US3780501A - Getter pumps - Google Patents

Getter pumps Download PDF

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Publication number
US3780501A
US3780501A US00197819A US3780501DA US3780501A US 3780501 A US3780501 A US 3780501A US 00197819 A US00197819 A US 00197819A US 3780501D A US3780501D A US 3780501DA US 3780501 A US3780501 A US 3780501A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
strip
getter
metal
heater
pump
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00197819A
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English (en)
Inventor
P Porta
M Zucchinelli
C Pisani
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SAES Getters SpA
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SAES Getters SpA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J7/00—Details not provided for in the preceding groups and common to two or more basic types of discharge tubes or lamps
    • H01J7/14—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
    • H01J7/18—Means for absorbing or adsorbing gas, e.g. by gettering

Definitions

  • a getter pump comprising a circular pleated strip of metal having a non-vaporative getter material attached to its surface and a heater coaxially disposed within said circular strip.
  • Sublimation pumps operating by evaporation of a gas reactive metal such as titanium are commonly used to produce or maintain vacuum in vessels such as electronic tubes.
  • a gas reactive metal such as titanium
  • Such sublimation pumps suffer from a number of disadvantages such as their low rate of gas sorption and the danger of creating short circuits within the electronic tube by depositing the active metal on insulating surfaces.
  • These sublimation pumps require elaborate control units, especially at high gas adsorption rates.
  • the reactive metal film which deposits on the inside walls of the vessels is prone to peel off, leaving loose particles in the vessel, which may cause short circuits and other problems.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway view of a getter pump of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the method of folding or pleating the strips employed in the present invention to carry a non-vaporable getter material
  • FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
  • a getter pump comprising a circular strip of metal which is preferably pleated and which has a non-vaporative getter material attached to its surface and a heater coaxially disposed within the circular strip.
  • a getter pump comprising a cylindrical housing 11 having therein a plurality of gas passages in the form of holes 12. Attached to the housing 11 by any convenient means, is a base 13, in the center of which is a hole through which passes a shaft 14. The shaft 14 also passes through an electrical and thermal insulator 15 upon which is wound a helical coil of a wire 16 of high electrical resistance, such as tungsten or tantalum. The wire 16 and insulator 15 together serve as a heater, the wire 16 being connected to a suitable source of power, not shown. The insulator 15 is fixedly held coaxially within the housing 11 by means of nut 17 and insulator 18.
  • each rod 19 is threaded throughout its length and carries nuts 20 and 21, which fixedly hold an arm 22 which is attached to retainer 23, the purpose and function of which is described below.
  • Each rod 19 also carries nuts 24 and 25 which fixedly hold spacer 26 annular shield 27 and flat shield 28 by means of a support 29.
  • the retainer 23 generally in the form of a sinusoidally curved strip, which holds in place a pleated strip in the form of an annular ring 30. Since the heater wire 16 is positioned coaxially with respect to the ring 30 even heating of the ring 30 is ensured.
  • the particular structure of the ring 30 is an important feature of the present invention and is best appreciated by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein a preferred method of formation of the ring 30 from a strip 31 is shown.
  • the strip 31 has a flat portion 32 and a pleated portion 33.
  • a powdered getter material 34 is attached to the central portion of the strip 31 and extends towards but terminates short of the edges 35 and 36 of the strip 31, leaving a margin of the strip 31 free of getter material 34.
  • the strip 31 contains a plurality of slits 37 which extend transversely across the strip 31 and into the getter free margin.
  • the annular ring 30 is formed by bending the flat portion 32 as shown in the pleated portion 33 to provide an annular ring 30 having a plurality of generally radially extending planar portions 38 with their adjacent outer extremities attached to one another via a small bridging attachment 39, which is free of getter material.
  • the inner extremities of alternate adjacent planar portions 38 are attached to each other via a similar bridging attachment.
  • the above described structure of the strip 31 permits pleating without bending any portion of the strip coated with getter material which might otherwise fall off in the form of undesirable particles.
  • the ring 30 composed of a pleated strip is an especially useful means of confirming a very large surface area for gas sorption to a relatively small volume.
  • the strip 31 can be of any suitable material, but is preferably a metal such as iron or stainless steel, which is softer than the getter material 34.
  • the getter material 34 can be any well known non-vaporative getter material, examples of which include, among others, zirconium, titanium, tantalum or niobium, as well as alloys of two or more of the above.
