Abstract: A system for monitoring/confirming the location of and communicating with a group of user devices or individual members thereof is generally represented by reference numeral 1. The system 1 comprises a mobile application or website executable on a mobile device 2 such as a smartphone. The mobile application enables users to associate mobile devices to form groups 3 of such devices. The system 1 also has a location confirmation member in the form of a Bluetooth low energy beacon and/or sonic signal beacon 4 and/or GPS system 15 for determining which mobile devices 2 associated with a formed group 3 are present in a pre-defined location or area 5, and given this information communicates collectively or individually with those mobile devices 2 which are associated with a formed group 3 and have been determined as present in the pre-defined location or area 5 at the time of said communication.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for predictive control of a turbocharger. The method includes interpreting a compressor performance model for a turbocharger, and interpreting at least one current operating parameter. The method further includes calculating a performance margin, calculating a performance margin derivative, and calculating a response value. The performance margin comprises a choke margin or a surge margin according to the position of an operating point in the compressor performance model. The performance margin is implemented in a first sigmoid function, and the performance margin derivative is implemented in a second sigmoid function. The response value is determined by applying a MIN function to the output of the product of the sigmoid functions in the choke margin case, and by applying a MAX function to the product of the sigmoid functions in the surge margin case.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for preventing turbocharger overspeed in a combustion engine. The method includes determining a turbocharger error term as a difference between a nominal turbocharger maximum speed and a current turbocharger speed. The method further includes determining a turbocharger speed derivative with respect to time. The method includes calculating a turbocharger control response based on the turbocharger error term and the turbocharger speed derivative with respect to time. The turbocharger control response may be a modified turbocharger maximum speed calculated by determining a reference speed multiplier based on the turbocharger error term and the turbocharger speed derivative with respect to time, and multiplying the reference speed multiplier by the nominal turbocharger maximum speed. The method thereby smoothly anticipates turbocharger transient events, and prevents an overspeed condition of the turbocharger.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for predictive control of a turbocharger. The method includes interpreting a compressor performance model for a turbocharger, and interpreting at least one current operating parameter. The method further includes calculating a performance margin, calculating a performance margin derivative, and calculating a response value. The performance margin comprises a choke margin or a surge margin according to the position of an operating point in the compressor performance model. The performance margin is implemented in a first sigmoid function, and the performance margin derivative is implemented in a second sigmoid function. The response value is determined by applying a MIN function to the output of the product of the sigmoid functions in the choke margin case, and by applying a MAX function to the product of the sigmoid functions in the surge margin case.

Abstract: An assembly for estimating consumption of a fluid includes a coupling device enabling fluid flow, a carrier assembly slidingly coupled to the coupling device, a biasing mechanism positioned between the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a displacement sensing mechanism including a sensor coupled to one of the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a magnet coupled to the other of the coupling device and the carrier assembly. The displacement sensing mechanism is configured to sense a displacement of the magnet relative to the sensor due to coupling of a fluid source to the coupling device.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine is provided for which a plurality of annunciators are energized according to particular fault code sequences. A self-diagnosis mode is controlled by use of the vehicle throttle. The self-diagnosis mode can be initiated by a predetermined number of cycles of the vehicle throttle, in which a cycle corresponds to depressing and releasing the throttle beyond upper and lower limits. In one aspect of the invention, a timer is used to determine whether the predetermined number of throttle cycles occurs within a fixed time limit. If not, then the self-diagnosis mode is not activated. Once the self-diagnosis mode is activated, subsequent cycles of the vehicle throttle will increment the annunciators among the sequential fault codes.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing fine particulate material includes a hopper for storing material to be dispensed, a discharge tube having a discharge nozzle and an auger for feeding stored material from the hopper to the discharge tube. The fine particulate material is regulated by a meter which meters the amount transferred by the auger to the discharge tube. Material is transferred to a container to be charged by positioning it against the discharge nozzle so that the auger transfers a predetermined amount of material from the hopper to the discharge tube. Material laden displaced air from the container escapes into a settling tube where the material in the displaced air is allowed to settle and fall by gravity into the container.

Abstract: A body-encircling safety ring is supported from at least one side wall of a shower bath installation so as to allow a person showering free use of both hands while preventing a fall in any direction. The preferred support for the safety ring is a horizontal rod anchored at the desired level to a side wall of the shower installation. The preferred form of safety ring comprises two mating semi-circular halves with each half having an ear formation on one end allowing it to be supported in cantilever fashion in various positions along the horizontal rod. Spring-actuated locking means are mounted in the ear formations for cooperating with recesses spaced along a groove extending lengthwise of the rod so as to allow the semi-circular halves to be positioned as desired on the rod.