A braking system for a vehicle comprising a fuel cell system generating electric power to an electric power system arranged to propel an electric traction motor, the braking system comprising a tank arrangement comprising a first inlet configured to be arranged in downstream fluid communication with an outlet of the fuel cell system for receiving fuel cell exhaust, and a first outlet configured to at least convey fuel cell exhaust from the tank arrangement, and an air blower operable at least during power generative braking of the electric traction motor, the air blower being configured to convey ambient air into an air conduit, wherein the air conduit is extending between the air blower and a second inlet of the tank arrangement.

A gear pump apparatus includes a gear pump and a sealing mechanism which includes an annular rubber member, an outer member, and an inner member. One of the outer member and a casing of the gear pump apparatus has a contact member located outside a portion of the outer member which contacts the gear pump in a radial direction of the gear pump. The contact member is placed to create a physical contact between the outer member and the casing to absorb a part of force by which the outer member is pressed against the gear pump. This results in a decrease in pressure acting on an area of contact between the outer member and the gear pump, which leads to a drop in resistance to sliding between the gear pump and the outer member, thus decreasing a loss of torque required for the pumping operation of the gear pump.

A gear pump apparatus includes a gear pump and a sealing mechanism which includes an annular rubber member, an outer member, and an inner member. One of the outer member and a casing of the gear pump apparatus has a contact member located outside a portion of the outer member which contacts the gear pump in a radial direction of the gear pump. The contact member is placed to create a physical contact between the outer member and the casing to absorb a part of force by which the outer member is pressed against the gear pump. This results in a decrease in pressure acting on an area of contact between the outer member and the gear pump, which leads to a drop in resistance to sliding between the gear pump and the outer member, thus decreasing a loss of torque required for the pumping operation of the gear pump.

A drive circuit for an electric motor of the type which forms part of a pump in a hydraulic braking circuit of a vehicle comprises an input node, an output node and a voltage and current regulating circuit which connects the nodes and which varies the voltage and current supplied to the output node from the input node in response to a modulation strategy, the input node in use being connected to a battery supply of a vehicle and the output node connected to one side of the electric motor. The voltage and current regulating circuit comprises a switch mode power supply circuit capable of providing at the output node a voltage that is either above or below the battery supply voltage at the input node.

A vehicle braking device includes: a brake fluid pressure generation device arranged in a storage chamber separated from a vehicle cabin; and a brake operation part mechanically connected to the brake fluid pressure generation device, the brake operation part being not provided in the vehicle cabin. The brake fluid pressure generation device includes a cylinder and pistons configured to slide inside the cylinder. The brake fluid pressure generation device is configured to generate brake fluid pressure in accordance with strokes of the pistons. The brake fluid pressure generation device is arranged such that a sliding direction of the pistons is along a direction different from the vehicle front-rear direction in a plan view.

A system for recharging a railcar air-brake system for a road-rail vehicle, including a rail-capable material handler, adapted or modified for transporting an at least one railcar that permits an air compression system to provide a near-constant low-volume airflow to recharge the respective air-brake systems without requiring the road-rail vehicle to be driven. The system can generally comprise a hydraulic pump, an air compressor, and at least one railcar air-brake system. The system can be adapted for recharging railcar air-brake systems for a road-rail vehicle adapted for transporting at least two railcars that does not significantly diminish the utility of the road-rail vehicle.

A system for recharging a railcar air-brake system for a road-rail vehicle, including a rail-capable material handler, adapted or modified for transporting an at least one railcar that permits an air compression system to provide a near-constant low-volume airflow to recharge the respective air-brake systems without requiring the road-rail vehicle to be driven. The system can generally comprise a hydraulic pump, an air compressor, and at least one railcar air-brake system. The system can be adapted for recharging railcar air-brake systems for a road-rail vehicle adapted for transporting at least two railcars that does not significantly diminish the utility of the road-rail vehicle.

A guide ring for a pump element of a hydraulic unit of a vehicle brake system is configured to guide a pump piston in a pump housing when the pump piston is displaced along the axis thereof in the pump housing. On the inner side of the guide ring facing the pump piston, the guide ring includes a first step that has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter.

A guide ring for a pump element of a hydraulic unit of a vehicle brake system is configured to guide a pump piston in a pump housing when the pump piston is displaced along the axis thereof in the pump housing. On the inner side of the guide ring facing the pump piston, the guide ring includes a first step that has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter.

Aspirators are disclosed herein that include a body defining a Venturi gap between an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section and have a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, and the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet. In one embodiment, the converging motive section defines an inner passageway that transitions as a hyperbolic function from the circular-shaped motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet and the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet has an area that is less than the area of the circular-shaped motive inlet.