INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 3669

Third edition
2020-02

Vacuum technology — Dimensions of

knife-edge flanges
Technique du vide — Dimensions des brides à guillotine
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Reference number
ISO 3669:2020(E)

© ISO 2020
ISO 3669:2020(E)


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COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT

© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
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Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Fax: +41 22 749 09 47
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland

ii  © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

 ISO 3669:2020(E)


Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms............................................................................................................................................................ 1
5 Requirements........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.1 Materials........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
5.1.1 Flange......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.1.2 Bolt holes................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
5.1.3 Grooves...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.1.4 Gasket......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
5.2 Dimensions.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
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ISO 3669:2020(E)


Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www​.iso​.org/​directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www​.iso​.org/​patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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constitute an endorsement.

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For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
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expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
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World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www​.iso​.org/​
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iso/​foreword​.html.
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 112, Vacuum technology.
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This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 3669:2017), of which it constitutes a
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minor revision. The changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
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— the title has been updated;

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— Clause 4 and Table 1: “l7” has changed to “l7 – Depth for pipe connection”;
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— Reference [4] has been updated.

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Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www​.iso​.org/​members​.html.

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 ISO 3669:2020(E)


Introduction
This document is a minor revision of the second edition (ISO 3669:2017) and contains significant
technical changes from the first edition (ISO 3669:1986), which defined two series of “bakeable”
flanges:
— as a preferred series, the main dimensions of which ensure compatibility with already standardized
non-bakeable flanges (see ISO 1609);
— a secondary series corresponding to flanges in common use.
This document specifies only one series and is no longer dependent on the preferred number. Effectively,
the preferred series has been made obsolete, thereby promoting the secondary series to be the one and
only set of specified dimensions. Furthermore, several dimensions in what was formerly the secondary
series, have been modified to correspond to flanges in common use. Finally, detailed dimensions for the
knife-edge sealing profile have been incorporated.
It is noted, however, that the original ConFlat®1) flange dimensions and tolerances, as developed by
Varian, were not available during the development stage of this specification. The intent of this document
is to ensure interchangeability of flanges. It is reasonable to accept that flanges manufactured to the
original Varian specifications are compatible with flanges manufactured according to this document,
even though they might not fall within all tolerances.
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1) ConFlat® is the trademark of a product supplied by Varian, Inc. This information is given for the convenience of
users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by ISO of the product named. Equivalent products
may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.

© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved  v

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3669:2020(E)

Vacuum technology — Dimensions of knife-edge flanges

1 Scope
This document specifies the dimensions of fixed or rotatable bolted knife-edge flanges used in vacuum
systems for pressures ranging from atmospheric to as low as 10−11 Pa.

2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
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— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://​w ww​.iso​.org/​obp

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— IEC Electropedia: available at http://​w ww​.electropedia​.org/​

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knife-edge flange
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metal sealed flange used for high and ultra-high vacuum service
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Note 1 to entry: Sandwiching one metal gasket between two knife-edge flanges and securely bolting these
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together makes a vacuum tight joint. The seal is made when the identical circular (triangular profile) knife-edges
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are bolted together. A deformable metal gasket captured between the knife-edge flanges establishes the sealing
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surface.
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Note 2 to entry: Originally developed as ConFlat® flanges. The widespread and continued use of knife-edge
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flanges has made these a de facto international standard, codified by this document.
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3.2
nominal bore
value intended to both identify the flange and specify the largest practical size of tubing that can be
accommodated by the flange
Note 1 to entry: See Table 1, in which the convention of identifying original flanges by the outside diameter of the
flange (historically in inches) has been maintained.

3.3
leak check groove
groove machined into the seal side of the flange to facilitate the free passage of trace gas from the outer
perimeter of the flange to the seal zone near the metal gasket

4 Symbols and abbreviated terms

Symbol Designation Unit
l1 nominal outside diameter of flange mm (in)
l2 max. tube mm
l3 bolt hole mm
l4 bolt circle mm

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ISO 3669:2020(E)


Symbol Designation Unit

φ position tolerance of bolt hole centre mm
l5 seal recess mm
l6 knife-edge mm
l7 depth for pipe connection mm
l8 setback for inner rotatable ring mm
l9 flange thickness mm
l10 outside diameter of metal gasket mm

5 Requirements

5.1 Materials

5.1.1 Flange

The selection of the material shall be compatible with the requirements for the flanges. Considerations
may include service temperature, sealing capacity, corrosion resistance, magnetic permeability, type of
seal gasket used and dimensions.
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NOTE Austenitic stainless steel is commonly used, but it is not the intent of this document to specify or limit
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5.1.2 Bolt holes

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The flange may have either clearance or tapped bolt holes.

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NOTE As a number of flanges in use currently originated in the United States, the tapped flanges often have
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English tapped holes. Of increasing use are flanges with metric threads. Both are presented in this document (see
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Table 1).
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5.1.3 Grooves
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Leak check grooves should be used. The grooves shall be arranged equidistantly between the bolt holes.
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5.1.4 Gasket

In general, the gasket should be softer than the flange to avoid dulling of flange knife-edge.
NOTE Oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) copper is commonly used, but it is not the intent of this
document to specify or limit the choice of gasket material to OFHC copper.

5.2 Dimensions
Flange dimensions are shown and specified in Figures 1 to 3 and in Table 1 and Table 2. See Figure 4 for
the recommended dimensions of leak check grooves.

2  © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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a) Rotatable flange

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b) Non-rotatable flange
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Figure 1 — Basic flange dimensions

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Dimensions in millimetres
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Figure 2 — Knife-edge detail

Dimensions in millimetres

Figure 3 — Metal gasket

© ISO 2020 – All rights reserved  3