A device and method control dispensing of adhesion-increasing agent of a rail vehicle. At least one wheel speed sensor and/or wheel acceleration sensor and/or wheel torque sensor measures the wheel speed or wheel rotational speed and/or the wheel acceleration of a particular wheel and/or the wheel torque acting on the wheel. A measuring unit determines the vehicle speed and/or the acceleration in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the entire rail vehicle. A calculation unit ascertains the ratio of the wheel speed or wheel rotational speed of the wheel and the speed of the rail vehicle and/or the ratio of the wheel acceleration and the acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle and/or the ratio between the target torque and the actual torque acting on the wheel; a change in ratio is used to control dispensing of the adhesion-increasing agent.

A method for actuating a track conditioning unit or a wheel flange lubricating system of a rail vehicle. The track conditioning unit provides auxiliary agent to sub-regions of a rail on which the rail vehicle is travelling, in order to increase friction between the wheel and the rail. A wheel flange lubricating system provides a fluid to a wheel sub-region of the rail vehicle or to a rail sub-region, in order to reduce friction between the wheel and the rail. A relative movement between a railcar body and a bogie of the rail vehicle is detected using path measurement, in order to detect a bend in the track. Based on the path measurement, the track conditioning unit or the wheel flange lubricating system is actuated in a targeted manner according to the bend, such that the auxiliary agent or fluid is applied in a resource-saving yet effective manner.

A liquid sprayer control method to induce drift driving for a vehicle, wherein the control apparatus includes a liquid sprayer attached to a tank of fluid, which in turn has two small hoses aiming towards the rear tires of a vehicle. With a simple push-button controller at the driver’s command, the driver sprays liquid onto the rear tires, coating them for an effective loss of traction of the rear tires, allowing the driver to induce a drift, or intentional loss of rear traction of the vehicle for closed-course exhibition or educational purposes.

Device to avoid the aquaplaning problem on a vehicle (10), the device being applicable at least on the drive wheels (28) of the vehicle and including a tank (12) of fluid under pressure that is connected to a plurality of fluid ejectors (26) associated with the respective wheels and suitable to shoot jets of pressurized fluid onto the road surface, and sensors (18) suitable to detect the conditions of the road surface to actuate the fluid ejectors. The fluid ejectors (26) are injector nozzles controlled by a central processing unit (CPU), which receives the signals from the sensors (18), and are operated in a manner coordinated with the physical position of the respective wheel so as to be continually oriented in the direction of travel of the same wheel.

A surface conditioning device for railway track rails and/or railway vehicle wheels includes a DC power supply, a supply of gas, a plasma delivery head connected to receive DC power from the power supply and gas from the gas supply, and an igniter for igniting the gas in the plasma delivery head. In use, plasma is generated within the delivery head by ignition of the gas in the delivery head. Plasma with gas is blown from the delivery head onto a railway track rail and/or railway vehicle wheel, thereby conditioning the rail and/or wheel.

Methods and systems for operating a vehicle are provided. In one example, a method for operating a vehicle may include flowing compressed gas selectively through distinct orifice sizes depending on an operating condition of the vehicle. In another example, the vehicle may be a rail vehicle. In one example, the compressed gas may include compressed ambient air, and where the compressed gas is selectively delivered toward an upstream of a vehicle wheel riding on a rail via a nozzle. In another example, the compressed gas may be selectively delivered through a first orifice and not a second orifice to the nozzle during a first condition, and delivered through the second orifice and not the first orifice during a second condition different from the first condition.

A system and method herein relate to vehicle control by adjusting a torque distribution of the vehicle. The system includes a first motor configured to provide a torque to a first wheel, and a delivery system configured to controllably apply a traction control compound to a route on which the first wheel is configured to travel. The system also includes a controller circuit having one or more processors. The controller circuit is configured to control the delivery system to apply the traction control compound to the route based on a monitored temperature of the first motor.

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.

A vehicle (100) comprising a plurality of wheels (106a, b) and an apparatus on a wheeled vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle, or apparatus, comprises a control system arranged to issue a signal in the event of determining that one or more wheels of the vehicle has lost, or is at risk of losing, frictional contact with a road surface (104). The vehicle, or apparatus, further comprises a gas source arranged to supply a burst of gas upon said signal being issued. At least one gas outlet (112) is connected to said gas source and is arranged to direct said burst of gas so as to clear water and/or debris from the road surface in front of at least one of the wheels.

An integrated abrasive dispensing material system for a wheeled vehicle is provided. The system having a hopper for dispensing the abrasive material into a dispenser, and then out dispensing pipe at the bottom of the dispenser. The dispenser has a rotating brush roll actuated via a motor, the rotating brush roll having a plurality of bristled flaps extending radially from a cylinder positioned inside the hollow dispenser. The flaps ensure a constant and calculated flow of abrasive material. The flap also make contact with the interior perimeter of the dispenser keeping the abrasive material inside the dispenser in an environment that prevents moisture and cold air flow from entering the dispenser which could cause the abrasive material to form blocks that could jam the system.