Abstract: A method is for maintenance of a ground-level power supply for a transport vehicle. The device includes: a power supply rail, a detector of spatial coordinates of a vehicle; and a power supply shoe. The device and the shoe equip the same vehicle. The supply shoe includes a vibration sensor. The method includes measuring vibrations of the shoe and simultaneously detecting spatial coordinates of the vehicle during the movement of the vehicle along the rail, followed by comparing measured vibrations of the shoe with a threshold value, and determining spatial coordinates corresponding to vibrations above the threshold value.

Abstract: A method is for maintenance of a ground-level power supply for a transport vehicle. The device includes: a power supply rail, a detector of spatial coordinates of a vehicle; and a power supply shoe. The device and the shoe equip the same vehicle. The supply shoe includes a vibration sensor. The method includes measuring vibrations of the shoe and simultaneously detecting spatial coordinates of the vehicle during the movement of the vehicle along the rail, followed by comparing measured vibrations of the shoe with a threshold value, and determining spatial coordinates corresponding to vibrations above the threshold value.

Abstract: This damping device comprises: two symmetrical jacks (10, 10′), extending respectively between each support member (8, 6) and the housing (4), each jack (10, 10′) defining two chambers (24, 24′, 26, 26′) filled with a hydraulic fluid (16, 16′), two hydraulic lines (28, 28′) establishing fluid communication between, on the one hand, the first chambers (24, 24′) of the jacks and, on the other hand, the second chambers (26, 26′) of the jacks, two branch lines (30, 30′) opening into two accumulators (32, 32′) containing a compressed gas, and means (34, 36, 40, 42) capable of providing a controlled flow rate of the fluid outside the said chambers (24, 24′, 26, 26′) and means (38, 44) capable of providing a controlled flow rate of the fluid to the accumulators. The intensity of damping of the transverse and hunting components can be independently adjusted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-active damper controlled by a control circuit including a direct control loop made up of an inverse model of the damper. The inverse model of the damper determines an ideal value for an electrical current i.sub.th for controlling a compression controlled-restriction valve and an expansion controlled-restriction valve on the basis of a measured value for a relative speed y between the two ends of the damper and on the basis of a force reference value Fc. The semi-active damper of the invention is applicable as a transverse secondary suspension for a passenger rail vehicle.

Abstract: A semi-active damper is controlled by a control circuit which includes a direct main feedback loop, as well as a secondary force feedback loop. The direct main feedback loop includes an inverse model of the damper to be controlled. In the inverse model, an equivalent speed y.sub.e is determined, for use in controlling the damper, based on the measured relative speed y of the ends of the damper. The equivalent speed y.sub.e is used for the purpose of compensating for the fact that a hydraulic fluid used in the damper is not an absolutely incompressible fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semi-active damper controlled by a control circuit including a direct control loop made up of an inverse model of the damper. The inverse model of the damper determines an ideal value for an electrical current i.sub.th for controlling a compression controlled-restriction valve and an expansion controlled-restriction valve on the basis of a measured value for a relative speed y between the two ends of the damper and on the basis of a force reference value Fc. The semi-active damper of the invention is applicable as a transverse secondary suspension for a passenger rail vehicle.