Patent ID: 6629709
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: B60T,B61C

Abstract:
A method for enhancing wheel/rail adhesion for a railway vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring operation of the braking system when the brakes are applied, hence determining the a value of the adhesion, and applying adhesion-enhancing particles to the wheel/rail interface at a rate which is adjusted in accordance with the value of the adhesion so determined; the value of the adhesion being determined in at least one of the following ways:a) the vehicle incorporates an accelerometer, and the method comprises comparing the deceleration measured by the accelerometer to the deceleration demanded by the driver, and determining a value of the adhesion from any discrepancy between those values of deceleration; b) the vehicle incorporates a wheel slide protection system that modulates the pressure in a brake cylinder in response to detection of wheel slip, and a value of the adhesion is determined from a determination of the pressure supplied to the brake cylinder.