Multi-stage vacuum pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9739278-B2
Application number	US-201414219769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2014
Priority date	Mar 20, 2013
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A multi-stage vacuum pump may include a sealing arrangement for sealing between the stator components of the pump. The end seals of the arrangement comprise an annular portion for sealing between end stator components and shell components and axial portions which extend from the annular portion and together with separate axial seals seal between the shell components.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-stage vacuum pump comprising:
first and second shell stator components arranged to be assembled together along respective axially extending surfaces to define a plurality of pumping chambers along an axis of the pump;
first and second end stator components arranged to be assembled at respective axial ends of the shell stator components;
axial seals for sealing between respective axially extending surfaces of the shell stator components; and
end seals having annular portions for sealing between respective first and second end stator components and the shell stator components and axial portions which extend in an axial dimension from the annular portions between the shell stator components for sealing between respective axially extending surfaces of the shell stator components, wherein the end seals are separate from the axial seals.

2. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 1 , wherein the axial portions extend generally perpendicularly from the annular portions.

3. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 1 , wherein the axial seals comprise gaskets or the end seals comprise o-rings.

4. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 1 , wherein compression of the axial portions and the axial seals between the axially extending surfaces during assembly causes the axial portions and the axial seals to move into abutment at the mutual contact surface.

5. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 1 , wherein the axial portions abut respective axial seals at a mutual contact surface spaced from the annular portions for resisting passage of gas between the axial portions and axial seals along the contact surface.

6. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 5 , wherein each of the axially extending surfaces of the shell components extend generally in a plane which is transverse to the axis of the pump and the axial seals and the axial portions extend generally in the plane to be seated between respective axially extending surfaces.

7. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 5 , wherein compression of the axial portions and the axial seals between the axially extending surfaces during assembly causes the axial portions and the axial seals to move into abutment at the mutual contact surface.

8. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 6 , wherein the axial portions and the axial seals are enlarged in the plane at the mutual contact surface to increase the length of the mutual contact surface.

9. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 6 , wherein the axial portions and the axial seals are shaped at the mutual contact surface to increase the length of the mutual contact surface beyond the transverse extent of the axial portions and axial seals in the plane.

10. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 8 , wherein the axial portions and the axial seals interlock at the mutual contact surface to increase the length of the mutual contact surface and resist disengagement of the axial portions from the axial seals.

11. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 10 , wherein one of the axial portions or the axial seals comprise a recess which interlocks with a complementary shaped formation of the other of the axial portions or the axial seals.

12. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 11 , wherein one of the axial portions or the axial seals comprise a T-shaped recess which interlocks with a T-shaped formation of the other of the axial portions or the axial seals.

13. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 11 , wherein one of the axial portions or the axial seals comprise a bulbous recess which interlocks with a bulbous formation of the other of the axial portions or the axial seals.

14. A stator comprising:
first and second shell stator components arranged to be assembled together along respective axially extending surfaces to define a plurality of pumping chambers along an axis of the pump;
first and second end stator components arranged to be assembled at respective axial ends of the shell stator components;
axial seals for sealing between respective axially extending surfaces of the shell stator components; and
end seals having annular portions for sealing between respective first and second end stator components and the shell stator components and axial portions which extend in an axial dimension from the annular portions between the shell stator components for sealing between respective axially extending surfaces of the shell stator components, wherein the end seals are separate from the axial seals.

15. The stator of claim 14 , wherein the axial portions extend generally perpendicularly from the annular portions.

16. The stator of claim 14 , wherein the axial portions abut respective axial seals at a mutual contact surface spaced from the annular portions for resisting passage of gas between the axial portions and axial seals along the contact surface.

17. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 16 , wherein each of the axially extending surfaces of the shell components extend generally in a plane which is transverse to the axis of the pump and the axial seals and the axial portions extend generally in the plane to be seated between respective axially extending surfaces.

18. The stator of claim 17 , wherein the axial portions and the axial seals are enlarged in the plane at the mutual contact surface to increase the length of the mutual contact surface.

19. The stator of claim 17 , wherein the axial portions and the axial seals are shaped at the mutual contact surface to increase the length of the mutual contact surface beyond the transverse extent of the axial portions and axial seals in the plane.

20. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 18 , wherein the axial portions and the axial seals interlock at the mutual contact surface to increase the length of the mutual contact surface and resist disengagement of the axial portions from the axial seals.

21. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 20 , wherein one of the axial portions or the axial seals comprise a recess which interlocks with a complementary shaped formation of the other of the axial portions or the axial seals.

22. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 21 , wherein one of the axial portions or the axial seals comprise a T-shaped recess which interlocks with a T-shaped formation of the other of the axial portions or the axial seals.

23. The multi-stage vacuum pump of claim 21 , wherein one of the axial portions or the axial seals comprise a bulbous recess which interlocks with a bulbous formation of the other of the axial portions or the axial seals.

Assignees

• Edwards Ltd

Inventors

• Holbrook Alan Ernest Kinnaird
• Kailasam Sivabalan
• Eadie Ross Gordon

Classifications

• F04C18/126

  with radially from the rotor body extending elements, not necessarily co-operating with corresponding recesses in the other rotor, e.g. lobes, Roots type · CPC title

• F04C18/123

  with radially or approximately radially from the rotor body extending tooth-like elements, co-operating with recesses in the other rotor, e.g. one tooth · CPC title

• F01C19/005

  Structure and composition of sealing elements such as sealing strips, sealing rings and the like; Coating of these elements (vane construction F01C21/0809; piston rings and ring sealings of similar construction in general F16J9/00) · CPC title

• F04C27/001

  Radial sealings for working fluid · CPC title

• F04C25/02

  for producing high vacuum (sealing arrangements F04C27/00; silencing F04C29/06) · CPC title