Tractive effort system and method

US9308921B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Bret Dwayne Worden · Erie, US
• Ajith Kuttannair Kumar · Erie, US
• Matthew John Malone · Boulder, US
• Jennifer Lynn Coyne · Lawrence Park, US
• Nikhil Subhashchandra Tambe · Bengaluru, IN
• Milind Bharat Garule · Bengaluru, IN
• Anubhav Kumar · Bengaluru, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 5, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 12, 2016
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B61C15/107
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system is provided for use with, a wheeled vehicle. The system includes a media reservoir capable of holding a tractive material that includes particulates; a nozzle in fluid communication with the media reservoir; and a media valve in fluid communication with the media reservoir and the nozzle. The media valve is controllable between a first state in which the tractive material flows through the media valve and to the nozzle, and a second state in which the tractive material is prevented from flowing to the nozzle. In the first state, the nozzle receives the tractive material from the media reservoir and directs the tractive material to a contact surface such that the tractive material impacts the contact surface that is spaced from a wheel/surface interface. The system can modify the adhesion or the traction capability of the contact surface with regard to a subsequently contacting wheel.