Abstract: According to some embodiments, a modular railcar comprises: a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the modular railcar; an underframe coupled to the pair of trucks and supported by the pair of trucks. The underframe comprises a plurality of coupling apparatus. The plurality of coupling apparatus are configured to couple a modular top container to the underframe. According to some embodiments, a modular top container comprises: a floor panel configured to transport a lading; and a plurality of coupling apparatus coupled to the floor panel. The plurality of coupling apparatus are configured to couple the modular top container to a modular railcar. The floor panel is configured to support the weight of the lading when detached from the modular railcar.

Abstract: A side wall for a railcar includes a plurality of integrated side sheets. Each of the integrated side sheets includes a sheet of metal having a top side edge and a bottom side edge extending from a first end to a second end of the sheet of metal. The sheet of metal further includes a flat area portion extending a first distance from the first end towards the second end between the top side edge and the bottom side edge. The sheet of metal further includes a side post portion adjacent to the flat portion, the side post portion comprising a plurality of bends forming a recess. The plurality of bends forming the recess includes at least a first bend, a second bend, a third bend, and a fourth bend. Adjacent integrated side sheets may be coupled together to form the side wall.

Abstract: An assembly that includes a housing with a chamber formed within a bore of the housing. The assembly further includes a tapered center shaft disposed at least partially within the bore of the housing. The chamber includes an angled contact surface, a sliding wedge, and a load spring. The sliding wedge is positioned to apply a force onto the angled contact surface of the chamber. The sliding wedge is also positioned to apply a frictional force to a rod portion of the tapered center shaft. The load spring is compressed between a contact surface of the chamber and a contact surface of the sliding wedge. The load spring is positioned to apply a compressive force onto the contact surface of sliding wedge toward the angled contact surface of the chamber.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a modular railcar comprises: a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the modular railcar; an underframe coupled to the pair of trucks and supported by the pair of trucks. The underframe comprises a plurality of coupling apparatus. The plurality of coupling apparatus are configured to couple a modular top container to the underframe. According to some embodiments, a modular top container comprises: a floor panel configured to transport a lading; and a plurality of coupling apparatus coupled to the floor panel. The plurality of coupling apparatus are configured to couple the modular top container to a modular railcar. The floor panel is configured to support the weight of the lading when detached from the modular railcar.

Abstract: A side wall for a railcar includes a plurality of integrated side sheets. Each of the integrated side sheets includes a sheet of metal having a top side edge and a bottom side edge extending from a first end to a second end of the sheet of metal. The sheet of metal further includes a flat area portion extending a first distance from the first end towards the second end between the top side edge and the bottom side edge. The sheet of metal further includes a side post portion adjacent to the flat portion, the side post portion comprising a plurality of bends forming a recess. The plurality of bends forming the recess includes at least a first bend, a second bend, a third bend, and a fourth bend. Adjacent integrated side sheets may be coupled together to form the side wall.

Abstract: A downhole barrier delivery device is provided including a tubular housing having an outer surface, a first end having a fluid entrance aperture, a second end opposite the first end having a fluid exit aperture, and an inner bore extending from the fluid entrance aperture to the fluid exit aperture. A bypass channel extends along the length of the tubular housing between the outer surface of the tubular housing and the inner bore, wherein the central bore and the bypass channel are separated by an impermeable barrier. A first end of the bypass channel is fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a first bypass port. A second end of the bypass channel is fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a second bypass port.

Abstract: An assembly that includes a housing with a chamber formed within a bore of the housing. The assembly further includes a tapered center shaft disposed at least partially within the bore of the housing. The chamber includes an angled contact surface, a sliding wedge, and a load spring. The sliding wedge is positioned to apply a force onto the angled contact surface of the chamber. The sliding wedge is also positioned to apply a frictional force to a rod portion of the tapered center shaft. The load spring is compressed between a contact surface of the chamber and a contact surface of the sliding wedge. The load spring is positioned to apply a compressive force onto the contact surface of sliding wedge toward the angled contact surface of the chamber.

Abstract: A downhole barrier delivery device is provided including a tubular housing having an outer surface, a first end having a fluid entrance aperture, a second end opposite the first end having a fluid exit aperture, and an inner bore extending from the fluid entrance aperture to the fluid exit aperture. A bypass channel extends along the length of the tubular housing between the outer surface of the tubular housing and the inner bore, wherein the central bore and the bypass channel are separated by an impermeable barrier. A first end of the bypass channel is fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a first bypass port. A second end of the bypass channel is fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a second bypass port.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for administering a life insurance policy that provide an alternative to the traditional approach by querying a client for a set of coverage objectives and using a set of algorithms to automatically adjust billed premiums on an ongoing basis to maintain the client-specified coverage objectives—a methodology referred to herein as “dynamic billing.” Dynamic billing enables clients to take corrective action sooner than it would otherwise be taken and/or provides an automated mechanism or prompt for clients to take such action on an ongoing basis. For example, in certain embodiments, the disclosed technology computes adjusted premiums and allows the policy owner to be billed the amount required to keep his/her policy on track with his/her current insurance policy objectives.

