A method includes estimating, as a function of an angular speed of wheels of an axle of a vehicle, a value of adhesion of a contact area of the wheels of said axle to a route, and calculating a value of slip of the wheels of said axle. The method also includes generating signals representative of a derivative of said adhesion as a function of the slip of the wheels of said axle, and calculating an error signal as a difference between a value of said derivative and a predetermined reference value. The method includes generating, via an adaptive filter that implements a Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm, a driving signal based on said derivative. The LMS algorithm is continuously adapted based on the error signal to reduce and keep the error signal substantially at zero. The method includes applying said driving signal to a torque control module.

A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a rolling degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A static universal bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a rolling degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A static universal bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

A system for waking up a dormant car control device of rail car braking system that provides a sufficient wake up voltage in response to pressurization of the brake pipe of the transit car. A supercapacitor is used to output a predetermined voltage when a pressure switch responsive to a source of brake pipe pressure moves to a closed position in response to a charging of the brake system. A first circuit boosts the predetermined voltage of the supercapacitor and energized the contacts of a relay that can selectively provide the boosted voltage to an input of a car control device. A second circuit controls the relay to select when boosted voltage should be provided to the input of a car control device. A third circuit selectively provides power to the first and second circuits based on whether the car control device should receive the boosted voltage.

A drive of a rail vehicle includes two drive wheels and a wheel set shaft which connects the drive wheels for rotation about an axis. A dynamoelectric machine includes a shaft extending axially parallel to the wheel set shaft and mounted for rotation about a further axis. A transmission connects the shaft of the dynamoelectric machine and the wheel set shaft by a non-positive fit. Placed between the dynamoelectric machine and the transmission is a coupling which is configured for direct attachment of a brake disk of a braking apparatus which is arranged between the transmission and the dynamoelectric machine.

A mechanical motor-driven friction brake device for a rail vehicle consists of a torque motor, an electromagnetic brake (5), a screw nut transmission mechanism, and a brake friction pair (6), the torque motor and a screw (4) being coaxially mounted, the screw (4) being in non-self-locking threaded connection with a nut (3), and one end of the nut (3) being connected to the brake friction pair (6); the device drives, by means of the torque motor, the screw (4) to rotate so as to drive the nut (3) to perform linear motion and outputs a pressure or a pulling force to the brake friction pair (6), so as to brake or release the rail vehicle; in addition, this device can lock the screw by means of the electromagnetic brake (5), realizing the function of parking brake.

A brake distributor valve for a Russian railway vehicle includes a body defining a brake pipe passageway configured to be in fluid communication with a brake pipe, a reservoir passageway configured to be in fluid communication with a reservoir, and a reference pressure passageway configured to be in fluid communication with a reference pressure source. The brake distributor valve includes a service accelerated release valve having a valve member with a first position where the brake pipe passageway is isolated from the reservoir passageway and a second position where the brake pipe passageway is in fluid communication with the reservoir passageway. The valve member is configured to supply pressure from the reservoir passageway to the brake pipe passageway during a brake release event, where the valve member is actuated between the first and second positions based on a pressure within the reference pressure passageway.

A brake distributor valve for a Russian railway vehicle includes a body defining a brake pipe passageway configured to be in fluid communication with a brake pipe, a reservoir passageway configured to be in fluid communication with a reservoir, and a reference pressure passageway configured to be in fluid communication with a reference pressure source. The brake distributor valve includes a service accelerated release valve having a valve member with a first position where the brake pipe passageway is isolated from the reservoir passageway and a second position where the brake pipe passageway is in fluid communication with the reservoir passageway. The valve member is configured to supply pressure from the reservoir passageway to the brake pipe passageway during a brake release event, where the valve member is actuated between the first and second positions based on a pressure within the reference pressure passageway.

A system for releasing the heavy-haul train hascomprises a control valve mounted in each of train cars. The control valve is connected to a train pipe, an auxiliary air reservoir and a brake cylinder are connected to the control valve, and an exhaust port is configured on the control valve. The exhaust port is connected to a solenoid valve. The method for improving the release performance of the heavy-haul train includes: S1: the solenoid valve in each of the train cars is powered on to close a passage between the exhaust port of the control valve and the atmosphere; S2: an automatic brake valve is regulated to inflate the train pipe; and S3: the solenoid valve in each of the train cars is powered off to open the passage between the exhaust port of the control valve and the atmosphere, so that the train is released.

Various methods and systems are provided for an auxiliary power unit of a vehicle that provides electrical power and compressed air while a main engine of the vehicle is not running. In one example, a system for a vehicle having a main power unit (MPU) coupled to an alternator, and an auxiliary power unit (APU), and the APU is configured to provide power to one or more hotel loads of the vehicle, comprises: a controller with computer readable instructions stored in non-transitory memory that when executed during operation of the vehicle cause the controller to initiate operation of the APU in response to at least one of: a state of charge (SOC) of a battery of the vehicle being below a determined SOC threshold level, and the MPU is not in operation, and a drain load is applied to the battery that will deplete the battery to a SOC level that is less than the determined SOC threshold level in less time than a determined period, and the MPU is not in operation, and an air pressure level of an air reservoir of the vehicle is below a determined air pressure threshold level, and the MPU is not in operation.