Patent Description:
Usually a valve is disposed between a vacuum pump and a recipient or a vacuum chamber. Upon stop of operating of the vacuum pump the valve is closed to maintain the vacuum inside the vacuum chamber and second to avoid that lubricant is drawn by the vacuum from the vacuum pump into the vacuum chamber and contaminate the vacuum chamber.

Known valves are butterfly valves. However, these valves suffer from an extreme wear of the seal resulting from the rotating movement of the valve disc in the butterfly valve. Further, compressed air is required to control such butterfly valve according to the prior art.

Further, most of the known return valves do not open completely at low inlet pressures resulting in a high pressure drop and resulting in performance drops. Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a valve which is less complex and does not need pressurized air to be controlled.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose example valves forming the state of the art. Each of the prior art documents discloses systems including a valve, a first housing element, a second housing element, an outer chamber, first and second inner chambers, a membrane, a sealing element and in some cases also one <NUM>-way valve.

The above given problem is solved by a vacuum apparatus in accordance with claim <NUM>.

The vacuum apparatus in accordance to the present invention comprises a valve with a first housing element and a second housing element connected with the first housing element. The first housing element and the second housing element defining an outer chamber. Further, the first housing element has a first opening that can be connected to a vacuum chamber and the second housing element has a second opening that can be connected to vacuum pump. First opening and second opening are in fluid communication via the outer chamber to allow a gaseous medium to flow from the first opening to the second opening and vice versa through the valve if the valve is in an open state. Further, an inner chamber is defined by the first housing element and the second housing element wherein a membrane is disposed in the inner chamber dividing the inner chamber in a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber. A sealing element is connected to the membrane wherein the sealing element is moveable in conjunction with the membrane or movement of the membrane from a first position to a second position. In the first position the sealing element closes the first opening in a leaktight or vacuum tight manner. In the second position the sealing element opens the first opening to allow a gaseous medium to flow through the valve. Due to movement of the membrane the sealing element is moved from a first position corresponding to a closed valve to a second position corresponding to an open valve. No pressurized air is necessary in order to move the membrane within the inner chamber. While the outer chamber defines a chamber through which the gaseous medium is flowing between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum pump the inner chamber comprising a membrane is utilized in order to control the state of the valve.

The inner chamber is at least partially and more preferably completely surrounded by the outer chamber. This might have the advantage of compact design.

The first opening and the second opening are arranged on one axis. Thus, the gaseous medium can easily flow through the valve. In particular the first opening and the second opening are not arranged for example in an angled configuration reducing thereby the vacuum conductivity.

The second inner chamber is connected to the vacuum and the first inner chamber is connected to a higher pressure or atmosphere or ambient pressure to move the sealing element from the first position into the second position. Due to the pressure difference between the second inner chamber and the first inner chamber the membrane in the inner chamber is moving and thereby moving the sealing element to the second position. Hence, during operation, when the vacuum pump has created sufficient lower pressure the membrane and together with the membrane the sealing element moves into the second position and the valve opens.

A first channel is connecting the second inner chamber to the region of low pressure preferably of the valve. More preferably, the first channel is connected to the second housing element. If the vacuum pump is running, a vacuum is created in the region of the second housing element. More preferably, the first channel is connected to the outer chamber. Then, by the first channel the second inner chamber is connected to the region of low pressure or vacuum.

A first <NUM>-way valve is disposed in the first channel. The <NUM>-way valve is connected by the first channel to the second inner chamber and can selectively connect the second inner chamber either to the region of low pressure or to atmosphere or ambient pressure. Thus, by the <NUM>-way valve the second inner chamber is switchable between low pressure or vacuum, thereby moving the sealing element in the second position, or atmosphere pressure thereby moving the sealing element into the first position, i.e. closing the valve. Thus, by controlling the first <NUM>-way valve, the valve can be completely controlled. No further energy such as pressurized air is necessary.

