Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, an identity of a vehicle operator may be determined and a vehicle operator profile and/or operating data regarding autonomous operation features of the vehicle may be received after the vehicle operator opts into a rewards program and agrees to share their data. Autonomous operation and vehicle operator risk levels associated with operation of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be determined. Based upon the risk levels and/or comparison thereof, one or more autonomous operation features may be disengaged. A preparedness level of the vehicle operator to assume or reassume control of operating the vehicle is determined prior to disengagement. If satisfactory, an alert is presented to the vehicle operator prior to disengagement of the autonomous operation features.

Abstract: According to certain aspects, a computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. With the customer's permission, an identity of a vehicle operator may be identified and a vehicle operator profile may be retrieved. Operating data regarding autonomous operation features operating the vehicle may be received from vehicle-mounted sensors. When a request to disable an autonomous feature is received, a risk level for the autonomous feature is determined and compared with a driver behavior setting for the autonomous feature stored in the vehicle operator profile. Based upon the risk level comparison, the autonomous vehicle retains control of vehicle or the autonomous feature is disengaged depending upon which is the safer driver—the autonomous vehicle or the vehicle human occupant. As a result, unsafe disengagement of self-driving functionality for autonomous vehicles may be alleviated.

Abstract: Polymer formulations that are flame resistant and contain particulate biorenewable material can be used as cable insulation and jacket layers. The polymer formulations can include a polyolefin resin, a flame retardant, and a particulate biorenewable material. The polymer formulation can be coated as a cover layer onto a core to form a cable.

Abstract: A stackable pallet for transporting gas containers is provided. The pallet includes a frame structure for supporting the gas cylinders. The structure includes a lower end having a lower locking structure. The upper end has an upper locking structure shaped and dimensioned to be mateable with the lower locking structure of another like pallet to lock the pallets in a stacked arrangement. The pallets may form part of a stackable pallet system which includes a plurality of pallets, some of which may be locked together in a stacked arrangement to the bed of a trailer or other vehicle.

Abstract: A knock-down cart for pressurized gas cylinders has a castered base defining a platform with an aperture formed centrally therethrough. An elongated mast is formed by vertical posts spaced by cross bars and having an upper end receivable through the platform aperture from the bottom thereof, and coupling structure fixed to the lower end of the mast and dimensioned to prevent passage through the aperture and bolted to the base. A retaining frame includes two H-frames respectively U-bolted to the mast posts above the base and having their ends interconnected by end rails secured by bolts to nuts fixed to the cross members. A manifold support is U-bolted to one of the mast posts above the retaining frame, and a cover has a central aperture receiving the mast therethrough and is U-bolted to the mast posts above the manifold support.

Abstract: A truck bed is divided into a plurality of bays, each bay being defined by a pair of dividers. In each bay is a pallet. The latching mechanism comprises a bolt which is spring-loaded outwardly, through the keeper hole in the adjacent divider. A triangular link is rotatably mounted at a fixed pivot point. The bolt is coupled to a second point on the link. An actuator is movable substantially vertically and is attached to a third point on the link. When the fork of a lift truck engages the actuator and raises it, the link is caused to rotate about the fixed pivot point, to withdraw the bolt and thereby unlatch the latching mechanism.

Abstract: A process for recovery of metallic aluminum, sodium and potassium chloride and an aluminum oxide-metallic aluminum product from secondary aluminum dross. A secondary aluminum dross feed is separated by particle size into a first dross portion which is water leached, filtered, evaporated in an evaporator to produce crystallized sodium and potassium chloride salts, magnesium chloride remaining in solution. A purge stream is removed from the evaporator wherein the crystallized salts are separated therefrom. The purge stream is then discharged onto the crystallized salts.

Abstract: A retaining structure for a plurality of pressurized gas cylinders arranged in rows includes a lower frame having inner cross members fixed to upright posts and respectively disposed between adjacent rows of cylinders, and outer cross members along the outside of the outermost rows, the cross members having threaded studs at their outer ends for threaded coupling to a pair of end channels to form a rigid frame. An upper frame include generally V-shaped upper cross members arranged with two of them longitudinally aligned between each two adjacent rows of cylinders and threadedly coupled to the upper ends of upright rods which project upwardly from the inner cross members of the lower frame for holding the upper and lower frames in spaced relationship and maintaining the upper cross members in camming engagement with the sloping top walls of adjacent cylinders to wedge the cylinders against the cross members of the lower frame. Each upper cross member may be coupled to one or two upright rods.

Abstract: An expandable structure includes a hollow tubular frame having radially outwardly extending portions which define two longitudinally spaced-apart annular channels. Two segmented cylinders are respectively disposed in the channels, each cylinder comprising alternating long and short segments abutting along cam surfaces which lie in planes defining chords of the cylinders. Each long segment is biased inwardly by a spring which bears against the head of a stud which extends radially inwardly from the segment through a complementary opening in the frame. Pusher members are movable axially inside the frame for camming engagement with cam follower lugs which extend radially inwardly from the short segments through apertures in the frame. The pushers are slotted to accommodate the bias spring studs. Means is provided for rotating the frame about its axis.

