Abstract: A crystal growing system can include a spool-balanced seed lift assembly for rotating and lifting a seed crystal supported by a cable. The seed crystal is supported along and rotated about a lift axis. The spool-balanced seed lift assembly includes a spool that rotates on, and has a center of gravity along, an axis that intersects the lift axis. As the spool rotates, it moves axially along its axis to avoid displacing the cable from the lift axis. A guide pulley positioned below the spool is used to direct the cable between the lift axis and a spool-tangent axis to minimize displacement of the cable as it is raised and rotated.

Abstract: A lift assembly includes a lift housing, a drum with a helical groove about its exterior surface, and a drive shaft coupled to the drum to cause the drum to rotate. A roller guide mounted to the lift housing engages the helical groove of the drum such that rotation of the drum causes the drum to translate due to the engagement of the helical groove of the drum with the roller guide. The roller guide can be part of a roller guide assembly that includes a mounting plate and a shaft.

Abstract: A vacuum system for silicon crystal growth includes a silicon crystal growth chamber, a first vacuum pipe, a second vacuum pipe, and an oxides container. The first vacuum pipe is coupled to the chamber and has within a first brush that is movable in a first direction for removing internal oxides. The second vacuum pipe is coupled to the first vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the first brush and has within a second brush that is movable in a second direction different from the first direction. The second brush transports the received internal oxides away from the first vacuum pipe. The oxides container is coupled to the second vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the second brush.

Abstract: A vacuum system for silicon crystal growth includes a silicon crystal growth chamber, a first vacuum pipe, a second vacuum pipe, and an oxides container. The first vacuum pipe is coupled to the chamber and has within a first brush that is movable in a first direction for removing internal oxides. The second vacuum pipe is coupled to the first vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the first brush and has within a second brush that is movable in a second direction different from the first direction. The second brush transports the received internal oxides away from the first vacuum pipe. The oxides container is coupled to the second vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the second brush.

Abstract: A lift arm can be rotatably mounted to a crystal growing apparatus to service a hot-zone of the crystal growing apparatus. A low-speed, high-power lift arm actuator can control vertical positioning of the lift arm. Movable clamp arms secured to the lift arm can engage a lip of a furnace tank to facilitate lifting and moving the furnace tank to a desired location by correlated raising, lowering, or rotating of the lift arm. A winch mounted to a distal end of the lift arm can control spooling of a cable that passes through an interior of the lift arm and out an opening between the clamp arms. The cable can include an attachment mechanism for coupling to a crucible. The winch can thus lift the crucible at vertical speeds far in excess of the lift arm actuator's vertical speed.

Abstract: A vacuum system for silicon crystal growth includes a silicon crystal growth chamber, a first vacuum pipe, a second vacuum pipe, and an oxides container. The first vacuum pipe is coupled to the chamber and has within a first brush that is movable in a first direction for removing internal oxides. The second vacuum pipe is coupled to the first vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the first brush and has within a second brush that is movable in a second direction different from the first direction. The second brush transports the received internal oxides away from the first vacuum pipe. The oxides container is coupled to the second vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the second brush.

Abstract: A crystal growing system can include a spool-balanced seed lift assembly for rotating and lifting a seed crystal supported by a cable. The seed crystal is supported along and rotated about a lift axis. The spool-balanced seed lift assembly includes a spool that rotates on, and has a center of gravity along, an axis that intersects the lift axis. As the spool rotates, it moves axially along its axis to avoid displacing the cable from the lift axis. A guide pulley positioned below the spool is used to direct the cable between the lift axis and a spool-tangent axis to minimize displacement of the cable as it is raised and rotated.

Abstract: A lift assembly includes a lift housing, a drum with a helical groove about its exterior surface, and a drive shaft coupled to the drum to cause the drum to rotate. A roller guide mounted to the lift housing engages the helical groove of the drum such that rotation of the drum causes the drum to translate due to the engagement of the helical groove of the drum with the roller guide. The roller guide can be part of a roller guide assembly that includes a mounting plate and a shaft.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly for use in lifting a seed coupled to a cable includes a mounting plate, a shaft, and a roller guide. The mounting plate has a throughhole. The shaft is coupled to the mounting plate such that the shaft is movable relative to the mounting plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft. The roller guide is rotationally coupled about the shaft and generally positioned within the throughhole of the mounting plate such that at least a portion of the roller guide extends out of the throughhole.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly for use in lifting a seed coupled to a cable includes a mounting plate, a shaft, and a roller guide. The mounting plate has a throughhole. The shaft is coupled to the mounting plate such that the shaft is movable relative to the mounting plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a central axis of the shaft. The roller guide is rotationally coupled about the shaft and generally positioned within the throughhole of the mounting plate such that at least a portion of the roller guide extends out of the throughhole.

Abstract: A vacuum system for silicon crystal growth includes a silicon crystal growth chamber, a first vacuum pipe, a second vacuum pipe, and an oxides container. The first vacuum pipe is coupled to the chamber and has within a first brush that is movable in a first direction for removing internal oxides. The second vacuum pipe is coupled to the first vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the first brush and has within a second brush that is movable in a second direction different from the first direction. The second brush transports the received internal oxides away from the first vacuum pipe. The oxides container is coupled to the second vacuum pipe for receiving the internal oxides via the second brush.

Abstract: A latch (48) for securing a pivotable portion (34) of a foldable corn head (10) to a fixed portion (32) thereof, the latch being actuated to close or open by the folding action of the corn head portions. In closing the latch, a slidable pin actuator (50) on one of the frame portions, which extends beyond the frame is engaged by the other frame portion. The motion of the pin rotates a crank (56) connected by a connecting link (64 to a rotatable overcenter catch (62) extending through a slot (69) in the other frame portion. The crank rotation causes the catch to rotate to engage and secure the other frame portion on its rear surface (70). Opening of the latch is the reverse of closing. Preferably, the lengths of the crank arms (58 & 60), connecting link, catch shaft (67), and the angles therebetween are selected such that the motion of the catch mimics in synchrony the motion of the pin.

Abstract: Parallelogram linkage apparatus for slidably shifting stripper plates in a corn head of a corn harvesting machine to widen or narrow the gap between opposed plates in a row harvester. Each slidable stripper plate has a parallelogram linkage which slidably connects the plate to a supporting frame. The linkage includes two bell cranks pivotably mounted in spaced apart relationship on the frame and connected by an interconnecting arm and having an actuation shaft extending upward from a lobe of each bell crank to engage motion-transforming members at the stripper plate for transforming the arcuate motion of the bell cranks into linear motion of the stripper plate. The upper ends of the actuation shafts are guided in guide elements at the stripper plate elongated in the direction parallel to an edge of the stripper plate.

Abstract: A foldable corn head having separable, matable auger sections which are cantilever suspended from the ends thereof to provide an obstruction-free path for harvested ears of corn being transported by the auger. Outer sections of the corn head are foldable vertically about horizontal hinges to reduce the width of the head for over-the-road travel. Stub auger sections are cantilever mounted from end plates in the pivotable outer corn head sections, at least one of the stub sections being driven by an actuator, such as a hydraulic motor means. The stub sections are provided with coupling elements at their inner ends which are matable with coupling elements in the ends of the main auger section. The elements have non-symmetrically disposed mating pins and bores to form the couplings and to align the ends of the helical auger flanges.