Patent ID: 8691013

Claim:
A crystal puller for melting silicon and forming a single crystal silicon ingot, the crystal puller comprising: a crucible for containing molten silicon, the crucible having an open top portion; and a feed tool for shielding a portion of the crystal puller during charging of the crucible with silicon, the tool comprising: a cylinder having an inner surface and an annular ledge formed in a portion of the inner surface, the cylinder having a diameter at the annular ledge that is less than a diameter of the cylinder at the inner surface; and a plate positioned on the annular ledge, the plate comprising a first section separate from a second section, the first section and the second section operable to move laterally with respect to each other, the plate having a central opening formed in at least one of the first section and the second section, wherein a portion of the first section and a portion of the second section overlap one another.