Patent Description:
The invention relates to a sealing disc, and more particularly to a sealing disc for vacuum closure.

Traditional vacuum valves mostly use rubber elastic materials for sealing element commonly known as O-ring between a valve plate and a valve. Since the O-ring achieves the required sealing effect through pressing and deformation, the O-ring is only suitable for using in valves that do not require high sealability. Therefore, such sealing element cannot be applied to high vacuum systems and cannot be applied in high temperature environments.

Some high vacuum systems adopt all-metal valve instead of rubber sealing element; however, they form a sealing surface by abutting between two metal layers. Therefore, the applied closing force needs to increase as the number of valve opening and closing times increase, and their service lives will be shortened. In addition, the dimensional change of the metal layers due to heating or cooling will cause relative movement between the two metal layers and cause shear deformation, thereby destroying the sealing surface.

Patent document <CIT> disclosed a gate valve having a closure member mounted on a swinging arm pivotally mounted for movement transversely of the axis of the valve openings.

Patent document <CIT> disclosed a vacuum-tight closure assembly including a valve seat; a spreadable valve plate movable into a closed position for assuming a spreaded state in which it sealingly engages the valve seat; and a guide arrangement for a centered guiding of the valve plate during its motion into the closed position.

In view of the above, an object of the invention is to provide a sealing disc for vacuum closure, which can be applied to an ultra-high vacuum system to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

In order to achieve the foregoing object, the invention discloses a sealing disc for vacuum closure suitable for using in reciprocating movement to an open position or a closed position to open or seal a metallic valve port of a vacuum valve, the sealing disc at least comprising: a base, the base having a first surface; and a sealing plate, the sealing plate connecting around the base, wherein the sealing disc simultaneously bears a closing force applied from an inside of the vacuum valve and an atmospheric pressure applied from an outside of the vacuum valve in the closed position, so that a first sealing surface of the sealing plate directly abuts against a second sealing surface in the valve port of the vacuum valve, and the first sealing surface is capable of simultaneously rotating relative to the second sealing surface with the applied closing force and the atmospheric pressure to maintain vacuum closure of the valve port.

Preferably, the sealing plate is a bent plate, a corrugated plate, or an arcuate plate.

According to the invention, the sealing plate comprises: a first wing plate, the first wing plate is connected around the base at a first ring joint and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first ring joint at a first included angle relative to a ring surface of the first ring joint; and a second wing plate, the second wing plate is connected around the first wing plate at a second ring joint and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first surface of the base at a second included angle relative to the first wing plate, so that a third included angle is formed between the second wing plate and the ring surface of the first ring joint, wherein the first sealing surface is located on an end edge of the second wing plate.

Preferably, the closing force is directly applied to the second ring joint between the second wing plate and the first wing plate and the base at the same time.

Preferably, the closing force is directly applied to the base and indirectly applied to the sealing plate via the base.

According to the invention, an angle value of the first included angle is <NUM> degrees, an angle value of the third included angle is <NUM> degrees, and a sum of an angle value of the first included angle, an angle value of the second included angle, and an angle value of the third included angle is <NUM> degrees.

The base has a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is preferably provided with a positioning member for positioning the sealing disc relative to a position of the valve port of the vacuum valve during a process of assembling the sealing disc with the vacuum valve.

According to the invention, the first sealing surface of the sealing plate is an arc surface.

Preferably, the first sealing surface of the sealing plate is a surface treated with lubrication and polishing.

Preferably, the sealing plate is made of metal, and the vacuum valve is an all-metal valve.

Preferably, the sealing plate is made of metal, and the vacuum valve is an all-metal high-frequency shielded gate valve.

Preferably, the sealing plate is integrally connected around the base.

Preferably, the sealing plate is detachably connected around the base.

In order to achieve the foregoing object, the invention further discloses a sealing disc suitable for using in reciprocating movement to an open position or a closed position to open or seal a valve port of a valve, wherein an outer edge of a sealing plate of the sealing disc has a first sealing surface, in the closed position the sealing disc abuts against a second sealing surface in the valve port of the valve with the first sealing surface, and the first sealing surface of the sealing plate is capable of rotatably abutting against the second sealing surface with an applied force to seal the valve port, wherein the sealing plate is a bent plate, a corrugated plate, or an arcuate plate.