A second channel is connecting the first inner chamber to atmosphere or ambient pressure. Thus, by the first inner chamber atmosphere or ambient pressure can be applied to the first inner chamber to create a pressure difference with the second inner chamber to move the sealing element.

Preferably, a second <NUM>-way valve is disposed in the second channel selectively connecting the first inner chamber to atmosphere or ambient pressure or to a region of low pressure, i.e. vacuum. More preferably, the <NUM>-way valve is able to selectively the first inner chamber to the second housing element and/or the outer chamber.

Further, a vacuum pump is connected to the second opening of the valve and a vacuum chamber is connected to the first opening of the valve. Thus, by the valve it is possible to separate the vacuum pump from the vacuum chamber upon stop of operation of the vacuum pump to maintain the vacuum inside the vacuum chamber.

Preferably, the first <NUM>-way valve is a solenoid valve and preferably a normally closed solenoid valve. Alternatively or additionally the second <NUM>-way valve is a solenoid valve and more preferably a normally closed solenoid valve.

Preferably, the diameter of the sealing element is smaller than the diameter of the first opening. Thus, the sealing element can be assembled to the membrane before connecting the first housing element to the second housing element.

Preferably, the membrane is fixed between the first housing element and the second housing element.

Preferably, the sealing element seals the first opening against a flange connectable to the first opening. Preferably, the flange is a flange of the vacuum chamber connected to the first opening of the valve.

Preferably, a spring is connected to the sealing element. The spring constant of the spring is adapted to compensate only for the mass of the sealing element. Thus, the spring is not configured to counteract any pressure difference of the first inner chamber and second inner chamber. Thus, no large spring forces are present in the valve simplifying assembly of the valve and service. More preferably, the spring constant of the spring is between <NUM> to <NUM> N/mm, and even more preferably between <NUM> to <NUM> N/mm.

Preferably, no pressurized air is used to open and close the valve i.e. moving the sealing element from the first position to the second position and/or from the second position to the first position.

Further, the vacuum apparatus comprises a control unit wherein the first <NUM>-way valve is connected to the control unit. The control unit is configured to connect the second inner chamber with the low-pressure region by the first <NUM>-way valve to move the sealing element into the second position if the pressure of the low-pressure region is below the pressure in the first inner chamber. Thus, upon operation of the vacuum pump the low-pressure region preferably inside the outer chamber has a pressure below atmosphere or ambient pressure. Thus, by connecting the second inner chamber with the low-pressure region the sealing element is forced into the second position due to the pressure difference.

Preferably, the control unit is configured to connect the second inner chamber with atmosphere by the first <NUM>-way valve to move the sealing element into the first position. This is irrespective of the pressure in the low-pressure region during the normal operation of the valve since then the first inner chamber is connected to atmosphere or ambient pressure. If the second inner chamber is now connected to atmosphere by the control unit controlling the first <NUM>-way valve, the sealing element is moved into the first position.

Preferably, the control unit is connected to the second <NUM>-way valve and further configured to connect the first inner chamber with the low-pressure region by the second <NUM>-way valve while the second inner chamber is connected to atmosphere by the first <NUM>-way valve to keep the sealing element in the first position even if pressure in the low-pressure region is below atmosphere. This situation can be used to purge the vacuum pump, i.e. running the vacuum pump without pumping to increase the temperature of the vacuum pump to purge the vacuum pump.

In the following the present invention is described by the accompanied figure.

The figure shows an embodiment of the present invention.

The valve <NUM> in accordance to the present invention comprises a first housing element <NUM> and a second housing element <NUM> connected to each other. By the first housing element <NUM> and the second housing element <NUM> an outer chamber <NUM> is defined. Further, the first housing element <NUM> comprises a first opening <NUM> and the second housing element <NUM> comprises a second opening <NUM>. The first opening <NUM> is in fluid communication with the second opening <NUM> via the outer chamber <NUM>. Thereby the first opening <NUM> can be connected to a vacuum chamber by a flange and the second opening <NUM> can be connected to a vacuum pump. Thus, the pressure in the outer chamber <NUM> mainly equates to the pressure at the inlet of the vacuum pump connected to the second opening <NUM>.

