Abstract: A method of using a survey system comprising at least one sensor. The method comprises operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a first resolution level while the sensor is a first distance relative to the Earth's surface and operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a second resolution level while the sensor is a second distance relative to the Earth's surface. The second distance is larger than the first distance. The second resolution level is higher than the first resolution level.

Abstract: A membrane air dryer includes a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet, a sweep air inlet and a sweep air outlet; and a membrane separator having surfaces extending between and having an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the air inlet and the air outlet. A sweep air passage in the housing extends between first and second ends of the membrane along and includes surfaces of the membrane. The sweep air passage has an inlet adjacent the air outlet and has an outlet adjacent the air inlet and connected to the sweep air outlet. A volume is concentric to the membrane separator, has an inlet connected to the outlet of the membrane separator and has an outlet connected to the sweep air inlet. The filter may be mounted in a reservoir with the membrane separator extending into the reservoir.

Abstract: A train including a brake pipe (14) and an electrical train line (50) extending from at least one locomotive through at least first and second cars which are adjacent to each other, the first and second cars each include a brake cylinder, reservoir and a brake valve The first car includes an electro-pneumatic brake valve which is responsive to electric signals on the train line to produce a first car pneumatic apply brake signal from the first reservoir and release brake signal for the first brake cylinder and the brake signal pipe (33) The first car also includes a first valve (31) to transmit the first brake signals to the brake signal pipe and to isolate the connection to the brake signal pipe for a breakaway at one of the cars The second car includes a pneumatic brake control valve which is responsive to the first car pneumatic brake signals on the brake signal pipe and brake pipe pressure m the brake pipe to produce a second car pneumatic apply and release brake signals for the second brake cylinder corr

Abstract: A train including a brake pipe (14) and an electrical train line (50) extending from at least one locomotive through at least first and second cars which are adjacent to each other, the first and second cars each include a brake cylinder, reservoir and a brake valve The first car includes an electro-pneumatic brake valve which is responsive to electric signals on the train line to produce a first car pneumatic apply brake signal from the first reservoir and release brake signal for the first brake cylinder and the brake signal pipe (33) The first car also includes a first valve (31) to transmit the first brake signals to the brake signal pipe and to isolate the connection to the brake signal pipe for a breakaway at one of the cars The second car includes a pneumatic brake control valve which is responsive to the first car pneumatic brake signals on the brake signal pipe and brake pipe pressure m the brake pipe to produce a second car pneumatic apply and release brake signals for the second brake cylinder corr

Abstract: An air dryer includes a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet and a liquid drain outlet; and a membrane separator having surfaces extending between a first and second ends of the membrane. A first passage in the housing is connected to the air inlet and air outlet at it respective ends and extends between the first and second ends of the membrane separator along the surfaces of the membrane separator. A second passage in the housing is connected to the drain outlet and air outlet at it respective ends and extends between the first and second ends of the membrane along a surface of the membrane separator. A valve is connected between the second passage and the drain outlet for controlling the draining of the liquid and sweep air flow through the second passage. The dryer is to be inserted in a reservoir at its inlet or outlet. A coalescing filter may be provided in the housing in series with the membrane separator and the housing would include a second drain for the coalescing filter.

Abstract: A remote radio railroad car located within or at the end of the train that charges or exhausts the brake pipe in response to radio commands from the lead unit. The brake pipe control system includes a first controller at a first car at the lead end for controlling the brake pipe at the first car and transmitting, via a radio link, brake pipe control signals to a second controller in a remote car in the train. The second controller controls the brake pipe at the remote car in response to the brake pipe control signals from the first controller. If the second controller is on the last car and the last car does not include an independent end of train device, the second controller transmits brake pipe condition signals to the first controller. If the second controller is on the last car and the last car does include an independent end of train device, the first controller established separate communication links with the second controller and the end of train device.

