A fluid control device includes a first conduit having a first end and a second end, and a first fluid that moves within the first conduit between the first end and the second end. The first conduit includes an interior surface defining a cavity of the first conduit. The fluid control device includes a second conduit having a third end and a fourth end, and a second fluid that moves within the second conduit between the third and fourth ends. At least a portion of the second conduit extends within the cavity of the first conduit. The first fluid is separate from the second fluid as the first fluid moves within the first conduit and the second fluid moves within the second conduit.

A system and method for controlling a vehicle system determine one or more of a route parameter of a route on which the vehicle system is moving or a vehicle parameter of the vehicle system. The system and method also determine whether a ratio of a lateral force exerted by one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route to a vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route increases to a value exceeding a designated threshold as a result of the one or more route parameter of vehicle parameter that is determined. The ratio of the lateral force to the vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route is reduced to a value less than the designated threshold by changing an operation of the vehicle system.

A system and method for controlling a vehicle system determine one or more of a route parameter of a route on which the vehicle system is moving or a vehicle parameter of the vehicle system. The system and method also determine whether a ratio of a lateral force exerted by one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route to a vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route increases to a value exceeding a designated threshold as a result of the one or more route parameter of vehicle parameter that is determined. The ratio of the lateral force to the vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route is reduced to a value less than the designated threshold by changing an operation of the vehicle system.

A coated composition for increasing adhesion between two surfaces that are in sliding, slipping, rolling-sliding or rolling-slipping contact with each other, the composition comprising: (a) a core, the core comprising one or more than one hard particle, each of the one or more than one hard particle having a Mohs hardness value of equal to or greater than 5, or a Vickers hardness of greater than or equal to 1000 and selected from the group of garnet, copper slag, silica sand, bauxite, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, staurolite, olivine, goethite, coal slag, MgO and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, the core comprising about 70% to about 99.8% (wt/wt) of the composition; and (b) a coating over the core, the coating over the core comprising a resin and a conductivity additive, the resin comprising about 0.1% to about 20% (wt/wt) of the composition, and the conductivity additive comprising about 0.1% to about 10% (wt/wt) of the composition.

A coated composition for increasing adhesion between two surfaces that are in sliding, slipping, rolling-sliding or rolling-slipping contact with each other, the composition comprising: (a) a core, the core comprising one or more than one hard particle, each of the one or more than one hard particle having a Mohs hardness value of equal to or greater than 5, or a Vickers hardness of greater than or equal to 1000 and selected from the group of garnet, copper slag, silica sand, bauxite, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, staurolite, olivine, goethite, coal slag, MgO and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, the core comprising about 70% to about 99.8% (wt/wt) of the composition; and (b) a coating over the core, the coating over the core comprising a resin and a conductivity additive, the resin comprising about 0.1% to about 20% (wt/wt) of the composition, and the conductivity additive comprising about 0.1% to about 10% (wt/wt) of the composition.

A traction loss warning system includes a warning controller configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle and to determine a location on a route where a loss in traction of the first vehicle occurred and a vehicle controller configured to be disposed onboard a second vehicle, the vehicle controller configured to control movement of the second vehicle along the route. The warning controller also is configured to communicate a warning signal that notifies the second vehicle of the location where the loss in traction of the first vehicle occurred. The vehicle controller is configured to change the movement of second vehicle along the route during travel of the second vehicle over the location responsive to receiving the warning signal from the warning controller.

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.

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 direct current traction motor control system includes plural motors of with each of the motors configured to be coupled with a different axle of a vehicle and to rotate the axle to propel the vehicle. The motors are coupled with a DC bus and configured to receive DC via the DC bus to power the motors. The system also includes plural switch assemblies with each of the switch assemblies having an H-bridge circuit coupled with a different motor of the motors to control rotation of the motor. The system includes a controller configured to communicate control signals to the switch assemblies to individually control the H-bridge circuits to control one or more of torques output by the motors or rotation directions of the motors.