By the first housing element <NUM> and the second housing element <NUM> an inner chamber <NUM> is defined. Between the first housing element <NUM> and the second housing element <NUM> a membrane <NUM> is attached separating the inner chamber <NUM> into a first inner chamber <NUM> (in the shown figure above the membrane <NUM>) and a second inner chamber <NUM> (in the shown figure below the membrane <NUM>).

A sealing element <NUM> is connected with the membrane <NUM> wherein the sealing element <NUM> comprises a sealing disk. The sealing element <NUM> further comprises a shaft <NUM> connecting the disk of the sealing element <NUM> with the membrane <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> moves in connection with movement of the membrane <NUM>. Thus, the sealing element <NUM> can be moved from a first position to a second position. In the first position the sealing element closes the first opening <NUM>. In a second position as shown in the figure, the first opening <NUM> is open and a gaseous medium can flow through the valve <NUM>.

With the shaft <NUM> of the sealing element <NUM> a spring <NUM> is connected. The spring <NUM> is a weak spring only adapted to compensate for the mass of the sealing element <NUM> (including the shaft <NUM> and the sealing disk) to maintain the sealing element <NUM> in the first position if no pressure difference is present between the first inner chamber <NUM> and the second inner chamber <NUM>.

Further, in the embodiment showing in the figure a first <NUM>-way valve <NUM> and a second <NUM>-way valve <NUM> is connected to the valve <NUM>. In particular, the second inner chamber <NUM> can be connected by the first <NUM>-way valve <NUM> either to atmosphere <NUM> or to the low-pressure region inside the valve. Further, the first inner chamber <NUM> can be connected by the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM> either to atmosphere <NUM> or to the low-pressure region of the outer chamber <NUM>. In an alternative embodiment only the first <NUM>-way valve <NUM> is used while the first inner chamber <NUM> is directly connected to the atmosphere <NUM> without the possibility to connect the first inner chamber <NUM> to the low-pressure region of the outer chamber <NUM> by the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM>. Thus, this embodiment only uses the first <NUM>-way valve and avoiding the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM>.

The valve functions as follows: during normal operation by the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM> the first inner chamber <NUM> is connected to atmosphere <NUM>. At the beginning also the second inner chamber <NUM> is connected by the first <NUM>-way valve <NUM> to atmosphere <NUM>. Thus, no pressure difference exists between the first inner chamber <NUM> and the second inner chamber <NUM>. Thus, by the spring <NUM> the sealing element <NUM> is forced into the first position sealing the first opening. In particular if a vacuum chamber is connected to the first opening <NUM> wherein in the vacuum chamber a low pressure vacuum exists, the sealing element <NUM> is forced into the first position by the pressure difference between the pressure in the vacuum chamber and the pressure in the outer chamber <NUM>. Thus, for start of operation the second inner chamber <NUM> is connected to the low-pressure region of the outer chamber <NUM> by the first <NUM>-way valve <NUM>. However, due to the pressure difference between the vacuum chamber connected to the first opening <NUM> and the pressure in the outer chamber <NUM> the sealing element <NUM> still remains in the first position. Then the vacuum pump connected to the second opening <NUM> is started and the outer chamber <NUM> is evacuated. If then the pressure difference between the vacuum chamber and the outer chamber is almost the same the sealing element <NUM> is forced into the second position or due to the pressure difference between the first inner chamber <NUM> and the second inner chamber <NUM>. As stated above during normal operation the first inner chamber <NUM> is at atmosphere pressure while the second inner chamber <NUM> is at the pressure of the outer chamber <NUM> which is lowered due to evacuation by the vacuum pump connected to the second opening <NUM>. Then the sealing element is positioned in the second position opening the first opening <NUM> and thus a gaseous medium from the vacuum chamber connected to the first opening <NUM> can flow directly through the valve and through the second opening <NUM> towards the vacuum pump connected to the second opening <NUM>. Before stop of the vacuum pump the second inner chamber <NUM> is then connected by the first <NUM>-way valve <NUM> to atmosphere <NUM>. Thus, there is no pressure difference between the first inner chamber <NUM> and the second inner chamber <NUM>. Due to the spring <NUM> the sealing element <NUM> is forced into the first position sealing the first opening <NUM>. Upon venting of the vacuum pump or if the outer chamber <NUM> is vented and due to the vacuum and the vacuum chamber connected to the first opening <NUM> the sealing element is then forced to stay in the first position.

