Abstract: A modular rack system and method includes a rack having plural electrical interfaces, and plural module panels configured to mate with the electrical interfaces of the rack. The module panels have one or more of a common exterior size or a common exterior shape. At least two of the module panels have different internal electrical components configured to perform different operations. The rack is configured to be conductively coupled with a power delivery system of a vehicle and the module panels are configured to modify electric current prior to the electric current being supplied to the power delivery system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A car truck including a first side frame, a second side frame, and an underslung steering assembly connected to the first side frame and the second side frame, configured to reduce, inhibit, minimize, and/or prevent truck hunting and warping.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a hose hanger apparatus comprising an attachment clip, an elastic support connected to the attachment clip, a carabiner assembly connector connected to the elastic support, and a carabiner assembly connected to the carabiner assembly connector.

Abstract: A system includes a locator device and one or more processors operably connected to the locator device. The locator device determines a trailing distance between a trailing vehicle system that travels along a route and a leading vehicle system that travels along the route ahead of the trailing vehicle system in a same direction of travel. The one or more processors compare the trailing distance to a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system. In response to the trailing distance being less than the first proximity distance, the one or more processors set a permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system to be less than a maximum achievable power output for the trailing vehicle system, the permitted power output limit being set based on a power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method wirelessly communicate from at least one wireless transmitter positioned proximate a route crossing to a wireless receiver of a vehicle via a wireless wayside transceiver. The system and method communicate an indication of whether the route crossing is clear for passage of the vehicle through the route crossing. The system and method receive the indication by the wireless transmitter and using the vehicle receiver. A vehicle controller or an operator of the vehicle can determine whether it is safe for the vehicle to travel through the route crossing based on the indication received by the vehicle receiver from the portable transmitter. The vehicle can then be operated based on the determination.

Abstract: Various methods are provided for managing a fuel system of a vehicle. In one example, the method may include enclosing, at least partially, a gaseous fuel delivery, storage, and/or consumption element of the vehicle. The method may include sensing an indication of gaseous fuel in an unintended region and generating an alert and/or adjusting an actuator in response to the sensed gaseous fuel above a threshold.

Abstract: A method and a turbine-compressor assembly of a system having a turbine-compressor device fluidly coupled with a heat source, a compressor, and a turbine via plural valves. A power device may be coupled with the turbine-compressor device. A controller may control operation of the plural valves to control movement of fluids within the assembly to selectively switch between the turbine-compressor device operating in one of plural modes. In a turbine mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device may generate electrical power and direct the electrical power to the power device. In a compressor mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device may receive electrical power from the power device to consume the electrical power.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a fluidic variable turbine. In one example, a system for an engine comprises a turbocharger turbine including a nozzle ring, the nozzle ring including a plurality of stationary vanes, each vane of the plurality of stationary vanes including a plurality of injection ports arranged at an outer surface of the vane, and a gas supply system to supply variable gas flow to and out of the plurality of injection ports.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A vehicle control system receives a proximity signal at a sensor assembly from a vehicle system. The proximity signal indicates that the vehicle system is approaching a location of the sensor assembly. A sensor of the sensor assembly is activated responsive to receiving the proximity signal. One or more characteristics of the vehicle system are sensed as the vehicle system moves by the sensor assembly. A sensor signal that represents the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system is communicated to an onboard controller of the vehicle system and/or an off-board system to control operation of the vehicle system based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A piston cooling jet is provided that may include a housing having an interior chamber that receives a fluid from an external source, and a conduit coupled with the housing and fluidly coupled with the interior chamber, the conduit having a bent shape to direct the fluid from the interior chamber of the housing toward an underside of an engine piston head. The piston cooling jet may also include a flow straightening nozzle coupled with the conduit and positioned to straighten flow of the fluid exiting from the conduit via the nozzle toward the underside of the engine piston head, the flow straightening nozzle having internal intersecting walls that intersect along a direction of the flow of the fluid in the conduit and out of the flow straightening nozzle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detection of a closing time for a solenoid valve. In one example, a method may include monitoring a current of the solenoid valve, filtering the current, and determining the closing time of the solenoid valve based on each of the current and the filtered current. In some examples, the solenoid valve may be an electrically-actuated fuel injection valve. In some examples, determining the closing time may include using the filtered current to determine an inflection point of the current.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for tracking degradation of a high-pressure fuel pump. In one example, a fuel system controller is configured to receive an output pressure signal from a pressure sensor, transform the output pressure signal to the frequency domain to generate frequency content of the output pressure signal, and diagnose a condition of a fuel pump based at least in part on the frequency content of the output pressure signal, the fuel pump fluidly coupled to a fuel injector via a common fuel rail, and the fuel injector is operable to inject fuel to a cylinder of an engine.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a location of a fuel injection in response to a substitution rate and a desired EGR flow. In one example, a method may include injecting a first fuel to a combustion chamber via a direct injector positioned to inject directly into the combustion chamber, injecting a second, different, fuel to the combustion chamber via an exhaust port injector positioned to inject toward an exhaust valve of the combustion chamber, and combusting the first and second fuels together in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A system includes a first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with a target object on stationary equipment; a second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object; and a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks. The task manager can assign a first sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and a second sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities. The first and second robotic machines can coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.

