A device (1) for twisting containers (2) while moving said containers along a moving path (3) comprising an at least partly curved path portion (3A) comprising a series of guiding elements provided each with lubricating means adapted for ensuring a dry lubrication of at least a portion of the guiding elements by supplying a fluid lubricant selected from the group consisting of liquid lubricant, gazeous lubricant and mixtures thereof in at least two distinct locations of the said guiding elements.

An aquatic transportation, storage, and distribution system, including one or more storage containers and a guide structure. The storage container is capable of retaining one or more items therein and is configured to selectively vary the buoyancy thereof to urge the storage container to float up or sink down within an aquatic environment. The guide structure is supported at least partially within the aquatic environment and includes at least one non-horizontal segment. The storage container is configured to interact with the at least one segment as the storage container is urged to float up or sink within the aquatic environment such that the storage container is moved along the guide structure and is routed to a specified extraction point for retrieval from the aquatic environment.

A marker band locator system locates a marker band, from a plurality of marker bands in a hopper, into a band receiver for further processing. A hopper is configured to loosely hold a plurality of marker bands and a band receiver, configured in an indexer, is configured under the hopper such that marker bands gravity feed down to the band receiver. A vacuum source produces a vacuum on the band receiver and if a marker band is properly located therein, the marker band forms a seal with the band receiver and the vacuum pressure exceeds a threshold vacuum pressure level. The indexer then actuates to a secondary position for further processing and removal of the marker band. If the vacuum pressure does not exceed the threshold, a burst of air jostles the marker bands in the hopper until a marker band is seated properly.

A marker band locator system locates a marker band, from a plurality of marker bands in a hopper, into a band receiver for further processing. A hopper is configured to loosely hold a plurality of marker bands and a band receiver, configured in an indexer, is configured under the hopper such that marker bands gravity feed down to the band receiver. A vacuum source produces a vacuum on the band receiver and if a marker band is properly located therein, the marker band forms a seal with the band receiver and the vacuum pressure exceeds a threshold vacuum pressure level. The indexer then actuates to a secondary position for further processing and removal of the marker band. If the vacuum pressure does not exceed the threshold, a burst of air jostles the marker bands in the hopper until a marker band is seated properly.

Apparatus, systems, devices, methods with thin walled sizing mandrels that are capable of packaging low temperature explosives emulsions at high volumes and lower pressures. The packaging systems can include a rotating table having a vertical column comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart clippers; a pump; and a tubular sizing mandrel in fluid communication with the pump. The tubular sizing mandrel has a downstream end segment that merges into a segment with a plurality of radially spaced apart, longitudinally extending flat outer surfaces, the flat surfaces can be bounded laterally (circumferentially) by chamfered edges.

Operation of Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) around human population requires the utmost level of safety. Trackpath pre-computed navigation paths and Free flight corridor protection systems reduce the possibility of injuring humans during flight, but at the point of delivery the drone must, by necessity, come down to level of and near humans. This invention teaches the system and method of a personal household mail system that minimizes human exposure to the delivery UAV, provides a method of verifying that the addressee is correct, and optionally secures the mail until it is picked up by the designated recipient.

Operation of Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) around human population requires the utmost level of safety. Trackpath pre-computed navigation paths and Free flight corridor protection systems reduce the possibility of injuring humans during flight, but at the point of delivery the drone must, by necessity, come down to level of and near humans. This invention teaches the system and method of a personal household mail system that minimizes human exposure to the delivery UAV, provides a method of verifying that the addressee is correct, and optionally secures the mail until it is picked up by the designated recipient.

A tubular transportation system is disclosed for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargos via a capsule along a predetermined route. The tubular transportation system has: (1) a plurality of substantially evacuated tubes arranged along the predetermined route, where each tube is maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure; and (2) means for maintaining within each tube in the plurality of substantially evacuated tubes, a gaseous composition comprising a mixture of a first percentage, x, of hydrogen and a second percentage, (100-x), of air, and wherein the first percentage, x, of hydrogen is picked based on a predetermined power value and a leak rate associated with the tube.

A tubular transportation system is disclosed for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargos via a capsule along a predetermined route. The tubular transportation system has: (1) a plurality of substantially evacuated tubes arranged along the predetermined route, where each tube is maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure; and (2) means for maintaining within each tube in the plurality of substantially evacuated tubes, a gaseous composition comprising a mixture of a first percentage, x, of hydrogen and a second percentage, (100-x), of air, and wherein the first percentage, x, of hydrogen is picked based on a predetermined power value and a leak rate associated with the tube.

Implementations are described for maintaining helium/air mixture within a tube in an evacuated tube transportation system. A first implementation includes a set of helium tanks uniformly fitted along the tube length, where helium is injected with controlled valves that open or close to maintain the desired level of helium. An operations control center (OCC) receives helium concentration levels in the tube and instructs a controller in the tube to release helium into the tube when detected levels of helium is lower than the desired level of helium. Another implementation is described where a capsule traversing the tube may have a source of helium gas that can be released into the tube. A hybrid approach is also described where helium can be released from a source within the tube and from another source within the capsule.