Patent ID: 8281620

Claim:
An apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible, comprising: a mold having an inner surface having a bottom and a cylindrical shape; a mold driving unit for rotating the mold; at least two arc electrodes for generating an arc discharge; and an electrode driving unit for driving the arc electrodes, and fusing and vitrifying a powder molded body formed of silica powder deposited on the inner surface of the mold through a discharge by the arc electrodes, the apparatus further comprising: a lower section for accommodating the mold; an upper section for accommodating the electrode driving unit; and a sectioning member for isolating the upper section and the lower section, the sectioning member having at least one communication path, wherein the communication path is structured for allowing penetration of the arc electrodes; and an air flow controlling unit for controlling air flow in the communication path such that exchange between gas inside the upper section and gas inside the lower section is suppressed, wherein the sectioning member comprises first and second barrier walls having space therebetween, the space being disposed to separate the upper section and the lower section, the communication path is provided in the first and second barrier walls, and the air flow controlling unit comprises an exhaust device for exhausting gas in the space between the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall and an air supply device for supplying gas to the space between the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall.