Abstract: There is provided a device, system, and method for flexible feeding capable of being integrated into an assembly system. The device includes a disperser, a part retainer, a vibrator, an excess part removal device, a pick-and-placer, carriers, a transporter, a carrier inspection disc, a part remover, a gate, a transfer station, and re-entry tracks. The method includes dispersing parts, agitating parts, removing excess parts, picking captured parts, placing the captured parts into carriers, inspecting the carriers, positioning the carriers at a transfer station, and transferring the parts to a downstream processor. The system includes a flexible feeding device configured to perform flexible feeding operations, a data processor, and a medium having machine-readable instructions executable by the data processor and configured to cause the data processor to generate signals useful in the synchronization of two or more flexible feeding operations.

Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DAS-59122-7 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transparent chamber having a space therein for containing an object while heating under vacuum, at least one directed energy source configured to direct energy to heat the object positioned within the space of the transparent chamber, a cap on the transparent chamber, and a connection between the transparent chamber and at least one vacuum for creating a vacuum within the transparent chamber. The apparatus may further include at least one temperature sensor to measure temperature of the object. The apparatus may further include a control system, the control system operatively connected to the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one directed energy source and wherein the control system is a closed loop system to adjust laser power to provide more or less energy to heat or maintain the temperature of the object.

Abstract: A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.

Abstract: There is provided a device, system, and method for flexible feeding capable of being integrated into an assembly system. The device includes a disperser, a part retainer, a vibrator, an excess part removal device, a pick-and-placer, carriers, a transporter, a carrier inspection disc, a part remover, a gate, a transfer station, and re-entry tracks. The method includes dispersing parts, agitating parts, removing excess parts, picking captured parts, placing the captured parts into carriers, inspecting the carriers, positioning the carriers at a transfer station, and transferring the parts to a downstream processor. The system includes a flexible feeding device configured to perform flexible feeding operations, a data processor, and a medium having machine-readable instructions executable by the data processor and configured to cause the data processor to generate signals useful in the synchronization of two or more flexible feeding operations.

Abstract: There is a damper wedge for a railroad car truck. It has a removable and replaceable friction element that reciprocates on the wear plate of the side frame column of the railroad car truck. It has a non-metallic wear surface; a spring seat that, in use, engages a spring of the railroad car truck; and an inclined damper wedge surface having a primary angle, alpha, and a secondary angle, beta. The inclined damper wedge surface has a curvature. The curvature has a working point. The working point is located in a central region of a contact patch, or working surface patch. The nonmetallic wear surface material is mounted to a carrier that mounts removably to the damper wedge body. The carrier has fingers that span the wedge and that transfer shear and resist torsion, the fingers preventing the non-metallic member from migrating out of position.

Abstract: A sprinkler includes a body, a frame, a button, and a support bridge. The body includes an opening arranged around a sprinkler axis. The frame is coupled with the body. The button includes a slanted surface to be received in the opening. The support bridge includes a center, a first arm extending from the c enter, a second arm extending from the center, opposite the first arm, and an arch extending from the first arm to the second arm.

Abstract: A subterranean energy storage and retrieval system, having a wellbore; an energy storage cell placed in the wellbore; and an electrical connection attached to the energy storage cell to a surface of the wellbore. The energy storage system is managed and regulated by a power management system coupled to rechargeable power cells. A bypass circuit is utilized to remove specific energy storage cells from the circuit. Temperature regulation is managed geothermally through the energy storage housing.

Abstract: Provided is a one-pot process for preparing propionic acid, which comprises (i) treating ethylene with a C1-C6 alkanol, water, and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising the reaction product of (a) a Group 8 to 10 transition metal compound such as a palladium or ruthenium compound; and (b) an activating anion, at elevated temperature and pressure. The process also provides a facile, continuous process for the preparation of propionic acid via the alkoxycarbonylation of ethylene at elevated temperature and pressure followed by hydrolysis, in one reaction vessel.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for neuromodulation of a tissue that include applying energy (e.g., ultrasound energy) into the tissue to cause altered activity at a synapse between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell.

