A parking brake used on the tongue jack wheel of a boat trailer to keep the boat trailer from moving is disclosed. The parking brake attaches to a trailer tongue jack wheel assembly that is standard on most boat trailers. The disclosed brake replaces chock blocks so those do not have to be transported with the trailer.

A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure and a communication network that monitors and collects a plurality of operation parameters from the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure to control deployment of the deployable decelerator based on a plurality of predetermined triggering events.

A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure and a communication network that monitors and collects a plurality of operation parameters from the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure to control deployment of the deployable decelerator based on a plurality of predetermined triggering events.

In at least one embodiment the present invention provides a transverse rail switching element for switching a rail vehicle from a first position to a transversely removed second position in a thrilling manner, having an entry track section, a vehicle shuttle adapted to receive a rail vehicle from the entry track section at the first position, a transverse track section extending from the first position to the transversely removed second position, at least one exit track section, primary propulsion means adapted to translate the rail vehicle from the vehicle shuttle to the at least one exit track section when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position.

A wheel guard or skirt is disclosed for use with a wheel of a machine or appliance. The wheel guard is designed to push an obstruction such as a wire, cable or other debris away from the wheel as the machine is moved along a floor. The wheel guard is designed to push objections away from the wheel to prevent the wheel from running over the obstruction. The wheel guard may be of one-piece construction or multiple-piece construction. The wheel guard includes means which causes the wheel guard to move upwardly with the wheel to which it is attached. The wheel guard includes means to limit the upward movement of the wheel guard with respect to the wheel.

A vehicle braking arrangement includes a braking plate connected to a vehicle by a link arrangement. The braking plate is movable from a rest position to a braking position where contact is made with the ground, and includes a sealing rim arranged to at least partially contact the ground such that an at least partly enclosed volume is formed. The vehicle braking arrangement includes a low pressure container connected to the volume via a valve assembly. Air pressure in the low pressure container is below the air pressure of ambient air in the rest position of the braking plate. The valve assembly is arranged to be opened when the braking plate is in the braking position such that the pressure is lowered in the volume and the braking plate is pressed against the ground by a conferred pressure difference between air outside the volume and air in the volume.

A vehicle braking arrangement includes a braking plate connected to a vehicle by a link arrangement. The braking plate is movable from a rest position to a braking position where contact is made with the ground, and includes a sealing rim arranged to at least partially contact the ground such that an at least partly enclosed volume is formed. The vehicle braking arrangement includes a low pressure container connected to the volume via a valve assembly. Air pressure in the low pressure container is below the air pressure of ambient air in the rest position of the braking plate. The valve assembly is arranged to be opened when the braking plate is in the braking position such that the pressure is lowered in the volume and the braking plate is pressed against the ground by a conferred pressure difference between air outside the volume and air in the volume.

A driving aid arrangement configured to control a longitudinal velocity of a host vehicle, the arrangement including a driving environment monitoring unit, a road friction estimation unit configured to provide a road friction estimate, and a velocity control unit configured to control the velocity of the host vehicle on the basis of the monitored driving environment and the road friction estimate. The velocity control unit is further configured to control the velocity of the host vehicle on the basis of a pre-set road friction value, corresponding to a high road friction value, if the road friction estimation unit is unable to provide the road friction estimate. The driving aid arrangement further comprises an enhanced braking system arranged to provide an emergency braking of the vehicle upon detection of a crash threat event.

An embodiment of an electric vehicle drive apparatus includes a rotary electric motor, an electromagnet apparatus, an electric motor controller, and an electromagnet controller. The rotary electric motor drives at least one wheel. The electromagnet controller generates at least one of an attraction force between a rail and a bogie, and a propulsion force. The electromagnet controller controls the electromagnet apparatus. The rotary electric motor and the electromagnet apparatus are provided on the same bogie.

An embodiment of an electric vehicle drive apparatus includes a rotary electric motor, an electromagnet apparatus, an electric motor controller, and an electromagnet controller. The rotary electric motor drives at least one wheel. The electromagnet controller generates at least one of an attraction force between a rail and a bogie, and a propulsion force. The electromagnet controller controls the electromagnet apparatus. The rotary electric motor and the electromagnet apparatus are provided on the same bogie.