If it is necessary to purge the vacuum pump, i.e. let the vacuum pump run with closed inlet being closed by the present valve, the functionality of the valve is reversed by the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM>. Thus, if the sealing element is in the first position and upon start of the vacuum pump the first inner chamber <NUM> is connected by the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM> to the low-pressure region of the outer chamber <NUM>. At the same time the second inner chamber <NUM> is connected by the first <NUM>-way valve <NUM> to atmosphere. Since at the beginning there is no pressure difference between the first inner chamber <NUM> and the second inner chamber <NUM> the sealing element <NUM> remains in the first position by the pressure difference between the vacuum chamber connected to the first opening <NUM> and the outer chamber <NUM>. During operation of the vacuum pump the outer chamber <NUM> is evacuated and a vacuum starts to build up. Thus, by the second <NUM>-way valve <NUM> a vacuum is generated in the first inner chamber <NUM> while at the second inner chamber <NUM> atmospheric pressure is maintained. Due to this pressure difference the sealing element <NUM> is still forced into the first position even if the pressure in the outer chamber <NUM> is below the pressure of the vacuum chamber connected to the first opening <NUM>. During this operation mode the vacuum pump can be efficiently purged while maintaining the inlet of the vacuum pump closed by the present valve.

Claim 1:
Vacuum apparatus with a valve, the valve comprising:
a first housing element (<NUM>) and a second housing element (<NUM>) connected with the first housing element (<NUM>), wherein an outer chamber (<NUM>) is defined by the first housing element (<NUM>) and the second housing element <NUM>),
wherein the first housing element (<NUM>) has a first opening (<NUM>) and the second housing element (<NUM>) has a second opening (<NUM>) in fluid communication with the first opening (<NUM>) via the outer chamber (<NUM>),
wherein an inner chamber (<NUM>) is defined by the first housing element (<NUM>) and the second housing element (<NUM>), wherein a membrane (<NUM>) is disposed in the inner chamber (<NUM>) dividing the inner chamber (<NUM>) in a first inner chamber (<NUM>) and a second inner chamber (<NUM>),
wherein a sealing element (<NUM>) is connected to the membrane (<NUM>), wherein the sealing element (<NUM>) is movable from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the sealing element (<NUM>) closes the first opening (<NUM>) in a leaktight manner and in the second position the sealing element opens the first opening (<NUM>) to allow a gaseous medium to flow through the valve,
wherein the inner chamber (<NUM>) is at least partially and preferably completely surrounded by the outer chamber (<NUM>),
wherein the second inner chamber (<NUM>) is connected to vacuum and the first inner chamber (<NUM>) is connected to a higher pressure or atmosphere pressure to move the sealing element (<NUM>) from the first position into the second position,
the valve further comprising:
a first channel connecting the second inner chamber (<NUM>) to a region of low pressure, and in particular to the second housing element (<NUM>) and/or the outer chamber (<NUM>);
a first <NUM>-way valve (<NUM>) disposed in the first channel connected to atmosphere;
a second channel connecting the first inner chamber (<NUM>) to atmosphere; and
a second <NUM>-way valve (<NUM>) is disposed in the second channel connected to a region of low pressure, and in particular to the second housing element and/or the outer chamber (<NUM>),
the vacuum apparatus further comprising a vacuum pump connected to the second opening of the valve and a vacuum chamber connected to the first opening of the valve to separate the vacuum pump from the vacuum chamber.