Abstract: A method of and a system for determining a maximum brake pipe service reduction in the brake system of a train having a pneumatic brake on each car connected to a brake pipe which is controlled by a brake pipe controller. The method includes determining the status of the brake system throughout the train and determining a maximum brake pipe reduction for the brake pipe controller, using the status of the brake system, above which further reduction will not result in further brake application in the train.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 11, 2001
Publication date:
January 9, 2003
Applicant:
New York Air Brake Corporation
Inventors:
Edmund R. Peterson, Michael J. Hawthorne
Abstract: A method of connecting pipes in a fluid-tight end-to-end relationship and a universal pipe coupler that maintain the pipe ends proximate one another as the coupler simultaneously aligns the ends of the pipes and draws the pipes into a fluid tight sealing relationship with the universal pipe coupler colorable with frictional engaging collars or fixedly engaging collars to hold the pipe in position.
Abstract: A system and method for controlling the power of a transmitter helps to ensure that the transmitted signal is within the dynamic range of the intended receiver. The transmitted signal is received by the receiver. The received signal strength is measured to determine its power level in relation to the dynamic range of the receiver. Where the signal strength is too high, the transmitter is slewed to effectively decrease its pointing accuracy, thereby causing a lower-power portion of the transmitted signal to impinge upon the receiver. Similarly, where the signal strength falls below a desired level, the transmitter is slewed back toward the center-pointing position, effectively increasing its pointing accuracy, and thereby increasing the signal strength received at the receiver.
Abstract: An electrostatic fluid accelerator having a multiplicity of closely spaced corona electrodes. The close spacing of such corona electrodes is obtainable because such corona electrodes are isolated from one another with exciting electrodes. Either the exciting electrode must be placed asymmetrically between adjacent corona electrodes or an accelerating electrode must be employed. The accelerating electrode can be either an attracting or a repelling electrode. Preferably, the voltage between the corona electrodes and the exciting electrodes is maintained between the corona onset voltage and the breakdown voltage with a flexible top high-voltage power supply. Optionally, however, the voltage between the corona electrodes and the exciting electrodes can be varied, even outside the range between the corona onset voltage and the breakdown voltage, in to vary the flow of fluid.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 1999
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2003
Assignee:
Kronos Air Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Robert L. Fuhriman, Jr.
Abstract: The present invention is a composition for deposition of a mixed metal or metal compound layer, comprising a solventless mixture of at least two metal-ligand complex precursors, wherein the mixture is liquid at ambient conditions and the ligands are the same and are selected from the group consisting of alkyls, alkoxides, halides, hydrides, amides, imides, azides cyclopentadienyls, carbonyls, and their fluorine, oxygen and nitrogen substituted analogs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 10, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2003
Assignee:
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Inventors:
Yoshihide Senzaki, David Allen Roberts, John Anthony Thomas Norman, Arthur Kenneth Hochberg
Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake assembly for a vehicle having an air spring wherein a brake signal operates a brake cylinder of the vehicle. A proportioning valve, having its load responsive element disabled and being responsive to the brake signal, provides a proportioned brake signal to the brake cylinder. A switch, responsive to an air spring pressure signal selectively connects the brake signal to the brake cylinder. The present invention further relates to a method for retrofitting a brake system by disabling the load sensing element of a proportioning valve and inserting a switch in parallel with the proportioning valve.
Abstract: A process for disinfecting and preserving a food commodity includes the steps of applying antimicrobial chemicals to the surface of the food commodity followed by subjecting the food commodity to a quick-chilling process. The chilling process creates a partial vacuum within the interior regions of the food commodity to create a driving force that assists the diffusion of the antimicrobial chemicals into the food commodity. In a preferred embodiment, the food commodity is chilled from about room temperature to about 10° C. or below in a period of time of less than about ten minutes. Once the chilling process is complete, the food commodity can be subjected to further processing steps, such as refrigeration or freezing, or other processing, such as cutting, sorting, and storage.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 28, 2001
Publication date:
January 2, 2003
Applicant:
American Air Liquide Inc. and L`Air Liquide
Abstract: A vehicular coupler comprises a head for coupling to an opposed, generally identical coupling head of a vehicle for mechanically connecting two vehicles together. Such coupler includes a beam member for connecting to the underside of one of such vehicles. A housing is slideably connected to the beam member and a cushioning device is connected to the coupling head. The coupling head has a rearward extension located in the housing. Primary shear bolts or pins extend through walls of the housing and into the rearward extension of the cushioning device. Secondary shear bolts or pins extend through the beam member and into the housing. Retaining bolts are secured to the housing and have upper portions located above an upper surface of the housing. A longitudinal relief area is provided in the beam member, with the upper portions of the retaining bolts being located in the relief area.
Abstract: The process of mitigation of spacecraft surface charging using polar molecules is invented. There exists a class of polar molecules which are electro-negative. This class includes the halocarbons, and includes the fluorocarbon refrigerants. They readily pick up electrons and become negatively charged molecules. In this invention, neutral polar molecular liquid is sprayed in fine mist form onto negatively charged spacecraft surfaces. The molecules pick up the electrons and evaporate away with the electrons.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of the Air Force
Abstract: The present invention is a more efficient compressor control system and a more efficient method of operating a multiple compressor system because the method and control system are a function of both the system pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the system. Specifically, a compressor is loaded or unloaded from the compressor system after sensing the actual system pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. The inventor(s) of the present invention have discovered that it is more efficient to control the compressors upon sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid. Moreover, controlling the compressor system in response to sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid insures that the appropriate blend of compressors is loaded to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity.
Abstract: A global positioning system that actively guides blind pedestrians and military/police forces. This system uses DoD Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide user position and navigation to centimeter accuracy. Present position and navigation requests are digitally cellular telephoned to a central “base station” where data is correlated with a computerized map database which holds names and coordinates of specific locations, such as streets; intersections; traffic lights; hospitals; bathrooms; public telephones; and internal layouts of major buildings and facilities, in selected regions, cities, and neighborhoods. System operates by user entering desired destination into hand-held unit via voice recognition software or using Braille keyboard. Hand-held unit then transmits present position (PP) GPS satellite signals and desired destination to a base station which contains map database and surveyor quality GPS computer system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 25, 2001
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of the Air Force
Abstract: Complex mixed metal containing thin films can be deposited by CVD from liquid mixtures of metal complexes without solvent by direct liquid injection and by other precursor dispersing method such as aerosol delivery with subsequent annealing to improve electrical properties of the deposited films. This process has potential for commercial success in microelectronics device fabrication of dielectrics, ferroelectrics, barrier metals/electrodes, superconductors, catalysts, and protective coatings. Application of this process, particularly the CVD of ZrSnTiOx (zirconium tin titanate, or ZTT) and HfSnTiOx (hafnium tin titanate, or HTT) thin films has been studied successfully.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 10, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Inventors:
Yoshihide Senzaki, Arthur Kenneth Hochberg, David Allen Roberts, John Anthony Thomas Norman, Glenn Baldwin Alers, Robert McLemore Fleming
Abstract: A luminescent ovulation/menstrual cycle adjustment process to entrain preselected biorhythms with a scheduled regimen of photic stimulation. This process is performed by subjecting a woman subject to a nocturnal light exposure that corresponds exactly to a lunar cycle of 29.5-days.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 9, 2001
Date of Patent:
December 24, 2002
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of the Air Force