Abstract: A system is provided that may include a pressure sensor coupled to a radiator. The pressure sensor may determine plural pressure readings of a radiator fluid in the radiator. The system may also include a vehicle controller of a vehicle system that includes one or more processors. The one or more processors may repeatedly determine the plural pressure readings of the radiator fluid, and determine a pressure variance of the plural pressure readings that is repeatedly determined. The one or more processors may further be configured to identify a pressure condition based on the pressure variance that is determined.

Abstract: A fluid management system and method includes a thermal management system disposed within a housing that includes conduits extending between a source and a destination of a first fluid. The first fluid exchanges heat with cooling devices as the first fluid moves between the source and the destination. A fluid mixture including the first fluid and a second fluid, and an exhaust are generated responsive to the first fluid exchanging heat with the cooling devices. The exhaust directed toward an outlet of the housing. A separator assembly fluidly coupled with and disposed downstream of the thermal management system receives the fluid mixture and separates the first fluid from the second fluid. The first fluid is directed in a first direction out of the separator assembly and the second fluid is directed toward the outlet to be combined with the exhaust.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system includes a wireless communication device and a controller that controls operation of the wireless communication device. The controller directs the wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and operating in an onboard communication mode. The wireless communication device communicates a remote data signal with an off-board location while the wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode and the wireless communication device communicates a local data signal between vehicles of the vehicle system while the wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode.

Abstract: A method provides for operating an engine configured to use a plurality of differing fuels. The method includes determining a fuel combustion ratio of the plurality of differing fuels associated with at least one engine cylinder of the engine based at least in part on one or more of a plurality of characteristic profiles. This maintains one or more of a plurality of actual values associated with usage of the plurality of differing fuels relative to defined corresponding threshold values. The fuel combustion ratio includes a ratio of the plurality of differing fuels to be delivered to the at least one engine cylinder. A fuel delivery system delivers the plurality of differing fuels to the at least one engine cylinder based on the fuel combustion ratio.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for controlling air flow through an engine by adjusting an electric turbocharger of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system for a vehicle comprises an electric turbocharger comprising a compressor, an exhaust turbine coupled to the compressor via a shaft, and an electric machine mechanically coupled to the shaft; and a controller including a processor and instructions stored on a non-transient memory of the controller that, when executed, cause the controller to: adjust an amount of power provided to or extracted from the shaft by the electric machine based on at least one of a speed of the electric turbocharger, a cylinder pressure, and an exhaust gas temperature. By adjusting the amount of power provided to or extracted from the electric machine, the exhaust gas temperature and the speed of the electric turbocharger may be efficiently maintained within a desired operating range.