Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6517087?dq=%22robert+sheehan%22
Timestamp: 2014-11-28 13:40:55
Document Index: 332806659

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 9292023', 'arts 10', 'art 10', 'art 11', 'art 10', 'art 11', 'art 11']

Patent US6517087 - High pressure seal - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA seal is formed between two parts of a high pressured chamber by means of a rigid ring, which is formed with curved surfaces, that engage with an anvil and an enclosure part, the anvil having a similar curved projection. At least one of the engaging surfaces is coated with a soft metal e.g. silver....http://www.google.com/patents/US6517087?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6517087 - High pressure sealAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6517087 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/901,615Publication dateFeb 11, 2003Filing dateJul 11, 2001Priority dateAug 1, 1996Fee statusPaidAlso published asCN1226956A, DE19781887B4, DE19781887T0, DE19781887T1, US6279917, US20010042963, WO1998005888A1Publication number09901615, 901615, US 6517087 B2, US 6517087B2, US-B2-6517087, US6517087 B2, US6517087B2InventorsAndrew Isaac Jeffryes, Robert Kenneth TrowellOriginal AssigneeTrikon Equipments LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Classifications (8), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetHigh pressure sealUS 6517087 B2Abstract A seal is formed between two parts of a high pressured chamber by means of a rigid ring, which is formed with curved surfaces, that engage with an anvil and an enclosure part, the anvil having a similar curved projection. At least one of the engaging surfaces is coated with a soft metal e.g. silver.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/214,492, filed Jul. 30, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,917 granted Aug. 28, 2001, which is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/GB97/01963, filed Jul. 18, 1997. The entire contents of said U.S. application are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to high pressure seals and in particular, but not exclusively, when such seals are being formed between two rigid elements.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION There are a number of occasions in which it is necessary to form seals between two engaging metal faces which are being pressed together, but which are subject to significant fluid pressure which is acting in a sense to urge them apart. It is often desirable that these seals are made and remade over a large number of cycles. Previous seals have used a grease such as a silicone based vacuum grease to lubricate the wear surfaces. Such grease is also used when O-rings are provided. In certain instances this grease is undesirable, because cleaning and regreasing can be needed on a regular basis causing down time of apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION From one aspect the present invention consists in a vacuum or high pressure reusable seal formed between two engaging parts of rigid elements comprising, a coating of a soft metal over at least one of the engaging parts and means for using the parts together. The rigid elements may be formed of steel or aluminum.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus will not be described in detail, but instead the disclosure of European Patent Application No. 9292023.4 is incorporated for that purpose. However, essentially, two enclosure parts 10, and 11, are forced together to form a chamber 12 between them in which semiconductor wafers are processed. As can be seen in FIG. 2 five sealing interfaces occur between the enclosure part 10 and the enclosure part 11. The first seal is formed between a gasket 16 and the upper enclosure part 10. A rigid ring 13 forms seals with the gasket 16 and, at 15, with an anvil 14. The anvil 14 is secured to the lower enclosure part 11 and uses an O-ring to provide a seal between the anvil and the enclosure part 11.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3163431 *Jun 6, 1960Dec 29, 1964Tanner Charles LSeal ring meansUS4261584 *Nov 19, 1979Apr 14, 1981International Business Machines CorporationHermetic sealUS4477087 *Jul 20, 1983Oct 16, 1984Sutter Jr Leroy VFor use in sealing a gas laser systemUS5247800 *Jun 3, 1992Sep 28, 1993General Electric CompanyThermal connector with an embossed contact for a cryogenic apparatusUS5376213 *Jul 28, 1993Dec 27, 1994Tokyo Electron LimitedEtching reactor having cryogenic coolant hermetically sealed between wafer support and cooling blocks; improved heat exchangingUS5380019 *Jul 1, 1992Jan 10, 1995Furon CompanySpring sealUS5459609 *Sep 1, 1993Oct 17, 1995Schrag; Grant M.Hermetically sealed optical mounting assemblyUS6027145 *Oct 4, 1995Feb 22, 2000Nippon Steel CorporationJoint for steel pipe having high galling resistance and surface treatment method thereofJPS57167568A * Title not availableWO1993008591A1 *Oct 22, 1992Apr 29, 1993Electrotech LtdProcessing system* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification277/650, 277/654, 277/942, 277/644International ClassificationF16J15/08Cooperative ClassificationY10S277/942, F16J15/0806European ClassificationF16J15/08BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 11, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Sep 2, 2010SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 7Sep 2, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8May 9, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: UNITED COMMERCIAL BANK, CALIFORNIAFree format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVIZA TECHNOLOGY, INC.;AVIZA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:019265/0381Effective date: 20070413Aug 11, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google