Particle Safe Vacuum Cart

Case ID:
FAA-855
Description:

Fermilab builds superconducting radiofrequency accelerators that require ultra-clean, ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems. In order to protect these systems from irreparable damage, the various components must be cleaned, assembled, and installed using particle-free practices and leak-checked to a very high sensitivity.

The Fermilab Particle Safe Vacuum Cart is a system that can pump down and vent up UHV “particle free” superconducting radiofrequency systems in a slow, controlled manner, allowing one to safely move through different pressure levels without stirring up particles in the vacuum system. The system is constructed with commercially available off-the-shelf components and controlled via a custom software interface.

Fermilab’s Particle Safe Vacuum Cart ensures safe, high-quality construction of superconducting radiofrequency accelerators, and can be used in many other UHV applications. The intellectual property package includes a bill of materials, schematics, images, instructions, maintenance regimen, and custom software interface.

  • Ultra High Vacuum applications
Patent Information:
For Information, Contact:
FNAL Admin
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
 
Inventors:
Curtis Baffes
Dave Franck
Ron Kellett
Elias Lopez
Lucy Nobrega
Dave Slimmer
Steven Wesseln
Joseph Angelo
Keywords: