Patent ID: 6942733

Claim:
A fluid sealing system for use in a crystal puller for growing a monocrystalline ingot from molten semiconductor source material, the crystal puller having a housing enclosing a crystal growth chamber, a crucible contained in the growth chamber for holding the molten semiconductor source material, a heater in thermal communication with the crucible for heating the crucible, a pulling mechanism positioned above the crucible for pulling the ingot from the molten source material held by the crucible, a fluid flow path contained in the housing, and a fluid passage through a wall of the housing for passage of fluid between outside the housing and the fluid flow path, the fluid sealing system comprising: a fluid connector head adapted for connection to the fluid passage and to the fluid flow path to establish fluid communication between the fluid flow path and the outside of the housing, the head having a port adapted for fluid communication with the fluid passage through the wall of the housing, a first seal around the port and adapted for sealing engagement with the head, a second seal around the port and adapted for sealing engagement with the head, a space defined generally between the first and second seals, and a leak detector arranged to monitor the space for detecting fluid leakage past at least one of the first and second seals.