The sealing plate comprises: a first wing plate, the first wing plate is connected around a base at a first ring joint and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first ring joint at a first included angle relative to a ring surface of the first ring joint; and a second wing plate, the second wing plate is connected around the first wing plate at a second ring joint and extends outwardly in a direction away from a first surface of the base at a second included angle relative to the first wing plate, so that a third included angle is formed between the second wing plate and the ring surface of the first ring joint, wherein the first sealing surface is located on an end edge of the second wing plate.

Preferably, the base is connected to a carrier, and a closing force is applied to the second ring joint connecting between the second wing plate and the first wing plate and/or the base via the carrier.

An angle value of the first included angle is <NUM> degrees, an angle value of the third included angle is <NUM> degrees, and a sum of an angle value of the first included angle, an angle value of the second included angle, and an angle value of the third included angle is <NUM> degrees.

Preferably, the sealing plate is made of metal, and the valve is a vacuum valve.

Preferably, the valve is an all-metal vacuum valve.

In summary, the sealing disc for vacuum closure of the invention has the following advantages:.

In order to enable the examiner to have a further understanding and recognition of the technical features of the invention and the technical efficacies that can be achieved, preferred embodiments in conjunction with detailed explanation are provided as follows.

In order to understand the technical features, content and advantages of the invention and its achievable efficacies, the invention is described below in detail in conjunction with the figures, and in the form of embodiments, the figures used herein are only for a purpose of schematically supplementing the specification, and may not be true proportions and precise configurations after implementation of the invention; and therefore, relationship between the proportions and configurations of the attached figures should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims of the invention in actual implementation. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, the same elements in the following embodiments are indicated by the same referenced numbers.

A sealing disc for vacuum closure of the invention is suitable for using in reciprocating movement to an open position or a closed position to open or seal a valve port of a vacuum valve. The vacuum valve applicable to the invention is an all-metal valve, such as an all-metal high-frequency shielded gate valve, and a vacuum degree thereof can reach ultra-high vacuum grade, which is used to illustrate the high sealability and structural strength of the sealing disc of the invention. However, the vacuum valve applicable to the invention is not limited to gate valve, but can also be angle valve, pendulum valve, or various types of valves. The aforementioned vacuum valve can be, for example, a metallic valve, that is, a valve made of metal material, and preferably an all-metal valve, wherein the valve port is preferably made of metal material. The sealing disc of the invention can also be applied to valves of various materials according to actual usage, so it is not limited to metal valves. The sealing disc of the invention can be, for example, a single-sided sealing type or a double-sided sealing type. Take the single-sided sealing type as an example, which includes a sealing plate and a base integrally connected with each other. The sealing disc of the invention can also be a double-sided sealing type, which is composed of a sealing plate.

In detail, as shown in <FIG>, a preferred embodiment of the invention takes a sealing disc of a single-sided sealing type as an example. A sealing disc <NUM> of the invention is suitable for opening or sealing a valve port <NUM> of a vacuum valve <NUM>. The vacuum valve <NUM> can be, for example, but not limited to, an all-metal high-frequency shielded gate valve. The sealing disc <NUM> of the invention includes a base <NUM> and a sealing plate <NUM> that are integrally connected. Materials of the base <NUM> and the sealing plate <NUM> are, for example, but not limited to, metal materials such as stainless steel or spring steel. A first surface <NUM> of a first side of the base <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> is used to connect with a carrier <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> is, for example, an arm or a bracket connected to a driving element (not shown in the figures) of the vacuum valve <NUM>, so as to reciprocatively move the sealing disc <NUM> to an open position or a closed position to open or seal the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM>; however, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the invention can omit the carrier <NUM>, that is, the sealing disc <NUM> can be selectively directly connected to the driving element of the vacuum valve <NUM>. In addition, the carrier <NUM> can also be, for example, a component of the driving element of the vacuum valve <NUM>. An outer shape of the base <NUM> is, for example, but not limited to, a cylinder. A type of the carrier <NUM> can be, for example, but not limited to, a connecting member such as a carrier plate, a shaft or a connecting rod that can be connected to the sealing disc <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> can be connected to a first surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> by means of screw connection, so the first surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> can have, for example, but not be limited to, one screw hole <NUM> or a plurality of screw holes <NUM>. A depth of the screw hole <NUM> preferably does not penetrate the base <NUM>. In addition, a surface of the carrier <NUM> can be penetrated with a corresponding number of screw holes (not shown in the figures). Taking the carrier <NUM> as a carrier plate as an example, the carrier <NUM> preferably has an accommodating groove <NUM> for accommodating the first side of the base <NUM>. A surface of the accommodating groove <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> preferably contacts the first surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

