Rotating high vacuum mercury seal

摘要

A seal for communicating high vacuum onto rotating machinery such as a centrifuge. The seal comprises an outer pipe defining a volume to be evacuated, an inner pipe connected on one end to a vacuum source with the other end disposed within an end of the outer pipe such that an annular space is defined between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. Fluid is disposed in at least a portion of the annular space. The fluid is also disposed in a reservoir provided with cooling coils which lower the temperature of the fluid and thereby lower the vapor pressure of the fluid. The lower the vapor pressure of the fluid, the higher the level of vacuum which can be produced and transmitted.