Patent ID: 11906087
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 10:
11. A method of fluidly connecting a first component to a second component, the method comprising:
connecting a first flange member having a first flat sealing surface to the first component, the first flat sealing surface extending from a radial inward edge of the first flange member to a radially outermost edge of the first flange member;
connecting a second flange member having a second flat sealing surface to the second component, the second flat sealing surface extending from a radial inward edge of the second flange member to a radially outermost edge of the second flange member;
arranging a hollow-metal gasket between the first flange member and the second flange member, wherein the hollow metal gasket includes a material that is chemically resistant to an alkali-metal and an inert metal coating;
arranging a spacer between the first flat sealing surface of the first flange member and the second flat sealing surface of the second flange member; and connecting the first flange member to the second flange member, wherein
the hollow-metal gasket forms a seal between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface, and wherein

the spacer defines a minimum distance between the first flange member and the second flange member, wherein:
the first flange member includes a first plurality of fastener openings, the second flange member includes a second plurality of fastener openings, wherein each fastener opening of the first plurality of fastener openings faces a fastener opening of the second plurality of fastener openings,
the flange joint comprises a plurality of fasteners for pressing the first flange member and the second flange member towards each other, wherein each fastener is disposed in a fastener opening of the first plurality of fastener openings and in a fastener opening of the second plurality of fastener openings, and
the plurality of fasteners are in contact with an exterior surface of the spacer.