In addition, a second side of the base <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> has a second surface <NUM> opposite to the first surface <NUM>. The second surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> can optionally have a positioning member <NUM>, such as but not limited to a positioning groove. If the second surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> has the positioning member <NUM>, a tool such as a jig to position the sealing disc <NUM> relative to a position of the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM> can be, for example, inserted into the positioning member <NUM> during a process of assembling the sealing disc <NUM> with the vacuum valve <NUM>. For example, a central axis of the positioning member <NUM> is preferably the same as a central axis of the base <NUM> and the sealing disc <NUM>. When the sealing disc <NUM> seals the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM>, the central axis of the sealing disc <NUM> is, for example, coaxially aligned with a central axis of the valve port <NUM>.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing plate <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> is integrally connected around a side edge of the first side or a side edge of the second side of the base <NUM>, and the sealing plate <NUM> is preferably integrally connected around the side edge of the second side of the base <NUM>. The sealing plate <NUM> has a first sealing surface <NUM>, and the first sealing surface <NUM> is located at an outer edge of the sealing plate <NUM>. The valve port <NUM> has a second sealing surface <NUM> preferably located at an inner side of the valve port <NUM>. In terms of appearance, a cross-sectional shape of the sealing plate <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> is a bent plate, capable of enhancing structural strength and rigidity, and also enhancing structural toughness, so that the sealing disc <NUM> becomes a toughened structure that simultaneously retains strength and rigidity.

When the sealing disc <NUM> of the invention is applied to vacuum closure, the sealing disc <NUM> of the invention can not only withstand a closing force F applied to the sealing disc <NUM> from an inside of the vacuum valve <NUM>, but also withstand an atmospheric pressure applied to the sealing disc <NUM> from an outside of the vacuum valve <NUM> when the vacuum valve <NUM> is in a vacuum state. The higher a vacuum degree of the vacuum valve <NUM>, the higher the aforementioned closing force F and the atmospheric pressure. For example, if the sealing disc <NUM> is made of stainless steel with a thickness of about <NUM>, the closing force F that can be withstood can reach about <NUM>, and when the vacuum valve <NUM> is vacuumed, a vacuum degree can reach about <NUM>×<NUM>-<NUM> torr. Since the invention can be applied to an all-metal high-frequency shielded gate valve installed in an electron beam channel of a superconducting accelerator, it is obviously that various functions and indicators of the sealing disc <NUM> of the invention, such as airtightness, cleanliness and structural strength surely meet the specification requirements of ultra-high vacuum valve.

The sealing plate <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> of the invention includes a first wing plate <NUM> and a second wing plate <NUM> that are, for example, integrally connected. The first wing plate <NUM> and/or the second wing plate <NUM> can be, for example, a flat plate or a bent plate. Taking the flat plate as shown in the figures as an example, an inclination direction of the first wing plate <NUM> is different from that of the second wing plate <NUM>. The first wing plate <NUM> is annularly connected around the base <NUM> at a first ring joint <NUM> and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first ring joint <NUM> at a first included angle A1 relative to a ring surface of the first ring joint <NUM>. The second wing plate <NUM> is annularly connected around the first wing plate <NUM> at a second ring joint <NUM> and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> at a second included angle A2 relative to the first wing plate <NUM>, so that a third included angle A3 is formed between the second wing plate <NUM> and the ring surface of the first ring joint <NUM>, wherein the first sealing surface <NUM> is located on an end edge of the second wing plate <NUM>.

