Abstract: A pulling apparatus and a method with which especially heavy crystals (5) can be pulled using the Czochralski method utilizing the pulling apparatus. For this purpose the neck (4) of the crystal (5) has an enlargement (10) beneath which extends the support device. This device includes latches (7), which are moved from a resting position into an operating position in which the latches (7) extend beneath the enlargement (10). Each latch (7) is supported on the base body such that it is swivellable about a pivot axis (8) and can assume two stable positions, namely the resting position and the operating position. Each of these positions is defined by a stop on the base body. When the latch rests on the one stop, its center of gravity, viewed from the neck (4), is located on the other side of the pivot axis (8). When the latch rests on the other stop, the center of gravity is located on this side of the pivot axis (8).

Abstract: A pulling apparatus and a method with which especially heavy crystals (5) can be pulled using the Czochralski method utilizing the pulling apparatus. For this purpose the neck (4) of the crystal (5) has an enlargement (10) beneath which extends the support device. This device includes latches (7), which are moved from a resting position into an operating position in which the latches (7) extend beneath the enlargement (10). Each latch (7) is supported on the base body such that it is swivellable about a pivot axis (8) and can assume two stable positions, namely the resting position and the operating position. Each of these positions is defined by a stop on the base body. When the latch rests on the one stop, its center of gravity, viewed from the neck (4), is located on the other side of the pivot axis (8). When the latch rests on the other stop, the center of gravity is located on this side of the pivot axis (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to producing a melt that is as homogeneous as possible, to which fresh material in the form of granulate is continuously supplied. Since the granulate is cooler than the melt, heat sinks form that are especially pronounced when the granulate forms clumps in the melt. Therefore, the invention relates to a means for distributing the granulate. In one aspect, the means are inductors arranged outside the melting crucible that generate an alternating magnetic field in the melt. In this way, electrical currents are induced there that, in turn, cause the material flows. In one aspect, the inductors are arranged and controlled in such a way that a rapid distribution of the granulate is effected and thus its rapid melting. In this way, good homogeneity is achieved, especially in the center of the melt where the removal of the melted material also occurs.

Abstract: The invention presented here relates to a crystal growing equipment. It is equipped in general with a resistance heater for heating a melt (13) as well as with field coils, which generate alternating magnetic field in a crucible, with which flows can be induced in the melt (13). The invention is so designed that the resistance heaters are also devised to function as the field coils, that is, they are built of a hollow cylindrical body (1), in which, by means of a surrounding slit (2) which winds around it, a spiral-shaped single layer current path is formed. This has the advantage that the current needed for the electrical heating in the equipment is also used for the generation of the magnetic field. Thus, neither separate field coils nor a separate current supply is necessary. Further, the resistance heater, which serves as the field coil arranged as a coil array, is high temperature resistant and surrounds the immediate hot core zone of the equipment and thus the region of the melt.

Abstract: A device and process for the determination of the diameters of a crystal that is pulled from a liquified material. In this connection several video cameras are provided, each of which reproduces its own section along the vertical axis of the crystal or in a direction vertical to it. The image angles of the camera are laid out in such a way that the object to be reproduced completely fills the entire picture plane—at least in one direction. For objects with a small diameter; e.g., the crystal neck, a camera with a small image angle is used, while for objects with a large diameter; e.g., the crystal body, a camera with a large image angle is used.

Abstract: A crystal pulling unit for the production of a crystal block has a recharging tube (7), via which granulate (17) enters into a crucible (2) with a melt (3), located within a container (1). This recharging tube (7) has an annular space (20) between an inner wall (18) and an outer wall (19), which is open on the lower front side of the recharging tube (7) and is connected with the protective gas source (13) to supply protective gas. This protective gas cools the recharging tube (7) and around its outlet, forms a gas mist that prevents the entry of finer fractions of the charging material into the pulling space.

Abstract: A crystal pulling unit for the production of a crystal block has a recharging tube (7), via which granulate (17) is introduced into a crucible (2) with a melt (3), located inside a container (1). A fine-dust separator (8) is located in the recharging tube (7) outside the container (1); the separator works like an air classifier and, by means of a protective gas cushion, removes fine dusts from the granulate (17). This counters the danger of clogging of the recharging tube (7) by the caking of the recharging material.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a melt for the production of crystals. A camera is provided which images at least portions of the surface of the contents of a crucible. An evaluating device is used to evaluate the camera's images with respect to solid and liquid portions of the surface of the crucible contents.