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 hinged system includes a preassembled hinge module for pivotally coupling a first component to a second component. The preassembled hinge module includes a shaft, a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft, and a housing. The housing includes a cover, a side wall, and a rear wall that define an interior space enclosed within the housing. The interior space receives the torque element inside the housing. The cover defines a first aperture, and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture aligned with a pivot axis of the shaft. The shaft extends through at least the first aperture, the interior space, and the second aperture. The shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component. The housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.

Abstract: A hinged system includes a preassembled hinge module for pivotally coupling a first component to a second component. The preassembled hinge module includes a shaft, a torque element frictionally engaging the shaft, and a housing. The housing includes a cover, a side wall, and a rear wall that define an interior space enclosed within the housing. The interior space receives the torque element inside the housing. The cover defines a first aperture, and the rear wall defines a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture aligned with a pivot axis of the shaft. The shaft extends through at least the first aperture, the interior space, and the second aperture. The shaft is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the first component. The housing is separate from, and configured to be mounted to, the second component.

Abstract: A method to simultaneously control a plurality of autonomous vehicles, wherein the method provides one or more autonomous vehicles, an autonomous vehicle controller comprising a controller processor and a controller non-transitory computer readable medium, having controller computer readable code encoded herein, and a controller task queue. The method wirelessly provides a task to an autonomous vehicle, and wirelessly provides a task completion message from that autonomous vehicle to the autonomous vehicle controller.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to the surface of a container comprising: (a) a film-forming resinous material comprising a functional group-containing reaction product of: (i) a cyclic carbonate group-containing material, (ii) a polyamine; (b) a curing agent reactive with functional groups of (a); (c) a liquid diluent.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to the surface of a container comprising: (a) a film-forming resinous material comprising a functional group-containing reaction product of: (i) a cyclic carbonate group-containing material, (ii) a polyamine; (b) a curing agent reactive with functional groups of (a); (c) a liquid diluent.

Abstract: A mooring connector or pipeline recovery tool comprising a mandrel (10) around which is concentrically disposed a ball cage (11) having balls (12) protruding therefrom so that relative longitudinal movement of the mandrel (10) and ball cage (11) causes the balls to ascend ramped surfaces of the mandrel (10) thus to protrude outwardly through the ball cage (11). The conventional arrangement of balls in regular rows and columns is replaced by helical rows or random arrays of the balls thus to avoid excessive grooving and deformation of the wall of a receptor into which the connector is inserted.

Abstract: Two programs measure upper airway resistance using Resistance=Pressure/Flow. Raw flow and pressure data is divided into breaths and time adjusted so each breath starts with the value zero. Each breath is graphed as flow in the y-axis and time in the x-axis. The slope between points Flow=0 and Flow=0.20 is calculated. The resistance is the inverse of the slope. The second program determines whether a breath is flow limited or not. It also uses the flow and time data to perform a curve fitting to describe the flow-time in meaningful polynomial function F (P)=A t3+B t2+Ct+D. The derivative of this function is F?=3At2+2Bt+C. If the value of the derivative F? at maximum flow is less than or equal zero, then it is a flow limited breath, otherwise, it is non flow limited breath. Also, the need for a pressure-monitoring catheter is obviated.

Abstract: A process for forming a multilayer composite coating on a substrate is provided. The process includes forming an electrodeposition coating layer on the substrate by electrodeposition of a curable electrodepositable coating composition over at least a portion of the substrate. Optionally, the coated substrate is heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cure the electrodeposition coating layer. A basecoating layer is formed on the electrodeposition coating layer by depositing an aqueous curable basecoating composition directly onto at least a portion of the electrodeposition coating layer. Optionally, the basecoating layer is dehydrated. A top coating layer is formed on the basecoating layer by depositing a curable top coating composition which is substantially pigment-free directly onto at least a portion of the basecoating layer. The top coating layer, the basecoating layer, and, optionally, the electrodeposition coating layer are cured simultaneously.

Abstract: A mooring connector or pipeline recovery tool comprising a mandrel (10) around which is concentrically disposed a ball cage (11) having balls (12) protruding therefrom so that relative longitudinal movement of the mandrel (10) and ball cage (11) causes the balls to ascend ramped surfaces of the mandrel (10) thus to protrude outwardly through the ball cage (11). The conventional arrangement of balls in regular rows and columns is replaced by helical rows or random arrays of the balls thus to avoid excessive grooving and deformation of the wall of a receptor into which the connector is inserted.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of silica reinforced rubber incorporating a novel azo-silane coupling agent which does not depend on the vulcanization reaction to effect coupling to the rubber. The novel coupling agents are of the general formula:Y -- X -- CO -- N .dbd. N -- CO -- X.sup.1 -- Zwhere X and X.sup.1 are the same or different and each is an imino group, an oxygen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted methylene group; Y is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group or is the same as Z; and Z as an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group which has an substituent at least one silane group of the formula: --Si(OR).sub.3 or --OSi(OR).sub.3 in which R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group. The azo-silane is typically used in amounts of from .1 to 10 pphr. Silica reinforced rubber vulcanizates produced using the azo-silane can have improved properties e.g. abrasion resistance, scorch resistance and resilience as compared with vulcanizates made using conventional coupling agents.

Abstract: The invention provides a surveillance arrangement, and in particular an airborne surveillance arrangement, in which a television display of a scene is brightened up, by means of infra-red detectors, to emphasize heat emitting targets.In one example of airborne surveillance system, a linear array of infra-red detectors is arranged to view part of a scene viewed by a television camera, with the same horizontal field of view at a desired target range. In front of the array of detectors a light chopper is provided so that the output of each detector is a modulated carrier. The output of each detector is applied to a store, via individual impedance transformers, narrow bandpass filters and demodulators. Between each demodulator and the store, individual sharp out-off low pass filters and threshold detectors may be provided to provide a degree of discrimination against spurious responses.