Abstract: A self-balancing boom apparatus includes a vertical support post, a boom pivotally mounted to the support post, and a spring which produces a force along a force axis to counteract gravitational forces on the boom. A spring force coupling mechanism couples the spring force to the boom at a point between the pivot axis and the distal end of the boom. The spring force coupling mechanism is constructed and arranged for vertical movement on the support post, causing the spring force to vary as the boom is pivoted. The force coupling mechanism includes a pair of horizontally extending cam members engaged by a pair of rollers which are attached to the boom and moved to vary the distance between the force axis and the point of application of the force inversely with variation in the spring force as the boom is pivoted.

Abstract: A chimney cleaning system which can be operated from the ground and which does not require the user to climb a ladder to the top of the chimney includes a cleaning head constructed of a number of sections of iron or like material connected together by support members of length appropriate to the particular interior dimensions of the chimney to be cleaned and suspended by a chain or cable from a tubular support member which is adapted to align the cleaning head within the chimney or flue and to provide a guide for the cable to the ground for ready access by the user without the need for pulleys. An anti-down draft cap may be mounted at the end of the tubular support member immediately above the chimney opening to enhance the operation of the chimney system. The anti-down draft cap mounts to a support means on the end of the tubular support member. The tubular support member is mounted to the outside of the chimney by stainless steel bands or the like.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor separation device and method, including a generally horizontally-disposed arcuate passageway which interconnects the outlet of the tube side of a heater component of an evaporator to a condensor or subsequent effect heater. A floor plate is disposed in the arcuate passageway in spaced-away relation from the side walls thereof so as to permit drainage of liquid collected on the interior walls of the passageway into a liquid-collecting section which is provided with a suitable drain for removal of the thus-collected liquid. The floor plate is of sufficient size to minimize re-entrainment of the collected liquid. Adjacent the outlet end of the device anti-swirl baffles are provided to eliminate turbulence in the vapor adjacent such outlet end.

Abstract: The torque of each club about its shaft measured with the club oriented at the angle at which it is used to address the ball is substantially the same as the corresponding torque of every other club in the set.

Abstract: The transfer of agitational forces from a main vessel to an elutriation leg connected thereto is effectively minimized with a slurry inlet and liquor outlet device mounted in the upper end of the elutriation leg. The device includes a slurry flow directing member which receives the gravitational flow of slurry from the main vessel and directs such flow in a downward path of reduced cross-sectional area with respect to the cross-sectional area of the elutriation leg for impingement onto a target member mounted below the slurry flow directing member. The downward slurry flow is radially outwardly deflected by the target member to substantially reduce the concentrated downward forces of the slurry which would otherwise tend to disrupt or restrict the formation and maintenance of a fluidized bed in the elutriation leg.

Abstract: A vehicle has a bed divided into a plurality of bays by means of dividers. Article carriers are constructed to be positioned in the bays by means of a loader-unloader such as a lift truck. The side walls of each article carrier converge downwardly so as to engage the tops of adjacent dividers and guide the article carriers into a chosen bay. The bed may be provided with a longitudinally extending tube which is engaged by the inner end of an article carrier to facilitate its being dropped into position. Each article carrier may be provided with at least one locking mechanism which automatically unlocks when engaged by a loader-unloader, and automatically locks into the bed of a truck when released by the loader-unloader after being positioned in a chosen bay.

Abstract: A vehicle has a bed of open frame construction, divided into a plurality of bays by means of dividers. Article carriers are constructed to be positioned in the bays by means of a loader-unloader such as a lift truck. Each article carrier may be provided with at least one locking mechanism which automatically unlocks when engaged by a loader-unloader, and automatically locks into the bed of a truck when released by the loader-unloader after being positioned in a chosen bay. The article carriers may be pallets respectively having upper plates which are coplanar and define the entire floor of the bed. The open frame construction of the bed may consist of beams at two different levels, and the pallets may have spaced-apart surfaces resting on the beams respectively at the first and second levels.

Abstract: A crystallization vessel is provided which includes an elutriation column having an outlet at an upper end thereof and an inlet at a lower end thereof which inlet is in communication with a body of slurry contained therein. Flow regulating means associated with the elutriation column outlet enables the flow velocity within the column to be regulated for controlling the size of crystal particles removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. A movable baffle in the column is also provided for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of the column and thereby independently regulating the quantity of slurry removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. In this manner, both the size and quantity of crystal particles removed from the slurry body are independently regulated, thereby providing product crystals of improved size uniformity.

Abstract: A vehicle has a bed divided into a plurality of bays by means of dividers. Article carriers are constructed to be positioned in the bays by means of a loader-unloader such as a lift truck. Each article carrier is provided with at least one locking mechanism which automatically unlocks when engaged by a loader-unloader, and automatically locks into the bed of a truck when released by the loader-unloader after being positioned in a chosen bay.