  • the preferred getter material 31 is an alloy of zirconium and aluminium containing the l to 40% Al, balance Zr and most preferably 84% Zr and 16% Al, available commercially as StlOl.
  • the getter material 34 is employed as a powder in order to have a high surface area to mass ratio facilitating gas sorption.
  • the powder is preferably one which passes through a US. standard screen of 270 mesh/inch.
  • the powder is attached to the strip 31 by any suitable means such as rolling or pressing which does not materially reduce the total surface area of the powder.
  • the pump 10 is placed in the tube or vessel to be evacuated and the wire 16 connected in series with a switch and a source of power not shown,
  • the vessel is then evacuated to the extent possible by any suitable means, such as a mechanical pump, a vac-ion pump, or a diffusion pump in order to conserve the pumping capacity of the pump 10.
  • the switch is closed, causing the wire 16 to heat. This heat is radiated to the strip 31 and the getter material 34 activating the getter material in -a known manner by driving previously adsorbed gases to the center of each particle of getter material leaving a fresh gas adsorptive surface. Power is supplied to the wire 16 such that the temperature of the getter material 34 is held at 600 to 900 and preferably 700 to 800C.
  • the getter material 34 is gas adsorptive at room temperature but the rate of gas adsorption can be increased by heating the getter material 34 as described above or more preferably at temperatures of 300 to 450 C to avoid the evolution of hydrogen, which is present in the getter material as a solid solution.
  • the getter material 34 remains gas adsorptive after heating is terminated and continues to sorb gases evolved during the life of the tube. Should an undesirable increase in gas pressure in the tube occur, it is only necessary to supply power to the wire 16 in order to reactivate the getter material 34. In this manner, a very high vacuum can be maintained in a vessel or tube throughout its life until thegetter material 34 becomes saturated with gases.
  • the getter pumps of the present invention find utility as supplements to vac-ion pumps and diffusion pumps and can be used to create and maintain a vacuum in continuously pumped vacuum syytems and in sorbed vacuum systems. These pumps can be permanently installed in klystron tubes and image intensifier tubes as so called appendage pumps.
  • a getter pump comprising a heater and a metallic strip having a particulate non-vaporable getter metal embedded in its surface, said strip being coaxially disposed around said heater.
  • a getter pump comprising a circular pleated strip of metal having a particulate non-vaporable getter metal embedded in its surface and a heater coaxially disposed within said circular strip.
  • a getter pump of claim 1 comprising:
  • a cylindrical housing having therein a plurality of gas passages.
  • At least one resistance heater axially positioned in said housing.
  • a getter pump comprising:
  • a pleated metallic strip having a particulate nonvaporable getter metal on at least one surface of the strip, said pleated strip being in the form of an annular ring having a plurality of generally radially extending planar portions wherein the outer extremities of adjacent planar portions are attached to each another and wherein the inner extremities of alternate adjacent planar portions are attached to each other.
  • a heater coaxially disposed within said ring.
  • Apparatus for use in a getter pump comprising:
  • said strip having a particulate non-vaporable getter metal on at least one surface of the strip, said getter metal terminating short of the edge, leaving a portion of the strip free of getter metal, said pleated strip being in the form of an annular ring having a plurality of generally radially extending planar portions wherein the outer extremities of adjacent planar portions are attached to each another via that portion of the strip free of getter metal and wherein the inner extremities of alternate adjacent planar portions are attached to each other via that portion of the strip free of getter metal.
  • a heater carried by said support, said heater being coaxially disposed within said ring.
  • a pleated metallicstrip for use in a getter pump having a particulate non-vaporable getter metal on at least one surface thereof, said getter metal terminating short of the edge leaving one portion of the strip free of getter metal, said pleated strip being in the form of an annular ring having a plurality of generally radially extending planar portions wherein the outer extremities of adjacent planar portions are attached to each another via that portion of the strip free of getter metal and wherein the inner extremities of alternate adjacent planar portions are attached to each other via that portion of the strip free of getter metal.
  • the getter pump of claim 10 wherein said getter metal is an alloy of 1 to 40% Al balance Zr.
  • a getter pump comprising a heater and a stationary strip of a first metal; particles of a non-vaporable getter metal embedded in the strip; wherein the getter metal is harder than the strip, said strip being axially disposed around the heater.
  • a getter pump comprising a heater and a metallic strip having a particulate non-vaporable getter metal embedded in its surface, said strip being folded along lines which are perpendicular to its length, said strip being formed into a ring the axis of which is parallel to the lines along which the strip is folded, said ring being coaxially disposed around said heater.

