A method is presented for making a composite material from strips comprising longitudinal fibers and a binder or resin, which material comprises a number of layer assemblies one on top of the other. Each layer assembly comprises m sets (with m at least 2) of parallel strips each extending in a different direction, Each layer assembly is manufactured by successive steps of depositing groups of parallel strips according to a well defined pattern (without longitudinally interweaving strips with previously deposited strips). Before completing a layer assembly, with the exception of the last layer assembly, by depositing its last group of parallel strips, the first group of parallel strips of the following layer assembly is already deposited. A composite material manufactured with such a method is presented too.

A braided carbon nanotube thread includes at least three carbon nanotube filaments braided into a thread. The carbon nanotube filaments include a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each of the carbon nanotubes having a length L. The carbon nanotube filaments are braided such that the carbon nanotube thread has at least 8 intersections per the length L of each carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube thread has a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the constituent carbon nanotube filaments.

An elastic longitudinal net (1) for longitudinal food products, especially cold meat products, is formed as a sleeve having at least one longitudinal main warp (21) of a tightening chain weave having at least one substantially inextensible thread (213, 214), and at least one weft (3) having at least one elastic fiber and circumferential sections (31), the ends of which are interweaved substantially perpendicularly between the substantially inextensible fiber and longitudinal sections (32) existing between neighboring circumferential sections (31) and running in a concurrent manner relative to and weaved with at least one main warp (21). The longitudinal sections are interweaved through at least one main warp (21) substantially perpendicularly relative to its longitudinal axis, passing through loops (215, 216) of the at least one substantially inextensible thread (213, 214) of the main warp, forming a serpentine run having at least two external loops (321).

A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.

A vascular device is provided that includes a tubular structure and an occluding structure. The tubular structure has inner and outer layers, with the occluding structure located between the inner and outer layers. Each of the inner and outer layers may define a different pick count, and the tubular structure may include a leading edge at a transition between the pick counts. The leading edge may be disposed at the distal end of the vascular device when the device is deployed from a delivery device. Furthermore, the occluding structure may have first and second layers formed by the inversion or eversion of the occluding structure and the subsequent coupling of its free ends to form a continuous structure. Thus, any loose ends may be sealed to minimize unraveling and/or shifting of the occluding structure within the tubular structure. A method of making the vascular device is also provided.

Branched braided stent or graft devices and processes for fabrication of the devices are disclosed in which a trunk portion and two hinge leg portions are fabricated in one piece braided from a single plurality of filaments, whereby the legs contain the full plurality of filaments and the trunk portion contains a subset of the same plurality of filaments. The fabrication process involves braiding the hinged legs on a mandrel while retaining loops of filament between the hinged leg portions for subsequent braiding of the trunk portion of the stent or graft.

A three-dimensional preform, composite components formed with the preform, and processes for producing the preform and composite materials. The three-dimensional preform includes first and second sets of tows containing filaments. Each tow of the first set has a predetermined polygonal cross-sectional shape and is embedded within a temporary matrix. The preform is fabricated from the first and second sets of tows, in which the second set of tows are transverse to the first set of tows, adjacent tows of the second set are spaced apart to define interstitial regions therebetween, and the polygonal cross-sectional shapes of the first set of tows are substantially congruent to the cross-sectional shapes of the interstitial regions so as to substantially fill the interstitial regions.

A self-expanding, pseudo-braided device embodying a high expansion ratio and flexibility as well as comformability and improved radial force. The pseudo-braided device is particularly suited for advancement through and deployment within highly tortuous and very distal vasculature. Various forms of the pseudo-braided device are adapted for the repair of aneurysms and stenoses as well as for use in thrombectomies and embolic protection therapy.

