Importance

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Abstract

A low vibration, high cycle, high vacuum gate valve structure comprises a high vacuum housing defining a passageway, a valve actuator for providing a rectilinear displacement force, a translatable and pivotable gate valve assembly actuated by the valve actuator for translating from a fully retraction position outside of the passageway to an initial closure position adjacent to a fixed seal surface provided within the housing thereby blocking off the passageway. The gate valve assembly defines an angled sealing surface relative to an oppositely facing angled sealing surface of the fixed seal but displaced by a predetermined angular displacement at the initial closure position. The gate valve assembly includes structure defining a first fulcrum at the initial closure position for causing the gate valve assembly to rotate through the predetermined angular displacement in response to further rectilinear displacement force from the actuator until a final closure position is reached at which the gate valve assembly closes and seals against the angled sealing surface of the fixed seal within the housing.

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First Claim