Abstract
Two related inventions for a double-flow scroll vacuum pump operating without tip seals are disclosed. Invention I is a closed-loop axial gap control system that maintains the axial gap between the orbiter and the fixed scroll members. It comprises at least two axial gap sensors, temperature sensors and pressure sensors; a control unit sampling at 1 kHz or more and running a PID layer together with an adaptive feedforward layer that learns thermal drift patterns; at least one electromagnetic actuator acting on a tab extending from the orbiter carrier plate; and an optional predictive-maintenance function that raises an alert when the measured gap drift rate exceeds a threshold. The system complements passive centering mechanisms such as pressure-equalisation bores and elastic anti-rotation elements. Invention II is a hybrid bearing architecture for the axially floating orbiter, combining a magnetic bearing, a gas-film bearing operating on the pump's own process gas, and a rolling-element catcher bearing, with automatic start-up, transition, steady-state and emergency-rundown mode logic. The magnetic bearing can share the sensors and actuator of Invention I. Disclosed in South African provisional patent application No. 2026/03486, filed 30 March 2026. Parties interested in collaboration, licensing or development during the priority period are invited to contact the author at [email protected].
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Recommended Citation
ARIELI, YOEL SHIMO, "Closed-Loop Axial Gap Control and Hybrid Bearing Architecture for an Axially Floating Orbiter in a Double-Flow Scroll Vacuum Pump", Technical Disclosure Commons, ()
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/12357