A toothed cable is provided in which a strand can be securely joined to a core cable while maintaining flexibility of the strand. The toothed cable includes the core cable, a wire disposed spirally around the core cable at a fixed pitch, and the strand having a core thread and piles fixed to the core thread, the strand being disposed spirally along a groove having side walls and a bottom formed by the wire and the core cable. The toothed cable is obtained by a manufacturing method of disposing a meltable filament thread in the groove, disposing the strand in the groove with tension after the filament thread is disposed, melting the filament thread after the strand is disposed, and joining the strand to the core cable by solidifying the melted filament thread.

A braider for braiding wires to a tube comprising an iris assembly having stacked iris plates. Each of the iris plates includes a center aperture, a wire orifice disposed radially outward from the center aperture, and an arcuate channel. The iris plates are rotatable relative to each other to adjust a circumferential orientation of the wire orifices relative to each other. The arcuate channel(s) of each respective iris plate is coincident with the wire orifice(s) of the remaining iris(es). The braider comprises a feeder assembly configured for advancing the tube through the center apertures, and advancing the wires through the respective wire orifices. The braider further comprises a braiding assembly configured for braiding a plurality of filaments around the tube and the plurality of wires as they are fed through the iris assembly, thereby creating a braided tube assembly.

A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.

A composite material comprising a plurality of fiber tape strips woven or braided together. Each of the plurality of fiber tape strips is made of a single layer of unidirectional fibers. The fibers are at least partially embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. A tubular composite part is made from this composite material and of an internal film. A method of manufacturing the composite material comprises weaving or braiding the fiber tape strips, especially in the form of a tube. A method of manufacturing a composite part comprises pressurizing the film inside the tube while heating both the tube and the film up to their forming temperature so as to bond the film to the woven fiber tape strips.

This invention provides new above knee (AK) and below the knee (BK) prosthetic sockets and implements specific manufacturing processes for the production of prosthetic sockets through the automated, computer controlled bi-axial and tri-axial braiding of sockets, over a mold or mandrel made of carved foam, plaster material or wax that is a replica of the patient's truncated limb, and is created by a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file controlling a Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tool. This method of manufacture using aerospace fibers such as graphite or Kevlar, and high performance resins, is used to create a socket which is stronger and lighter weight than conventionally manufactured sockets. Braiding also allows incorporation of woven cloth, tapes and other reinforcements into the braiding process for added strength at selected areas. The method dramatically decreases the production time and cost of the prosthetic relative to conventional methods.

A system for making braided barbed sutures includes a filament winding assembly, and a guide assembly including at least one barbed insert dispenser opening defining a passageway for orienting a barbed insert. The guide assembly is adapted to dispense at least one barbed insert from the dispenser opening into the filament winding assembly for winding a plurality of filaments around the at least one barbed insert for making a braided barbed suture. The passageway of the dispenser opening is adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway while simultaneously preventing twisting movement of the barbed insert relative to the passageway. As the barbed insert is being dispensed, the barbed insert dispenser opening is selectively rotatable for imparting rotation to the barbed insert as the filaments are wound about the barbed insert. The passageway may be an elongated slit having a greater width than height.

The method produces an upper part of a shoe, in particular a sport shoe, with enhanced wearing comfort. The method entails supplying a shoe last, which corresponds to the inner shape of the upper part of the shoe to a radial braiding machine having an annular creel, which is designed for weaving and/or braiding along three axes; Guiding the at least one shoe last through the center of the creel and simultaneously weaving and/or braiding along three axes using a fiber material around the outer circumference of the shoe last; and Terminating the weaving and/or braiding and removing the woven and/or braided material from the shoe last.

