Abstract:
A mechanism for selectively securing a cover to a flange of a pressure vessel. The cover and flange each have openings that are aligned when the cover is in position facing the flange. The mechanism includes an anchor plate having a hole therethrough. A piston is slidable in a direction normal to the cover in alignment with the opening therethrough. A stud extends from to the piston with a stud head remote from the piston. The stud head fits through the opening of the closer of the cover and flange and through a wider portion of the anchor plate hole, and is positioned opposite the flange and cover from the piston when the cover is positioned over the flange. The stud head does not fit through a narrower portion of the anchor plate hole. A resilient member biases the piston away from the cover. A selectively activated actuator overcomes the resilient member and forces the stud head away from the flange and the anchor plate. The anchor plate moves between (i) a locking position, in which the narrower portion of the hole is aligned with the openings so that the resilient member can bias the stud head against the anchor plate, and (ii) an unlocked position, in which the wider portion of the hole is aligned with the openings so that the resilient member can bias the stud head into the enlarged portion of the anchor plate hole.
Abstract:
In a first embodiment, this invention includes an integrated robot apparatus for performing combinatorial chemistry synthesis protocols and having interchangeable work-stations, robot arm tools, and reaction vessels and reaction vessel arrays. The work-stations and tools are specialized to perform tasks necessary for the synthesis in a plurality of the reaction vessels grouped in a plurality of the reaction vessel arrays. Preferably, these elements function interchangeably because they have standardized sizes and conformation. The work-stations and tools include those for fluid dispensing or aspirating from individual reaction vessels or from all the reaction vessels in an array simultaneously. The reaction vessels can include, alternatively, stackable, ball-sealed reaction vessels, microtitre-like reaction vessel arrays, arrays of independent reaction vessels, valve-sealed reaction vessels, septum-sealed reaction vessels, and syringe reaction vessels. In alternative embodiments, this invention includes these work-stations, tools, reaction vessels and reaction vessel arrays in various combinations or sub-combinations either for use in partially integrated robots or for manual or standalone use.
Abstract:
The invention discloses a plurality of cylindrical slugs linked together by a cable. The slugs are separated by spacers and the cable is crimped at each end thereof to keep the slugs and spacers from coming off the cable. The cable-slugs-spacers assembly is inserted through a guide tube and into an annulus locking the cover of the pressure vessel to the housing of the vessel. A relief mechanism is provided in the cover to ensure that the cable-slugs-spacers assembly is fully inserted in the annulus thus preventing accidental extrication of the cover when the vessel is pressurized. A proximity sensor is positioned in the housing of the vessel and senses the pressure of the first slug inserted into the annulus thus insuring that the cable-slugs-spacers assembly has been fully inserted in the annulus. A coupling is provided on one end of the cable-slugs-spacers assembly to positively lock the assembly in place ensuring that the cover will not be extricated from the pressure vessel under pressure.
Abstract:
A pressure monitoring system in which pressure in a container causes a slide which extends out from the container, to be moved against a group of springs in cascade formation and which are screened from microwave radiation. The extent of such movement, which corresponds to changes in container pressure, is measured by means of a light transmitter and a receiver which cause light to be reflected off a reflective surface of the slide and then analyzed. Also disclosed is a process in which the heating of a container is controlled as a function of the differential quotient of pressure over time.
Abstract:
A heating pressure processing apparatus in which gas sealing property and safety can be ensured, and economic property can be improved in heating pressure processing of workpieces such as Si wafers sheet by sheet. A processing vessel 1 formed of vessel components 2, 3 is divided into at least two parts or more in the axial direction thereof and has a seal ring 9 provided in the divided parts of the vessel components 2, parts 3 in such a manner as to be replaceable. The vessel components 2, 3 have shaped parts forming a processing space 5 for a workpiece 4 when the divided parts are sealed through the seal ring 9, the vessel components 2, 3 also having cooling means 10 for the seal ring 9. A ram is provided 18 for pressing the vessel components 2, 3 in the axial direction of the vessel in order to ensure the sealing in the divided parts; and a gas introducing device 20 is provided for introducing a pressurized gas to the processing space 5 in order to process the workpiece.
Abstract:
A sealing device for preventing leakage of pressure in pressure-processing a workpiece to be processed under isostatic pressure in a high pressure vessel, includes a ring member fitted to the opening/closing end of the vessel. When a cover is closed, an axial seal ring and a plane seal ring are mounted, with the plane seal ring adhered to the cover.
Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus for use in the separation of volatile from non-volatile substances, separation of volatile substances, one from the other, and for performing various chemical reactions and, in particular, to an apparatus which performs these functions utilizing a combination of above ambient temperatures and above one inch of mercury vacuum within a rotating vessel fitted with or without an internal filter through which exiting gases and vapors must pass. Because of the compactness allowed by the present invention, the apparatus can also be configured to operate in a self contained mobile mode.
Abstract:
A gap is defined between an inner region of an end face of a first container member of a container and an inner region of an abutting portion of a second container member, the inner regions being situated inside a seal member. The respective inner regions of the end face of the first container member and the abutting portion of the second container member, which are situated inside the seal member, are prevented from coming into contact with each other when the interior of the container is decompressed. Even though the second container member is bent inward by atmospheric pressure when the container is decompressed to a predetermined degree of vacuum, therefore, the abutting portion thereof cannot come into contact with the inner edge of the end face of the first container member. Thus, if decompression and exposure to atmospheric pressure are repeated to bend the container member repeatedly, there is no possibility of the inner edge portion of the end face of the first container member being separated or rubbed off to produce dust.
Abstract:
A vacuum gate valve device having a vacuum path includes: a valve casing; a valve body provided in the valve casing, the valve body being allowed to reciprocate between two positions to close and open the vacuum path; a bonnet flange for closing the casing; driving member provided on the bonnet flange for reciprocably driving the valve body, the driving member having a stem shaft which is loosely inserted into a through hole of the bonnet flange and is coupled with the valve body; and a member for isolating a sliding portion of the stem shaft from the vacuum path.
Abstract:
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for carrying out and studying catalysis and catalyzed chemical reactions. Disclosed is a reactor with a catalyst zone, under vacuum, into which a very rapid pulse of reactant gas is pulsed. The products are analyzed by a real-time method of analysis, such as mass spectrometry. The apparatus and method can detect reaction intermediates and products, and can indicate their sequence of production.