A package command node detects an environmental anomaly related to a shipment package for transport within a shipping container on a transit vehicle having an external transceiver. The package command node has a command node housing disposed with the package, a processor within the housing, a memory maintaining package command node environmental detection program code, and a wireless transceiver communication interface that communicates with sensor-based ID nodes generating sensor data from different parts of the container. The package command node's processor is programmatically configured to detect the ID node sensor data; identify the anomaly when the detected sensor data indicates an environmental condition that exceeds an environmental threshold; generate an alert notification related to the anomaly; and transmit the alert notification to the external transceiver to initiate a mediation response related to the environmental anomaly.

A blanket apparatus is described for enhanced detecting of an environmental anomaly relative to a shipping container temporarily maintaining packages. Generally, the apparatus includes a detection blanket disposed proximate the packages and multiple sensor-based ID nodes integrated as part of the detection blanket in a geographically disperse configuration relative to the detection blanket. Each of the sensor-based ID nodes has a processor, memory (with ID node monitoring program code), an environmental sensor, and a wireless radio transceiver. The sensor generates sensor data related to an environmental condition adjacent the sensor and indicative of the environmental anomaly when the sensor data generated is above a threshold condition for that sensor. The transceiver is configured to access and broadcast the sensor data generated in response to a report command from the ID node's processor when the ID node processor executes the ID node monitoring program code.

A metering device is configured for fitting into a sand-spreading system of a rail vehicle. The metering device has a housing block, in which a sand path extends from a sand-feeding funnel into a vertical sand blow-out channel via a sand-mixing channel, which rises at an inclination from a sand-holding space to a sand deflection space. A pushing air tube is provided for producing an air flow that conveys spreading sand. The pushing air tube protrudes into the sand-mixing channel coaxially from the bottom. A nozzle insert is detachable inserted into an inflow channel, which leads into the sand deflection space from above. The nozzle insert is provided for producing an air jet directed downward into the sand blow-out channel. The amount of scattering sand that is discharged can be metered more precisely and the susceptibility of the metering device to wear is improved.

An arrangement for lighting a rail vehicle includes at least one energy source, at least one controller, at least one lighting device, at least one electrical line for connecting the energy source to the at least one controller and an electrical line for connecting the controller to the at least one lighting device. Each lighting device includes at least one adjacent controller. A rail vehicle with the lighting arrangement is also provided.

An electro-pneumatic control system for braking, an emergency pressure monitoring and control unit providing weight signals, an emergency braking request signal, actual pressure signals, and provides emergency braking request signals, an emergency pressure module generating an emergency braking pressure, a braking control unit providing control signal pairs to generate corresponding braking pressures as a function of a service braking request signal or the emergency braking pressure request signal dependent upon whether the emergency braking request signal indicates an emergency braking request, and an emergency switching device comprising contact pairs which allow the connection of the control signal pairs from the braking control unit to the braking pressure generating modules when closed and prevent this connection of the control signal pairs when open.

A reusable collision energy absorption device for a rail vehicle includes an impacted rod, a damping structure including a damping plug, a guide tube and a damping elastic element, a return structure including a return piston and an elastic return element, an outer tube having a tubular structure, and an interior partitioned into a front cavity and a rear cavity through a partition plate provided with a damping hole in the form of a through hole. A portion of the damping plug is in the damping hole when the damping plug is in an initial position, and the damping plug can move in a front-rear direction when the device is impacted. A gap between a radial thickest portion of the damping plug and the damping hole allows the fluid to circulate between the front cavity and the rear cavity.

A dual mode vehicle that operates on guided rails and roadways includes a capsule, a carriage, a front left drive system, a front right drive system, a rear left drive system, a rear right drive system, a pod control unit, and at least one battery. The carriage includes a spherical frame-housing and a base. A spherical cabin of the capsule is attitudinally mounted within the spherical frame-housing. The front left drive system, the front right drive system, the rear left drive system, and the rear right drive system each includes a motor, a drive axle, a road wheel, and a rail wheel. The road wheel and the rail wheel are axially mounted to the drive axle. The motor that is mounted to the base is operatively coupled with the drive axle through the at least one battery and the pod control unit to operate a roadway or railway transportation mode.

A system and method in a building or vehicle for an actuator operation in response to a sensor according to a control logic, the system comprising a router or a gateway communicating with a device associated with the sensor and a device associated with the actuator over in-building or in-vehicle networks, and an external Internet-connected control server associated with the control logic implementing a PID closed linear control loop and communicating with the router over external network for controlling the in-building or in-vehicle phenomenon. The sensor may be a microphone or a camera, and the system may include voice or image processing as part of the control logic. A redundancy is used by using multiple sensors or actuators, or by using multiple data paths over the building or vehicle internal or external communication. The networks may be wired or wireless, and may be BAN, PAN, LAN, WAN, or home networks.

A system and method in a building or vehicle for an actuator operation in response to a sensor according to a control logic, the system comprising a router or a gateway communicating with a device associated with the sensor and a device associated with the actuator over in-building or in-vehicle networks, and an external Internet-connected control server associated with the control logic implementing a PID closed linear control loop and communicating with the router over external network for controlling the in-building or in-vehicle phenomenon. The sensor may be a microphone or a camera, and the system may include voice or image processing as part of the control logic. A redundancy is used by using multiple sensors or actuators, or by using multiple data paths over the building or vehicle internal or external communication. The networks may be wired or wireless, and may be BAN, PAN, LAN, WAN, or home networks.

A noise-absorbing device for a railway vehicle wheel includes: at least one strip extending radially from a connecting end capable of being fastened to the periphery of the wheel, to a free end; and at least one damping mass fastened on a face of the free end of the strip, away from the connecting end. The strip includes at least two metal or composite layers and at least one layer of viscoelastic material gripped between the two or composite metal layers.