Ideal Vacuum UltraLock Ultra-High Vacuum UHV Pneumatic Gate Valve Conflat CF 4.5 in. Flange, Ball Groove Locking, Viton Gate & Copper Bonnet Seals, 304 Stainless Steel

These Ideal Vacuum UltraLock™ pneumatically operated gate valves have a Conflat CF 4.5 inch (DN CF63) vacuum flange with 5/16-24 UNF blind-tapped holes. They are rated for ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and follow vacuum technology standards for knife-edge flanges as described in ISO 3669:2020.

Our new UltraLock series of premium pneumatically operated vacuum gate valves are built using an innovative ball-and-groove locking mechanism which keeps the valve locked closed during loss of power or air pressure, while reducing wear and extending operating life. These UltraLock gate valves have a typical life of 100,000 cycles before needing service and are made with corrosion resistant 304 stainless-steel gates and valve bodies. An easily visible external position indicator and position sensor switches are standard on all pneumatic UltraLock gate valves.

UltraLock Locking Mechanism:
Our UltraLock ultra-high vacuum gate valves employ an ingenious ball-and-groove mechanism to lock the valve. Inside the valve body is a rolling carriage with non-lubricated ball bearings on which the gate is attached. When the valve is actuated, the carriage and gate are slid towards the vacuum port until the carriage reaches the end of the valve body. This positions the gate concentric to the port. Continued pressure on the carriage causes a set of stainless-steel balls, riding in a decreasing depth groove between the carriage and the gate, to exert outward pressure on the gate. This outward force pushes the gate into its closed position. A leak-tight seal is obtained as the outward pressure forces the gate's O-ring seal to be pressed against the valve body’s sealing surface. It is common for these valves to achieve an extended life of 100,000 cycles before service is needed.

UHV vs HV Versions:
Our Conflat CF flanged gate valves are UHV rated. The bellows are welded to the bonnet plate, and oxygen-free, high-thermal conductivity (OFHC) copper sealing gaskets and flange knife-edges form the required metal-to-metal seal between the bonnet plate and valve body. Our Conflat UHV UltraLock valves have a low leak rate of < 3.75 x 10^-10 Torr l/sec and are bakeable up to 200 °C with the gate open (150°C with the gate closed).

Our KF and ISO-F flanged gate valves use Viton O-rings for the bellows and bonnet plate seals and are therefore limited to high-vacuum (HV) applications with ultimate pressures down to 3x10^-8 Torr. KF and ISO-F series UltraLock valves have a leak rate of 1.5 x 10^-9 Torr l/sec and are bakeable to 150 °C (with the valve open or closed).

Position Indicators:
All of our UltraLock series of pneumatic gate valves include a visible external position indicator - the white ring conveniently mounted below the pneumatic piston. Pneumatic UltraLock gate valves also include open and closed reed sensor switches which are mounted on the valve’s pneumatic cylinder. These switches can be used to activate indicator lights or used to control a more complex or automated vacuum protection system.

Solenoid Valves:
We offer solenoid kits for pneumatic valves in voltages of 12 VDC, 24 VDC, and 120 VAC. Solenoid kits are sold separately and include the solenoid valve, mounting bracket with fasteners used to attach the solenoid to the gate valve's bonnet flange, and flexible 1/4” OD airlines to connect between the push-to-connect fittings on the gate valve’s pneumatic cylinder and the solenoid valve.

Specifications:
Our Ideal Vacuum UltraLock gate valves are designed for dependable High and Ultra- High Vacuum (UHV) applications and are often used in combination with cryo, turbo, and ion high vacuum pumps. Available sizes include Conflat CF 2.75, 4.5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 inch sizes; ISO-F DN -63, -100, -160, -200, -250, -320, -400, -500, and -630 sizes; and quick flanged sizes KF-40 and KF-50.

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