1. A mail processing system, comprising:
at least one mail processing machine;
a computing device;
software that programs the computing device to:
receive information relating to the status of a specific process segment of a tray of mail items; and
display the status of the specific process segment of the tray of mail items with respect to the mail processing machine; and
a tray tag associated with each process segment of a mail drop, wherein the tray tag includes recipient information identifying processing requirements relating to a recipient of the mail items in the process segment, wherein the processing requirements comprise one of a process by date and a process by time;
wherein the mail is processed by a processor for the recipient according to the processing requirements and wherein the processor receives compensation from the recipient based on the processor’s performance with respect to the requirements, the system further comprising a process management system programmed to track the processor’s performance with respect to the requirements.
2. The mail processing system of claim 1, wherein the process management system comprises a computing device and software that programs the computing device to:
receive information relating to the status of a specific process segment from a tray; and
display information relating to the status of the specific process segment from the tray in response to a request from a user.
3. A mail processing system, comprising:
at least one mail processing machine;
a computing device;
software that programs the computing device to:
receive information relating to the status of a specific process segment of a tray of mail items; and
display the status of the specific process segment of the tray of mail items with respect to the mail processing machine; and
a tray tag associated with each process segment of a mail drop, wherein the tray tag includes recipient information identifying processing requirements relating to a recipient of the mail items in the process segment;
wherein the mail is processed by a processor for the recipient according to the processing requirements and wherein the processor receives compensation from the recipient based on the processor’s performance with respect to the requirements, the system further comprising a process management system programmed to track the processor’s performance with respect to the requirements.
4. The mail processing system of claim 3, wherein the process management system comprises a computing device and software that programs the computing device to:
receive information relating to the status of a specific process segment from a tray; and
display information relating to the status of the specific process segment from the tray in response to a request from a user.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for controlling an engine cooling system pressure comprising:
an expansion tank for collecting coolant liquid;
a conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank for supplying gas under pressure from an external pressure source to pressurize the cooling system; and
a valve between the expansion tank and the external pressure source, said valve including a device disposed in the expansion tank that is responsive to a level of coolant liquid in the expansion tank to actuate the valve to block back flow of coolant liquid to the external pressure source when the level of coolant liquid rises to a threshold level.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external pressure source comprises an engine air intake manifold.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a pressure relief valve for maintaining pressure in the cooling system below a predetermined maximum cooling system pressure limit.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a vacuum valve for maintaining pressure in the cooling system above a predetermined minimum cooling system pressure limit.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device disposed in the expansion tank valve comprises a floating check valve.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a valve controller for controlling the valve and wherein the device disposed in the expansion tank comprises a coolant liquid level probe connected to send signals indicative of coolant liquid level to the valve controller.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve is controlled by an electronic valve controller that calculates an optimum cooling system pressure and wherein the apparatus comprises a cooling system pressure sensor for sending signals indicative of cooling system pressure to the electronic valve controller.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic valve controller calculates the optimum cooling system pressure based on present vehicle operating conditions.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic valve controller calculates the optimum cooling system pressure based on cooling system parameters that are stored in the electronic valve controller.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic valve controller calculates the optimum cooling system pressure based on ambient conditions.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic valve controller actuates the valve to maintain cooling system pressure below a predetermined upper pressure setpoint that is based on the calculated optimum cooling system pressure.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic valve controller actuates the valve to maintain cooling system pressure above a predetermined lower pressure setpoint that is based on the calculated optimum cooling system pressure.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electronic valve controller actuates the valve to maintain cooling system pressure at the calculated optimum cooling system pressure.
14. An apparatus for controlling an engine cooling system pressure comprising:
an expansion tank for collecting coolant liquid;
a conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank for supplying gas under pressure from an external pressure source to pressurize the cooling system;
a valve between the expansion tank and the external pressure source to selectively place the expansion tank in fluid communication with the external pressure source, and
an electronic controller connected to send control signal to actuate the valve.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising a coolant level sensor disposed in the expansion tank and in electrical communication with the electronic controller for sending a signal to the electronic controller indicative of a level of coolant in the tank and wherein the electronic controller controls the valve to disconnect the external pressure source from the expansion source when the coolant level reaches a predetermined level.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure level in the expansion tank and for sending signals indicative of the pressure level to the electronic controller.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the electronic controller selectively places the external pressure source in fluid communication with the expansion tank to maintain the sensed pressure within a predetermined pressure range.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the predetermined pressure range is calculated based on present vehicle operating conditions.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the predetermined pressure range is calculated based on cooling system parameters that are stored in the electronic controller.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the predetermined pressure range is calculated based on ambient conditions.
21. A method that controls a valve interposed between a coolant expansion tank and a pressure source comprising:
monitoring an actual cooling system pressure;
calculating a range of optimal system pressures based on current operating conditions;
comparing the actual cooling system pressure to the optimal system pressure; and
when the actual cooling system pressure is below the range of optimal system pressures, opening the valve to connect the coolant expansion tank to the pressure source.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the range of optimal system pressures is calculated based on vehicle cooling system parameters.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the range of optimal system pressures is calculated based on ambient conditions.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the magnitude of the range of optimal al pressures varies based on a calculated optimum pressure.
25. The method of claim 21 comprising opening the valve to connect the coolant expansion tank to the pressure source when the actual cooling system pressure is above the range of optimal system pressures and a pressure of the pressure source.
26. The method of claim 21 comprising monitoring a coolant tank level and preventing opening of the valve if the coolant tank level is above a predetermined level.