Patent ID: 8562746

Claim:
A structure for a chemical vapor deposition reactor, the structure comprising: (a) a support element defining oppositely-facing substantially planar upper and lower surfaces and a vertical rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces, the support element having at least one platform projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the support element, the support element having at least one support locating feature including at least one of the platforms; and (b) a plurality of carrier sections releasably engaged with the support element, each carrier section including: oppositely-facing substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and at least one aperture extending between the top and bottom surfaces; an aperture circumferential surface bounding each aperture and extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the carrier section; at least one carrier locating feature engaged with the at least one support locating feature of the support element, the carrier and support locating features being configured to prevent the carrier section from disengaging from the support element when the support element is rotated about the rotational axis; and at least one carrier element projecting inwardly from each aperture circumferential surface, each carrier element configured to hold a wafer, the carrier sections being disposed on the support element with the bottom surfaces of the carrier sections facing toward the upper surface of the support element, so that wafers can be held in the apertures of the carrier sections with one surface of each wafer confronting the support element and an opposite surface exposed at the top surface of the carrier sections, each platform being engaged within a corresponding one of the apertures, wherein a portion of the platform circumferential surface that is closest to the rotational axis defines a first acute angle with respect to the upper surface of the support element.