Importance

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Abstract

A sliding seal system for providing a fluid seal that is slidable in two linear and one rotational degrees-of-freedom and that is flexible in one linear and two rotational degrees-of-freedom is disclosed. The sliding seal system includes a support member having a working surface arranged to provide a seal interface with a sealing surface on a first body. A flexible membrane is attached to the support member and coupled to a second body. A fluid supply system is provided to deliver a fluid to a region between the working surface of the support member and the sealing surface of the first body to provide buoyant flotation to the seal support member at the working surface. In a preferred embodiment, a fluid exhaust system is also provided to remove the fluid delivered by the fluid supply system. One particularly useful application of the described sliding seal system is in a photolithography system to provide a seal between an exposure apparatus and a wafer chamber.

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First Claim