Abstract: A hydraulic machine including: a casing rotatably mounted relative to a shaft; first brake means constrained to rotate with the casing; second brake means constrained to rotate with the shaft, and adapted to co-operate with the first brake means; a braking piston associated with return means and tending to exert a braking force; and a brake-release chamber adapted to be connected to a pressure force so as to apply a brake-release pressure selectively to the braking piston, so as to enable the first and second brake means to be separated; said hydraulic machine including a sweeping channel arranged in the shaft so as to define a leakage flow between the brake-release chamber and an internal volume of the casing.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine including: a casing rotatably mounted relative to a shaft; first brake means constrained to rotate with the casing; second brake means constrained to rotate with the shaft, and adapted to co-operate with the first brake means; a braking piston associated with return means and tending to exert a braking force; and a brake-release chamber adapted to be connected to a pressure force so as to apply a brake-release pressure selectively to the braking piston, so as to enable the first and second brake means to be separated; said hydraulic machine including a sweeping channel arranged in the shaft so as to define a leakage flow between the brake-release chamber and an internal volume of the casing.

Abstract: A method bridges gaps in a power supply for electrical, converter-fed rail vehicles having front and rear ends with front and rear current collectors, as seen in a travel direction, for making contact with the power supply. The method includes switching a traction converter from a traction mode to a regenerative braking mode, that is to say a generator operation or from a braking mode to the regenerative braking mode. The switching takes place over a period during which the rail vehicle travels a distance. If possible, the distance is only slightly shorter than a distance between the front and rear current collectors. This occurs as soon as the front current collector is not in contact with the power supply.