Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable storage media provide flexible vehicle status notifications via an instrument cluster displayed on an in-vehicle screen. In some examples, when a non-displayed gauge goes into an out-of-parameter or warning range, the gauge may be dynamically shown in the out-of-parameter or warning state in a container position assigned to the gauge in another display or in a dynamic container position in the instrument cluster. In some examples, a popup notification may be provided to inform the driver of a condition. When there are multiple notifications, they may be grouped into definable severity classifications and prioritized so that a notification determined to be a most important message at the time is presented to the driver in a notification zone central to a driver's field of vision on the instrument cluster that allows for reusing screen space for providing warning and information from a range of data sources.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing opportunistic vehicle air brake system pressurization are disclosed. Vehicle air tanks used within an air brake system are pressurized during a time a battery charging status is satisfied. For example, such air tanks may be pressurized via an air compressor at a time during which the vehicle is electrically connected to a power source other than a battery of the vehicle. An example of such a power source may include an electrical charger, such as an electric vehicle charging station, or an electric generator during a regenerative braking event. The air tanks may also be pressurized by using a battery to energize the air compressor, based on the battery being charged above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Annular structures formed using composite materials and systems and methods for forming annular structures using composite materials are provided. The composite materials can include fiber reinforced thermoplastic materials. The annular structures include a number of component parts. Each component part can be in the form of a strip of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material that extends around all or a portion of a circumference of the structure. The ends of the component parts can be staggered, so that they a placed at different locations about the circumference of the structure. Methods for forming annular composite structures include wrapping one or more strips of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material having one or more layers about a mandrel, and fusing the strips to form an integral annular structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable storage media provide flexible vehicle status notifications via an instrument cluster displayed on an in-vehicle screen. In some examples, when a non-displayed gauge goes into an out-of-parameter or warning range, the gauge may be dynamically shown in the out-of-parameter or warning state in a container position assigned to the gauge in another display or in a dynamic container position in the instrument cluster. In some examples, a popup notification may be provided to inform the driver of a condition. When there are multiple notifications, they may be grouped into definable severity classifications and prioritized so that a notification determined to be a most important message at the time is presented to the driver in a notification zone central to a driver's field of vision on the instrument cluster that allows for reusing screen space for providing warning and information from a range of data sources.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for removing sulphates and calcium from a water stream which includes the steps of: combining the water stream and an amount of amorphous aluminum trihydroxide (Al(OH)3); allowing the formation of ettringite (3CaO.Al2O3.3CaSO4.31/32H2O) as a precipitate; and removing the precipitated ettringite from the water stream.

Abstract: A method for producing precipitated calcium carbonate by reacting an aqueous solution of calcium nitrate [Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ] with an aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate [(NH.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3 ] and allowing calcium carbonate to precipitate from the resultant mixture containing nitrate [NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3 ] in the mother liquor, the process being characterized in that: (i) the calcium nitrate [Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2)] solution utilized in the processes is prepared by slaking lime [CaO] in water in the presence of ammonium nitrate [NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3 ] to form calcium nitrate [Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 ] and ammonium hydroxide [NH.sub.4 OH] in solution, filtering the solution to render it solids free, and heating the filtrate to dissociate the ammonium hydroxide [NH.sub.4 OH] and to drive ammonia gas [NH.sub.3 ] from the solution; (ii) the ammonium carbonate (NH.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3 solution utilized is prepared by absorbing ammonia gas [NH.sub.3 ] and carbon dioxide gas [CO.sub.

Abstract: Cigarette tipping paper is perforated by a laser 31 emitting a beam which is directed onto the tipping paper via an acousto-optical beam deflector 33 and a beam splitter 34 producing two parallel perforation tracks 24 along the tipping paper. Each track may include a number of rows of perforations, the laser beam being deflected for that purpose by the acousto-optical device. The porosity of the tipping paper and/or the dilution of the completed cigarettes can be controlled in various ways, particularly by the use of an acousto-optical device; the latter may be used to vary the perforation pattern, the laser beam being directed onto a heat sink 52 when it is not required to perforate the tipping paper. Control of the perforation pattern, as well as allowing different patterns to be applied, is used to control the dilution factor of the finished cigarettes.