Abstract: System includes a sensor operably coupled to a device body. The sensor includes a sensing region and at least one resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit. The sensing region is configured to be placed in operational contact with an industrial fluid. The at least one resonant LCR circuit is configured to generate an electrical stimulus that is applied to the industrial fluid via electrodes at the sensing region. The device body includes one or more processors configured to receive an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of a resonant impedance spectral response of the sensing region in operational contact with the industrial fluid responsive to the electrical stimulus. The one or more processors are further configured to analyze the resonant impedance spectral response and determine both a water concentration in the industrial fluid and an aging level of the industrial fluid based on the resonant impedance spectral response.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing extending from an insertion end to an opposite coupling end, from a sensor end to an opposite back end, and from a top end to an opposite bottom end. The assembly also includes a sensor dish outwardly projecting from the sensor end of the housing and configured to hold one or more sensors. The assembly also includes a radio frequency (RF) transparent sensor cap configured to be secured to the sensor dish to secure the one or more sensors within the sensor dish. The housing also can be secured to a vehicle for the sensors to measure operational conditions of the vehicle. The housing of the sensor assembly may be connected to a drive train of the vehicle by inserting a fastener through a channel in the housing and into a jacking hole of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes one or more accelerometers that generate movement signals indicative of movement of a powered system, a fluid level sensor that generates fluid level signals indicative of an amount of fluid in the powered system, and one or more processors that receive the movement signals and the fluid level signals. The one or more processors also (a) filter at least some of the movement signals based on a speed at which the powered system operates and/or (b) calculate one or more of (1) a statistical measure, (2) a fast Fourier transform (FFT), or (3) a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of the movement signals. The assembly also includes a first antenna that wirelessly communicates the one or more of the movement signals, the amount of fluid, the statistical measure, the FFT, or the DFT to a remote location.

Abstract: A sensor system senses one or more characteristics of vehicles in a vehicle system with sensors disposed onboard the vehicles and communicate data representative of the one or more characteristics from the sensors to one or more of a controller or a control system of the vehicle system. The data communicated from the sensors onboard the same vehicle can be synchronously communicated with respect to the sensors onboard the same vehicle and asynchronously communicated with respect to the sensors disposed onboard one or more other vehicles in the vehicle system. The systems and methods can direct components disposed onboard a vehicle system to change operations, monitor data output by sensors operatively connected with the components, and determine which of the sensors are operatively connected with which of the components based on the operations of the components that are changed and the data that is output by the sensors.

Abstract: A vehicle sensor system includes a fluid sensor configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system and at least partially extend into a gearbox of a traction motor of the vehicle system. The fluid sensor is configured to output data representative of an amount of a lubricating fluid in the gearbox. The system also includes a positioning system configured to output data representative of movement or an absence of movement of the vehicle system, and one or more processors configured to determine the amount of the lubricating fluid in the gearbox based on the data that is output by the fluid sensor responsive to the data output by the positioning system indicating that the vehicle system has not moved or has moved by less than a designated distance for at least a designated, non-instantaneous period of time.

Abstract: A sensor system includes one or more sensors that sense vibrations of a vehicle and one or more processors that can determine a speed of the vehicle and determine whether the vibrations occurring at one or more frequencies of interest (that are based on the speed of the vehicle) indicate damage to a propulsion system of the vehicle. The one or more processors optionally may determine a hunting frequency of a wheel and axle set and/or a lateral acceleration of the wheel and axle set from the vibrations. The one or more processors can determine a conicity of a wheel in the wheel and axle set based on the hunting frequency and/or the lateral acceleration that is determined.

Abstract: System includes a sensor operably coupled to a device body. The sensor includes a sensing region and at least one resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit. The sensing region is configured to be placed in operational contact with an industrial fluid. The at least one resonant LCR circuit is configured to generate an electrical stimulus that is applied to the industrial fluid via electrodes at the sensing region. The device body includes one or more processors configured to receive an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of a resonant impedance spectral response of the sensing region in operational contact with the industrial fluid responsive to the electrical stimulus. The one or more processors are further configured to analyze the resonant impedance spectral response and determine both a water concentration in the industrial fluid and an aging level of the industrial fluid based on the resonant impedance spectral response.