A tubular fibrous architecture is disclosed. According to one aspect, the tubular fibrous architecture includes a closed tubular part in at least one of its ends or bottom. The closed tubular part includes an architecture in which a textile material, such as a thread, roving, ribbon or bundle of threads, is continuously output from the bottom. Each textile material that is output from the bottom is continuously wound about the tubular part. All of the textile materials at the junction between the bottom and the remainder of the tubular part are continuous and there is a continuous geometric transition between the bottom architecture and the architecture of the remainder of the tubular part such that the textile materials in the tubular part cross over. A method of making such a tubular fibrous architecture is also disclosed.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

A braider comprises a plurality of horngears. The horngears can be arranged for forming at least two closed paths for braiding. Each horngear has a driving gear and a hornplate. Each horngear can be selectably operated in a first mode, to rotate with the driving gear, and in a second mode, in which the driving gear rotates, but the hornplate does not. Bobbin carriers are positioned on some of the horngears. A track is configurable in: a first flat braiding mode with the carriers arranged on the horngears, so that there is one or more separate closed path for forming a first flat braid configuration; and a second flat braiding mode for forming a second flat braid configuration different from the first flat braid configuration. A switch is provided for changing a configuration of the track between the first and second flat braiding modes.

The invention relates to a method for the operation of a plaiting machine (1) that comprises a ring (2) carrying fiber spools (3) for plaiting layers (16, 22) of fibers (3) about a mandrel (13, 17) carried by a carrier (12) capable of movement along the axis (AX) of the ring (2), wherein after plaiting the fibers (3) are cut in order to withdraw the mandrel (13, 17), and that comprises: a hub (5, 6; 18) carried by the carrier (12) and secured to the mandrel (13; 17) while being mounted upstream therefrom; an operation for tightening the fibers (3) around the hub (5, 6; IS) with a link (11, 14) surrounding said fibers (3) after the mandrel (13, 17) has passed through the ring (2); and in which the fibers (3) are cut between the mandrel (13, 17) and the hub (5, 6; 18) before withdrawing the mandrel (13, 17).

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

A manufacture method of a three dimensional (3D) braided composite tube with a throat section includes: providing an assembled mandrel comprising an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel, and braiding an 3D braided inner layer on the upper mandrel; winding fiber yarns to form a fiber yarn layer over the 3D braided inner layer; tightening the 3D braided inner layer to the assembled mandrel by an appropriate tension force when winding; and infiltrating resin and increasing temperature to cure the resin for obtaining a composite tube with a narrower throat section. The present invention takes advantage of winding fiber yarn outer layer to keep the radius of the throat of the 3D braided inner layer to meet design requirement. Additionally, the hoop strength of the throat section is increased so that the metal shell can be made thinner to reduce the weight of the rocket nozzle.

A tubular braid and mechanisms for forming the braid are described. The mechanism for braiding includes a disc, a mandrel, a plurality of catch mechanisms, and a plurality of actuators. The disc defines a plane and a circumferential edge. The mandrel extends from a center of the disc and is adapted to hold a plurality of filaments extending radially from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc. The plurality of catch mechanisms are positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc and are adapted to engage a filament. The plurality of actuators are configured to move relative to one another and are adapted to move the plurality of catch mechanisms in a substantially radial direction relative to the circumferential edge of the disc.

Devices and methods for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The braiding machine includes a circular array of filament guiding members defining a plane; a mandrel defining an axis and adapted to carry one or more filaments extending from the mandrel to the circular array; a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel in a radial array; a plurality of actuator mechanisms disposed operably about the disc; and a rotating mechanism adapted to rotate one or more filaments. The actuator mechanisms and rotating mechanism are configured to move each of the one or more filaments about the mandrel axis in a path comprising a series of arcs and radial movements. The braiding machine may alternately first and second annular members, a mandrel, first and second plurality of tubular wire guides, and a plurality of wires extending from the mandrel.

Devices and methods for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The method for braiding includes the step of loading a plurality of filaments on a mandrel and extending the filaments radially from the mandrel, the plurality of filaments have a first subset and a second subset. Tension is applied to the plurality of filaments using a weight attached to each filament. The first subset of the plurality of filaments is engaged, moved circumferentially relative to the second subset, and then released. The second subset of filaments is then engaged and moved circumferentially relative to the first subset of filaments, such that a tubular braid of filaments is formed.