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  • Compressors, Vaccum Pumps And Other Relevant Systems (AREA)
US00197819A 1968-08-10 1971-11-11 Getter pumps Expired - Lifetime US3780501A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2004668 1968-08-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3780501A true US3780501A (en) 1973-12-25

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ID=11163382

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00197819A Expired - Lifetime US3780501A (en) 1968-08-10 1971-11-11 Getter pumps

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3780501A (enExample)
DE (1) DE1940137C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2016916A1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1280891A (enExample)
NL (1) NL163054C (enExample)

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3961897A (en) * 1973-10-01 1976-06-08 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Getter pump
US3981699A (en) * 1974-10-25 1976-09-21 Molitor Victor D Purifier
DE2747186A1 (de) * 1976-11-03 1978-05-18 Getters Spa Modulare getter-pumpe
US4146497A (en) * 1972-12-14 1979-03-27 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Supported getter
US4306887A (en) * 1979-04-06 1981-12-22 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Getter device and process for using such
US4334829A (en) * 1980-02-15 1982-06-15 Rca Corporation Sputter-ion pump for use with electron tubes having thoriated tungsten cathodes
US4492110A (en) * 1983-06-01 1985-01-08 Martin Marietta Corporation Ultra sensitive noble gas leak detector
US4515528A (en) * 1983-07-05 1985-05-07 General Electric Company Hydrocarbon getter pump
US4571158A (en) * 1983-09-09 1986-02-18 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Getter sorption pump with heat accumulator for high-vacuum and gas discharge systems
EP0146685A3 (de) * 1983-09-09 1986-10-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Getter-Sorptionspumpe mit Wärmespeicher für Hochvakuum- und Gasentladungsanlagen
US5154582A (en) * 1991-08-20 1992-10-13 Danielson Associates, Inc. Rough vacuum pump using bulk getter material
US5161955A (en) * 1991-08-20 1992-11-10 Danielson Associates, Inc. High vacuum pump using bulk getter material
US5320496A (en) * 1992-07-17 1994-06-14 Saes Getters Spa High-capacity getter pump
WO1996017171A3 (en) * 1994-12-02 1996-10-24 Saes Pure Gas Inc Getter pump module and system
US5685963A (en) * 1994-10-31 1997-11-11 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. In situ getter pump system and method
US5772404A (en) * 1995-07-10 1998-06-30 Saes Getters S.P.A. Compact getter pump with nested thermally insulating shields
US5911560A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-06-15 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. Getter pump module and system
US6109880A (en) * 1994-10-31 2000-08-29 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. Getter pump module and system including focus shields
US6142742A (en) * 1994-10-31 2000-11-07 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. Getter pump module and system
US20040051507A1 (en) * 2000-08-10 2004-03-18 Gabrys Christopher W. Long-life vacuum system for energy storage flywheels
CN104728075A (zh) * 2013-12-19 2015-06-24 北京有色金属研究总院 一种内加热型吸气剂元件和大抽速吸气剂泵
CN104728076A (zh) * 2013-12-23 2015-06-24 北京有色金属研究总院 一种新型结构的大抽速吸气剂泵
US20160069338A1 (en) * 2014-08-08 2016-03-10 Vaclab Inc. Non-evaporable getter and non-evaporable getter pump
EP2574785B1 (en) * 2011-09-28 2020-11-25 The Boeing Company Sublimation pump and method
US20250264093A1 (en) * 2022-08-01 2025-08-21 Saes Getters S.P.A. Snap-on getter pump assembly and its use

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2778485A (en) * 1953-04-27 1957-01-22 Gabbrielli Ernesto Vacuum tube getter body material
US2968361A (en) * 1958-05-12 1961-01-17 Gen Motors Corp Filters for gases
US2984314A (en) * 1957-11-22 1961-05-16 New York Air Brake Co Trapping device
US3167678A (en) * 1961-06-19 1965-01-26 Gen Electric Getter operating at various temperatures to occlude various gases
US3309010A (en) * 1964-02-10 1967-03-14 Varian Associates Getter ion vacuum pump
US3309844A (en) * 1963-11-29 1967-03-21 Union Carbide Corp Process for adsorbing gases

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2778485A (en) * 1953-04-27 1957-01-22 Gabbrielli Ernesto Vacuum tube getter body material
US2984314A (en) * 1957-11-22 1961-05-16 New York Air Brake Co Trapping device
US2968361A (en) * 1958-05-12 1961-01-17 Gen Motors Corp Filters for gases
US3167678A (en) * 1961-06-19 1965-01-26 Gen Electric Getter operating at various temperatures to occlude various gases
US3309844A (en) * 1963-11-29 1967-03-21 Union Carbide Corp Process for adsorbing gases
US3309010A (en) * 1964-02-10 1967-03-14 Varian Associates Getter ion vacuum pump

