Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided. The TRU includes a housing defining a flow path from an intake to an outlet, a blower to drive air along the flow path from the intake to the outlet, coils disposed in the flow path between the intake and the outlet and over which the air driven by the blower flows, a defrost element to execute a defrost action with respect to the coils, sensing elements at the intake and the outlet to sense pressures of the air at the intake and the outlet and a controller. The controller is configured to control at least one of the blower and the defrost element in accordance with readings of the sensing elements.

Abstract: A tractor trailer system includes a tractor and a trailer. The tractor includes a hotel device and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) configured to provide electrical power to the hotel device. The trailer is connected to the tractor, and includes a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) having a TRU controller, an electrical TRU component, and a TRU Power Unit. The TRU controller is configured to utilize the APU to provide electrical power to the electrical TRU component during low TRU load conditions, and utilize the TRU Power Unit during high TRU load conditions.

Abstract: A cargo transport heating system is utilized for a truck that includes a cargo containment and a combustion engine having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The cargo transport heating system includes a heat exchanger, a coolant pump, and a combustion engine coolant having a low toxicity. The heat exchanger is disposed in the cargo containment, and is in fluid communication with the first coolant inlet. The coolant pump is in fluid communication with the coolant outlet and the heat exchanger, and pumps the combustion engine coolant through the first coolant inlet, the coolant outlet, and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided. The TRU includes a housing defining a flow path from an intake to an outlet, a blower to drive air along the flow path from the intake to the outlet, coils disposed in the flow path between the intake and the outlet and over which the air driven by the blower flows, a defrost element to execute a defrost action with respect to the coils, sensing elements at the intake and the outlet to sense pressures of the air at the intake and the outlet and a controller. The controller is configured to control at least one of the blower and the defrost element in accordance with readings of the sensing elements.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system includes a prime mover configured to power a refrigeration unit and a first fuel tank fluidly connected to prime mover through a first fuel line. The first fuel tank is configured to supply fuel to an inlet of prime mover from an outlet of first fuel tank through first fuel line. The transport refrigeration system also includes a first fuel flow sensor being an in-line flow meter and configured to measure a first fuel quantity exiting first fuel tank, a second fuel flow sensor being an in-line flow meter and configured to measure a second fuel quantity entering prime mover, a controller configured to compare second fuel quantity to first fuel quantity, and an alarm configured to activate when second fuel quantity is not equal to first fuel quantity.

Abstract: An indicator display (20) comprises a fluorescent plastic first member (30) of a first color and having a first face (40) and a fluorescent plastic second member (32) of a second color, different from the first color, and having a first face (42). One or more first light emitting diodes (60) are between the first member and the second member and positioned to illuminate the first member preferentially to the second member. One or more second light emitting diodes (62) are between the first member and the second member and positioned to illuminate the second member preferentially to the first member.

Abstract: A power supply unit (14) provided with a transport refrigeration unit (12) includes an insulated battery box (60), a heat exchanger (64), and a battery (62). The heat exchanger (64) is disposed within the insulated battery box (60). The heat exchanger (64) has a heat exchanger inlet (80) that is fluidly connected to a compressor outlet (42) and a heat exchanger outlet (82) that is fluidly connected to a refrigeration unit heat exchanger inlet (50). The battery (62) is disposed within the insulated battery box (60).

Abstract: An indicator display (20) comprises a fluorescent plastic first member (30) of a first color and having a first face (40) and a fluorescent plastic second member (32) of a second color, different from the first color, and having a first face (42). One or more first light emitting diodes (60) are between the first member and the second member and positioned to illuminate the first member preferentially to the second member. One or more second light emitting diodes (62) are between the first member and the second member and positioned to illuminate the second member preferentially to the first member.

Abstract: A fuel system is comprising: a fuel tank; an internal combustion engine; a fuel regulator fluidly connecting the fuel tank to the engine, the fuel regulator being configured to reduce the pressure of the fuel from a first fuel pressure at the fuel tank to a second fuel pressure at the engine; an air supply assembly configured to supply air from an air inlet to the engine, the air assembly comprising: a first air supply line fluidly connecting the air inlet and the engine, the first air supply line being in thermal communication with the fuel regulator; a second air supply line fluidly connecting the air inlet and the engine, the second air supply line being in parallel with the first air supply line; and an air valve configured to adjust the air flowing through at least one of the first air supply line and the second air supply line.

