Abstract: A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

Abstract: A fluid containment system comprises a frame, a tank, a rear suspension system, a front lifting assembly, a cooperative coupling mechanism adapted to couple the fluid containment system to a vehicle, and a rear lifting assembly. The front lifting assembly is adapted to lift the front of the tank. The rear lifting assembly is adapted to lift the rear of the tank. The fluid containment system comprises a working condition and a mobile condition. A lower portion of the frame rests on a surface when the mobile fluid containment system is in the working condition. The lower portion of the frame is elevated with respect to the surface when the mobile fluid containment system is in the mobile condition. The fluid containment system is adapted to be towed by the vehicle when the cooperative coupling mechanism is coupled to the vehicle and the fluid containment system is in the mobile condition.

Abstract: A portable stop sign apparatus with attention-getting features to warn motorists of pedestrians in a walkway, the sign having a front side and a rear side, each of which have top portion containing a single pedestrian symbol structure lighted by strobe lights, a center portion containing a plurality of pedestrian symbol structures lighted sequentially from left to right to resemble a walking pedestrian, and a bottom portion having a lighted “STOP” lighting structure. The stop sign is mounted on a pole that is mounted to a stand, the pole having a pole plug on a lower end thereof that engages a stand plug. A battery housing is disposed atop the stand.

Abstract: Damping and sealing of the quill shaft (30) that transmits torque from one rotating component to another as for example in a pitch change actuator system for aeronautical propellers is provided by an O-ring (40) mounted in the space between the end of ball screw (20) and the flange (41) radially extending from quill shaft (30) and the preload of the O-ring (40) provided by the shims (46) bearing against flange (41) and O-ring (40) which serves to enhance the wearability of splines (26, 28 and 50).

Abstract: Elongate articles of non-circular cross section such as those of an airfoil cross section are constructed by winding filamentary material in layers about a form between a pair of spaced turnarounds generally conforming in shape to the cross sectional shape of the form. Adjacent layers are continuously wound by winding the filamentary material across the edges and outer face of each turnaround while reversing the direction of relative longitudinal displacement between the filamentary material and the form. The shape correspondence between the turnarounds and the form effect a minimization of expanse between the turnaround edge and form surface, thereby minimizing bridging of the filamentary material between those two members.

Abstract: Filament band width uniformity is maintained in a filament winding process and apparatus therefor by a guide disposed between a winding eye and the mandrel about which the filaments are wound. The guide maintains a constant band payout angle with respect to the eye thereby maintaining uniform transverse reaction forces applied to the band by the eye.

Abstract: A hollow, stiff, one-piece filament-reinforced composite mandrel of nonuniform wall thickness for a wind turbine blade spar is comprised of bonded inner and outer filament-reinforced shells. The inner shell is fabricated by bonding together separately formed tubular halves. The outer shell is built up on the outer surface of the inner shell preferably by judicious winding of a plurality of turns of filament-reinforced epoxy resin material.