Electrical connector feedthrough to low pressure chamber

Details Electrical connector feedthrough to low pressure chamber Electrical connector feedthrough to low pressure chamber

2000-10-12

2001-10-23

Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With supporting means for coupling part

Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening

C439S556000, C174S018000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305975

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical connector feedthrough as used in electrical and electronic apparatus, and more particularly the invention relates to an electrical connector feedthrough to a low pressure chamber in such apparatus.
Mass spectrometers are well known scientific instruments for analyzing chemical structures. A mass spectrometer includes an ion source, an ion filter, and an ion detector positioned in a low pressure (e.g. vacuum) chamber. Gas at low pressure is introduced into the ion source which ionizes the gas. Ions are then selected by the ion filter and passed to the ion detector. The ion filter selects ions having a particular m/e ratio which may be varied to analyze the gas. Examples of mass spectrometers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,559,327; 5,389,785; 5,298,745; 4,949,047; 4,885,470; 4,158,771; and 3,757,115.
Electrical connection must be made to contacts within the vacuum chamber to transfer electrical power and electrical signals between components in the chamber such as quadrupoles and ion lenses and circuitry in the ambient atmosphere. To function properly the pressure inside the chamber must be below 10−7 Torr. Typically, multiple different types of electrical signals are required within the same assembly, such as high voltage, high current and shielded signal. More recently vacuum chambers are made out of single block aluminum for cleanliness, disallowing welding. These chambers are also heat cycled for cleanliness, making different thermo expansion become a problem. Traditionally, vacuum feed-through are ceramic-metal brazed pins mounted on metal flanges which in turn are mounted on to the analyzer chamber (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,176,901/4,231,003), or wired into a flange (U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,886). An alternative to sealed pin technology for the fabrication of cable feedthrough devices entails the use of epoxy materials for the formation of vacuum-tight seals, as described in W. D. Wood and W. L. Wood, “Hermetic Sealing with Epoxy” in Mechanical Engineering, Mar. 1990, Pave Technology Co. This technology, however, is suitable only for devices exposed to temperatures down to about −65° C. Heretofore, Kaplan boards imbedded in plastic have been employed as feedthroughs with a sealant provided on the outer surface of the chamber for pressure sealing the feedthrough. This arrangement is difficult to fabricate and assemble.
The present invention is directed to an improved feedthrough for a low pressure chamber which is easily assembled and replaced, yet effective in sealing the chamber. Further, the feedthrough can be best cycled and permits a common PCB type connector in the assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention an electrical feedthrough connector is provided to a low pressure chamber such as in a mass spectrometer where the chamber has a housing with a circular opening having at least two cylindrical openings with two diameters with a step between the two diameters. The connector comprises an electrically insulating body having at least two cylindrical portions which generally mate with the two cylindrical openings in the lower pressure chamber housing and with a step between the two cylindrical portions for mating with the step in the housing opening. A gasket encircles the smaller of the two cylindrical portions of the connector whereby the smaller cylindrical portion is inserted into the cylindrical opening in the chamber housing with the gasket positioned in pressure engagement between the step in the chamber housing opening and the step on the electrical insulating body.
In a preferred embodiment the electrical insulating body comprises an epoxy with electrical connectors extending through the epoxy, such as flexible printed circuit board connectors. The epoxy body is affixed to a printed circuit board having components for the interconnection circuit connected through the connectors to components within the low pressure chamber. In preferred embodiments the gasket comprises an o-ring, and a second o-ring is positioned around the epoxy body and abutting the printed circuit board. The electrical feedthrough connector is readily manufactured, assembled, and disassembled in application.
The invention and objects and features thereof will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims when taken with the drawing.


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