A grit dispensing device for rail vehicles, having a grit tank; a compressed air source connected to a dispensing line for the grit via a pressure line and a nozzle; an intake channel via which grit can be conveyed from the grit tank into the dispensing line; a bypass which leads from the pressure line to a point in the dispensing line downstream of the mouth of the intake channel so as to bypass the nozzle and the passage cross-section of which can be controlled by a valve; and an electronic control device for the valve, the control device being designed to open and close the valve in intervals with a frequency adapted to the length of the dispensing line in such a way that grit charges which are ejected in the individual open periods of the valve consolidate in the dispensing line to form a steady grit flow.

A device for spreading granulate, particularly for spreading sand into the gap between a rail and a wheel of a rail vehicle, includes a housing, at least one inlet for the granulate and at least one outlet for the granulate, an axially movable metering piston and a compressed air connection, which leads into a pressure chamber and serves for actuating the metering piston by compressed air to meter the granulate. At least one bore is provided in the metering piston. To create a device which is of particularly simple and compact construction, a conveying air chamber separated from the pressure chamber and has a compressed air connection is provided, and at least one bore in the metering piston connects the conveying air chamber to the at least one outlet for the granulate, such that granulate can be conveyed to the at least one outlet by compressed air independently of the metering process.

A metering device is configured for fitting into a sand-spreading system of a rail vehicle. The metering device has a housing block, in which a sand path extends from a sand-feeding funnel into a vertical sand blow-out channel via a sand-mixing channel, which rises at an inclination from a sand-holding space to a sand deflection space. A pushing air tube is provided for producing an air flow that conveys spreading sand. The pushing air tube protrudes into the sand-mixing channel coaxially from the bottom. A nozzle insert is detachable inserted into an inflow channel, which leads into the sand deflection space from above. The nozzle insert is provided for producing an air jet directed downward into the sand blow-out channel. The amount of scattering sand that is discharged can be metered more precisely and the susceptibility of the metering device to wear is improved.

A locomotive sanding system is described for conveying sand from a sand tower to a sand box mounted on a locomotive. The invention is designed to prevent personnel from being subjected to sand and sand dust during the sand box being filled with sand from the sand tower. The system includes a universal sealing nozzle which may be used with the locomotive sanding system or other devices. The universal sealing nozzle includes an expansion seal extending therearound which may be moved from a retracted position to an expanded position. When the nozzle is inserted into the fill pipe of the sand box, the expansion seal is expanded to sealably engage the inside surface of the fill pipe.

A combined track conditioning unit includes a dispensing apparatus with an outflow opening integrated in the front region of the dispensing apparatus which is suitable for applying a gaseous drying medium to a rail. A gritting material outlet unit which is integrated in the rear region of the dispensing apparatus and is suitable for applying a gritting agent to the rail also forms part of the dispensing apparatus. A rail vehicle is also provided. Additionally, a method for increasing a coefficient of friction between a rail and a wheel of a rail vehicle with the aid of a track conditioning unit is provided.

A device and method for dispensing a friction-coefficient-optimizing mixture of at least one lubricant and at least one grit into the gap between a rail wheel of a rail vehicle and a rail. The device includes a reservoir for the lubricant, a reservoir for the grit, a metering unit for metering the lubricant, a metering unit for metering the grit, a delivery apparatus for delivering the lubricant, a delivery apparatus for delivering the grit, and a common dispensing nozzle. The apparatus for delivering the lubricant and the apparatus for delivering the grit are separate from each other and end in the common dispensing nozzle, the friction-coefficient-optimizing mixture therefore not being formed until the dispensing, and an additional compressed air line is provided, which ends in the common dispensing nozzle.

A pneumatic pump device coupled to a container for flowable material includes a jet pump with at least one intake duct extending away from the container and leading into the jet pump and an air supply duct extending away from the container and to which pressure can be applied or which leads to an outer surface of the pneumatic pump device. The intake duct and air supply duct have essentially the same orientation in the region of the container and are advantageously inclined relative to the vertical by not more than 40. A metering system includes a container and such a pneumatic pump device coupled thereto and the use of the pneumatic pump device or metering system in a sanding system of a rail vehicle.

A grit dispensing device for rail vehicles, having a grit tank; a compressed air source connected to a dispensing line for the grit via a pressure line and a nozzle; an intake channel via which grit can be conveyed from the grit tank into the dispensing line; a bypass which leads from the pressure line to a point in the dispensing line downstream of the mouth of the intake channel so as to bypass the nozzle and the passage cross-section of which can be controlled by a valve; and an electronic control device for the valve, the control device being designed to open and close the valve in intervals with a frequency adapted to the length of the dispensing line in such a way that grit charges which are ejected in the individual open periods of the valve consolidate in the dispensing line to form a steady grit flow.

A sand stairway for a sand-spreading system of a rail vehicle has a stairway housing with a sand compartment for providing sliding spreading sand. A blow-out duct discharges spreading sand from the stairway housing. First and second nozzle inserts are releasably inserted into first and second receiving holes of a nozzle flange of the stairway housing above the sand compartment. The nozzle inserts are produced separately from the stairway housing. The first nozzle insert produces an air jet directed into the sand compartment and swirls up spreading sand. The second nozzle insert produces an air jet directed into the blow-out duct and swirls up spreading sand. A sand-spreading system for a rail vehicle has a sand stairway for the compressed-air-controlled metering of the discharged spreading sand. The novel sand stairway has increased flexibility and can be set up without great effort for using different types of spreading sand.

A method for controlling a device for metering granular material and a metering device for metering granular material comprises a feed for the granular material from a container into a metering chamber. A metering piston can be actuated by a control device such that a gap between the feed and the metering chamber is opened by a predefined first distance and a second distance which is greater than the first distance. At least one sensor is arranged in a delivery line leading away from the metering chamber and is connected to the control device so that the metering piston can be actuated for a predefined duration such that the gap between the feed for the granular material and the metering chamber can be opened by the second distance if a blockage of the granular material is detected by the at least one sensor, so that the blockage is dispersed.