When the carrier <NUM> is connected to the first surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> and the closing force F is applied to the carrier <NUM>, the closing force F can be applied to the first surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and/or the sealing plate <NUM> via the carrier <NUM>, for example, so that the first sealing surface <NUM> of the sealing plate <NUM> abuts against the second sealing surface <NUM> in the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM> when the sealing disc <NUM> is in the closed position. Wherein the first sealing surface <NUM> is, for example, in line contact with the second sealing surface <NUM>. A surface form of the first sealing surface <NUM> is surface. The second sealing surface <NUM> can be, for example, but not limited to, an inclined surface, an arc surface, a semi-spherical surface or a spherical surface. When the sealing disc <NUM> enters the closed position from the open position, the first sealing surface <NUM> is capable of contacting the second sealing surface <NUM>, and even if the closing force F applied from the inside of the vacuum valve <NUM> causes the sealing disc <NUM> to slightly elastically deform, the first sealing surface <NUM> is capable of abutting against the second sealing surface <NUM> in a rotating manner (in a direction toward or away from the valve port <NUM>).

In addition, in the closed position, when a vacuum degree of the vacuum valve <NUM> becomes higher and higher as air is drawn out, the closing force F applied from the inside of the vacuum valve <NUM> will push the sealing disc <NUM> to the outside of the vacuum valve <NUM>, and the atmospheric pressure applied from the outside of the vacuum valve <NUM> will also push the sealing disc <NUM> toward the inside of the vacuum valve <NUM>. Even if the sealing plate <NUM> is slightly elastically deformed, the first sealing surface <NUM> is capable of rotatably abutting the second sealing surface <NUM> with the applied closing force F and atmospheric pressure. In other words, when the first sealing surface <NUM> of the sealing plate <NUM> directly abuts the second sealing surface <NUM> in the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM>, the arc first sealing surface <NUM> can be allowed to rotate relative to the second sealing surface <NUM>, and the first sealing surface <NUM> keeps abutting against the second sealing surface <NUM>, thereby constantly maintaining a vacuum sealability. Therefore, compensating movement and adjusting movement of the metallic sealing surfaces abutting against each other are capable of improving a vacuum sealability and prolonging a service lifetime, and avoiding abrasion caused by collision between metals.

Wherein an angle value of the first included angle A1 is <NUM> degrees; an angle value of the third included angle A3 is <NUM> degrees; a sum of an angle value of the first included angle A1, an angle value of the second included angle A2, and an angle value of the third included angle A3 is <NUM> degrees. Therefore, when the sealing disc <NUM> of the invention is applied to vacuum closure, the sealing plate <NUM> of the invention can not only withstand the closing force F applied to the carrier <NUM> from the inside of the vacuum valve <NUM>, but can also withstand the atmospheric pressure applied to the outside of the vacuum valve <NUM> after the vacuum valve <NUM> is vacuumed, and can also constantly maintain a vacuum sealability.

As shown in the figures, when the carrier <NUM> is connected to the sealing disc <NUM>, the carrier <NUM> can be connected to the base <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> preferably abuts against the sealing plate <NUM>, and preferably abuts against the second wing plate <NUM>, the second ring joint <NUM> of the first wing plate <NUM> and the base <NUM>, thereby when the closing force F is applied to the carrier <NUM>, the closing force F can be directly applied to the sealing plate <NUM> and the base <NUM> via the carrier <NUM> at the same time, so that the first sealing surface <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> directly abuts against the second sealing surface <NUM> of the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM> in the closed position. In addition, if the carrier <NUM> is not abutting the sealing plate <NUM>, the closing force F can be applied to the sealing plate <NUM> indirectly, for example, via the base <NUM>. A thickness of the first wing plate <NUM> is, for example, but not limited to, the same as a thickness of the second wing plate <NUM>. A projection length of the first wing plate <NUM> is, for example, but not limited to, the same as a projection length of the second wing plate <NUM>. The projection length of the first wing plate <NUM> is approximately <NUM> to <NUM> times the projection length of the second wing plate <NUM>. A projection length of the base <NUM> is approximately <NUM> to <NUM> times the projection length of the first wing plate <NUM>.

