A system for adjusting wheel adhesion levels on multiple locomotive axles in a rail vehicle consist is provided. The system includes a first controller associated with a lead locomotive and a second controller associated with at least one trailing locomotive. A wheel adhesion level sensor is configured to detect a low wheel adhesion level at an axle and transmit that information to the first or second controller. The first controller adjusts the load being delivered to the axles by the motor in response to the low wheel adhesion level.

A fuel control system obtains a measured amount of fuel consumed by an engine and one or more corresponding operating parameters of the engine and determines a fuel consumption modeled amount based at least in part on a fuel consumption model of the engine and the one or more operating parameters. The fuel consumption model associates different amounts of fuel that, when supplied to the engine, generate corresponding designated outputs of the engine. The system also determines one or more differentials between the measured amount of fuel and the modeled amount and, responsive to the one or more of the differentials exceeding a threshold value, the system identifies one or more components of the powered system that contribute or cause the one or more differentials and/or changes an amount of fuel supplied to the engine according to the fuel consumption model to obtain a desired output of the engine.

A fuel control system obtains a measured amount of fuel consumed by an engine and one or more corresponding operating parameters of the engine and determines a fuel consumption modeled amount based at least in part on a fuel consumption model of the engine and the one or more operating parameters. The fuel consumption model associates different amounts of fuel that, when supplied to the engine, generate corresponding designated outputs of the engine. The system also determines one or more differentials between the measured amount of fuel and the modeled amount and, responsive to the one or more of the differentials exceeding a threshold value, the system identifies one or more components of the powered system that contribute or cause the one or more differentials and/or changes an amount of fuel supplied to the engine according to the fuel consumption model to obtain a desired output of the engine.

Quick-load retail merchandising product pusher systems and methods dispense retail products, wherein the systems and methods have a fixed portion having a front end, a rear end located opposite with respect to the front end of the fixed portion, a top side and a bottom side located opposite with respect to the top side of the fixed portion. Further, the systems and methods have a movable track movably connected to the top side of the fixed portion, wherein the movable track has a front end, a rear end located opposite with respect to the front end of the movable track, a top side and a bottom side located opposite with respect to the top side of the movable track. Still further, the systems and methods have a pusher paddle configured to move one or more retail product forward away from the rear side of the movable track and front retainer teeth connecting the fixed portion and the movable track, wherein the front retainer teeth are provided on the top side and at the front end of the fixed portion and extend outwardly with respect to the top side of the fixed portion. The movable track is movable to a closed position or to an extended position, wherein, when the movable track is moved to the extended position, forward movement of the pusher paddle is restricted by the front retainer teeth.

A hanging merchandising product divider and pusher system and method dispense retail products. The system and method have a first divider having a length defined between a front end and a rear end and a height defined between a top end and a bottom end, at least one second divider having a length defined between a front end and a rear end and a height defined between a top end and a bottom end, and at least one connection plate connecting at least a portion of bottom end of the first divider to at least a portion of the bottom end of the second divider. The system and method also have at least one rear support connector connecting at least a portion of the rear end of the first divider to at least a portion of the rear end of the second divider and a first pocket defined by the first and second dividers, the connection plate, the rear support connector and the front ends of the first and second dividers, wherein the first pocket is sized or configured to receive one or more first retail products. Further, the system and method have a pusher paddle movably connected to the connection plate between the first and second dividers, wherein the pusher paddle is urged towards a front-side of the hanging system such that the pusher paddle moves the one or more products towards the front-side of the hanging system when the one or more first retail products are positioned within the first pocket of the hanging system, and rear mounting hangers located at a back-side of the hanging system.

A method to determine fuel consumption, energy consumption, or both fuel consumption and energy consumption, during one test train run, or a plurality of test train runs, that is associated with modifying an operating parameter is provided. The method includes determining a reference fuel/energy consumption, and a cumulative ITE for one, or a plurality of reference train runs (CITE.sub.RR) over a portion of track, and correcting the reference fuel/energy consumption using the CITE.sub.RR of the one, or a plurality of reference train runs, to produce a corrected reference fuel/energy consumption value. The operating parameter is modified, and a modified fuel/energy consumption and cumulative ITE for the one, or a plurality of test train runs (CITE.sub.TR), over the portion of track is determined, and a corrected test fuel/energy consumption value is obtained by correcting the modified fuel/energy consumption using the CITE.sub.TR of the one, or a plurality of test train runs. The corrected reference fuel/energy consumption value and the test fuel/energy consumption value are then compared to determine the effect of modifying the operating parameter on the fuel/energy consumption during the one test run, or a plurality of test train runs.

