Patent ID: 8641014
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
1. A gate valve, comprising: a housing having first and second aligned openings formed therethrough, the openings sized to accommodate robotic transfer of a substrate; a base plate disposed in the housing and having a first side and a second side, the base plate movable between positions adjacent and clear of the openings; an inflatable biasing member retained on the first side of the plate and sized to surround the first opening, the inflatable biasing member configured to contact the housing when inflated; and a ring seal retained on the second side of the plate and sized to surround the second opening, wherein the inflatable biasing member and the ring seal are adapted to create a vacuum seal around the first and the second openings, respectively, when the inflatable biasing member is inflated, and wherein the inflatable biasing member does not extend inwardly of bounds of the first opening and the seal does not extend inwardly of the second opening.