The first sealing surface <NUM> of the sealing plate <NUM> of the sealing disc <NUM> of the invention can be selectively subjected to mechanical processing procedures such as lubrication and polishing, preferably adopting dry polishing technology, such as dry blasting technology or fluid-jet polishing technology; by spraying abrasive particles to reduce surface roughness and increase lubricity, so that a surface roughness (Ra) is preferably less than about <NUM>, and more preferably less than about <NUM>. Wherein the invention is not limited to a type of specific polishing technology and a material of the abrasive particles, as long as the first sealing surface <NUM> has surface roughness and lubricity capable of vacuum sealing the valve port <NUM>, the first sealing surface <NUM> can be applied to the invention.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing disc <NUM> can also be a double-sided sealing type, for example. Compared with the single-sided sealing type sealing disc <NUM> of the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, differences between the other preferred embodiment and the above-mentioned preferred embodiment only lie in the double-sided sealing type sealing plate <NUM> having the first sealing surface <NUM> and a third sealing surface (not shown in the figures) at two sides respectively, wherein the first sealing surface <NUM> is used to rotatably seal the valve port <NUM> of the vacuum valve <NUM>, and the third sealing surface is used to, for example, rotatably or non- rotatably abut a fourth sealing surface (not shown in the figures) of the base <NUM>. That is, the double-sided sealing type sealing plate <NUM> of the other preferred embodiment is not integrally connected to the base <NUM>. Wherein a material and a form of the third sealing surface are, for example, the same as those of the first sealing surface <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A sealing disc (<NUM>) for vacuum closure suitable for using in reciprocating movement to an open position or a closed position to open or seal a metallic valve port (<NUM>) of a vacuum valve (<NUM>), the sealing disc at least comprising:
a base (<NUM>), the base having a first surface (<NUM>) and a second surface (<NUM>) opposite to the first surface; and
a sealing plate (<NUM>), the sealing plate connecting around the base (<NUM>), wherein the sealing disc is adapted to simultaneously bear a closing force applied from an inside of the vacuum valve (<NUM>) and an atmospheric pressure applied from an outside of the vacuum valve in the closed position, so that a first sealing surface (<NUM>) of the sealing plate is capable of rotatably abutting against a second sealing surface (<NUM>) in the valve port (<NUM>) of the vacuum valve with the closing force and the atmospheric pressure to maintain vacuum closure of the valve port, wherein the sealing plate is consisting of:
a first wing plate (<NUM>), the first wing plate is connected around the base (<NUM>) at a first ring joint (<NUM>) and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first ring joint at a first included angle (A1) relative to a ring surface of the first ring joint on the second surface (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>); and
a second wing plate (<NUM>), the second wing plate is connected around the first wing plate (<NUM>) at a second ring joint (<NUM>) and extends outwardly in a direction away from the first surface (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>) at a second included angle (A2) relative to the first wing plate, so that a third included angle (A3) is formed between the second wing plate and the ring surface of the first ring joint on the second surface (<NUM>) of the base, wherein the first sealing surface, which is an arc surface, is located on an end edge of the second wing plate
characterised in that,
an angle value of the first included angle (A1) is <NUM> degrees, an angle value of the third included angle (A3) is <NUM> degrees, and a sum of the angle value of the first included angle (A1), an angle value of the second included angle (A2), and the angle value of the third included angle is <NUM> degrees,
and in that
the projection length of the first wing plate (<NUM>) is approximately <NUM> to <NUM> times the projection length of the second wing plate (<NUM>) and the projection length of the base (<NUM>) is approximately <NUM> to <NUM> times the projection length of the first wing plate (<NUM>).