Abstract: An electrical train messenger wire and a catenary system for an electrical train including the electrical train messenger wire. The messenger wire includes a fiber-reinforced composite strength member and a conductive layer surrounding the fiber-reinforced composite strength member, where the conductive layer is fabricated from copper or a copper alloy. The fiber-reinforced strength member advantageously has a high tensile strength, thereby reducing the sag of a contact wire supported by the messenger wire. The catenary system employing the messenger wire may facilitate faster train speeds and may obviate the need for cantilever systems such as balanced weight anchors to maintain tension in the contact wire.

Abstract: Provided is an on-line ice-melting apparatus. The apparatus is configured for melting the ice on a three-phase line. The apparatus includes an adjustable reactor, a grounding transformer, a controller, and an auxiliary circuit. The grounding transformer, the adjustable reactor, the auxiliary circuit, and a line of any phase of the three-phase line form a first control loop. The adjustable reactor includes a working winding, a control winding, and a short-circuit winding. The working winding is connected between the grounding transformer and the auxiliary circuit. The controller is electrically connected to the control winding and the short-circuit winding separately.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle recovery board having a rectangular body with a flat topside surface and an inclined front portion of the underside surface. The flat topside surface does not have a ramp front section. The flat topside surface provides a surface at a constant angle to allow a tire to move on and along without providing an initial steep slope to gain traction. The vehicle recovery board also includes features that improve tire traction and dislodge water, sand and other material from the tread of tires. The vehicle recovery board of the present invention also has ground engagement teeth on the underside of the board to reduce slippage of the board during use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a holder for mounting a second part on a main structure between car body ends of a rail vehicle, comprising —a first holding structure having a first contact surface, the first holding structure being configured to be attached to a main structure; —a second holding structure having a second contact surface, the second holding structure being configured to be attached to a second part, and the second holding structure further being arranged to be mounted on the first holding structure with one of the first and second contact surfaces resting on the other; —a fastening device for fastening the second holding structure to the first holding structure to form a mounted state, the first and second contact surfaces being pressed against each other in the mounted state, and wherein the first and second contact surfaces in the mounted state each extend at a first angle in relation to a horizontal axis, said first angle (?) being more than 1 degree and less than 30 degrees, and wherein

Abstract: A system for exclusive track resource sharing is provided. Some embodiments provide an exclusive track resource sharing system including onboard control units and a resource manager. Onboard control unit is provided in each of trains and is configured to communicate with another onboard control unit in another train. The resource manager is configured to record ownership status information of track resources of the plurality of trains, to provide the ownership status information of the track resources to the onboard control unit, and to generate and deliver a resource entitlement or resource authority to the onboard control unit. The resource authority is configured to be owned by a single onboard control unit. The onboard control unit possessing the resource authority is configured to seize or release the track resources corresponding to the resource authority and to control the track resources corresponding to the resource authority.

Abstract: A robotic apparatus comprising first, second, and third wheel assemblies, and a clamping mechanism configured to apply a force for urging the second wheel and the third wheel to pivot in opposing directions towards a plane of the first wheel for securing the first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel to the pipe, each wheel assembly including an alignment mechanism for adjusting an orientation of the wheels to allow the robotic apparatus to move along a straight path or a helical path on the pipe. A method for navigating an obstacle on a pipe comprising advancing the robotic apparatus along a helical pathway on the pipe to position an open side of the robotic apparatus in longitudinal alignment with the obstacle, and advancing the robotic apparatus along a straight pathway on the pipe such that the obstacle passes unobstructed through the open side of the robotic apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a non-national standard turnout drive system based on a double 2-vote-2 architecture, including an interlocking processing subsystem IPS, an interlocking maintenance station SDM, a non-national standard turnout drive module HIOM and an interlocking maintenance station SDM, wherein the non-national standard turnout drive module HIOM, a full-electronic communication module EIOCOM2, and the interlocking processing subsystem IPS are connected with each other in order, and the full-electronic communication module EIOCOM2 is connected to the interlocking maintenance station SDM; two non-national standard turnout drive module HIOMs, which are mutually redundant, obtain turnout drive commands through the interlocking processing subsystem IPS to control drive relays in a non-national standard turnout to lift and fall for driving the turnout to rotate toward a specified direction, while collecting representation information of the turnout and determining a position of the turnout.

Abstract: A railway vehicle with an aerodynamic lift control device is disclosed. An equipment compartment is formed between a vehicle body bottom plate at the bottom of a vehicle body and a passenger room floor, and the aerodynamic lift control device is provided in the equipment compartment; the aerodynamic lift control device comprises an aerodynamic lift regulation fan and aerodynamic lift air ducts, and an aerodynamic lift regulation air port located within the aerodynamic lift control range is formed in the vehicle body bottom plate; one end of each aerodynamic lift regulating air duct communicates with the aerodynamic lift regulation air port, and the other end communicates with the aerodynamic lift regulating fan; and the aerodynamic lift regulation fan changes the pressure distribution form of the bottom of the train by blowing positive pressure airflow or sucking negative pressure airflow.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a refrigerated railcar comprises a pair of side walls, a roof, a floor, and a refrigeration unit. The floor comprises a bottom structure comprising a plurality of channels for return air flow from an interior of the railcar to the refrigeration unit. The floor further comprises at least two top plates coupled to the bottom structure (e.g., via a pivot rod). Each of the top plates extends longitudinally along the bottom structure and is configured to rotate up and away from the bottom structure proximate one of the side walls of the pair of side walls. Lifting an edge of a top plate opposite the edge of the top plate pivotally coupled to the bottom structure causes the top plate to rotate to an upright position exposing the plurality of channels of the bottom structure.

