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 protective cover for a truck assembly of a railcar comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion. The first end portion is molded to fit over a first section of the truck assembly. The second end portion is molded to fit over a second section of the truck assembly. The middle portion is molded to fit over a middle section of the truck assembly. The first end portion and the middle portion are coupled to one another using at least one fastener. The second end portion and the middle portion are coupled to one another using at least one fastener. The first end portion, the second end portion, and the middle portion are molded such that when coupled together, the protective cover corresponds to a frame structure of the truck assembly.

A protective cover for a truck assembly of a railcar comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion. The first end portion is molded to fit over a first section of the truck assembly. The second end portion is molded to fit over a second section of the truck assembly. The middle portion is molded to fit over a middle section of the truck assembly. The first end portion and the middle portion are coupled to one another using at least one fastener. The second end portion and the middle portion are coupled to one another using at least one fastener. The first end portion, the second end portion, and the middle portion are molded such that when coupled together, the protective cover corresponds to a frame structure of the truck assembly.

A cladding arrangement includes at least one first cladding part for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, which is connectable via at least one connecting device to a running gear of the vehicle, a running gear component, a car body of the vehicle or a car body component, wherein at least one first heating device, which is directed into a hollow formed by at least the first cladding part, is connected to the at least first cladding part to provide advantageous structural conditions such that ice deposits on the vehicle may be effectively thawed.

A railcar bogie includes a wheelset, a bearing rotatably supporting the wheelset, an axle box, and an obstacle deflector. The wheelset includes: an axle and a pair of wheels provided at both car width direction sides of the axle. The axle box includes: an upper axle box element covering the bearing from above; and a lower axle box element fixed to the upper axle box element and covering the bearing from below. The obstacle deflector includes an obstacle deflecting portion and a coupling portion. The obstacle deflecting portion is arranged at one side of the wheel in a car longitudinal direction and, when viewed from the one side in the car longitudinal direction, overlaps the wheel. The coupling portion couples the obstacle deflecting portion to the axle box. The coupling portion of the obstacle deflector is fixed to a receiving seat provided at the upper axle box element.

A railcar bogie includes a wheelset, a bearing rotatably supporting the wheelset, an axle box, and an obstacle deflector. The wheelset includes: an axle and a pair of wheels provided at both car width direction sides of the axle. The axle box includes: an upper axle box element covering the bearing from above; and a lower axle box element fixed to the upper axle box element and covering the bearing from below. The obstacle deflector includes an obstacle deflecting portion and a coupling portion. The obstacle deflecting portion is arranged at one side of the wheel in a car longitudinal direction and, when viewed from the one side in the car longitudinal direction, overlaps the wheel. The coupling portion couples the obstacle deflecting portion to the axle box. The coupling portion of the obstacle deflector is fixed to a receiving seat provided at the upper axle box element.

A protecting element of railway wheelsets is described, the protecting element being constituted by a pad provided with a plurality of transversal grooves without which the pad could not be rolled up on the axle at room temperature. The pad is made of a material having high thickness or high strength, that is respectively between 5 mm and 10 mm and between 50 kJ/m.sup.2 and 80 kJ/m.sup.2. Thanks to the combination of thickness and resilience values, in addition to the grooves, the pad can be manually rolled up on the axle, without the aid of presses and without prior heating. Thus, the solution according to the present invention combines the advantages of ease of installation, such as the possibility of manually rolling up the protecting element on the axle, with the effectiveness of the protection provided by rigid protecting elements.

A protecting element of railway wheelsets is described, the protecting element being constituted by a pad provided with a plurality of transversal grooves without which the pad could not be rolled up on the axle at room temperature. The pad is made of a material having high thickness or high strength, that is respectively between 5 mm and 10 mm and between 50 kJ/m.sup.2 and 80 kJ/m.sup.2. Thanks to the combination of thickness and resilience values, in addition to the grooves, the pad can be manually rolled up on the axle, without the aid of presses and without prior heating. Thus, the solution according to the present invention combines the advantages of ease of installation, such as the possibility of manually rolling up the protecting element on the axle, with the effectiveness of the protection provided by rigid protecting elements.

A cladding arrangement includes at least one first cladding part for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, which is connectable via at least one connecting device to a running gear of the vehicle, a running gear component, a car body of the vehicle or a car body component, wherein at least one first heating device, which is directed into a hollow formed by at least the first cladding part, is connected to the at least first cladding part to provide advantageous structural conditions such that ice deposits on the vehicle may be effectively thawed.

A protecting element of railway wheelsets is described, the protecting element being constituted by a pad provided with a plurality of transversal grooves without which the pad could not be rolled up on the axle at room temperature. The pad is made of a material having high thickness or high strength, that is respectively between 5 mm and 10 mm and between 50 kJ/m.sup.2 and 80 kJ/m.sup.2. Thanks to the combination of thickness and resilience values, in addition to the grooves, the pad can be manually rolled up on the axle, without the aid of presses and without prior heating. Thus, the solution according to the present invention combines the advantages of ease of installation, such as the possibility of manually rolling up the protecting element on the axle, with the effectiveness of the protection provided by rigid protecting elements.