Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

Abstract: A low-profile catenary hanger, catenary wire system, and a method for supporting an electrical contact wire in relation to a messenger wire wherein a wire clamping assembly clamps about the contact wire, and a wire corral assembly is fixed to the clamping assembly. The corral assembly defines an adjustable reception corral through which the messenger wire is received without fastening so that the contact wire can rise without a consequent lifting of the messenger wire. The clamping assembly has a first clamping member with a keystone-shaped projection and a second clamping member with a keystone-shaped slot that can slidably receive the keystone-shaped projection to fix the clamping members together by operation of a setscrew. The clamping members together define a wire reception volume, and each clamping member has an engaging tooth whereby a contact wire with opposed longitudinal grooves can be clamped and retained by the clamping assembly.

Abstract: This rapid descent device comprises a valve comprising two chambers, at least one rub strip fastened to the body of the current-collector bow of the pantograph, intended to come into contact with the overhead wire and equipped with degradation detection circuit, at least one supply line of fluid to the main chamber of the valve, at least one feed line intended to feed this fluid to the pilot chamber of the valve, as well as at least one detection line extending from the pilot chamber of the valve, to feed a respective detection circuit. The rapid descent device comprises means for temporary shut out of the feeding of fluid of the main chamber, which reliably ensures the initial raising of the pantograph until the pantograph comes into contact with the overhead wire.

Abstract: A speed control and track change detection device for railways is characterised in that it comprises three high-frequency radar sensors located at the vertices of an imaginary triangle and a digital processing device for processing the signals detected by the radars, wherein in the case of the speed control system, both sensors are located at 1 m distance from each other along the axis of the path of the railway and inspect the ground of the infrastructure 2 cm away from the outside of each rail, and according to the temporal offset of the signals obtained the digital processing device estimates the exact speed of the train.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tamping assembly for tamping sleepers (2) of a track (3), comprising a tamping unit (1) having a lowerable tool carrier (4) and oppositely positioned tamping tools (5), wherein each tamping tool (5) is connected via a pivot arm (6) to a squeezing drive (7) for generating a squeezing motion, and wherein a vibration drive (8) is provided for actuation of the tamping tools (5) with a vibratory motion. In this, it is provided that the vibration drive (8) comprises an electromagnetic actuator (11).

Abstract: A method and a device test whether there is contact between a current collector and a contact wire of an overhead line. The current collector is located on a motor vehicle driven by an electric motor, and the contact wire extends in a direction of travel. The current collector has two contact regions oriented transversely to the direction of travel which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel and on each of which an end contact element is located. A pair of end contact elements located on the same side is connected to a measuring device and an electrical state variable is detected by the measuring device. Subsequently, it is determined in accordance with the detected state variable whether the pair of end contact elements is in contact with the overhead line.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiment provide a sliding step assembly for a vehicle or a rail vehicle, comprising at least one footboard, which is guided on a guiding device for movement along a travel path between a retracted position and an extended position by driving by a drive. The drive contains at least one electrical linear motor operating without contact, wherein the driving force of the electrical linear motor is transferred to the footboard without mechanical connection.

Abstract: A track switching arrangement for a track-based guided transportation system, wherein the track switching arrangement forms diverging pathways and enables vehicle-side switching of a vehicle in the guided transportation system. The track switching arrangement includes an upstream pathway; two downstream pathways; and a path switching transition region having the diverging pathways between the upstream pathway and the two downstream pathways. Each of the pathways includes track elements configured to interact with one or more respective bearings of the vehicle to provide levitation to the vehicle and/or guidance for the vehicle.

Abstract: A method performs compaction of a track ballast bed by use of a tamping unit having two oppositely positioned tamping tools which, actuated with a vibration, are lowered into the track ballast bed during a tamping operation and moved towards one another with a squeezing motion. In this, it is provided that at least one variable vibration parameter is specified in dependence on a duration of penetration into the track ballast bed, until a required penetration depth of the tamping tools has been reached.

Abstract: Proposed is a train derailment and rollover preventing system to improve train safety. To prevent derailment and rollover of a train vehicle, the train vehicle can have a magnetic roller coupled to a magnet roller holder which can space apart the magnetic roller from the wheel. The wheel may be coupled to a wheel shaft which may be coupled to a train vehicle chassis and the magnetic roller holder may be coupled to the train vehicle chassis. The magnetic roller holder may include a shock adsorber positioned between the train vehicle chassis and the magnetic roller. The magnetic roller may include at least one of a permanent magnet or an electric magnet to supply a magnetic force. The magnetic force may be in a range of one hundred pounds pulling force to five thousand pounds pulling force. A train vehicle may be a locomotive or a train car in a train.

Abstract: A system (e.g., a target activation system for a transportation network) includes one or more processors configured to be operably coupled onboard a vehicle system having one or more vehicles. The processor(s) are further configured to determine an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle system at a first target location associated with a forward route of the vehicle system, determine a gap time between when the vehicle system leaves the first target location and is estimated to arrive at a second target location, and, based at least in part on the estimated time of arrival, a dwell time of the vehicle system at the first target location, the gap time, an allowable speed or acceleration of the vehicle system, and a designated warning time, generate an activation message configured to control at least one device associated with the second target location.

