Patent ID: 7628168
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An integrated gas stick coupled to an input manifold of a plasma processing center, the integrated gas stick controlling a flow of a process gas into the input manifold, comprising: a gas valve operatively coupled to the input manifold; a toggle arm configured to be disposed in one of a toggle activation position and a toggle deactivation position; a lockout mechanism coupled with the gas valve, the lockout mechanism being configured to prevent the toggle arm from being repositioned from the toggle deactivation position to the toggle activation position without bypassing a lock when the lock is employed with the lockout mechanism; a toggle operated switch coupled to the toggle arm; a pressure coupling for receiving compressed gas; an adapter fitting having a fitting top, a fitting bottom opposite the fitting top, and a fitting side orthogonal to both the fitting top and fitting bottom, the fitting side being coupled to the pressure coupling, the fitting top being coupled to the toggle operated switch, and the fitting bottom being coupled to the gas valve, the toggle arm being disposed on top of the toggle operated switch, wherein when the toggle arm is disposed in the toggle activation position, the toggle operated switch allows the compressed gas to reach the gas valve through the adapter fitting, thereby allowing the compressed gas when present to activate the gas valve in turn allowing the process gas to flow in the input manifold and alternatively allowing the compressed gas when absent to deactivate the gas valve in turn inhibiting the process gas from flowing in the input manifold, and when the toggle arm is in the toggle deactivation position, the toggle operated switch inhibits the compressed gas from reaching the gas valve through the adapter fitting, thereby enabling the toggle operated switch to indirectly inhibit the process gas from flowing in the manifold irrespective whether the compressed gas is provided.