Patent ID: 6030457
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
A substrate processing apparatus comprising:a reaction vessel in which a substrate is processed using a processing gas;substrate support means for supporting the substrate in the reaction vessel;a drive shaft extending from the substrate support means downward through a bottom lid closing a bottom opening of the reaction vessel;a casing disposed below the reaction vessel and having a bore for receiving the drivea bearing unit disposed below the reaction vessel and within said casing, to support the drive shaft;magnetic sealing means within said casing on a side of the reaction vessel relative to the bearing unit to provide a nonleaking union between the bore of the casing and the drive shaft;an exhaust passage connected to the bore of the casing at a position on a side of the reaction vessel relative to the magnetic sealing means;a plurality of annular flanges provided on said drive shaft so as to provide a labyrinth in a region of said bore on a side of the reaction vessel relative to the magnetic sealing means, said annular flanges including a first flange nearest to the magnetic sealing means; andan inert gas supply passage connected to the bore of the casing at a position between said magnetic sealing means and said first flange nearest to the magnetic sealing means, to supply an inert gas into the bore.