Abstract: A membrane air dryer includes a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet, a sweep air inlet and a sweep air outlet; and a membrane separator having surfaces extending between and having an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the air inlet and the air outlet. A sweep air passage in the housing extends between first and second ends of the membrane along and includes surfaces of the membrane. The sweep air passage has an inlet adjacent the air outlet and has an outlet adjacent the air inlet and connected to the sweep air outlet. A volume is concentric to the membrane separator, has an inlet connected to the outlet of the membrane separator and has an outlet connected to the sweep air inlet. The filter may be mounted in a reservoir with the membrane separator extending into the reservoir.

Abstract: A relay valve configuration which can be used with various cars in an electropneumatic train and under the control of one of the electropneumatic brake control valves. The improved brake control valve includes a relay valve mounted at an interface of the manifold. The valve has a source inlet connected to the reservoir interface port, an inlet connected to atmosphere, an outlet connected to the brake cylinder interface port and a control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port. The valve is responsive to the control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port to selectively connect the brake cylinder interface port either to the reservoir interface port or atmosphere. The exhaust interface port in AAR is known as the retainer port. A check valve/choke is also mounted on the manifold of the interface and is in the same housing as the relay valve.

Abstract: A filter includes a housing having an air inlet, an air outlet, a first chamber and a second chamber concentric to and interior the first chamber. A coalescer is in the first chamber and a first filter is in the second chamber. A first inlet of the first chamber is interior the coalescer and connected to the air inlet and a first outlet of the first chamber being exterior the coalescer. A second inlet of the second chamber is interior the first filter and connected to the first outlet of the first chamber and a second outlet of the second chamber is exterior the first filter and connected to the air outlet. The filter includes a membrane separator in the housing connecting the second outlet of the second chamber and the air outlet. The filter may be mounted in a reservoir with the membrane separator extending into the reservoir.

Abstract: The membrane air dryer includes a housing with an air inlet adjacent a first end of the housing, an air outlet adjacent a second end of the housing, a sweep air inlet and a sweep air outlet. A membrane separator has surfaces extending between and connected to the air inlet and the air outlet. A first sweep air passage in the housing extends between the first and second ends of the membrane along and including surfaces of the membrane. The first sweep air passage has an inlet adjacent the air outlet and an outlet adjacent the air inlet and connected to the sweep air outlet. The sweep air inlet and outlet is adjacent the air inlet. A second sweep air passage in the housing extends between the first and second ends of the membrane. The second sweep air passage has an inlet that is connected to the sweep air inlet and is adjacent the air inlet and has an outlet that is adjacent the air outlet and in fluid communication with the inlet of the first sweep air passage.

Abstract: A relay valve configuration which can be used with various cars in an electropneumatic train and under the control of one of the electropneumatic brake control valves. The improved brake control valve includes a relay valve mounted at an interface of the manifold. The valve has a source inlet connected to the reservoir interface port, an inlet connected to atmosphere, an outlet connected to the brake cylinder interface port and a control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port. The valve is responsive to the control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port to selectively connect the brake cylinder interface port either to the reservoir interface port or atmosphere. The exhaust interface port may be the retainer port. A check valve/choke is also mounted on the manifold of the interface and is in the same housing as the relay valve.

Abstract: A method of using a survey system comprising at least one sensor. The method comprises operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a first resolution level while the sensor is a first distance relative to the Earth's surface and operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a second resolution level while the sensor is a second distance relative to the Earth's surface. The second distance is larger than the first distance. The second resolution level is higher than the first resolution level.

Abstract: A system, a user interface and computer-readable media for associating metadata with digital media. Tags are associated with single-action user inputs. Entry of one of the single-action user inputs is detected. The tag associated with the detected input is stored as metadata associated with a selected item of digital media.