Abstract: An efficient process useful for the self-condensation of aliphatic aldehydes is provided, catalyzed by dialkylammonium carboxylate salts. In particular, the invention provides a facile method for the preparation of 2-ethyl hexenal via the self-condensation of butyraldehyde using various dialkylammonium carboxylates, e.g., diisopropylammonium acetate or dimethylammonium acetate, as catalyst. Additionally, residual nitrogen arising from the catalyst can be reduced to ?100 ppm levels in the product via a simple washing procedure. The invention provides a process for preparing alkenals under conditions which limit the formation of undesired impurities and high-boiling oligomeric substances.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car has a hopper carried between two trucks, and has convergent end and side slope sheets that feed a bottom discharge. The bottom discharge has a rectangular frame. The bottom discharge is lower than the center sill. The car has a flat bottom discharge having multiple arrays of louvers. All of the lading discharges through the flat bottom. The side sheets extend downwardly beyond the side sills, so that the side slope sheets terminate below the side sills. The car has laterally extending shear force transfer members, that provide a shear connection between the side walls of the car, and have openings to permit lading from the main containment volume of the car to pass therethough to the lading discharges. The louvers are joined to move together. Alternatively, the gate may include two opposed sliding doors separated by a beam that runs under the center sill.

Abstract: There is a damper wedge for a railroad car truck. It has a removable and replaceable friction element that reciprocates on the wear plate of the side frame column of the railroad car truck. It has a non-metallic wear surface; a spring seat that, in use, engages a spring of the railroad car truck; and an inclined damper wedge surface having a primary angle, alpha, and a secondary angle, beta. The inclined damper wedge surface has a curvature. The curvature has a working point. The working point is located in a central region of a contact patch, or working surface patch. The nonmetallic wear surface material is mounted to a carrier that mounts removably to the damper wedge body. The carrier has fingers that span the wedge and that transfer shear and resist torsion, the fingers preventing the non-metallic member from migrating out of position.

Abstract: A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.

Abstract: An automatic insertion device and method of using the same is provided. A vibrator and an extender are connected to a penetrating member and are both in electrical communication with a controller. A detector identifies a subcutaneous target for insertion and the insertion angle, distance and trajectory for the penetrating member are calculated. The vibrator provides vibrations to the penetrating member and the extender advances the penetrating member for insertion. The vibrator and extender are in electrical communication with one another during the insertion process and adjustments to the insertion speed are made based on feedback of vibrational load encountered by the vibrator during insertion, and adjustments to the vibrations are made based on feedback of insertion load encountered by the extender during insertion. Iterative samples are taken to constantly adjust the operation of one motor based on the operations and feedback from the other motor.

Abstract: A polymer melt candle filter having a support which comprises a hollow cylindrical body defined by a first end, a second end, and a cylinder wall having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion includes a screw thread on its outside surface and optionally a hex fitting on its inside surface for receiving a hex wrench. The second end portion includes a plurality of holes in the cylinder wall. The area of the openings of the holes on the outside surface of the cylinder wall may be larger than the area of the openings of the corresponding holes on the inside surface of the cylinder wall. The shape of the openings of the holes on the outside surface may be non-circular.

Abstract: A system and method for a subterranean energy storage and retrieval system, having constructed a subterranean battery from a repurposed wellbore with ganged cells with an electrical connection attached to the battery at the surface of the wellbore. A cooling system cools the battery cells downhole. A pressure activated switch is normally open until the battery cells are resting on the bottom hole retainer.

Abstract: A conveyor system and method for controlling the same. The conveyor system includes: at least one moving element; a track including: a straight track section with a first mechanism for moving the moving element; and a curved track section connected to the straight track section including a second mechanism for moving the moving element; and a controller configured to control a speed of the moving element as the moving element moves from the straight track section to the curved track section and vice versa such that a velocity profile of the moving element includes a sinusoidal portion to provide a transition from straight to rotary motion or from rotary to straight motion having a linear position profile. In the method, the controller controls at least one of the first mechanism and the second mechanism to move the moving element according to the velocity profile including the sinusoidal portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods of flow testing different workpieces in an automated testing station are described. Each workpiece comprises a flow path from an inlet to an outlet and the automated testing station comprises first and second sealing heads for injecting gas into the inlets of workpieces and collecting gas from the outlets of workpieces. The method includes performing a flow test by moving the flow test heads toward the workpieces while at the same time priming a flow of gas from the first sealing heads to the second sealing heads, prior to engaging the workpiece.