A method to determine fuel consumption, energy consumption, or both fuel consumption and energy consumption, during one test train run, or a plurality of test train runs, that is associated with modifying an operating parameter is provided. The method includes determining a reference fuel/energy consumption, and a cumulative ITE for one, or a plurality of reference train runs (CITE.sub.RR) over a portion of track, and correcting the reference fuel/energy consumption using the CITE.sub.RR of the one, or a plurality of reference train runs, to produce a corrected reference fuel/energy consumption value. The operating parameter is modified, and a modified fuel/energy consumption and cumulative ITE for the one, or a plurality of test train runs (CITE.sub.TR), over the portion of track is determined, and a corrected test fuel/energy consumption value is obtained by correcting the modified fuel/energy consumption using the CITE.sub.TR of the one, or a plurality of test train runs. The corrected reference fuel/energy consumption value and the test fuel/energy consumption value are then compared to determine the effect of modifying the operating parameter on the fuel/energy consumption during the one test run, or a plurality of test train runs.

In a rail vehicle (100) a control unit (140) controls a set of brake/traction units (101, 161; 102, 162; 103, 163; 104, 164) by control signals (B1, A1; B2, A2; B3, A3; B4, A4) to apply a respective brake/traction force to a respective wheel axle (131, 132, 133, 134 to cause retardation/acceleration of the rail vehicle (100). The control unit (140) obtains a first wheel speed signal (.sub.1) indicating a rotational speed of at least one first wheel (121), and obtains a second wheel speed signal (.sub.a) indicating an average rotational speed of at least one second wheel (122, 123, 124). The control unit (140) produces a first control signal (BF; A1) to the first brake/traction unit (101, 161) such that this unit applies a gradually increasing brake/traction force to the first wheel axle (131) until an absolute difference (|.sub.1.sub.a|) between the first and second wheel speed signals (.sub.1; .sub.a) exceeds a threshold value. The control signals are produced such that an average brake/traction force applied to the at least one second wheel axle (132, 133, 134) is gradually decreased when the brake/traction force applied to the first wheel axle (131) is gradually increased. In response to the absolute difference (|.sub.1.sub.a|) exceeding the threshold value, the control unit (140) determines a parameter (.sub.m) reflecting a friction coefficient (.sub.e) between the wheels (121, 122, 123, 124) and a set of rails (181, 182) upon which the rail vehicle (100) travels.

In a rail vehicle (100) a control unit (140) controls a set of brake/traction units (101, 161; 102, 162; 103, 163; 104, 164) by control signals (B1, A1; B2, A2; B3, A3; B4, A4) to apply a respective brake/traction force to a respective wheel axle (131, 132, 133, 134 to cause retardation/acceleration of the rail vehicle (100). The control unit (140) obtains a first wheel speed signal (.sub.1) indicating a rotational speed of at least one first wheel (121), and obtains a second wheel speed signal (.sub.a) indicating an average rotational speed of at least one second wheel (122, 123, 124). The control unit (140) produces a first control signal (BF; A1) to the first brake/traction unit (101, 161) such that this unit applies a gradually increasing brake/traction force to the first wheel axle (131) until an absolute difference (|.sub.1.sub.a|) between the first and second wheel speed signals (.sub.1; .sub.a) exceeds a threshold value. The control signals are produced such that an average brake/traction force applied to the at least one second wheel axle (132, 133, 134) is gradually decreased when the brake/traction force applied to the first wheel axle (131) is gradually increased. In response to the absolute difference (|.sub.1.sub.a|) exceeding the threshold value, the control unit (140) determines a parameter (.sub.m) reflecting a friction coefficient (.sub.e) between the wheels (121, 122, 123, 124) and a set of rails (181, 182) upon which the rail vehicle (100) travels.

Disclosed in the present invention are a heavy-haul train and a longitudinal dynamics traction operation optimization control system and method thereof. A model prediction function is added to a locomotive wireless double heading system so as to suppress large longitudinal impulse that is likely to be generated when the operation speed of the heavy-haul combined train is regulated, especially when the heavy-haul train is switched at a grade change point working condition, and the major potential safety hazard that affects the safe and stable operation of the heavy-haul combined train is avoided. In a distributed dynamic marshalling mode of the heavy-haul combined train, the requirements for the difference between the tractive force and the regenerative braking force of a master locomotive and slave locomotives of a multi-locomotive under the same working condition are predicted by the model, the amplitude of the power for the traction and the regenerative braking of the master locomotive and the slave locomotives is reasonably adjusted, and asynchronous control of the train under different working conditions is gradually achieved, so that the purposes of optimizing the dynamics performance of the heavy-haul combined train and reducing the longitudinal impulse of the heavy-haul train are achieved, and the operation of the train is guaranteed.