Abstract: A cable carrier for accommodating and guiding cables, comprising parallel first link strands of opposing first links which are connected to each other by means of first cross stays, wherein outside at least one first link strand and parallel to this a second link strand of second links is arranged, which are opposite the first links of the adjacent first link strand and of which at least some are connected by way of second cross stays to the opposite first links, and wherein, between at least some of the opposing first and second links, rollers are arranged which project beyond the first and second links on at least one side of the cable carrier perpendicular to the first and second cross stays.

Abstract: A chassis for rail vehicles includes at least one first wheel and one second wheel, at least one first wheel bearing having a first wheel bearing housing and a second wheel bearing having a second wheel bearing housing, at least one first primary spring and one second primary spring, at least one primary spring-loaded support structure and at least one active wheel positioning device, which has an actuator unit, where a first bearing and a second bearing are provided between the at least one wheel positioning device and the at least one support structure, and a guide is provided between the at least one wheel positioning device and the first wheel bearing housing, and where the unsuspended mass of the chassis is reduced by the suspension of the wheel positioning device on the primary spring-loaded support structure in order to create advantageous design conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a current collector arrangement arranged to be mounted on a vehicle and to transmit electric power between a current conductor (130; 230; 330; 430; 530) located in the surface of a road and the vehicle, wherein the current collector arrangement comprises a current collector arm (150; 250; 350; 450; 550; 650; 750; 850; 950; 1050) that is arranged to be controllable for at least vertical displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, in order to position the current collector arm relative to the current conductor (130; 230; 330; 430; 530). The current collector arrangement comprises controllable actuators arranged to effect at least the vertical displacement the current collector arm (150; 250; 350; 450; 550; 650; 750; 850; 950; 1050).

Abstract: A running gear for a rail vehicle includes one or more wheel sets, each having a revolution axis and each being guided by a pair of transversally spaced axle boxes. The running gear further includes a running gear frame, a primary suspension assembly between each of the axle boxes and the running gear frame, and a secondary suspension stage for supporting a vehicle superstructure on the running gear frame. Each primary suspension assembly has at least a main spring assembly having a vertical stiffness and a horizontal stiffness that is identical in a transverse direction of the running gear frame and in a longitudinal direction of the running gear frame perpendicular to the transverse direction. The primary suspension assembly further has an anisotropic interface assembly in series with the main spring assembly between the running gear frame and the axle box.

Abstract: A continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method for creating a hollow continuous serpentine concrete beamway are disclosed. The continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method utilizes a flexible form material that has the ability to conform to curves, angles, and slopes of a target beamway system as intended. The flexible form material is used to form an armature that embodies a precise pathway of the target beamway system. The armature is contiguous throughout a plurality of connected beamway segments that collectively make up the target beamway system and that are precisely aligned to conform to the curves, angles, and slopes of the target beamway system. A part of the armature creates grooves on the surfaces of the connected beamway segments. The grooves are subsequently used to guide machinery that grinds the running surfaces to precise tolerances.

Abstract: A friction wedge with improved bond characteristics may include a friction wedge body and a friction wedge liner. The friction wedge body may include a pattern formed by a ridge or elevation disposed on a connecting face of the friction wedge body. The friction wedge liner may include a complementary pattern formed by a channel disposed on a bonding surface of the friction wedge liner.

Abstract: A carriage comprises a carriage body (1) consisting of a top frame, side walls, and a bottom frame. An end wall (2) is disposed on at least one end of the carriage body (1). Connectors (3) are symmetrically disposed on the left side and the right side of an outer wall body of the end wall (2). All the connectors (3) disposed on the end wall (2) of the carriage are connected by means of lines. The carriages can be grouped into each train in a meal ordering manner. When each carriage is added into a high-speed train set, the arrangement of the carriage is not limited, and accordingly, the carriage can be added into the train without limitation. On the premise the of ensuring the normal work of systems of the train, the work amount of staff members in a group can be reduced, and the work time of the staff members in the group is shortened.

Abstract: A system for and method of stabilizing rail track structures using a load transfer apparatus is disclosed. The load transfer apparatus includes a vertical load transfer element and a top load transfer element, wherein the top load transfer element is used to transfer applied locomotive and rail car loads to the vertical load transfer element. In one embodiment, the top load transfer element includes helical flights. In another embodiment, the top load transfer element includes a flared top. In yet another embodiment, the top load transfer element includes a load transfer cap. In a further embodiment, the top load transfer element includes two or more support legs each with a top support attached thereto. The railroad stabilization system can comprise any one type or any combinations of types of the aforementioned load transfer apparatuses.

Abstract: A trolley of a crane is arranged to move along a main support structure of the crane. The trolley includes a support frame structure; bearing wheels which are fastened to the support frame structure and by means of which the trolley is arranged to move along the main support structure; and a hoisting mechanism that has a rope drum for a hoisting rope, a rope pulley arrangement through which the hoisting rope may be guided from the rope drum to a fixed fastening point on the trolley, and a hoisting member in cooperation with the hoisting rope for hoisting a load. The rope drum is supported to the support frame structure of the trolley so that the axle of the rope drum is parallel to the main support structure. The rope pulley arrangement is located, in the axial direction of the rope drum, at least partly outside one rope drum end which is on the side of said fastening point.