Patent ID: 7228687

Claim:
A valve device for connecting to a cryopump comprising: a body with a through-channel and a connection flange at one end of the through-channel for connecting to a backing pump connection flange of the cryopump; a pressure relief valve which opens when an overpressure in the through-channel exceeds a limiting valve and which lets this overpressure out of the through-channel; a purge gas line in which a purge gas valve is arranged and which serves to supply a purge gas to a supply line of the cryopump during a regeneration process of the cryopump; wherein an end portion of the purge gas line by which the purge gas line can be connected to the supply line of the cryopump runs within the through-channel to the area of the end of the through-channel situated in the connection flange wherein the valve device comprises a dilution gas line in which a dilution gas valve is arranged, wherein a dilution gas flowing out of the dilution gas line can be mixed with the gas flowing out through the pressure relief valve when the dilution gas valve is open.