A hair holder system featuring an outer component having a slot disposed therein and an insertion component that can slideably insert snugly into the slot of the outer component. When the insertion component is within the slot, the slot surface and the outer surface of the insertion component can clamp and hold hair therein between, thereby creating a bun or puff effect for hair inserted therethrough. The bun or puff effect is shaped according to the shape of the insertion component.

A hairpiece or wig is formed of a substrate having at least two layers or sets of fibers. The hairpiece has a wig cap section which forming the core of the hairpiece to be placed on the head of an individual. The wig cap may be formed of a plurality of selectively-deformable rings adapted to adjustably conform to a head of an individual. A mesh section of the wig cap may adorn the portion of the wig cap corresponding to the forehead of the individual. The mesh section may have opposing parting areas on the left and right anterior portions of wig cap formed by recesses extending into the deformable ring portion of the wig cap. Hair strands extending from each parting area may have different shades and/or colors from one another and/or any hair strands extending from the deformable ring portion of the wig cap.

A hair styling device is described, having a body defining a chamber adapted to accommodate a length of hair, with the length of hair being styled while it is located within the chamber. The chamber has a primary opening through which the length of hair may pass into the chamber. A rotatable element is provided which is adapted to engage the length of hair adjacent to the primary opening. An elongate member is located within the chamber, the length of hair being wound around the elongate member by the rotatable element. The device has a pressing part adapted to press a portion of the length of hair towards the primary opening.

An ergonomic eyelash curler, cosmetic applicator, container, and mascara remover compromising of a grip type device with anatomical features and a fixed ellipsoid curvature tongue at one end. The tongue and grip are shaped to fit the anatomy of the hand to allow free movement of the thumb and index fingers. This device has an ergonomic design that optimizes human wellbeing and overall hand coordination allowing the user to apply precise and natural motion when beautifying and maintaining the eyelashes. The thumb's tactile sense allows the user to apply measured pressure on the eyelash against the curling edge to provide a prolonged and continuous curvature of the eyelash. The thumb and index finger tactile sense allows the user to effectively remove mascara from the eyelash without irritating the eye area. Multiple eyelash beautifying and maintenance functions can be performed with this invention including mascara application.

Disclosed is a hair clip that can effectively and firmly hold hair, without having to use additional hair clips. The hair clip includes an upper hair clip portion with a first end provided with a first pressed portion, a middle clip portion with a first end connected to a second end of the upper clip portion, and a lower clip portion with a first end which is hinge-connected to the first end of the upper clip portion and which is provided with a second pressed portion, the lower clip portion supporting the middle clip portion. The upper clip portion and the middle clip portions are hinge-connected to each other. The upper clip portion and the lower clip portion are hinge-connected to each other. The upper clip portion has a first toothed portion having teeth protruding toward the lower clip portion.

The present invention relates to a rotary powder container with a brush, wherein powder is discharged through a brush of a powder discharge case by rotating an internal case containing powder in an external case. The internal case is able to be rotated in the external case, wherein powder is discharged into a brush when a plurality of discharge holes of a powder discharge case are in line with a plurality of discharge member holes of a powder discharge member if the internal case is rotated in the external case, and powder is not discharged into a brush when the plurality of discharge holes of the powder discharge case are not in line with the plurality of discharge member holes of the powder discharge member if the internal case is rotated in the external case. The present invention is convenient to use and has an elegant look.

In order to treat human or animal hair fixedly arranged on a sopport, hair is divided into strands. The divided strands are subjected to a dielectric plasma treatment by drawing an apparatus connected to a high voltage source (8) through the strands. The apparatus can be in the form of tongs or have a comb-like structure.

An object is to overcome the drawbacks of conventional blue phthalocyanine pigments upon the formation of images, and to develop a blue pigment that can satisfactorily exhibit a greenish blue color high in chroma and excellent in colorfulness, brightness, dispersibility, hue, tinting power and the like and that is applicable to various image recording methods. The object can be achieved by a greenish blue pigment, which exhibits a greenish blue hue of high chroma and contains a pigment represented by the following formula (I): wherein the number, m, of substituent phthalimidomethyl group(s) is in a range of 1.0≦m≦5.0, and the number, n, of a substituent sulfonic group R1 is in a range of 0.05≦n≦1.0.

