IP Library › Granted Patent US 12674522
Granted Patent B2
US 12674522 · App. 18/645,475 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Vacuum valve

Inventors: Jeff Hadley (Glendale, OR); Angel Huerta (Yreka, CA); David Crone (Mountain View, CA); Randy Regennitter (Yreka, CA); Kinte Allen (Yreka, CA)
Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG
F16K35/00F16K27/047F16K35/025F16K51/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674522
App. No.
18/645,475
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vacuum valve for a medium-, high- and/or ultra-high vacuum system comprises a valve housing defining a passage connecting a first opening and a second opening of the valve housing, a valve body and a complementary seat, the valve body comprising a valve shaft extending in an axial direction and being actuable to move the valve body between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body cooperates with the seat in the closed position so as to close the passage gas-tightly, and a locking unit configured to secure the valve body in a locked position, wherein the locking unit comprises a locking mechanism configured to urge, upon actuation of the locking unit, at least one locking element in a radial direction disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction towards the valve shaft to assume a locking position.

Claims (50)

1 . A vacuum valve for a medium-, high-and/or ultra-high vacuum system, the vacuum valve comprising:

a valve housing defining a passage connecting a first opening and a second opening of the valve housing,

a valve body and a complementary seat, the valve body comprising a valve shaft extending in an axial direction and being actuable to move the valve body between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body cooperates with the seat in the closed position so as to close the passage gas-tightly, and

a locking unit configured to secure the valve body in a locked position, wherein the locking unit comprises a locking mechanism configured to urge, upon actuation of the locking unit, at least one locking element in a radial direction disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction towards the valve shaft to assume a locking position,

wherein the locking unit is actuable by a rotatable actuating element,

wherein the locking unit comprises a conversion mechanism disposed between the actuating element and the locking mechanism and configured to convert a rotary movement of the actuating element into a linear movement of the locking mechanism,

wherein the conversion mechanism comprises an actuation shaft with a thread, and

wherein the actuation shaft and the valve shaft are arranged co-axially.

2 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein, when the valve body is in the locked position, a form-fit connection exists between the locking element and the valve shaft.

3 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the rotatable actuating element is configured to be manually operated.

4 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the locking element is urged towards an inner surface portion of the valve shaft by the locking mechanism upon actuation of the locking unit.

5 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least a portion of the locking element is moved into a recess disposed on the valve shaft by the locking mechanism upon actuation of the locking unit.

6 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one inclined surface configured to cooperate with a complementary inclined surface of the locking element.

7 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the locking unit comprises a resetting mechanism configured to move the locking element from the locking position into an unlocking position.

8 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least one component of the locking unit is secured to the valve housing.

9 . The vacuum valve according to claim 1 ,

wherein the locked position corresponds to the open position or the closed position of the valve body.

10 . A vacuum valve for a medium-, high-and/or ultra-high vacuum system, the vacuum valve comprising:

a valve housing defining a passage connecting a first opening and a second opening of the valve housing,

a valve body and a complementary seat, the valve body comprising a valve shaft extending in an axial direction and being actuable to move the valve body between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body cooperates with the seat in the closed position so as to close the passage gas-tightly, and

a locking unit configured to secure the valve body in a locked position, wherein the locking unit comprises a locking mechanism configured to urge, upon actuation of the locking unit, at least one locking element in a radial direction disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction towards the valve shaft to assume a locking position,

wherein the locking unit is actuable by a rotatable actuating element,

wherein the locking unit comprises a conversion mechanism disposed between the actuating element and the locking mechanism and configured to convert a rotary movement of the actuating element into a linear movement of the locking mechanism,

wherein the conversion mechanism comprises an actuation shaft with a thread, and

wherein the locking unit comprises a hollow shaft with a thread that cooperates with the thread of the actuation shaft.

11 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein the hollow shaft and the valve shaft are arranged coaxially.

12 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein, when the valve body is in the locked position, a form-fit connection exists between the locking element and the valve shaft.

13 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein the rotatable actuating element is configured to be manually operated.

14 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein the locking element is urged towards an inner surface portion of the valve shaft by the locking mechanism upon actuation of the locking unit.

15 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein at least a portion of the locking element is moved into a recess disposed on the valve shaft by the locking mechanism upon actuation of the locking unit.

16 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one inclined surface configured to cooperate with a complementary inclined surface of the locking element.

17 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein the locking unit comprises a resetting mechanism configured to move the locking element from the locking position into an unlocking position.

18 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein at least one component of the locking unit is secured to the valve housing.

19 . The vacuum valve according to claim 10 ,

wherein the locked position corresponds to the open position or the closed position of the valve body.