Patent ID: 6347918
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: F16K,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A vacuum chamber comprising:an enclosure wall; a pocket machined in the enclosure wall having an inner pocket wall with an inner opening, and an outer pocket wall with an outer opening in line with the inner opening; a movable mechanism coupled within the pocket; a door assembly including: a door having: a frontplate adapted to sealingly engage the outer pocket wall to seal the outer opening; a backplate operatively coupled to the frontplate; and at least one inflatable member located between the frontplate and the backplate for selectively moving the frontplate into sealing engagement with the outer opening, the inflatable member comprising a vacuum grade member; the door assembly being mounted to the movable mechanism so as to move between a closed position wherein the door occludes the inner and the outer openings, and an open position wherein the door does not occlude the inner or the outer opening; a sealing plate different from the frontplate and the backplate and operatively coupled to the movable mechanism, the sealing plate being positioned so as to seal against the inner and outer walls of the pocket, thereby creating a gas tight region within the pocket and adjacent the inner and the outer openings; and a mechanism operatively connected to the gas tight region for supplying gas thereto.