- Early door designs featured a dovetail-shaped groove running along the periphery of the door sealing surface. The groove was used to hold a deformable O-ring seal or a modified (O-ring (U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,297). However, in use, the deformable seal ring could undesirably pop out of the groove when the gate valve door was opened. It could also be difficult and time consuming to install a replacement seal ring within the groove without damaging the seal.
- A more recent door design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,543 wherein the gate valve door comprises a mounting member and a seal plate attached thereto, wherein a deformable seal ring is mounted onto the outer surface of the seal plate. In this design, the deformable seal ring is preferably bonded, by molding in place, onto the seal plate. When it is desired to replace a worn deformable seal ring, the seal plate/deformable seal assembly is readily detached from the mounting member and discarded. A new seal plate/deformable seal assembly is then attached to the mounting member. This design has the economic and environmental disadvantage of not re-using the old seal plate.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,718 discloses a slit valve door having a removable O-ring seal that is held in place within a groove that is partially formed by the door and partially formed by a removable wedge insert. However, it may be difficult to install the O-ring seal in this door groove without twisting the O-ring. Twisting can cause premature seal failure.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve door having a securely mounted deformable seal element which may be quickly replaced when desired, without the need for replacing a large portion of the door and without damaging the seal element.
- The present invention is directed to a valve seal assembly for use in sealing an opening in a chamber employed in vacuum equipment, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
- Specifically an aspect of the invention is a valve seal assembly for use in vacuum chambers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, said valve assembly comprising:
- a) a door having a groove for receiving a seal ring, said groove formed on a sealing surface near a periphery of said door, and wherein a first portion of said groove is formed of a base, an outer sidewall and outer lip in said door;
- b) a securing means for holding a seal ring within said groove on said door, said securing means having an outer sidewall and lip which forms a second portion of said groove;
- c) fastening means for attaching said securing means to said door; and
- d) a deformable seal ring shaped and sized to complementarily fit within said groove, said seal ring comprising a first thin portion for complementarily engaging said first portion of said groove and a second thin portion for complementarily engaging said second portion of said groove, and said seal ring having a thick portion located between said first and second thin portions and sized to extend beyond said door lip.
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the seal assembly of this invention. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of the seal assembly of this invention taken along lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of another embodiment of the seal assembly of this invention taken along lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the valvedoor seal assembly 10 of this invention wherein adeformable seal ring 12 is mounted in a groove near the periphery of the sealing surface ofdoor 14 and held in place bysecuring means 16. By “sealing surface” is meant the surface of the door which covers the opening that is sealed when the valve is closed. -
FIG. 2 shows, in cross-section along 2-2, the door assembly of this invention.Seal ring 12 is reversibly mounted on thebase 18 of a groove on the sealing surface ofdoor 14. The groove has anouter side wall 20 and anouter lip 22 for complementarily engaging a relatively thinouter portion 30 ofdeformable seal ring 12. Securing means 16 has anouter side wall 24 andouter lip 26 for complementarily engaging a relatively thininner portion 32 ofdeformable seal ring 12.Seal ring 12 has a relativelythick portion 34 located betweenthin portions Thick portion 34 is generally parabolic-shaped and it is sized to extend above the lips of bothdoor 14 and securing means 16 for sealing engagement with the surface (i.e. mating flange) surrounding the opening in the valve (not shown). The shape ofseal ring 12 results in the requirement for only a relatively minor compressive force in order to form an effective seal under high vacuum. Much more force would be required ifseal ring 12 were an O-ring. - Although
securing means 16 is shown as a solid disk or wedge in the figures, one skilled in the art would readily recognize that the securing means could equally be a continuous ring, a non-continuous ring, or a series of brackets. Such alternate embodiments are contemplated in this invention.Securing means 16 is reversibly attached todoor 14 by fastening means 28. - Fastening means 28 may include bolts (as shown in