Abstract: A drive system for a grid blower of a vehicle is provided. The system includes: an electrical bus, a grid of resistive elements connected to the electrical bus, the grid of resistive elements configured to thermally dissipate electrical power generated from braking of the vehicle, the electrical power being transmitted on the electrical bus to the grid of resistive elements, an electrical power modulation device configured to modify electrical power received from at least one of the electrical bus and the grid of resistive elements, and a grid blower motor coupled to an output of the electrical power modulation device, wherein a speed of the grid blower motor varies based on the electrical power that has been modified by the electrical power modulation device.

Abstract: A control assembly includes a monitoring module and a switching module. The monitoring module determines a load demand of a first rail vehicle traveling along a track, wherein the first rail vehicle is supplied with electric current from a plurality of power sources over a conductive pathway extending along the track. The switching module is communicatively coupled with the monitoring module and is joined with a switch controller disposed between the power sources and the conductive pathway. The switching module directs the switch controller to change which of the power sources supply the electric current to the first rail vehicle over the conductive pathway based on the load demand.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of axles and a lift mechanism configured to dynamically transfer weight from one axle to another. In one example, the method comprises, responding to an operating condition by adjusting the lift mechanism to provide a determined amount of lift, and in response to vehicle braking, a vehicle stall risk, poor infrastructure conditions, and/or a high vehicle penalty, reducing the determined amount of lift.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine, the engine coupled to a traction alternator for vehicle travelling. In one example, the method includes, in an off-highway vehicle running mode of operation, supplying current from the traction alternator to a traction motor via a traction inverter to propel the vehicle, and, in a starting mode of operation, supplying stored energy from a first energy source and a secondary energy source to the traction alternator to start the engine.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for a vehicle truck assembly which includes a spring coupling an axle carrier to a truck frame. In one example, the system comprises a substantially vertically-mounted hydraulic actuator which generates hydraulic forces between the axle carrier and the truck frame. The actuator includes a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod. Further, the actuator is coupled between the axle carrier and the truck frame with longitudinal and lateral play so that the axle carrier can move laterally and longitudinally with respect to the truck frame while the actuator applies hydraulic force.

Abstract: Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. An example truck assembly may include a truck frame element, and a carrier coupled with the truck frame element. A bias may be configured to bias the carrier away from the truck frame element. An actuatable linkage arrangement may include a compliant linkage coupled with the carrier. The compliant linkage may pull the carrier against the bias in a first direction.

Abstract: Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. The vehicle suspension method includes operating the suspension in a first mode with a first effective suspension spring rate; and operating the suspension in a second mode with a second, different, effective suspension spring rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for weight transfer in a vehicle are provided. One system includes a plurality of springs and a plurality of movable spring seats configured to adjust a length of the plurality of springs. Additionally, a pneumatic actuator is provided that is connected to the plurality of movable springs and configured to move the movable spring seats to adjust the length of the plurality of springs. Further, a controller is provided that is coupled to the pneumatic actuator to control the pneumatic actuator to adjust the length of the plurality of springs.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of axles and a lift mechanism configured to dynamically transfer weight from one axle to another. In one example, the method comprises, responding to an operating condition by adjusting the lift mechanism to provide a determined amount of lift, and in response to vehicle braking, a vehicle stall risk, poor infrastructure conditions, and/or a high vehicle penalty, reducing the determined amount of lift.

Abstract: A drive system for a grid blower of a vehicle is provided. The system includes: an electrical bus, a grid of resistive elements connected to the electrical bus, the grid of resistive elements configured to thermally dissipate electrical power generated from braking of the vehicle, the electrical power being transmitted on the electrical bus to the grid of resistive elements, an electrical power modulation device configured to modify electrical power received from at least one of the electrical bus and the grid of resistive elements, and a grid blower motor coupled to an output of the electrical power modulation device, wherein a speed of the grid blower motor varies based on the electrical power that has been modified by the electrical power modulation device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine, the engine coupled to a traction alternator for vehicle travelling. In one example, the method includes, in an off-highway vehicle running mode of operation, supplying current from the traction alternator to a traction motor via a traction inverter to propel the vehicle, and, in a starting mode of operation, supplying stored energy from a first energy source and a secondary energy source to the traction alternator to start the engine.