Abstract: A relay valve configuration which can be used with various cars in an electropneumatic train and under the control of one of the electropneumatic brake control valves. The improved brake control valve includes a relay valve mounted at an interface of the manifold. The valve has a source inlet connected to the reservoir interface port, an inlet connected to atmosphere, an outlet connected to the brake cylinder interface port and a control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port. The valve is responsive to the control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port to selectively connect the brake cylinder interface port either to the reservoir interface port or atmosphere. The exhaust interface port in AAR is known as the retainer port. A check valve/choke is also mounted on the manifold of the interface and is in the same housing as the relay valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining an orientation of a drilling tool of a drilling system configured to drill a borehole into the Earth's surface. The method includes providing a survey system including at least one sensor within the drilling system. The sensor is configured to provide orientation information. The survey system is operable at a plurality of resolution levels. The method further includes operating the survey system at a first resolution level while the drilling tool is a first distance relative to the surface. The method further includes operating the survey system at a second resolution level while the drilling tool is a second distance relative to the surface. The second distance is larger than the first distance. The second resolution level is higher than the first resolution level.

Abstract: A remote radio railroad car located within or at the end of the train that charges or exhausts the brake pipe in response to radio commands from the lead unit. The brake pipe control system includes a first controller at a first car at the lead end for controlling the brake pipe at the first car and transmitting, via a radio link, brake pipe control signals to a second controller in a remote car in the train. The second controller controls the brake pipe at the remote car in response to the brake pipe control signals from the first controller. If the second controller is on the last car and the last car does not include an independent end of train device, the second controller transmits brake pipe condition signals to the first controller. If the second controller is on the last car and the last car does include an independent end of train device, the first controller established separate communication links with the second controller and the end of train device.

Abstract: A throwable toy device consisting of a generally tube-shaped body having a baffle defined on one end of the body, wherein the baffle defines an opening therein restricting the flow of air through the tube-shaped body, thereby providing aerodynamic stability to the device. The body of the device also has a spring integral therewith which allows the compression of the body of the device. The device is propelled away from the thrower by holding the device in a compressed position with both hands and propelling the device away from the body of the thrower in a motion similar to a two-handed basketball pass, with a combination of the throwing force and the decompression of the spring determining the speed, distance and trajectory of the device.

Abstract: A relay valve configuration which can be used with various cars in an electropneumatic train and under the control of one of the electropneumatic brake control valves. The improved brake control valve includes a relay valve mounted at an interface of the manifold. The valve has a source inlet connected to the reservoir interface port, an inlet connected to atmosphere, an outlet connected to the brake cylinder interface port and a control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port. The valve is responsive to the control inlet connected to the exhaust interface port to selectively connect the brake cylinder interface port either to the reservoir interface port or atmosphere. The exhaust interface port in AAR is known as the retainer port. A check valve/choke is also mounted on the manifold of the interface and is in the same housing as the relay valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining an orientation of a drilling tool of a drilling system configured to drill a borehole into the Earth's surface. The method includes providing a survey system including at least one sensor within the drilling system. The sensor is configured to provide orientation information. The survey system is operable at a plurality of resolution levels. The method further includes operating the survey system at a first resolution level while the drilling tool is a first distance relative to the surface. The method further includes operating the survey system at a second resolution level while the drilling tool is a second distance relative to the surface. The second distance is larger than the first distance. The second resolution level is higher than the first resolution level.

Abstract: Wellbore survey methods and apparatus for wireline and measurement-while-drilling operations are disclosed which include a gyroscope, wherein the gyroscope has a spin axis, aligned with the instrument axis, and further having two sensitive axis orthogonally related to the spin axis and to each other. In addition, the wellbore survey apparatus contains a drive means, functionally connected with the gyroscope, to rotate the gyro about the instrument axis. The wellbore survey apparatus also contains a set of accelerometers, wherein the sensitive axis are aligned orthogonally to each other, and said drive means is functionally connected to the accelerometers to rotate the accelerometers about the instrument axis. Sensors determine the azimuthal direction of inclination of the wellbore at a first location therein and while traversing from said first location.