FIG. 2 ), screws, pins, adhesives, etc. Such alternative embodiments are included in the present invention. The number and location of fastening means required to adequately attach securing means 16 todoor 14 depends upon the shape and size of the securing means and may be readily determined by the skilled practitioner. Optionally,second seal 36 may be used with fastening means 28 (FIG. 3 ) to form an airtight seal between the fastening means and the door. This ensures that a vacuum leak does not occur due to poor mating betweendoor 14,seal ring 12 and securing means 16.Second seal 36 may be a washer, 0-ring, square gasket, or the like. -
Door 14 and securing means 16 can be fabricated from metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other non-deformable metal. The door and securing means may be made of the same material or of different material. Securing means 16 can also be made from polymers having either a modulus or a hardness much greater than that of the material used as theseal ring 12. Polymers, useful for preparation of the securing means include, but are not limited to nylon, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether sulfone (PES), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyimide, or an organic or inorganic composite. Preferably the door and securing means are made of steel or aluminum, most preferably a stainless steel such as 316L, or anodized aluminum. -
Seal ring 12 may be fashioned out of elastomer (preferably) or other deformable material such as a thermoplastic resin (e.g. copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene) that is thermally stable and inert to the plasma which is employed in the chip manufacturing equipment. Suitable elastomers include silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, EPDM, copolymers of ethylene and an alpha olefin having at least four carbon atoms, and fluoroelastomers, including perfluoroelastomers. For applications requiring seals that may be exposed to high temperatures, harsh chemicals or require very low extractables, a perfluoroelastomer is the preferred elastomer. By “perfluoroelastomer” is meant copolymers comprising copolymerized units of tetrafluoroethylene and copolymerized units of a perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) or a perfluoro(alkoxy vinyl ether). Such copolymers may also contain a minor amount (preferably less than 7 mole percent, based on the total number of moles of comonomers) of a cure site such as Br, I, CN, or H. Perfluoroelastomers have been extensively described in the prior art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,035,565; 4,281,092; 4,529,784; 4,487,903; 5,789,489; 5,936,060; 6,140,437; 6,211,319 B1 and 6,281,296 B1. - Optional
second seal 36 may be fashioned out of any of the materials mentioned above as suitable forseal ring 12. However, sincesecond seal 36 is never exposed to plasmas, it need not be made from expensive perfluoroelastomer or other plasma inert material. -
Worn seal ring 12 may easily be replaced in the present invention by the steps of a) disengaging fastening means 28, b) removing securing means 16, c) replacing the worn seal ring with a new seal ring, d) repositioning securing means 16 and e) engaging fastening means 28. The new seal ring easily slides into the groove without twisting. - Finite Element Analysis (FEA) studies of 1) the valve seal assembly of the present invention in the embodiment of a slit valve and 2) the door seal assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,718 indicate that the door seal of the present invention has a higher contact pressure against the mating flange (while under the same compressive load) than does the U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,718 door seal assembly. This results in better vacuum sealing performance for the seal assembly of the present invention.
- The present valve seal assembly finds use in vacuum sealing applications, particularly in gate or slit valves and in pendulum valves utilized in the sealing of vacuum chambers in semiconductor chip manufacturing equipment. Besides the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described in detail above, the skilled artisan will readily understand that the invention is capable of alternative embodiments. For example, in order to provide space for thermal expansion of the seal ring, the groove sidewall radius, seal ring width and the undercut geometry of the securing means may be adjusted. Accordingly the invention should not be strictly limited in scope to the preferred embodiments.
Claims (5)
1. A deformable seal ring shaped and sized to complementarily fit within a groove, said groove having a first sidewall and first lip overhanging said first sidewall, a base, a second sidewall and second lip overhanging said second sidewall, said seal ring comprising a first thin portion for complementarily engaging a first portion of said groove formed by said first sidewall, base and said first lip and a second thin portion for complementarily engaging a second portion of said groove formed by said second sidewall, base and second lip, and said seal ring having a thick portion located between said first and second thin portions and sized to extend beyond both said first and second sidewalls of said groove, said thick portion having a generally parabolic cross-section.
