Abstract: A battery pack assembly includes a container assembly that holds a mixture of agents. The container assembly configured to release the mixture of agents in response to a thermal event proximate the container assembly. The mixture of agents can include sodium silicate granules, one or more ceramic-based beads, aluminum oxide particles, melamine poly (zinc phosphate), and aluminum tri-hydrate.

Abstract: Battery thermal barrier foam systems are provided for use within traction battery packs. Exemplary battery thermal barrier foam systems may include one or more foam blocks arranged to fill void spaces within a battery array of a traction battery pack. Each foam block may include a high temperature material system capable of mitigating cell-to-cell and/or array-to-array thermal propagation, increasing thermal insulation between battery cells, absorbing heat, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprise an insertion apparatus that has at least one loader. A preformed member comprised of a thermal barrier material is inserted into the at least one loader. The preformed member is pushed through the at least one loader and into an open area between adjacent battery cell tabs such that the preformed member expands to fill the open area.

Abstract: A product delivery system for a vending machine includes first and second guide rails and a carriage rail. The guide rails are fixedly mounted in the vending machine spaced from and parallel to each other and extend along respective first and second axes. The carriage rail extends along a third axis and includes first and second ends that are slidably connected to the respective ones of the first and second guide rails. A carrier member is slidably mounted to the carriage rail for movement along the third axis. A first drive belt is coupled to the carriage rail and a first drive motor to selectively shift the carrier member along the third axis. A second drive belt, extending in multiple axes, is connected to each of the first and second ends of the carriage rail and a second drive motor. The second drive motor selectively shifts the carriage rail along the first and second axes upon driving the second drive belt.

Abstract: A vending machine includes first and second integrated dispensing systems mounted at front portions of adjacent product shelf dividers establishing at least first, second and third product queues. Each of the first and second dispensing systems includes first and second release mechanisms having a plurality of hinged plates supported by a frame. The plurality of hinged plates are selectively shifted into and out of corresponding ones of the first, second and third product queues, such that each product queue has associated therewith two opposing release mechanisms. Preferably, at least one of the first and second release mechanisms for each dispensing system includes a queue spacing member which is mounted to one of the hinged plates and projects into the product queue to establish a desired spacing between the release mechanisms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that provides a process whereby the parameters and/or functions of a hardware field device, e.g., field controller, can be altered dynamically by the use of a downloadable data table. This programming method is being called “Full Dynamic Linking” (abbreviated as FDL), and provides a mechanism by which software and firmware is written in such a way as to provide extreme flexibility in the application of control processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that provides a process whereby the parameters and/or functions of a hardware field device, e.g., field controller, can be altered dynamically by the use of a downloadable data table. This programming method is being called “Full Dynamic Linking” (abbreviated as FDL), and provides a mechanism by which software and firmware is written in such a way as to provide extreme flexibility in the application of control processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and displaying “alarm” information. Specifically, four separate windows are simultaneously presented to an operator during an alarm condition, where the four windows present an alarm event, alarm instructions, a map of the location of the alarm event and alarm responses, respectively.