Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to tracking shipments in a dynamic, mobile environment, more specifically, to tracking shipments using computer vision and navigation sensors. Container yards remain notoriously inefficient as companies waste time and resources searching for shipping containers and inventory poorly located in the container yard. Lack of timely location of assets can lead to misaligned inbound processes, incomplete assembly, missed deliveries and spoiled goods. Many companies have a large gap in visibility and management capabilities between in-transit inventory and the warehouse. Described are systems and techniques for locating and identifying shipping containers or open parking spots in a container yard using computer vision and machine learning algorithms, a camera, and position, navigation, and timing (PNT) sensors.

Abstract: A method for rapidly deploying and erecting a HUD-certified structure includes providing an ISO-certified container. The container includes a container frame including a horizontal floor section, an opposed horizontal roof section and first and second opposed vertical end sections, and a pair of opposed vertically-disposed floor panels. The container frame and the opposed floor panels define an interior cavity with a plurality of dwelling members disposed therein. The method further includes transporting the ISO-certified container to a desired location and forming a HUD-certified structure at the desired location, including manipulating at least some of the dwelling members.

Abstract: The invention is an expandable and contractible, transforming habitable structure, ISO-certified container designed as a single unit with all primary components contained within, to be easily transported by water, air or land (truck and rail) in stacked configurations. The unit of fold-down floors, easy swing-out interior and exterior walls, and an inter-locking roof system, rapidly expands using: specially designed and engineered “box hinges” and “pivot pins.” When expanded, the unit is structurally secured via especially designed and engineered “spring bolts” requiring little construction knowledge or tools, into HUD-approved, habitable, family friendly structure for emergency and temporary individual, or single-family use, and can be combined in multiples for various field functional applications.

Abstract: A method for rapidly deploying and erecting a HUD-certified structure includes providing an ISO-certified container. The container includes a container frame including a horizontal floor section, an opposed horizontal roof section and first and second opposed vertical end sections, and a pair of opposed vertically-disposed floor panels. The container frame and the opposed floor panels define an interior cavity with a plurality of dwelling members disposed therein. The method further includes transporting the ISO-certified container to a desired location and forming a HUD-certified structure at the desired location, including manipulating at least some of the dwelling members.

Abstract: The invention is an expandable and contractible, transforming habitable structure, ISO-certified container designed as a single unit with all primary components contained within, to be easily transported by water, air or land (truck and rail) in stacked configurations. The unit of fold-down floors, easy swing-out interior and exterior walls, and an inter-locking roof system, rapidly expands using: specially designed and engineered “box hinges” and “pivot pins.” When expanded, the unit is structurally secured via especially designed and engineered “spring bolts” requiring little construction knowledge or tools, into HUD-approved, habitable, family friendly structure for emergency and temporary individual, or single-family use, and can be combined in multiples for various field functional applications.

Abstract: A method of forming sheets of superplastically formable material into a three dimensional article, the sheets being joined together along diffusion bonds to form discrete cells, at least one gas path being provided through the bond between cells. The sheets are heated to a temperature at which they exhibit superplastic properties and a gas injected between the sheets to expand the cells, the gas paths allowing the injected gas to pass from cell to cell. The edges of the gas paths are locally heated to change the microstructure of the sheets in the edge areas, which reduces the flow resistance of the edges under superplastic forming conditions and thereby reduces the propensity of the diffusion bonds bordering the gas transfer holes to peel apart under the forces of the inert gas exerted on the sheets at the gas transfer paths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of superplastically forming at least two sheets of superplastically formable material to form a three dimensional article, the sheets being joined together along diffusion bonds (12) to form discrete cells (16) and wherein at least one gas path (18) is provided through the bond between cells; the method involves heating the sheets to a temperature at which they exhibit superplastic properties and injecting a gas between the sheets to expand the cells, the gas paths (18) allowing the injected gas to pas from cell to cell. According to the invention, the edges of the gas paths are locally heated (22), e.g.

Abstract: The diffusion bonding of aluminum and aluminum alloys presents problems because, when left exposed to the atmosphere even for a short time, they acquire an extremely tenacious surface oxide layer that inhibits or prevents satisfactory diffusion bonding. Unlike titanium, this oxide layer is not absorbed at diffusion bonding temperatures. The present invention comprises a method of reducing oxidation of a surface of aluminum or aluminum alloy by causing a nitride film to form on the surface. This film is believed to prevent oxidation of the aluminum or aluminum alloy, but to be absorbable into it at diffusion bonding temperatures. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the nitride film is applied to the piece of aluminum or aluminum alloy (10) in a vacuum chamber (4) by sputtering with nitrogen ions, or by heating the piece (10) in a nitrogen gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A process is disclosed of explosive bonding two or more components together by forming the components into a stack, placing the stack into an envelope made of a deformable material, sealing the envelope except for an evacuation port, evacuating the interior of the envelope through the said port and subjecting the stack to explosive bonding within the envelope, thereby joining the components together; by conducting the explosive bonding in an evacuated envelope, not only are the components protected from damage during the explosion but the bonding is enhanced due to the reduced pressure of air between the components. After bonding, the stack can be subjected to superplastic forming.

Abstract: A process is described of preparing composite articles of aluminium or aluminium alloy suitable for superplastic forming by explosion welding two or more components together and heating the welded article to consolidate the bonds. The welds do not extend into areas to which a stop-off composition has been applied and the article can be superplastically formed by passing a pressurized fluid into these stopped-off areas.

Abstract: A thermosetting coating composition having a binder of a film forming polymer having reactive hydroxyl groups, epoxy groups or methylol groups and a melamine, benzoguanamine or urea crosslinking agent and about 0.1-10% by weight of reactive catalyst which is a solid at 30.degree. C. in which the catalyst has one of the following structures: ##STR1## or mixtures of the above; where R is an alkyl group or a hydroxy alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; the catalyst is prepared by reacting in a 1:1 molar ratio trimellitic anhydride and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol or an aliphatic diol.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a unique heat-collecting bed which is insulated from the ambient environment by the glass face. Conditioning pump means are provided within the housing to circulate conditioning air through the collector and the heat retaining material in the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the material in the housing. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a unique heat-collecting bed which is insulated from the ambient environment by the glass face. Conditioning pump means are provided within the housing to circulate conditioning air through the collector and the heat retaining material in the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the material in the housing. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a unique heat-collecting bed which is insulated from the ambient environment by the glass face. Conditioning pump means are provided within the housing to circulate conditioning air through the collector and the heat retaining material in the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the material in the housing. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump.

Abstract: The method of collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes the steps of absorbing solar heat on a collector surface wherein the collector surface is insulated from the ambient environment, passing air across the collector surface in a heat transfer process whereby the heat absorbed by the collector surface is transferred to the air, passing the hot air leaving the collector surface through a horizontal duct disposed at a lower elevation than the collector surface, and passing the hot air flowing from the duct into an elevated storage chamber containing material with heat absorbent and heat retaining characteristics whereby the heat in the hot air is transferred from the hot air to the material and retained by said material until it is removed therefrom by a relatively cool air flow.