2. A deformable seal ring of claim 1 further comprising first and second portions of intermediate thickness located between said first and second thin portions and said thick portion.
3. A deformable seal ring of claim 1 wherein said first and second thin portions each have a generally rectangular cross-section.
4. A deformable seal ring of claim 1 fashioned from an elastomer selected from the group consisting of i) silicone rubber, ii) nitrile rubber, iii) hydrogenated nitrile rubber, iv) EPDM, v) copolymers of ethylene and an alpha olefin having at least four carbon atoms, and vi) fluoroelastomers.
5. A deformable seal ring of claim 2 wherein said fluoroelastomer is a perfluoroelastomer.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/960,799 US20050046123A1 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2004-10-07 | Valve seal assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US35340002P | 2002-01-31 | 2002-01-31 | |
US34683303A | 2003-01-17 | 2003-01-17 | |
US10/359,374 US6932354B2 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2003-02-06 | Valve seal assembly |
US10/960,799 US20050046123A1 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2004-10-07 | Valve seal assembly |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/359,374 Division US6932354B2 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2003-02-06 | Valve seal assembly |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050046123A1 true US20050046123A1 (en) | 2005-03-03 |
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ID=27668977
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US10/359,374 Expired - Fee Related US6932354B2 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2003-02-06 | Valve seal assembly |
US10/960,799 Abandoned US20050046123A1 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2004-10-07 | Valve seal assembly |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/359,374 Expired - Fee Related US6932354B2 (en) | 2002-01-31 | 2003-02-06 | Valve seal assembly |
Country Status (7)
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US (2) | US6932354B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1470351B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4149931B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100909332B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60312127T2 (en) |
TW (1) | TWI275724B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003064900A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
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US20040144044A1 (en) * | 2003-01-23 | 2004-07-29 | Cox Wesley O. | Mounting elements, mounting arrangements, and methods for mounting liners to structures in pools and spas |
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JP4430884B2 (en) * | 2003-04-14 | 2010-03-10 | 日本バルカー工業株式会社 | Sealing material for dovetail |
JP2005050728A (en) * | 2003-07-30 | 2005-02-24 | Nichias Corp | Rubber gasket for separator of fuel cell |
JP4499098B2 (en) * | 2004-02-27 | 2010-07-07 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Seal member |
KR100716041B1 (en) * | 2004-06-02 | 2007-05-09 | 어플라이드 머티어리얼스, 인코포레이티드 | Methods and apparatus for sealing a chamber |
US8648977B2 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2014-02-11 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for providing a floating seal having an isolated sealing surface for chamber doors |
US7282097B2 (en) * | 2004-06-14 | 2007-10-16 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Slit valve door seal |
KR101137725B1 (en) * | 2004-10-26 | 2012-04-24 | 주성엔지니어링(주) | Slot valve for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus |
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- 2003-01-29 WO PCT/US2003/002533 patent/WO2003064900A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2003-01-29 KR KR1020047011683A patent/KR100909332B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2003-01-29 JP JP2003564465A patent/JP4149931B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-01-30 TW TW092102193A patent/TWI275724B/en active
- 2003-02-06 US US10/359,374 patent/US6932354B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TW200302907A (en) | 2003-08-16 |
EP1470351B1 (en) | 2007-02-28 |
WO2003064900A1 (en) | 2003-08-07 |
TWI275724B (en) | 2007-03-11 |
KR20040079959A (en) | 2004-09-16 |
JP2005516169A (en) | 2005-06-02 |
US20030164596A1 (en) | 2003-09-04 |
KR100909332B1 (en) | 2009-07-24 |
EP1470351A1 (en) | 2004-10-27 |
DE60312127D1 (en) | 2007-04-12 |
JP4149931B2 (en) | 2008-09-17 |
DE60312127T2 (en) | 2007-11-15 |
US6932354B2 (en) | 2005-08-23 |
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Legal Events
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |