Methods and systems for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure

摘要

A system for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure such as cryostat, for example, is described. The system includes a high-vacuum pump having an input that is connected to the cryostat and an output. A vacuum vessel is connected to the output of the high-vacuum pump. A second vacuum pump is connectable to the vacuum vessel. The system is operated such that the high-vacuum pump maintains the cryostat at a high vacuum and the second vacuum pump is periodically operated to maintain the pressure of the vacuum vessel below a threshold pressure. The second vacuum pump may be either permanently connected to, or removable from, the vacuum vessel. The vacuum vessel acts to maintain the output of the high-vacuum pump within a suitable pressure range. This removes the need for the output of the high-vacuum pump to be connected to a continuously operating, second-stage vacuum pump. Furthermore, the second vacuum pump is only required to be operated periodically in order to maintain the pressure in the vacuum vessel below the threshold pressure.

主权项

1. A system for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure comprising:
a rotary cryostat; a vacuum vessel; a high-vacuum pump having an input connected to the vacuum enclosure and an output connected to the vacuum vessel; and a second vacuum pump connectable to the vacuum vessel; wherein the high-vacuum pump is operated to maintain the cryostat at a high vacuum and the vacuum vessel is maintained below a threshold pressure by periodic operation of the second vacuum pump, and; wherein the high-vacuum pump and the vacuum vessel are mounted to rotate with the rotary cryostat.