Abstract: A member for electric conduction, comprising a metal member and a resin member that is joined to at least a part of a surface of the metal member, the metal member having a roughness index, which is obtained by dividing a true surface area (m2) measured by a krypton adsorption method by a geometric surface area (m2), of 4.0 or more.

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: A fluid control device includes a first conduit having a first end and a second end, and a first fluid that moves within the first conduit between the first end and the second end. The first conduit includes an interior surface defining a cavity of the first conduit. The fluid control device includes a second conduit having a third end and a fourth end, and a second fluid that moves within the second conduit between the third and fourth ends. At least a portion of the second conduit extends within the cavity of the first conduit. The first fluid is separate from the second fluid as the first fluid moves within the first conduit and the second fluid moves within the second conduit.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle system may determine one or more of a route parameter of a route on which the vehicle system is moving or a vehicle parameter of the vehicle system. The system and method may also determine whether a ratio of a lateral force exerted by one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route to a vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route increases to a value exceeding a designated threshold as a result of the one or more route parameter of vehicle parameter that is determined. The ratio of the lateral force to the vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route may be reduced to a value less than the designated threshold by changing an operation of the vehicle system.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a braking system. In one example, a braking arrangement comprising a dead lever comprising a protrusion offset toward a live lever and a slack adjuster.

Abstract: A method includes generating movement signals indicative of sensed movement of a powered system in one or more directions and generating fluid level signals indicative of a sensed amount of fluid in the powered system. The method also includes, with one or more processors, receiving the movement signals and the fluid level signals from one or more accelerometers and a fluid level sensor, wherein the one or more processors also configured to filter at least some of the movement signals based on a speed at which the powered system operates. The method also includes, with a first antenna of the sensor assembly, wirelessly communicating one or more of the movement signals or the amount of fluid to a remote location.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle system determine one or more of a route parameter of a route on which the vehicle system is moving or a vehicle parameter of the vehicle system. The system and method also determine whether a ratio of a lateral force exerted by one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route to a vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route increases to a value exceeding a designated threshold as a result of the one or more route parameter of vehicle parameter that is determined. The ratio of the lateral force to the vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route is reduced to a value less than the designated threshold by changing an operation of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A method for reducing slack in a linkage chain of a vehicle truck assembly is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing slack in a linkage chain of a vehicle truck assembly is provided. In one example, a method includes compressing a vehicle suspension by actuating an actuator with a cylinder abutted to a piston rod, the piston rod coupled to the vehicle suspension and, when deactivating the actuator, maintaining at least nominal compression on the vehicle suspension with the piston rod spaced away from a piston of the cylinder via a biasing member, the piston configured to slide within the cylinder along a central axis of the cylinder.

Abstract: A method for reducing slack in a linkage chain of a vehicle truck assembly is provided. In one example, the method includes responding to a request to de-lift a lift mechanism by reducing pressure in an actuator coupled to the lift mechanism, where the lift mechanism is configured to transfer a load from a first axle to a second axle of the vehicle during the de-lift, and during the de-lift, maintaining the pressure in the actuator at or above a threshold pressure to maintain tension in a weight transfer device of the lift mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle sensor system reduces power obtained from a first power-generating component of a power-generating system based on a temperature variation between the first power-generating component and one or more additional power-generating components of the power-generating system at different operating speeds of the power-generating system. The power is reduced to prevent or reduce damage to the first power-generating component. The power-generating components can be axles of a vehicle.

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 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: Various methods and systems are provided for a braking system. In one example, a braking arrangement comprising a dead lever comprising a protrusion offset toward a live lever and a slack adjuster.

Abstract: A locomotive suspension system includes a truck frame coupled with a locomotive body frame by one or more upper suspensions and a first motor suspension coupled with a first motor and the truck frame. The first motor is coupled with a first axle of the truck frame. The locomotive suspension system also includes a second motor suspension coupled with a second motor and the truck frame. The second motor is coupled with a second axle of the truck frame. The first and second motor suspensions are asymmetrically arranged on opposite sides of a bisecting plane of a truck wheelbase of the truck frame. The truck wheelbase extends from the first axle to the second axle along a length of the truck frame.

Abstract: A pre-lithiated silicon-based anode includes a silicon-based anode, lithium disposed on a surface or in an interior of the silicon-based anode, and a protective coating on the surface of the silicon-based anode. The pre-lithiated silicon-based anode allows subsequent processing to be performed safely in the atmosphere.

Abstract: Provided is an anode composition for lithium ion batteries, comprising a) a silicon-based active material; b) a carboxyl-containing binder; and c) a silane coupling agent. Also provided are a process for preparing an anode for lithium ion batteries and a lithium ion battery.