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 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 wayside friction management system, and method for monitoring and controlling a wayside friction management system is described. The system comprises one or more wayside device for mounting on a track of a rail system and configured to apply, through a delivery system, a friction control media onto a track. The wayside device further comprises one or more data collection module configured to collect and transmit data to a remote performance unit. The transmitted data is compared to reference values, and adjustments are made to the friction control media dispensing parameters, for example pump time, as required per the comparison. The data at least comprises measurements of the internal voltage of the delivery system. The wayside device may comprise a power source operatively connected to one or more components of the wayside device.

A spraying apparatus for applying a friction modifying fluid to a railroad rail, comprising: a nozzle body disposed in a housing; a fluid inlet conduit in fluid communication with an opening in housing; a fluid inlet disposed in the housing in fluid communication with a first fluid conduit defined by or disposed in the nozzle body; wherein the first fluid conduit runs from fluid inlet to a hollow nozzle tip body disposed on and protruding through a bottom of housing and wherein fluid inlet is also disposed below, and in fluid communication with, the fluid inlet conduit; a control fluid supply line and an atomizing fluid supply line each partially disposed in the housing and each having respective portions external of the housing for connecting with the same fluid supply or respective fluid supplies; wherein the control fluid supply line injects a pressurized control fluid against a piston assembly disposed in a piston cavity; wherein the piston assembly carries stopper needle which is biased towards hollow nozzle tip body by a spring so that the needle closes a nozzle tip opening of hollow nozzle tip body; wherein the atomizing fluid supply line provides a pressurized atomizing fluid into hollow nozzle tip body to atomize the first fluid supplied by the first fluid conduit into the hollow nozzle tip body via a fluid cap disposed on the hollow nozzle tip body; wherein in operation the control fluid supply line and the atomizing fluid supply line are operated simultaneously while the first fluid is supplied by the first fluid conduit into the hollow nozzle tip body via a fluid cap such that the pressurized control fluid injected by control fluid supply line against a piston assembly displaces needle out of the nozzle tip opening and allows the first fluid to exit out of the nozzle tip opening where the first fluid is atomized by the pressurized atomizing fluid supplied by the atomizing fluid supply line.

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 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 wayside friction management system, and method for monitoring and controlling a wayside friction management system is described. The system comprises one or more wayside device for mounting on a track of a rail system and configured to apply, through a delivery system, a friction control media onto a track. The wayside device further comprises one or more data collection module configured to collect and transmit data to a remote performance unit. The transmitted data is compared to reference values, and adjustments are made to the friction control media dispensing parameters, for example pump time, as required per the comparison. The data at least comprises measurements of the internal voltage of the delivery system. The wayside device may comprise a power source operatively connected to one or more components of the wayside device.

A spraying apparatus for applying a friction modifying fluid to a railroad rail, comprising: a nozzle body disposed in a housing; a fluid inlet conduit in fluid communication with an opening in housing; a fluid inlet disposed in the housing in fluid communication with a first fluid conduit defined by or disposed in the nozzle body; wherein the first fluid conduit runs from fluid inlet to a hollow nozzle tip body disposed on and protruding through a bottom of housing and wherein fluid inlet is also disposed below, and in fluid communication with, the fluid inlet conduit; a control fluid supply line and an atomizing fluid supply line each partially disposed in the housing and each having respective portions external of the housing for connecting with the same fluid supply or respective fluid supplies; wherein the control fluid supply line injects a pressurized control fluid against a piston assembly disposed in a piston cavity; wherein the piston assembly carries stopper needle which is biased towards hollow nozzle tip body by a spring so that the needle closes a nozzle tip opening of hollow nozzle tip body; wherein the atomizing fluid supply line provides a pressurized atomizing fluid into hollow nozzle tip body to atomize the first fluid supplied by the first fluid conduit into the hollow nozzle tip body via a fluid cap disposed on the hollow nozzle tip body; wherein in operation the control fluid supply line and the atomizing fluid supply line are operated simultaneously while the first fluid is supplied by the first fluid conduit into the hollow nozzle tip body via a fluid cap such that the pressurized control fluid injected by control fluid supply line against a piston assembly displaces needle out of the nozzle tip opening and allows the first fluid to exit out of the nozzle tip opening where the first fluid is atomized by the pressurized atomizing fluid supplied by the atomizing fluid supply line.

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.