Patent Grant
6890145
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vacuum pumps used in semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of a vacuum pump for balancing a rotating body of the vacuum pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
In process such as dry etching, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or the like performed in a high-vacuum process chamber in a semiconductor manufacturing step, a vacuum pump such as a turbo-molecular pump is used for producing a high vacuum in the process chamber by exhausting gas from the process chamber.
A rotating body of such a turbo-molecular pump is usually formed of an aluminum alloy. In the turbo-molecular pump used under severe circumstances, for example, exposure to a corrosive gas such as a gaseous chlorine or a fluorine sulfide gas, the aluminum-alloy rotating body has a corrosion-resistant film on the surface thereof, for example, coated by nonelectrolytic plating such as nickel-phosphor-alloy plating or the like.
The turbo-molecular pump as described above is required for balancing the rotating body rotating at high speed during its assembly process. A conventional way of finely balancing is performed by carving out of a part of the circumferential outer or inner surface of the rotating body with a drill or a router so as to change the mass of the rotating body.
According to the conventional way of balancing achieved by carving out of a part of the surface of the rotating body, since a drill or a router carves out a part of the corrosion-resistant film coated on the surface of the rotating body, the corresponding part of the aluminum alloy under the corrosion-resistant film is exposed to the outside and is accordingly subjected to corrosion. A stress corrosion crack of the carved part of the rotating body caused by the corrosion develops during the high speed rotation of the rotating body, and eventually results in the breaking of the rotating body in the worst case.
An alternative way of finely balancing the rotating body is achieved such that, instead of carving out of a part of the rotating body, a mass such as a weight is added to the surface of the rotating body having a corrosion-resistant film thereon so as to change the mass of the rotating body while preventing the rotating body from being corroded. However, according to the above-mentioned mass-addition way of balancing, the mass is likely to be flaked off from the surface of the rotating body due to the centrifugal force of the rotating body during at a high speed, thereby making it difficult to maintain the balance of the rotating body for a long period of time.
The present invention is made in view of the above-described problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum pump in which a rotation body can avoid being broken due to corrosion and the balance thereof can be maintained for a long period of time.
A vacuum pump according to the present invention comprises a pump case forming a gas suction port at the upper surface thereof; a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the pump case; a rotor being formed a corrosion-resistant film treated by nonelectrolytic plating on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the rotor; a plurality of rotor blades accommodated in the pump case and integrally formed with an outer circumferential surface of the rotor; a plurality of stator blades fixed in the pump case such that the rotor blades and the stator blades are alternately positioned and arranged; a drive motor for rotating the rotor shaft; and mass-addition means formed by applying an adhesive or a coating, having heat and corrosion resistances, on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor.
Also, another vacuum pump according to the present invention comprises a pump case forming a gas suction port at the upper surface thereof; a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the pump case; a rotor being formed a corrosion-resistant film treated by nonelectrolytic plating on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the rotor, wherein a groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor; a plurality of rotor blades accommodated in the pump case and integrally formed with an outer circumferential surface of the rotor; a plurality of stator blades fixed in the pump case such that the rotor blades and the stator blades are alternately positioned and arranged; a drive motor for rotating the rotor shaft; and mass-addition means formed by filling an adhesive or a coating, having heat and corrosion resistances, into the grooves formed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor.
According to the present invention, the adhesive having heat and corrosion resistances is preferably a synthetic resin adhesive consisting of a resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, a silicon resin, a polyamide resins and a polyimide resin.
The adhesive having heat and corrosion resistances contains a stainless steel powder or ceramic fibers consisting of a metal oxide such as an aluminum oxide (Al2O3), a silicon oxide (SiO2), and a chromium oxide (Cr2O3).
According to the present invention, the coating having heat and corrosion resistances may consist of an alkyd resin.
In addition, according to the present invention, the mass-addition means is preferably filled into the groove so as to be flush with the inner circumferential surface of the rotor.
Furthermore, a vacuum pump according to the present invention comprises a pump case forming a gas suction port at the upper surface thereof; a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the pump case; a rotor; a plurality of rotor blades accommodated in the pump case and integrally formed with an outer circumferential surface of the rotor; a plurality of stator blades fixed in the pump case such that the rotor blades and the stator blades are alternately positioned and arranged; a drive motor for rotating the rotor shaft; a stainless steel washer for a bolt for fastening the rotor to the rotor shaft, integrally formed with an outer circumferential surface of the rotor shaft; and mass-addition means formed by attaching at least one weight, selected from the group consisting of a screw, a cotter pin, and a bushing, to the annular surface of the washer.
In this case, a gas vent hole may be bored in the axial center of the weight.
Vacuum pumps according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
The pump case 1 has an opening in the upper surface thereof serving as a gas suction port 2, to which a vacuum vessel (not shown) such as a process chamber is fastened by bolts, and an exhaust gas pipe serving as a gas vent 3 at a lower portion of the pump case 1.
