Silicon compound process and apparatus

Claim 1

IN THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ORGANOCHLOROSILANES BY THE PASSAGE OF AN ORGANIC CHLORIDE THROUGH A FLUIDIZED BED COMPRISING FLUIDIZABLE SILICON PARTICLES IN WHICH PROCESS MAKE-UP SILICON IS FED TO SAID FLUIDIZED BED, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES (1) FEEDING TO SAID FLUIDIZED BED MAKE-UP SILICON HAVING AN AVERAGE PARTICLE SIZE GREATER THAN THE AVERAGE PARTICLE SIZE OF THE SILICON PARTICLES IN SAID FLUIDIZED BED AND (2) COMMINUTING AT LEAST INTERMITTENTLY IN A NON-OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SILICON FROM SAID FLUIDIZED BED, AND (3) AND THEREAFTER FURTHER EMPLOYING IN SAID FLUIDIZED BED THE RESULTING COMMINUTED PORTION OF THE SILICON FROM SAID FLUIDIZED BED, THE DEGREE OF COMMINUTION OF SAID SILICON BEING ADJUSTED TO MAINTAIN A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT AVERAGE PARTICLE SIZE FOR THE SILICON COMPRISING SAID FLUIDIZED BED.