A method of fabricating a mechanical member for aircraft, including a plurality of operations of braiding and depositing layers of braided reinforcing fibers on a mandrel (11) by using braiding machine. Each operation comprises braiding a braided layer and depositing it by moving the mandrel (11) along a central axis of the braiding machine. Each of the various superposed braided layers comprises both longitudinal fibers (12, 12G) that are parallel to a main direction of the mandrel (11), and interlacing fibers that are inclined. At least one operation is configured to form and deposit a braided layer having, in at least one cross-section of the member, a density of longitudinal fibers that differs depending on whether consideration is given to one angular region (S1) or another angular region (S2) of the same extent around the center of gravity (G) of the mandrel (11) in the section under consideration.

A method, consisting of passing a cylindrical carbon fiber through a press so as to produce a flat ribbon. The method further includes weaving multiple strands of the flat ribbon together to create a cylindrical braid.

Disclosed is a method for producing a high strength synthetic strength member (7) containing rope (1) capable of being used with powered blocks where such rope has lighter weight and similar or greater strength than steel wire strength member containing ropes used with powered blocks. Disclosed also is the product resulting from such method. The product includes a synthetic strength member, a first synthetic portion (9) and a second synthetic portion. The first synthetic portion is enclosed within the strength member and the second synthetic portion is situated external the strength member. At least a portion of the second synthetic portion also is situated internal a sheath (8) formed about the strength member. The second synthetic portion has a minimal of 8% at a temperature of between negative 20 and negative 15° C.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

A net is provided having a plurality of net members, the net members being arranged in a lattice structure and having a thickness (D1). The net is further provided with attachment devices having a thickness (D2) which are connected to the net members, the thickness (D2) of the attachment devices being larger that the thickness of the net members (D1) at least at the places of connection through which loads are transmitted between the net members and the attachment devices. The ratio between the thickness of the net members and the thickness of the attachment devices (D1/D2) is at least 1.15. The net is useful as a barrier net to secure an off-limits area and as a cargo net to restrain cargo movement on a platform of a pallet.

Energy-absorbing textile structure, in particular for use in vehicle construction, which has high-tensile yarns for absorbing force, is formed by a braided fabric (2) with standing ends (3) in the force input direction and in that the textile structure has at least one region (4) with local modification of the fiber structure (2, 3).

An electrical device such as a headset may have a cable. Wires in the cable may be used to connect speakers in the headset to a connector such as an audio jack. The cable may have a tubular intertwined cable cover that covers the wires. Computer-controlled servo motors in fiber intertwining equipment may be adjusted in real time so that intertwined attributes such as intertwining density and intertwining tension are varied as a function of length along the intertwined cable cover. The fiber intertwining equipment may make these variations to locally increase the strength of the intertwined cable cover and the cable in the vicinity of a bifurcation in the cable and in the vicinity of the portion of the cable that terminates at the audio jack.

Methods of forming a structure for treating a vessel include providing a mandrel and braiding a plurality of filaments around the mandrel. The mandrel may include a strand having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of balls coupled to the strand along the longitudinal axis. Pairs of the plurality of balls may be spaced along the longitudinal axis. Braiding the plurality of filaments around the mandrel may include, during braiding, forming a plurality of bulbs around the plurality of balls and forming necks between pairs of the plurality of balls. The methods may include, after braiding the plurality of filaments, heat treating (e.g., shape setting) the plurality of filaments on the mandrel. Portions of the braided plurality of filaments may be secured to the mandrel, for example using bangles, wire, and/or adhesive.

