Heating apparatus

Claim 2

A heating apparatus comprising: a refractory block member enclosing objects to be processed; a heating element which is embedded in said refractory block member and formed in a spring coiled shape, having a diameter less than the thickness of said refractory block member; an inner cover made of a metallic material and located outside said refractory block member; a cooling means located outside said inner cover; an outer cover made of a metallic material and located outside said cooling means; a terminal which is electrically connected to an end portion of said heating element for supplying electric power to said heating element, and which passes through said inner cover and said outer cover, said terminal being fixed to said outer cover through an insulating member and left free from said inner cover; and a power supply electrically connected to said terminal, and for supplying electric power to said heating element.

Claim 3

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising, a flange made of thermally conductive material and connected to an open end of the refractory block to transmit heat to both of the inner and outer covers.

Claim 4

The heating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said flange is made of aluminium alloy.

Claim 5

The heating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said flange is made of stainless steel.

Claim 6

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner and outer covers are made of aluminium alloy.

Claim 7

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner and outer covers are made of stainless steel.

Claim 8

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coil pitch of each of said heating elements can be changed in each of heating zones in a heat processing section.

Claim 9

The heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said heat processing section includes first, second and third heating zones arranged in series, said heating element has three coils located in the first, second and third heating zones, and the second coil has a turn pitch greater than that of the first and third coils.

Claim 10

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating member arranged between the inner cover and the refractory block member.

Claim 11

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of each of said heating elements is smaller than that of each of said terminals.

Claim 12

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control means is connected to the power supply to control the amount of electric power supplied to the heating element.

Claim 13

The heating apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a temperature detecting sensor provided in every zone in the heat processing section and these sensors are connected to the control means.

Claim 14

The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is embedded in said refractory block member.

Claim 15

A vertical-type CVD apparatus comprising: a refractory block member embedded in a spring coil-shaped resistant heating element enclosing objects to be processed, said refractory block member having an opening at the lower end thereof; the coil diameter of said heating element being less than the thickness of said refractory block member; a process tube enclosed by said resistant heating element, keeping its longitudinal axis vertical; an inner cover made of a metallic material, and located outside said refractory block member; a cooling means located outside said inner cover; an outer cover made of a metallic material, and located outside said cooling means; a terminal which is electrically connected to an end portion of said heating element for supplying electric power to said heating element, and which passes through said inner cover and said outer cover, said terminal being fixed to said outer cover through an insulating member and left free from said inner cover; and a power supply electrically connected to said terminal, for supplying electric power to said heating element.

Claim 16

A vertical-type CVD apparatus comprising: a refractory block member embedded in a spring coil-shaped resistant heating element enclosing objects to be processed, said refractory block member having an opening at the lower end thereof; the coil diameter of said heating element being less than the thickness of said refractory block member; a process tube enclosed by said resistant heating element, keeping its longitudinal axis vertical; an inner cover made of a metallic material, and located outside said refractory block member; a cooling means located outside said inner cover; an outer cover made of a metallic material, and located outside said cooling means; a terminal which is electrically connected to an end portion of said heating element for supplying electric power to said heating element, and which passes through said inner cover and said outer cover, said terminal being fixed to said outer cover through an insulating member and left free from said inner cover; and a power supply electrically connected to said terminal, for supplying electric power to said heating element.