Abstract: Subassemblies for railroad tank cars are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, the subassembly includes a center sill including a generally horizontal top member and a pair of upright side plates spaced apart laterally from each other and a head brace having a lower margin welded to the top member of the center sill and an upper margin welded to the head of the tank. Each of the side plates having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, the top surface being planar within a longitudinal central portion and at least a substantial part of a first longitudinal end portion. The bottom surface is planar and parallel to the top surface within the longitudinal central portion and a second longitudinal end portion. At least a substantial part of the bottom surface within the first longitudinal end portion has a shape that includes or approximates one or more radiuses of curvature.

Abstract: A system includes a phase break input unit, one or more vehicle location detectors, and one or more processors. The phase break input unit is configured to obtain phase break location information indicating a location of a phase break along a route to be traversed by a vehicle. The one or more vehicle location detectors are configured to obtain vehicle location information indicating at least one of location of the vehicle or movement of the vehicle. The one or more processors are configured to determine an estimated arrival time of the vehicle at the phase break using the phase brake location information and the vehicle location information, and send a phase break control signal to a control system of the vehicle responsive to the estimated arrival time satisfying a threshold.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for locating a mobile railway asset is provided that includes a power source, GNSS circuitry configured to utilize electrical power from the power source to receive GNSS data, and a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the GNSS circuitry. The controller has a power saving mode wherein the controller inhibits the GNSS circuitry from receiving GNSS data and a standard accuracy mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a first time period. The controller has a higher accuracy mode wherein the controller permits the GNSS circuitry to receive GNSS data for a second time period longer than the first time period, and subsequently across multiple instances, in order to collect more GNSS data that can be qualified, filtered, sorted, and averaged to produce a more accurate result.

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: According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises at least two hoppers for transporting a commodity. Each hopper comprises a pair of side walls and a floor. The railcar further comprises a composite partition separating the hoppers. The composite partition comprises a frame comprising a first material coupled to the pair of side walls and the floor at a location separating hoppers. The frame comprises a center opening. The frame is configured to provide structural support for structural loads exerted on the pair of side walls and the floor. The composite partition further comprises a composite section comprising a second material coupled to the frame and covering the central opening of the frame. The composite section is configured to withstand loads exerted on the composite section by the commodity transported in the hoppers.

Abstract: The invention described refers to an equipment and corresponding method that enables side sliding load transfer between one vehicle/structure acting as loader, and another vehicle/structure acting as receptor. Both loaders and receptors can be vehicles or piers using a side sliding loading system that includes lifting and lateral displacement equipment. The great innovation of this system is the appearing of carriages consisting of 2 chassis, one inferior and one superior, both mobile and independent, that are coupled to form a single carriage. One of the equipment developed, automatically auto-load/unload standard containers to/from railway wagons and fixed platforms. This equipment can be loaded directly by the pier crane and move autonomously to the loading areas of railway wagons, trucks or buffer areas, where the containers are organized on leaving the port.

Abstract: A switching apparatus comprising a point detector connecting rod connected at one end to a switch machine and to at least one point at the opposite end. The point detector connecting rod is attached to the point via an angled block that permits a sliding motion relative to the point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cableway installation for transporting persons by disengageable vehicles and carrying cable comprising: a first station (1a) equipped with a first end pulley, a second station (1b) equipped with a second end pulley, a relay structure equipped with a first idler pulley and a second idler pulley, a first cable loop engaged with the first end pulley and the first idler pulley, and a second cable loop engaged with the second end pulley and the second idler pulley. The relay structure comprises a transfer system for transferring vehicles between the first cable loop and the second cable loop and a fixed guiding track supporting a structure translationally moveable with respect to the fixed guiding track, the moveable structure bearing the first idler pulley, the second idler pulley and embarking the vehicle transfer system.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automatic locking system for railgear. In an embodiment, the automatic locking system for railgear is an automatic mechanical locking system that can be incorporated into a front guide railgear assembly for use with conventional roadway vehicles. The automatic locking system can secure the railgear in a fixed orientation, either deployed for rail travel using the guide wheels of the railgear on rail tracks or stowed for highway travel such that the vehicle can operate using the conventional tires on a road, highway, and the like.

Abstract: A stop for stopping a trolley on a rail is described. The trolley comprises a set of wheels, including a first wheel and the rail provides, at least in part, a running surface, including a first portion and a second portion thereof, for the first wheel. The stop comprises an actuator providing a third portion of the running surface between the first portion and the second portion and an arm, coupled to the actuator. The stop is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the arm is arranged to block the trolley therepast. The stop is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the arm is arranged to allow the trolley therepast. The stop is arranged to move from the first configuration to the second configuration by actuation of the actuator, preferably by a movement of the actuator in a direction transverse to the third portion of the running surface.

Abstract: A roadway powered electric vehicle system includes a power supply (101) which makes power available inductively to one or more modules (111) provided in or under a roadway. Modules (111) make a magnetic field selectively available to one or more vehicles travelling over the roadway corresponding to the location of the vehicle. The presence or strength of the magnetic field provided on the roadway may be dependent upon the vehicle type or category.