A door closer may utilize a door closing device (e.g., spring) and a force adjustment device (e.g., a motor) in order to allow for manual door opening and assisted door closing. During operation, as a door is manually opened, the spring is loaded (e.g., compressed or tensioned) above its pre-loaded closed position state. Once manual opening is completed, the spring that is loaded during opening begins returning to the pre-loaded closed position state, and thus, moves the door automatically towards the closed position. Depending on the pre-loaded spring setting, the closing force of the door may not be enough to close the door, or to close the door with the preferred force. As such, during closing a controller may engage a motor not to drive the door directly, but to increase the pre-load of spring to increase the closing force in order to allow the door to close as preferred.

A door closer may utilize a door closing device (e.g., spring) and a force adjustment device (e.g., a motor) in order to allow for manual door opening and assisted door closing. During operation, as a door is manually opened, the spring is loaded (e.g., compressed or tensioned) above its pre-loaded closed position state. Once manual opening is completed, the spring that is loaded during opening begins returning to the pre-loaded closed position state, and thus, moves the door automatically towards the closed position. Depending on the pre-loaded spring setting, the closing force of the door may not be enough to close the door, or to close the door with the preferred force. As such, during closing a controller may engage a motor not to drive the door directly, but to increase the pre-load of spring to increase the closing force in order to allow the door to close as preferred.

An electropneumatic brake control module (1) for utility vehicles (100) includes a supply port (2) for connecting a compressed air supply (3); a first axle channel port (4); a pneumatically controlled inlet/outlet valve unit (10) for outputting a first braking pressure (PB1) at the first axle channel port (4); and an electropneumatic pilot control unit (8) for outputting at least one first control pressure (P1) at the inlet/outlet valve unit (10). The brake control module (1) further includes a redundancy pressure port (6) for receiving a redundancy pressure (PR) and a redundancy valve unit (12) connected to the redundancy pressure port (6) for outputting a redundancy braking pressure (PBR) at the first axle channel port (4) in the event that the electropneumatic pilot control unit (8) has a fault.

An electropneumatic brake control module (1) for utility vehicles (100) includes a supply port (2) for connecting a compressed air supply (3); a first axle channel port (4); a pneumatically controlled inlet/outlet valve unit (10) for outputting a first braking pressure (PB1) at the first axle channel port (4); and an electropneumatic pilot control unit (8) for outputting at least one first control pressure (P1) at the inlet/outlet valve unit (10). The brake control module (1) further includes a redundancy pressure port (6) for receiving a redundancy pressure (PR) and a redundancy valve unit (12) connected to the redundancy pressure port (6) for outputting a redundancy braking pressure (PBR) at the first axle channel port (4) in the event that the electropneumatic pilot control unit (8) has a fault.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, including a valve stem having a bore therethrough, wherein the bore is defined by a wall of the valve stem, and further wherein the valve stem is connected at a first end to the actuator and at a second end to the control element; and an electronics module within the bore of the valve stem, wherein the electronics module further includes one or more sensors within the valve stem.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus for monitoring a valve having a control element, wherein the control element is actuated by an actuator, including a valve stem having a bore therethrough, wherein the bore is defined by a wall of the valve stem, and further wherein the valve stem is connected at a first end to the actuator and at a second end to the control element; and an electronics module within the bore of the valve stem, wherein the electronics module further includes one or more sensors within the valve stem.

A load verification system includes a first sensor configured to determine an identifier associated with a target object, a second sensor configured to determine a load borne by a machine handling the target object, and a controller configured to determine a load threshold based on the identifier, compare the load with the load threshold to determine whether the load threshold is exceeded, and, on condition that the load threshold is exceeded, selectively restrict movement of the machine.

A load verification system includes a first sensor configured to determine an identifier associated with a target object, a second sensor configured to determine a load borne by a machine handling the target object, and a controller configured to determine a load threshold based on the identifier, compare the load with the load threshold to determine whether the load threshold is exceeded, and, on condition that the load threshold is exceeded, selectively restrict movement of the machine.

A flexible sensor is provided. A further aspect employs a sensor apparatus including pressure or force sensing layers or sheets in addition to location sensing layers or sheets. In another aspect, an electrical sensing circuit and flexible films are used to sense pressure and/or location of a contacting object. In another aspect, a compressible polymer includes conductive particles therein such that the compressible polymer changes electrical resistance when compressed to indicate a force or location. Still another aspect has stacked sandwiches of pressure and/or location sensing films, layers or sheets.

A flexible sensor is provided. A further aspect employs a sensor apparatus including pressure or force sensing layers or sheets in addition to location sensing layers or sheets. In another aspect, an electrical sensing circuit and flexible films are used to sense pressure and/or location of a contacting object. In another aspect, a compressible polymer includes conductive particles therein such that the compressible polymer changes electrical resistance when compressed to indicate a force or location. Still another aspect has stacked sandwiches of pressure and/or location sensing films, layers or sheets.