Tractive effort system and method

A system for use with a vehicle, comprising:

• a media reservoir capable of holding a tractive material that includes particulates;
• a nozzle in fluid communication with the media reservoir;
• a media valve in fluid communication with the media reservoir and the nozzle, the media valve being 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, and 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 and to thereby modify the adhesion or the traction capability of the contact surface with regard to a subsequently contacting wheel;
• an air reservoir capable of holding a volume of pressurized air, the air reservoir being in fluid communication with the nozzle;
• an air valve in fluid communication with the air reservoir and the nozzle, the valve being controllable between a first state in which the pressurized air flows through the air valve and to the nozzle, and a second state in which the pressurized air is prevented from flowing to the nozzle;
• a sand dispenser oriented to deposit a layer of sand directly at the wheel/rail interface;
• a sand trap in fluid communication with the media reservoir, air reservoir and sand dispenser;
• and
• a sander air valve positioned between the air reservoir and the sand trap, the sander air valve being controllable between a first state in which some of the pressurized air flows through the sander air valve and to the sand trap, and a second state in which the pressurized air is prevented from flowing to the sand trap.

A system for use with a vehicle, comprising:

• a media reservoir capable of holding a tractive material that includes particulates;
• a nozzle in fluid communication with the media reservoir;
• a media valve in fluid communication with the media reservoir and the nozzle, the media valve being 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, and 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 and to thereby modify the adhesion or the traction capability of the contact surface with regard to a subsequently contacting wheel;
• an air reservoir capable of holding a volume of pressurized air, the air reservoir being in fluid communication with the nozzle;
• an air valve in fluid communication with the air reservoir and the nozzle, the valve being controllable between a first state in which the pressurized air flows through the air valve and to the nozzle, and a second state in which the pressurized air is prevented from flowing to the nozzle;
• a pressure vessel in fluid communication with an output of the media reservoir, an output of the air reservoir and an input of the media valve;
• a batch valve positioned between the media reservoir and the pressure vessel, the batch valve being controllable between a first state in which the tractive material flows through the batch valve and to the pressure vessel, and a second state in which the tractive material is prevented from flowing to the pressure vessel;
• and
• a second air valve positioned between the air reservoir and the pressure vessel, the second air valve being controllable between a first state in which pressurized air flows through the second air valve and to the pressure vessel, and a second state in which the pressurized air is prevented from flowing to the pressure vessel.

A system for use with a vehicle, comprising:

• 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 being 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, and 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 and to thereby modify the adhesion or the traction capability of the contact surface with regard to a subsequently contacting wheel;
• a push ram mechanism capable of deployment through an orifice defined by the nozzle to dislodge a clog if such clog is lodged in the nozzle;
• and
• a pneumatic or electro-magnetic actuator coupled to the push ram and being actionable in response to a signal from the controller.