US 3,961,905 AGranted

Crucible and heater assembly for crystal growth from a melt

AssigneeCorning Glass Works

InventorDale W. Rice

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Abstract

An annular crucible for containing molten, inorganic crystalline material in an apparatus for growing a plurality of substantially monocrystalline articles including a plurality of spaced forming members disposed in a ring-like arrangement within the crucible, and a pair of annular resistance heating elements concentric with the annular crucible, one element proximate the crucible inner wall and one element proximate the crucible outer wall. In combination with the annular crucible, a thin, ring-shaped resistance heating element substantially conforming in outside and inside diameters to those of the crucible and being disposed at a predetermined distance above the crucible, the ring element having apertures for passing the monocrystalline articles and having means for an independently controllable heat output.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In an apparatus for growing and pulling a plurality of crystalline articles from a melt of an inorganic, crystalline material, an improved crucible for containing the melt which comprises an annular channel with a generally U shaped cross-section adapted to contain the melt therein,

a plurality of spaced forming members disposed in ring-like arrangement within the crucible and haivng upper portions adapted to be above the surface of the melt in the crucible, the upper portions including means for shaping and feeding the melt to a crystallization zone in which the articles grow, and the forming members including means for conveying melt from the crucible to the upper portions,
a vertically adjustable ring-shaped heating element positioned concentric with the crucible and above the melt therein for providing heat to the upper portions and the crystallization zone, and having a plurality of apertures therethrough adapted and arranged to have the upper portions positioned at least partially therein in substantial axial alignment with axes of the apertures, and
means operatively connected to the ring-shaped heating element for independently controlling the heat output thereof.

In an apparatus for growing and pulling a plurality of crystalline articles from a melt, an improved combination of crucible and crucible heating means, wherein the combination comprises:

an annular crucible having a generally U shaped cross-section and having a bottom portion, an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall,
means outside of the crucible for providing heat directly to the crucible inner annular wall and to the crucible outer annular wall and for providing a substantially uniform radial temperature distribution in the melt between the inner annular wall and the outer annular wall, and
a plurality of spaced forming members disposed in ring-like arrangement within the crucible and having upper portions adapted to be above the surface of the melt in the crucible, the upper portions including means for shaping and feeding the melt to a crystallization zone in which the articles grow, and the forming members including means for conveying melt from the crucible to the upper portions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.