Precursors for use in depositing antimony-containing films on substrates such as wafers or other microelectronic device substrates, as well as associated processes of making and using such precursors, and source packages of such precursors. The precursors are useful for deposition of Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide thin films in the manufacture of nonvolatile Phase Change Memory (PCM) or for the manufacturing of thermoelectric devices, by deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Aqueous binder compositions with reduced rates of salt precipitation are described. The compositions may include a carbohydrate and a sequestrant for sequestering one or more multivalent ions (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, etc.). The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the aqueous binder composition. Methods of reducing salt precipitation from a binder composition are also described. The methods may include the steps of providing an aqueous binder solution having one or more carbohydrates. They may also include adding a sequestrant for one or more multivalent ions to the aqueous binder solution. The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the binder composition.

Provided are silica-based fine particle dispersion sols, processes for producing the sols, coating compositions containing the dispersion sol, curable coating films obtained from the coating composition, and substrates having the coating film. A process includes (1) mixing an aqueous aluminate solution to an alkaline silica sol which contains water-dispersible silica fine particles in a given ratio; (2) heating the mixture liquid obtained in the step (1) to 60 to 200° C. and stirring the mixture liquid at the temperature for 0.5 to 20 hours; and (3) contacting the mixture liquid obtained in the step (2) with a cation exchange resin to remove by ion exchange alkali metal ions contained in the mixture liquid and thereby controlling the pH of the mixture liquid to be in the range of 3.0 to 6.0.

A raw batch composition for concrete or concrete wherein the raw batch composition comprises Portland cement of about 15 wgt. % to about 45 wgt. % and dune sand preferably red dune sand is present in an amount of about 40 wgt. %. The dune sand has a particle size of less than or equal to 45 microns. The composition also includes limestone powder ranging from about 15 wgt. % to 45 wgt. % with particle sizes less than or equal to 45 microns to form a base material. To this base material suitable amounts of fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, water and superplasticizer are added. A method for producing a cast concrete product having a compressive strength of between 62 MPa and 90 MPa is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing Portland cement, dune sand and limestone powder.

A wire straightener comprises a wire feed path, a first set of rollers disposed in a first plane along the wire feed path, a second set of rollers disposed in a second plane along the wire feed path, the first and second planes being substantially perpendicular to one another, a first motor operable to adjust a position of at least one of the rollers of the first set of rollers when actuated, and a second motor operable to adjust a position of at least one of the rollers of the second set of rollers when actuated.

Methods for treating femoro-popliteal artery of a patient include delivering a self-expanding, woven stent from a delivery system. The methods may include delivering a guidewire to a lesion in the femoro-popliteal artery stem over the guidewire.

A power tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The power tool includes a body and a power chassis. The body of the tool includes a gear carrier, a tensioning mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The gear carrier is positioned in the tool body and the tensioning mechanism is mounted in the gear carrier. The cutting mechanism engages the gear carrier. As the tie is tensioned, the gear carrier moves linearly in the tool body to cut the tensioned tie.

A straightening apparatus for straightening wires comprises an entry-side roll arrangement and an exit-side roll arrangement, which are arranged so that a wire that is to be straightened, viewed in a transport direction, arrives between rolls of the entry-side roll arrangement in the straightening apparatus and, after passing between rolls of the exit-side roll arrangement, leaves the straightening apparatus, a distance between two rolls of the exit-side roll arrangement being settable. Furthermore, a pre-definable force F acts on the wire perpendicular to the transport direction between two rolls of the entry-side roll arrangement.

A cable-driven liner loading system for loading of an invertible liner onto a trailer bed and unloading the invertible liner from the trailer bed. A movable trolley is supported between a pair of tracks defined by C-shaped members. The movable trolley is actuated by a cable system that is driven by a winch and a set of pulleys, permitting the movable trolley to move along an axis of the trailer bed to facilitate loading of the invertible liner in a serpentine-like manner.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to an overhead crane with one or more bridge rails, that incorporates a reinforcement truss into its one or more bridge rails so as to reduce the overall mass of the one or more bridge rails. This facilitates movement of a load carried by the bridge by an operator to a destination point, particularly in embodiments wherein the one or more bridge rails do not have any bridge drive motors thereon. Reducing the mass of the bridge can increase the amount of lifted load that can comfortably be maneuvered by an operator, particularly when the bridge is manually moved along the runway. Additionally, reducing the mass of the bridge reduces the momentum associated with the bridge, which can increase the amount of control that the operator has when it is desired to stop the bridge when the load has been maneuvered to its desired destination point. The second reinforcement members may have first and second ends that are inserted into receiving apertures in the first reinforcement member and in a bracket that mounts to the bridge rail respectively. In embodiments wherein the bridge includes two rails and is capable of supporting a load in such a way as to generate a downward force that is offset from the bridge axis, the second reinforcement members may be connected to the first reinforcement member and to brackets in such a way as to prevent the withdrawal of the second reinforcement members from the receiving apertures.