The protective sleeve for a motor component of the present invention is obtained by braiding multifilament yarns made of synthetic fibers into a cylindrical braided cord of at least 24 strands. The multifilament yarns have a single-yarn fineness of at least 15 dtex but less than 30 dtex and the yarn total fineness of a single braid unit of the braided cord is in the range of 800 to 1500 dtex. This protective sleeve has good covering properties and few voids. Therefore, a protective sleeve for a motor component is provided that has high partial discharge characteristics (electrical insulation performance) and good electrical insulation properties even when a step of washing away the raw yarn oil solution applied to the filaments was omitted.

A mandrel for manufacturing a vascular device for treating a vessel includes an elongate strand and a plurality of bulbs coupled to the elongate strand. The elongate strand may extend through each of the plurality of bulbs. The mandrel may include first and second elongate strands each including a plurality of bulbs. The first and second elongate strands may be separable at an intermediate portion coupling the first and second elongate strands. A vascular device manufactured utilizing the mandrel may be configured to treat a vessel.

A continuous braid structure has one or more first braid sections, each having a respective single flat braid or a respective single tubular braid. A plurality of second braid sections each have at least two flat braids with a gap between them. The second braid sections alternate with the one or more first braid sections. The adjacent first and second braid sections are continuous with each other. A length of material extends through the respective gap of at least one of the one or more second braid sections, so the length of material crosses one or more times between a first side of the continuous braid and a second side of the continuous braid.

A method of braiding reinforcing fibers on a mandrel (8) with a machine having a ring (9) carrying at least two series of reels of fibers, by moving the mandrel at a predetermined forward speed while moving the two series of reels along the ring (9) so that they cross while rotating in opposite directions and at a predetermined speed of rotation about an axis (AX) of the ring. The braid is formed on the mandrel (8) in the vicinity of a region of convergence (R) of the fibers that together define a conical shape (C). The method comprises: a step of reconfiguring the machine in which the angle (a2) at the apex of the cone (C) defined by the fibers takes on a new value (a2); and a step of restarting braiding in which the movement of the reels along the ring (9) and the forward movement of the mandrel (8) are re-established with a new speed of rotation and a new speed of advance.

A rope having a cut-resistant jacket which includes a core comprised of a plurality of sub-ropes. The sub-ropes may be in a parallel strand configuration. The sub-ropes and the strands thereof may be made of fibers of a synthetic material, such as polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, aramids, or acrylics. A cut-resistant jacket surrounds the core and is made from a material that has increased strength and/or abrasion resistance over the material of the core. The cut-resistant jacket may comprise steel wires and may further comprise braided steel wires or rope. The braided steel wires or rope may be covered with a plastic material for increased corrosion resistance. A filter layer may be disposed between the core and the cut-resistant jacket and may be wrapped around an outer surface of the core prior to the cut-resistant jacket being formed.

The invention relates to a medical implant, particularly a stent, having a wall (11) braided out of multiple wires (10a, 10b) said wall extending along a longitudinal axis L and curving around the longitudinal axis L at least in sections, wherein in each case at least two wire ends (12) of the wires (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) are connected to at least two first braid ends (13a, 13b) forming a first circumferential section (16a) of the wall (11) extending around the longitudinal axis L. The invention is characterised in that in each case at least two first braid ends (13a, 13b) are connected to one or more second braid ends (14a, 14b), wherein the second braid ends (14a, 14b) form a second circumferential section (16b) of the wall (11) extending around the longitudinal axis L and following the first circumferential section (16a) in sequence in the longitudinal direction or the second braid ends (14a, 14b) are arranged in the circumferential direction U of the wall (11).

An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.

A method of manufacturing a corrugated preform that allows a fiber volume fraction and an orientation angle to be substantially the same at a concave portion and at a convex portion when the corrugated preform is manufactured based on a braiding process. The method includes braiding a composite material corresponding to an outer diameter of a cylindrical cylinder shape, braiding the composite material by connecting a plurality of separate composite materials to one side of the braided composite material, and braiding the composite material to one side of the separate composite material corresponding to the outer diameter of the cylindrical cylinder shape.

In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform.

