Abstract: A fuel cell and battery power management system for a fuel cell-powered vehicle includes an electric traction motor, a traction battery in electrical communication with the electric traction motor, a fuel cell stack in electrical communication with the traction battery and the electric traction motor, and a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system is configured to operate the vehicle with at a first discharge power level and a first charging power level if fuel cell power is sufficient alone to navigate the uphill grade and to build up battery state of charge by charging the traction battery at a second charging power level when the vehicle is approaching an uphill grade if fuel cell power is not sufficient alone to navigate the uphill grade. The vehicle control system is further configured to initiate proactive depletion of the battery SOC to enable powertrain braking and to provide regenerative power.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vehicle with a traction battery and a fuel cell system, and a controller programmed to purge the fuel cell system by flowing air through it to remove moisture from the fuel cell system. The controller is configured to initiate the purge based on a distance of the vehicle from a destination, a state of charge of the traction battery, and ambient temperature conditions at the destination. The freeze preparation process can be initiated when the vehicle is approaching its destination and can be predicted using connectivity and communication with off-board sources.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor, a battery, a fuel cell stack, and a controller. The battery is configured to supply power to the motor to propel the vehicle. The fuel cell stack is configured to generate power to charge the battery. The controller is programmed to, while traversing a route with the fuel cell stack not operating and, responsive to data indicative of a predicted distance to empty at an end of the route being greater than a distance threshold, inhibit starting of the fuel cell stack during the traversing.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a clutch configured to selectively couple the engine to the electric machine. A controller is programmed to command a torque to the electric machine based on a clutch model that includes a learned time constant previously selected using a family of candidate time constants based on a comparison of the family to measured pressure data of a previous engagement of the clutch.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting driver demand wheel torque of a vehicle. The driver demand wheel torque may be adjusted as a function of a minimum wheel torque. The minimum wheel torque may be determined according to a plurality of torques that may be evaluated in three different phases.

Abstract: A fuel cell electric vehicle is powered by a fuel cell that converts hydrogen gas into electricity to power the vehicle's electric motor. The fuel cell drivetrain includes the fuel cell, traction battery, vehicle controller, and other components. The vehicle controller, also known as an electronic control unit, manages and controls various functions of the vehicle, such as the fuel cell system, engine, and traction battery. It makes decisions based on data from sensors and inputs and optimizes fuel efficiency.

Abstract: A protection system for a fuel cell is provided that has two different modes of operation. The protection system includes a fuel cell, a cooling system for the fuel cell that controls the temperature of the fuel cell responsive to a controller. The controller is operable in a first mode of operation when a time T for the next start-up is not known and a second mode of operation when the time T for the next start-up is known. In the first mode, a time TF is the time an estimated future ambient temperature is estimated to fall to near freezing wherein at TF the cooling system purges the fuel cell. In the second mode, at TF the cooling system turns on without starting the fuel cell. The controller turns of the cooling system when the fuel cell stack is warmed to a nominal temperature.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system comprising a display, and a game controller that includes a processor and a memory device storing instructions to select and display a plurality of symbols in a respective plurality of display positions in a display area for each implemented game. The processor also adds a wild marker to each display position that includes a special symbol, each wild marker remaining persistent for subsequent games until a random trigger condition occurs. When a random trigger condition occurs, the processor adds a wild symbol to each display position that includes a wild marker, evaluates a game outcome based on the selected and displayed symbols inclusive of all added wild symbols, and awards a win amount if the outcome corresponds to a winning outcome.

Abstract: A gaming device that initiates a series of game instances, and controls a display to display a multiplier meter that a) has a plurality of multiplier levels corresponding to respective ones of a sequence of multipliers applying to outcomes of the game instances and b) when a multiplier applies, indicates a current multiplier level. A processor initializes a designated symbol counter, the processor selects symbols for display for a game instance, evaluates the symbols displayed to identify any winning combinations of symbols, and for each winning combination determines an award amount, adds any awards to the win meter, increments the designated symbol counter by a number of designated symbols, changes the current multiplier level upon the designated symbol counter exceeding a defined threshold applying to a respective multiplier level, and updates the multiplier meter to indicate the current multiplier level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a controller may respond to a presence or absence of a prediction of an increase in vehicle speed during a look ahead window. The controller may inhibit or allow automatic engine stopping in response to the presence or absence of the prediction of the increase in vehicle speed during the look ahead window.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for providing reel-strip-based wagering games in which the reel strips include one or more feature symbols and one or more configurable symbols. Each time a feature symbol of a reel strip is displayed in a window of the wagering game associated with that reel strip, one or more “hot spot windows” associated with that window may be determined. Hot spot windows may have a modified status applied to them that may last for a predetermined number of gameplay instances. Awards associated with the configurable symbols may, if a configurable symbol is selected for display in a window with one or more modified statuses currently applied, be modified by a modifier that is based on the applied one or more modified statuses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, the internal combustion is started via closing a driveline disconnect clutch and limiting a torque output rate of an electric machine so that vehicle speed may increase continuously without decreasing during engine cranking and run-up periods.

Abstract: A casing system, includes a landing ring and a slip hanger. The landing ring defines an opening extending between a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is configured to couple to a conductor pipe. The landing ring includes a landing ring shoulder extending radially inward from an inner surface of the opening. The slip hanger is configured to engage with casing The slip hanger includes at least one slip segment configured to engage with an outer diameter of the casing and an outer slip ring. The outer slip ring is disposed around and coupled to the at least one slip segment. The outer slip ring is configured to engage with the landing ring shoulder.

Abstract: An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. Centering protrusions of one housing can engage the other housing to initially retain the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing in a central position within the interior of the outer housing in the Y-direction prior to insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle. The other housing can be movable against the centering protrusion to permit the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing to move out of the central position in the Y-direction in response to engagement of the pin against the entry ramps during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle.

Abstract: Long lasting edible pet chews are disclosed. Processes of producing such pet chews are further disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming device comprises a display, a processor, and a memory storing (i) a plurality of symbol position states, each defining a number of active symbol positions in each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions. Also stored in memory is data defining a plurality of sets of reel strips including a first set of reels strips, wherein each reel strip of the first set has a first stack length defining a number of consecutive reel strip positions containing the same symbol, and a second set of reel strips, wherein each reel strip of the second set of reel strips has a second stack length shorter than the first stack length. In at least a first game instance, the processor selects symbols from the first set of reel strips for display in the plurality of columns of symbol positions of the first symbol state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, the systems and methods may adjust a relationship (e.g., transfer function) between an amount of electric current that is supplied to a driveline disconnect clutch control valve and a commanded driveline disconnect clutch pressure.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting driver demand wheel torque of a vehicle. The driver demand wheel torque may be adjusted as a function of a minimum wheel torque. The minimum wheel torque may be determined according to a plurality of torques that may be evaluated in three different phases.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a boost phase of a procedure to close a driveline disconnect clutch may be cut short in response to an engine changing state from not rotating to rotating so that the engine may be restarted in an alternative way. The system and methods may also predict a degraded engine start from a low engine cranking speed or a long cranking time duration so that the engine may be started in an alternative way to increase a possibility of starting the engine and decrease the severity of degraded driveline disturbance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, the systems and methods may adjust a relationship (e.g., transfer function) between an amount of electric current that is supplied to a driveline disconnect clutch control valve and a commanded driveline disconnect clutch pressure.