Cited By (38)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4146497A (en) * 1972-12-14 1979-03-27 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Supported getter
US3961897A (en) * 1973-10-01 1976-06-08 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Getter pump
US3981699A (en) * 1974-10-25 1976-09-21 Molitor Victor D Purifier
DE2747186A1 (de) * 1976-11-03 1978-05-18 Getters Spa Modulare getter-pumpe
US4137012A (en) * 1976-11-03 1979-01-30 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Modular getter pumps
US4306887A (en) * 1979-04-06 1981-12-22 S.A.E.S. Getters S.P.A. Getter device and process for using such
US4334829A (en) * 1980-02-15 1982-06-15 Rca Corporation Sputter-ion pump for use with electron tubes having thoriated tungsten cathodes
US4492110A (en) * 1983-06-01 1985-01-08 Martin Marietta Corporation Ultra sensitive noble gas leak detector
US4515528A (en) * 1983-07-05 1985-05-07 General Electric Company Hydrocarbon getter pump
US4571158A (en) * 1983-09-09 1986-02-18 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Getter sorption pump with heat accumulator for high-vacuum and gas discharge systems
EP0146685A3 (de) * 1983-09-09 1986-10-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Getter-Sorptionspumpe mit Wärmespeicher für Hochvakuum- und Gasentladungsanlagen
US5154582A (en) * 1991-08-20 1992-10-13 Danielson Associates, Inc. Rough vacuum pump using bulk getter material
US5161955A (en) * 1991-08-20 1992-11-10 Danielson Associates, Inc. High vacuum pump using bulk getter material
US5320496A (en) * 1992-07-17 1994-06-14 Saes Getters Spa High-capacity getter pump
US5324172A (en) * 1992-07-17 1994-06-28 Saes Getters S.P.A. High-capacity getter pump
RU2125619C1 (ru) * 1994-10-31 1999-01-27 Саес Пьюе Газ Инк. Система для обработки полупроводникового изделия (варианты), встроенный геттерный насос и способ обработки полупроводникового изделия
US6109880A (en) * 1994-10-31 2000-08-29 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. Getter pump module and system including focus shields
US6165328A (en) * 1994-10-31 2000-12-26 Saes Getters S.P.A. Method for processing wafers with in situ gettering
US6142742A (en) * 1994-10-31 2000-11-07 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. Getter pump module and system
US5879134A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-03-09 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. In situ getter pump system and method
US5911560A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-06-15 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. Getter pump module and system
US5972183A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-10-26 Saes Getter S.P.A Getter pump module and system
US5980213A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-11-09 Saes Getters S.P.A. Getter pump module and system
US5993165A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-11-30 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. In Situ getter pump system and method
US5997255A (en) * 1994-10-31 1999-12-07 Saes Getters S.P.A. Method for pumping a chamber using an in situ getter pump
US6043137A (en) * 1994-10-31 2000-03-28 Saes Getters S.P.A. Getter pump module and system
US5685963A (en) * 1994-10-31 1997-11-11 Saes Pure Gas, Inc. In situ getter pump system and method
WO1996017171A3 (en) * 1994-12-02 1996-10-24 Saes Pure Gas Inc Getter pump module and system
US5772404A (en) * 1995-07-10 1998-06-30 Saes Getters S.P.A. Compact getter pump with nested thermally insulating shields
US20040051507A1 (en) * 2000-08-10 2004-03-18 Gabrys Christopher W. Long-life vacuum system for energy storage flywheels
US7053589B2 (en) * 2000-08-10 2006-05-30 Gabrys Christopher W Long-life vacuum system for energy storage flywheels
EP2574785B1 (en) * 2011-09-28 2020-11-25 The Boeing Company Sublimation pump and method
CN104728075A (zh) * 2013-12-19 2015-06-24 北京有色金属研究总院 一种内加热型吸气剂元件和大抽速吸气剂泵
CN104728075B (zh) * 2013-12-19 2017-02-08 北京有色金属研究总院 一种内加热型吸气剂元件和大抽速吸气剂泵
CN104728076A (zh) * 2013-12-23 2015-06-24 北京有色金属研究总院 一种新型结构的大抽速吸气剂泵
US20160069338A1 (en) * 2014-08-08 2016-03-10 Vaclab Inc. Non-evaporable getter and non-evaporable getter pump
US9945368B2 (en) * 2014-08-08 2018-04-17 Vaclab Inc. Non-evaporable getter and non-evaporable getter pump
US20250264093A1 (en) * 2022-08-01 2025-08-21 Saes Getters S.P.A. Snap-on getter pump assembly and its use

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1280891A (en) 1972-07-05
DE1940137B2 (de) 1977-10-27
DE1940137A1 (de) 1970-02-12
DE1940137C3 (de) 1978-06-22
NL6911978A (enExample) 1970-02-12
FR2016916A1 (enExample) 1970-05-15
NL163054B (nl) 1980-02-15
NL163054C (nl) 1980-07-15

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