Method and instrumentation for detection of rail defects, in particular rail top defects, in a railway-track by measuring an axle box acceleration signal of a rail vehicle, wherein a longitudinal axle box acceleration signal is used as a measure to detect the occurrence of said rail defects. The method also includes measuring a vertical axle box acceleration signal of said rail vehicle, whereby the longitudinal axle box acceleration signal is used in combination and simultaneously with said vertical axle box acceleration signal. It is preferred that the longitudinal axle box acceleration signal is used to remove from said vertical axle box acceleration signal a signal-part that relates to vibrations of the rail vehicle's wheel set, including the bearing and axle box, and that the axle box acceleration signals are filtered for removing signal-parts contributed by vibrations of the track, including the rail, rail pads, fasteners, sleepers, and ballast.

A train signaling system, including a traffic signaling chain terminus set up unit configured to set a terminus location of a train running on the track and transmit a wireless traffic signal, a plurality of traffic signaling chain relay units installed along the track and configured to forward the wireless traffic signal and allow the wireless traffic signal to form a traffic signaling chain comprising distance-to-go information of the train, and a traffic signaling chain detection unit configured to allow the train to achieve the receipt of the information on the traffic signaling chain and calculate the distance-to-go of the train. A method for detecting distance-to-go of a train is also provided.

Data representative of a train consist (the train consist comprising a plurality of locomotives and a plurality of cars) and data representative of a route for the train consist can be processed by a processor to automatically determine which locomotives in the train consist should be powered on and which locomotives in the train consist should be shut down for each segment of the route. The processor can make these determinations based on an analysis of the train consist data and the route data with respect to a plurality of considerations that affect train efficiency. Recommendations for locomotive startups and shutdowns in accordance with such automated determinations can then be presented to the train crew for the crew to use during train operations. It is believed that when train crews are in compliance with such recommendations, significant improvements in efficiency, particularly with respect to fuel consumption, can be achieved.

A method for calibrating a moving object impact detector is disclosed. A controller may receive input indicative of movement of an impact element from a first position to a second position. The controller may also receive an activation signal corresponding to the movement of the impact element. The controller may further receive input indicative of instructions to correlate the activation signal with the movement of the impact element. The controller may selectively set the activation signal as a reference signal for the detector, with the reference signal being indicative of an impact the moving object impact detector is set to detect.

A vehicle coupling fault detecting system is disclosed. The system may include first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits containing first and second communication cables that are communicatively coupled when the first and second fluid conduits are connected together. A pressure sensor may detect a pressure within the fluid conduits when the conduits are connected together, and communicate a signal indicative of the pressure through at least one of the first and second communication cables. A controller may receive the signal and determine from the signal whether there is a fault in the connection between the first and second selectively-pressurized fluid conduits.

In a railway signalling system which transmits a control order to an on-board signalling system by a trackside signalling system, the on-board signalling system being mounted on a train running on a line and the control order being compliant with a signalling system of the line, the present invention allows the train to run through into lines with different signalling systems using a single on-board signalling system. When the train enters a line with a different signalling system from a current line, the on-board signalling system installs a train control application program compliant with the signalling system of the entering line. Then, the on-board signalling system executes the train control application program, allowing the train to be controlled on the entering line according to a control order created by the trackside signalling system of the entering line.

A system includes a communication module and a determination module. The communication module is configured to be located onboard a vehicle configured to travel along a route including plural sub-routes. The communication module is configured to receive route occupancy information from an off-board wayside module disposed along the route. The route occupancy information corresponds to a presence or absence of vehicular traffic on each sub-route within a range of a route detection system operably coupled to the wayside module. The determination module is configured to be located onboard the vehicle, and to obtain position information from one or more onboard detection units disposed onboard the vehicle. The determination module is configured to determine a particular sub-route on which the vehicle is disposed using a comparison of the position information obtained from the one or more onboard detection units and the occupancy information received from the off-board wayside module.