Abstract: A silicon carbide product by converting carbon preforms by utilizing a reactor apparatus (10) adapted for continuously producing molten, solar grade purity elemental silicon by thermal reaction of a suitable precursor gas, such as silane (SiH.sub.4), is disclosed. The reactor apparatus (10) includes an elongated reactor body (32) having graphite or carbon walls which are heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of silicon. The precursor gas enters the reactor body (32) through an efficiently cooled inlet tube assembly (22) and a relatively thin carbon or graphite septum (44). The septum (44), being in contact on one side with the cooled inlet (22) and the heated interior of the reactor (32) on the other side, provides a sharp temperature gradient for the precursor gas entering the reactor (32) and renders the operation of the inlet tube assembly (22) substantially free of clogging. The precursor gas flows in the reactor (32) in a substantially smooth, substantially axial manner.

Abstract: An exhaust control system for assisting in discharging exhaust gases to control exhaust noise and increase engine performance by reducing back-pressure and lower piston exhaust resistance, and rapidly lowering the temperature of exhaust gases in internal combustion engines and of superheated gases or fluids in other thermodynamic processes through a uniquely short transit distance. The system is comprised of a housing having a aerodynamically designed air intake section, a dual section rotary hollow blade assembly, and an exhaust section. The intake section has a ball mouth designed to accelerate intake air into the dual section rotary blade assembly receiving exhaust gases or superheated steam or fluids. The accelerated air and rotary blade draw exhaust gases from the engine exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine and expel them through an exhaust section. The rotary hollow blades are driven by a belt driven pulley and shaft extending outside the intake section.

Abstract: A process for converting in depth a carbon or graphite preform object to a silicon carbide object, silicon carbide/silicon object, silicon carbide/carbon-core object, or a silicon carbide/silicon/carbon-core object, by contacting it with silicon liquid and vapor over various lengths of contact time in a reaction chamber. In the process, a stream comprised of a silicon-containing precursor material in gaseous phase below the decomposition temperature of said gas and a coreactant, carrier or diluent gas such as hydrogen is passed through a hole within a high emissivity, thin, insulating septum into the reaction chamber above the melting point of silicon. The thin septum has one face below the decomposition temperature of the gas and an opposite face exposed to the reaction chamber. Thus, the precursor gas is decomposed directly to silicon in the reaction chamber. Any stream of decomposition gas and any unreacted precursor gas from the reaction chamber is removed.

Abstract: A process for coating a carbon or graphite object with silicon carbide by contacting it with silicon liquid and vapor over various lengths of contact time. In the process, a stream of silicon-containing precursor material in gaseous phase below the decomposition temperature of said gas and a co-reactant, carrier or diluent gas such as hydrogen is passed through a hole within a high emissivity, thin, insulating septum into a reaction chamber above the melting point of silicon. The thin septum has one face below the decomposition temperature of the gas and an opposite face exposed to the reaction chamber. The precursor gas is decomposed directly to silicon in the reaction chamber. A stream of any decomposition gas and any unreacted precursor gas from said reaction chamber is removed. The object within the reaction chamber is then contacted with silicon, and recovered after it has been coated with silicon carbide.

Abstract: A reactor apparatus (10) adapted for continuously producing molten, solar grade purity elemental silicon by thermal reaction of a suitable precursor gas, such as silane (SiH.sub.4), is disclosed. The reactor apparatus (10) includes an elongated reactor body (32) having graphite or carbon walls which are heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of silicon. The precursor gas enters the reactor body (32) through an efficiently cooled inlet tube assembly (22) and a relatively thin carbon or graphite septum (44). The septum (44), being in contact on one side with the cooled inlet (22) and the heated interior of the reactor (32) on the other side, provides a sharp temperature gradient for the precursor gas entering the reactor (32) and renders the operation of the inlet tube assembly (22) substantially free of clogging. The precursor gas flows in the reactor (32) in a substantially smooth, substantially axial manner.

Abstract: A single pass fracture planting system comprised of a tractor which tows a subsoil fracture tiller and a drawn multi-function planter drawn by a unique hydraulically controlled hitch system. The tractor draws a subsoil fracture tilling system comprised of a plurality of plows which fracture the soil to a depth of approximately one and a half feet while leaving surface residue largely undisturbed. The suboil fracture blades are mounted on a platform having a storage tank for anhydrous delivered to the soil through tubes mounted on the shanks of the fracture tiller blades. A multi-function drawn planter is drawn behind the subsoil fracture tiller by a hitch system having a hydraulically controlled drawbar. The hitch system is comprised of a frame having a drawbar pivotally mounted and hydraulically damped at one end with the opposite end being free to swing from side to side in a controlled fashion. Drawbar locking hydraulic cylinders center the planter during a planting pass.

Abstract: An automatic main seam feeding and folding device which has an automatic feeding and folding die which folds two adjacent edges of fabric to form a fell seam and feeds the fabric seam to a sewing machine while maintaining the proper tension and edge alignment. The feeding and folding die folds the adjacent fabric edges from an initial zero degrees of fold to a final overlapping interlocking 180 degree fold to form a main seam and includes tractor dogs along the right and left sides of the die block to continously feed the fabric material. The tractor dogs push the material along the outside of a straight solid die block with the fabric edges to be folded moving within a slot which encloses and contains the fabric spacially. The feeding and folding die is made sufficiently long to enable the two fabric edges to be gradually folded from a parallel planar flat position at the die mouth to a 180 degree, one inch interlocking four layer folded fell seam configuration at the die terminus or nose.

Abstract: This gardener's hand tool has a double-ended head at one end of a handle. One end edge of the head is beveled to form a cutting hoe-like blade and the other end is provided with spaced tines which are rounded in cross-section to form tapered wedge-shaped recesses for receiving and pulling weeds and roots. The handle is rigidly secured to the head and the latter is bent at two places to dispose the cutting blade and tines at a critical angle relative to the handle to secure the most efficient operation of the tool. A unique connection between the head and handle prevents the rotation in and/or separation of the latter from the head.