Abstract: A floating dispenser is provided for dispensing a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical into ambient water. The dispenser includes a bucket having top and bottom ends, a top wall covering the top end, an opening for admitting ambient water into the bucket interior, and a floatation ring that keeps only the top end above water such that the interior is water filled when the dispenser floats. A basket is disposed in the interior of the bucket for carrying a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical, such as calcium hypochlorite. The basket is buoyant and movable vertically toward the top wall of the bucket. The dispenser includes a refill indicator that indicates when most of a full load of said chemical has dissolved. The refill indicator includes a pair of tabs that are connected to the basket and slidably mounted in slots in the top wall.

Abstract: An automotive PSIR hidden chute assembly contained behind an automotive instrument panel. The PSIR may include chute forward and rearward doors, first and second chute flanges, and an instrument panel, each constructed of a first hard material, and first and second chute hinges, first and second chute sidewalls and a chute end wall, each constructed of a second tough ductile material, such that the first material and the second material have different thermal expansion properties and different elastic modulus properties.

Abstract: Vehicle diagnostic devices and methods that detect the occurrence of a maintenance process performed on a vehicle, and responsive to the detected occurrence of the maintenance process, initiate a data collection process to collect data related to the performed maintenance process, and a data transmission process to provide the collected data to a remote data depository.

Abstract: A floating dispenser is provided for dispensing a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical into ambient water. The dispenser includes a bucket having top and bottom ends, a top wall covering the top end, an opening for admitting ambient water into the bucket interior, and a floatation ring that keeps only the top end above water such that the interior is water filled when the dispenser floats. A basket is disposed in the interior of the bucket for carrying a solid, dissolvable water treatment chemical, such as calcium hypochlorite. The basket is buoyant and movable vertically toward the top wall of the bucket. The dispenser includes a refill indicator that indicates when most of a full load of said chemical has dissolved. The refill indicator includes a pair of tabs that are connected to the basket and slidably mounted in slots in the top wall.

Abstract: A multi-step process for making a granular detergent composition. The processing steps include adding to a mixer a first feed stream selected from a first powder, a first liquid, and mixtures thereof, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is added to a fluid bed dryer to form the granular detergent composition, and optionally, a third feed stream selected from a second powder, a second liquid, and mixtures thereof can be added to the fluid bed dryer. The granular detergent composition contains at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2. Further, at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant or a detergent builder.

Abstract: A detergent granule and tablets which comprises an anionic surfactant system which comprises an anionic sulphate surfactant and/or an anionic sulphonate surfactant and other detergent active ingredients, the granule comprising at least a first and a second particulate component and optionally a binding agent, characterised in that the ratio of anionic sulphate surfactant to anionic sulphonate surfactant in the particulate components and in the optional binding agent is less than 1:4 or more than 4:1, preferably even less than 1:5 or more than 5:1. The invention also relates to specific granules comprising restricted degree of mixing of anionic sulphonate surfactant and zeolite, anionic sulphate surfactant and carbonate salts and/or restricted degree of mixing of polymeric builder and anionic surfactant, in particular sulphate surfactants.

Abstract: A detergent composition which has improved solubility or dissolution in laundering solutions, especially in solutions kept at cold temperatures (i.e., less than about 30° C.), is disclosed. The granular detergent composition is aesthetically pleasing to consumers and has improved flowability. The granular detergent composition has optimally selected level of particles having a judiciously selected median particle size diameter with a selected standard deviation. The granular detergent composition also has carefully tailored physical properties such as uniformity parameter, whiteness, circularity and aspect ratio.

Abstract: A multi-step process for making a granular detergent composition. The processing steps include adding to a mixer a first feed stream selected from a first powder, a first liquid, and mixtures thereof, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is added to a fluid bed dryer to form the granular detergent composition, and optionally, a third feed stream selected from a second powder, a second liquid, and mixtures thereof can be added to the fluid bed dryer. The granular detergent composition contains at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2. Further, at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant or a detergent builder.

Abstract: A multi-step process for making a granular detergent composition. The processing steps include adding to a first fluid bed dryer a first feed stream selected from a first powder, a first liquid, and mixtures thereof, to form a second feed stream. The second feed stream is added to a mixer to form a fourth feed stream, and optionally, a third feed stream selected from a second powder, a second liquid, and mixtures thereof can be added to the mixer. The fourth feed stream is added to a second fluid bed dryer to form the granular detergent composition. The granular detergent composition contains at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2. Further, at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant or a detergent builder.

Abstract: An air freshening composition including porous carrier particles having a perfume composition entrapped therein, and a second component selected from an inert filer, hygroscopic agent, binder, coating material, moisture providing agent, and mixtures thereof. The composition may further comprise various optional components such as free perfumes, colorants, disintegrants, water swelling agents, porosity modifiers and mixtures thereof. A method for processing the compositions into a solid article includes the steps of entrapping a perfume in the porous carrier particles, heating and incorporating a carrier or binder material. The compositions may be further processed by optionally incorporating a powder inert filler and forming articles from the mixture. The articles may be formed from the compositions through prilling, extrusion, or compaction amongst other techniques.

Abstract: A bleach-containing detergent composition which contains a peroxygen bleaching compound and a bleach activator is disclosed. The bleach activator is in the form of particles having a mean particle diameter of 200 microns to 2000 microns. Also disclosed are bleach activator particles in the form of substantially cylindrically-shaped extrudates having a mean extrudate length of from about 500 microns to about 3500 microns and a mean extrudate diameter of from about 450 microns to about 850 microns.