The bottom of the pump case 1 is covered with the bottom end plate 1-3, and a stator column 4 is provided so as to be erected from the central part of the bottom end plate 103 in the pump case 1 and is fastened to the base 1-2 by bolts in a standing manner.
The rotor column 4 has a rotor shaft 5, which passes through both end surfaces of the rotor column 4, and radial electromagnets 6-1 and axial electromagnets 6-2 therein serving as magnetic bearings. The rotor shaft 5 is rotatably supported by the radial and axial electromagnets 6-1 and 6-2 in the radial and axial directions thereof, respectively. The rotor column 4 also has ball bearings 7, to which a dry lubricant is applied, wherein the ball bearing 7 support the rotor shaft 5 and prevent the rotor shaft 5 from coming into contact with the electromagnets 6-1 and 6-2 in case of a power failure of the foregoing electromagnets. The ball bearings 7 do not come into contact with the rotor shaft 5 during normal operation.
A cylindrical rotor 8 composed of an aluminum alloy or the like is provided in the pump case 1. A corrosion-resistant film, which has a thickness of about 20 μm, is coated by nonelectrolytic plating such as nickel-phosphor-alloy plating or the like, on the surface of the rotor 8. The rotor 8 is disposed so as to surround the stator column 4 and fastened to the rotor shaft 5 with bolts. Also, the uppermost portion of the rotor 8 extends toward the vicinity of the gas suction port 2.
A drive motor 9, such as a high-frequency motor, is disposed between the rotor shaft 5 and the stator column 4 and also at the central part of the rotor shaft 5 so that the drive motor 9 drives the rotor shaft 5 and the rotor 8 to rotate at high speed.
The pump mechanism portion of the first embodiment of the vacuum pump P according the present invention is accommodated in the pump case 1 and employs a combined pump mechanism composed of an upper half as a turbo molecular pump mechanism portion PA and a lower half as a groove pump mechanism portion PB, both disposed in the space between the inner circumferential surface of the pump case 1 and the outer circumferential surface of the rotor 8.
The turbo molecular pump mechanism portion PA is composed of rotor blades 10, which rotate at high speed, and stationary fixed stator blades 11.
More particularly, a plurality of rotor blades 10 are integrally formed on an outer circumferential surface of the upper half of the rotor 8, in a direction along the rotation axis L of the rotor 8, beginning from the uppermost portion of the rotor 8 close to the gas suction port 2. Also, the plurality of stator blades 11 are fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the upper half of the pump case 1 via a plurality of spacers 12 in a manner such that the rotor blades 10 and the stator blades 11 are alternately positioned and arranged in a direction along the rotation axis L.
On the other hand, the groove pump mechanism portion PB is composed of an outer circumferential surface 8a of the rotor 8 which rotates at a high speed and a plurality of stationary thread grooves 13.
More particularly, the outer circumferential surface of the lower half of the rotor 8 is the plain outer circumferential surface 8a. A cylindrical threaded stator 14 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower half of the pump case 1. Also, the threaded stator 14 faces the outer circumferential surface 8a via a small gap and has the thread grooves 13 carved thereon.
Alternatively, the threaded grooves 13 may be carved on the outer circumferential surface of the lower half of the rotor 8, and the outer surface, which faces the rotor 8, of the threaded stator 14 disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the pump case 1 may be formed as a plain cylindrical surface.
The vacuum pump P according to the first embodiment is characterized in that, by applying an adhesive or a coating having heat and corrosion resistances, mass-addition means 15 is provided on a inner circumferential surface 8b of the lower half of the rotor 8 which is composed of an aluminum apply or the like and which has a corrosion-resistant film formed on the surface thereof.
As shown in
The foregoing adhesive 15a having heat and corrosion resistance properties may contain a stainless steel powder or ceramic fibers consisting of a metal oxide such as an aluminum oxide (Al2O3), a silicon oxide (SiO2), and a chromium oxide (Cr2O3), as a metal powder having a higher density than the adhesive.
When the adhesive 15a contains one of the above metal powders, the powder particles are preferably are pulverized so as to have a diameter of 10 μm or less. When the particles have a diameter greater than 10 μm, the metal powder is precipitated in a solvent, thereby making the metal powder and the adhesive difficult to be uniformly kneaded. On the contrary, when the particles have a diameter equal to or less than 10 μm, the metal powder remains dissolved in the solvent, and thus the metal powder and the adhesive can be uniformly kneaded.
In place of the foregoing synthetic resin adhesive 15a, a coating which is composed of an alkyd resin or the like and which has heat and corrosion resistance properties may be applied.
As described above, since the synthetic resin adhesive 15a is applied on the inner circumferential surface 8b of the rotor 8, and the adhesive 15a is forced toward the rotor blades 10 due to the centrifugal force of the rotor 8 during rotation at high speeds. As a result, the adhesive 15a does not require a strong bonding force and is not flaked off from the inner circumferential surface 8b by the centrifugal force.