An elevator including a car is arranged in a shaft. A set of compensator cables are attached to a bottom of the car and engaged with a compensator drum. A set of hoist cables are attached to a top of the car and engaged with a hoist drum to move the car vertically in the shaft, wherein the set of compensator cables and the set of hoist cables are configured to only move the car vertically.

Rail-mounted lift systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the lift system includes a rail having at least one conductor positioned on an upper interior surface of the rail. A carriage may be slidably disposed in the rail for relative movement to the rail. The carriage generally includes a carriage body, at least one pair of support wheels rotatably coupled to the carriage body and slidably engaged with the rail, and a conductor truck comprising at least one conductive roller rotatably attached to the conductor truck. The conductor truck may be mounted to the carriage body with a biasing member upwardly biasing the conductive roller into rolling engagement with the at least one conductor. A lift unit may be coupled to the carriage body and includes a motor paying out and taking up a lifting strap. The lift unit is electrically coupled to the at least one conductive roller.

A valve assembly (10) is to be used in conjunction with a tubular member having an internal surface surrounding a passage into which the valve assembly is to be sealingly inserted. The valve assembly includes a tubular body (25) having a longitudinal passage and an outer surface to be located adjacent the internal surface. A seal (29) is mounted on the outer surface to engage the internal surface to sealingly connect the tubular body with the tubular member. A movable valve member (33) is movable between an open position providing for the flow of water from an upstream end to a downstream end of the passage of the tubular body and a closed position closing the passage. Resilient means, such as a spring (34) urges the valve member to the closed position. The resilient means is configured to provide for displacement of the valve member toward the open position when pressure beyond a predetermined pressure is applied upon the movable valve member.

A control valve having a retainer for securing a seat ring within the valve body of the device is disclosed. The seat ring is disposed within a bore in the fluid flow path of the valve body of the control valve, and the retainer is attached to the inner surface of the valve body to retain the seat ring within the bore. The retainer includes threaded openings therethrough for receiving bolts that are tightened down on the seat ring to hold the seat ring against the inner surface of the bore and/or a gasket to form a tight seal and prevent leakage when the control device is in the closed position.

A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both.

A method and apparatus for fabricating microbraided structures is provided. A microbraiding device includes first and second carrier members that are movable with respect to each other. Each carrier includes a plurality of shelters. Spool-less strands of microfiber are retained in shuttles that are movable between the first and second shelters under magnetic forces. The microbraid structure is fabricated as the shuttles move between the first shelters, and as the first carrier member moves relative to the second carrier member.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Considerable damage to rails, wheels, and trucks can result from geometric anomalies in the wheelsets, rails, and truck hardware. A solution for identifying and quantifying geometric anomalies known to influence the service life of the rolling stock or the ride comfort for the case of passenger service is described. The solution comprises an optical system, which can be configured to accurately perform measurements at mainline speeds (e.g., greater than 100 mph). The optical system includes laser line projectors and imaging cameras and can utilize structured light triangulation.

A train-position locating device includes an onboard control device incorporated in a train and a ground control device installed on a ground. The onboard control device decides a track on which a train is present based on position information and a result of a nearest track search, transmits identification information for identifying the own train and track information to the ground control device, and shifts to an onboard-oriented train control mode when receiving a response indicating “position is located” from the ground control device. The ground control device transmits a response indicating “tentative position is normal” to the onboard control device when another train located to be present on a track is not present on the tentative position, and transmits the response indicating “position is located” to the onboard control device when a change from a previous track to the changed track is correct.

A train system that includes a plurality of train units including a first train unit and second train unit coupled together. Each first and second train unit includes a controller configured to detect a change in train configuration of the train units, and comprising a plurality of inputs; train integrity signal lines spanning each train unit and coupled with the controller at the plurality of inputs and configured to transmit signals between a front end and a rear end of the train system, the signals indicating a status of train integrity of the train system; and a plurality of relays in communication with the controller, and configured to indicate a coupling or non-coupling status of each train unit.

A tower control system, under an indexing mode of operation, receives a first signal from rail yard equipment. In response to the first signal, the tower control system establishes a positioning mode of operation. Under the positioning mode of operation, and in response to actuation of an interface of the tower control system, the tower control system sends a second signal to a lead powered rail vehicle of a consist. The second signal includes a first command to adjust a throttle setting of the lead powered rail vehicle, along with a second command to idle a throttle of any remote powered rail vehicle of the consist.