Abstract: To avoid problems associated with the formation of unwanted cracks and spalls during the growth of a polycrystalline silicon rod, a flaw is induced in a filament on which silicon will be deposited to produce a rod. The flaw causes the grown rod to have a cleavage plane such that the rod will break in a controlled manner at a desired location. The flaw can be placed at a location selected such that breakage at the cleavage plane will produce long rods and thereby improve the yield of the rod growing process. Such a flaw will also have the effect of minimizing useable rod length losses due to spalling.

Abstract: To avoid problems associated with the formation of unwanted cracks and spalls during the growth of a polycrystalline silicon rod, a flaw is induced in a filament on which silicon will bc deposited to produce a rod. The flaw causes the grown rod to have a cleavage plane such that the rod will break in a controlled manner at a desired location. The flaw can be placed at a location selected such that breakage at the cleavage plane will produce long rods and thereby improve the yield of the rod growing process Such a flaw will also have the effect of minimizing useable rod length losses due to spalling.

Abstract: An improved electric boat motor of the type including a propelling motor, a support shaft, and a coupling member for rotatably coupling the support shaft to the boat. The improvement includes an electric steering motor for continuously rotating the support shaft, an electrical energy transfer mechanism for allowing electrical energy to be continuously provided to the propelling motor as the support is continuously rotated, and a switch mechanism for controlling the passage of electrical energy to the steering motor, transfer mechanism and propelling motor.