Also, since a purge gas (an inactive gas) is filled into the inside space of the rotor 8 where the synthetic resin adhesive 15a is applied, and the synthetic resin adhesive 15a is accordingly hardly affected by the exhausting gas, the adhesive 15a is not corroded by a corrosive gas such as a gaseous chlorine, or a fluorine sulfide gas.
Consequently, in the vacuum pump P having the above-described structure, the rotor 8 can be prevented from being broken due to corrosion caused by a corrosive gas, and also the balance of the rotating body can be maintained for a long period of time.
Next, the second embodiment of the vacuum pump according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
Since basic structure of a vacuum pump is same as that of the pump shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the entire explanation will be omitted and the same numerals and symbols will be used designate the same component in the description.
The second embodiment of the vacuum pump P according to the present invention is characterized in that, as a modification of the above-described mass-addition means 15 for balancing the rotating body, mass-addition means 17 is provided in a groove which is formed on the inner circumferential surface 8b of the rotor 8, as shown in FIG. 3.
More particularly, a dovetail groove 15b shown in
In a similar fashion to that in the first embodiment, the adhesive 15a filled into the dovetail groove 15b is a synthetic resin adhesive which has heat and corrosion resistances and which is composed of an epoxy resin, a silicon resin, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, or the like, or a coating which has heat and corrosion resistances and which is composed of an alkyd resin or the like. The synthetic resin adhesive may contain a stainless steel powder or ceramic fibers consisting of a metal oxide such as an aluminum oxide (Al2O3), a silicon oxide (SiO2), and a chromium oxide (Cr2O3).
Although not shown in the figure, in place of the foregoing dovetail groove 15b, an annular groove may be formed on the inner circumferential surface 8b of the rotor 8 and the foregoing adhesive 15a may be filled into the annular groove.
In the vacuum pump P having the above-described structure for balancing the rotating body, the rotor 8 has neither an irregularity nor a cut for balancing on the inner circumferential surface 8b. Accordingly, the rotor 8 is free from stress concentration due to rotation at high speed and thus has a reduced maximum stress, thereby leading to a reduced risk of the breaking of the rotor 8.
The third embodiment of the vacuum pump according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
Since basic structure of a vacuum pump is same as that of the pump shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the entire explanation will be omitted and the same numerals and symbols will be used designate the same component in the description.
The third embodiment of a vacuum pump P according to the present invention is characterized in that, as a further modification of the mass-addition means 15 for balancing the rotating body, a weight such a screw 15 is provided to the inner circumferential surface of a washer 16a used for bolts 16 fastening the rotor 8 to the rotor shaft 5, as shown in FIG. 4.
More particularly, the washer 16a used for the bolt 16 is composed of a stainless steel having a larger specific gravity than that of an aluminum alloy and has an excellent strength against the centrifugal force. As shown in
The mass-addition means 15 may be achieved by using cotter pins or bushings as the weights in place of the foregoing screws 15c.
Although not shown in the figure, the weight may have a small perforation in the axial center thereof so as to serve as a gas vent hole.
In the vacuum pump P having the above described structure of the third embodiment according to the present invention, as the mass-addition means 15 for balancing the rotating body, the weights having large specific gravities such as screws, cotter pins, bushings, or the like can be disposed closed to the axial center of the rotor shaft 5. As a result, balancing the rotating body can be performed effectively.
In addition, since the washer 16a used for the bolts 16 is made of a stainless steel, the washer 16a has a corrosion resistance against a corrosive gas such as a gaseous chlorine, a fluorine sulfide gas, or the like. Therefore, even when the washer 16a has holes for attaching the foregoing weights such as screws, cotter pins, bushings, or the like thereinto, the washer 16a is free from corrosion caused in the holes. As a result, the vacuum pump P prevents the rotor 8 from being broken due to the corrosion and also maintains the balance of the rotating body for a long period of time.
As described above, in the vacuum pump according to the present invention, the mass-addition means for balancing the rotating body is achieved by applying an adhesive or a coating having heat and corrosion resistance properties on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor or by integrally forming with the rotor shaft a stainless steel washer which is used for the bolts for fastening the rotor shaft to the rotor, and also by attaching the weights in the annular part of the washer. With this structure, the vacuum pump prevents the rotor from being broken due to corrosion and also effectively maintains the balance of the rotating body for a long period of time.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-352256 | Nov 2001 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4832993 | Coulon | May 1989 | A |
| 5350275 | Ishimaru | Sep 1994 | A |
| 5536148 | Nishiuchi et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5938406 | Cerruti | Aug 1999 | A |
| 6164945 | Ishibashi | Dec 2000 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 4239391 | Jun 1993 | DE |
| 0799999 | Oct 1997 | EP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20030095860 A1 | May 2003 | US |