Abstract: A tractor trailer system includes a tractor and a trailer. The tractor includes a hotel device and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) configured to provide electrical power to the hotel device. The trailer is connected to the tractor, and includes a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) having a TRU controller, an electrical TRU component, and a TRU Power Unit. The TRU controller is configured to utilize the APU to provide electrical power to the electrical TRU component during low TRU load conditions, and utilize the TRU Power Unit during high TRU load conditions.

Abstract: A fuel system is comprising: a fuel tank; an internal combustion engine; a fuel regulator fluidly connecting the fuel tank to the engine, the fuel regulator being configured to reduce the pressure of the fuel from a first fuel pressure at the fuel tank to a second fuel pressure at the engine; an air supply assembly configured to supply air from an air inlet to the engine, the air assembly comprising: a first air supply line fluidly connecting the air inlet and the engine, the first air supply line being in thermal communication with the fuel regulator; a second air supply line fluidly connecting the air inlet and the engine, the second air supply line being in parallel with the first air supply line; and an air valve configured to adjust the air flowing through at least one of the first air supply line and the second air supply line.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system comprising: a prime mover configured to power a refrigeration unit; a first fuel tank fluidly connected to prime mover through a first fuel line, the first fuel tank configured to supply fuel to an inlet of prime mover from an outlet of first fuel tank through first fuel line; a first fuel flow sensor being an in-line flow meter and configured to measure a first fuel quantity exiting first fuel tank; a second fuel flow sensor being an in-line flow meter and configured to measure a second fuel quantity entering prime mover; a controller configured to compare second fuel quantity to first fuel quantity; and an alarm configured to activate when second fuel quantity is not equal to first fuel quantity.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit includes at least one airfoil (88) and an energy conversion device (90) attached to the at least one airfoil. The at least one airfoil is adapted to mechanically drive the energy conversion device upon exposure to wind (105). The energy conversion device is constructed to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, and the electrical energy is used, at least in-part, to charge the battery (52). An isolation relay (108) is controlled by the controller (82). A capacitor bank (110) and a rectifier (112) are provided.

Abstract: A cargo transport heating system is utilized for a truck that includes a cargo containment and a combustion engine having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The cargo transport heating system includes a heat exchanger, a coolant pump, and a combustion engine coolant having a low toxicity. The heat exchanger is disposed in the cargo containment, and is in fluid communication with the first coolant inlet. The coolant pump is in fluid communication with the coolant outlet and the heat exchanger, and pumps the combustion engine coolant through the first coolant inlet, the coolant outlet, and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An indicator display (20) comprises a fluorescent plastic first member (30) of a first color and having a first face (40) and a fluorescent plastic second member (32) of a second color, different from the first color, and having a first face (42). One or more first light emitting diodes (60) are between the first member and the second member and positioned to illuminate the first member preferentially to the second member. One or more second light emitting diodes (62) are between the first member and the second member and positioned to illuminate the second member preferentially to the first member.

Abstract: The contrast between solder balls and substrate of a Ball Grid Array (BGA) as visualized by a camera of a computer vision system is improved sufficiently to enable reliable recognition in the poor contrast situation when the balls are silver colored and the substrate background is white or light colored by illuminating the BGA with polarized light, and the camera viewing the light reflected from the BGA via a polarization filter oriented to not pass light reflected from the solder balls but to pass light reflected from the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-contact drive belt tension monitoring apparatus for measuring drive belt tension on a drive belt vibrating in response to a stimulus. A coherent light source, associated with the drive belt, generates coherent light which is reflected by a determined region of the drive as reflected coherent light. A light receiver receives reflected coherent light containing vibration information. Attached circuitry processes the output of the light receiver to generate a drive belt tension measurement.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly machine inspects circuit boards and parts to be mounted on those circuit boards prior to assembly. This assembly machine may visualize and recognize physical features of the circuit boards and parts as part of this inspection. A filter may be deployed while visualizing certain types of circuit boards or parts to remove characteristic defects found in images of those types of parts. When several types of circuit boards or parts inspected by the assembly machine exhibit different characteristic visualization problems, the assembly machine may deploy a different filter for each type of circuit board or part.

Abstract: The contrast between solder balls and substrate of a Ball Grid Array (BGA) as visualized by a camera of a computer vision system is improved sufficiently to enable reliable recognition in the poor contrast situation when the balls are silver colored and the substrate background is white or light colored by illuminating the BGA with polarized light, and the camera viewing the light reflected from the BGA via a polarization filter oriented to not pass light reflected from the solder balls but to pass light reflected from the substrate.