Systems for purging a carrier

• Main Authors: FOSNIGHT, WILLIAM J, SHENK, JOSHUA W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.08.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; COCKS; CONVEYING; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS; STORING; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING; TRANSPORTING; VALVES; WEAPONS

A valve seated within a SMIF pod support platform is disclosed for activating and deactivating the flow of gas to a pod on the platform. In preferred embodiments, the valve includes a central poppet capable of moving between a first, closed position where the poppet blocks the flow of gas through the valve, and a second, open position where the poppet allows gas flow through the valve. In the absence of a pod on the support platform, pressurized gas from the gas source downstream of the valve biases the poppet into the first position to thereby block gas flow. In this first position, a top portion of the poppet extends slightly above the upper surface of the pod support platform. When a pod is seated on the support platform, the weight of the pod moves the poppet from its first position to its second position where gas is allowed to flow through the valve and into the pod to allow purging of the pod.