Abstract: A system and method detect and manage conductive gaps between collector devices onboard vehicles and conductive pathways extending along routes traveled by the vehicles. The collector devices are conductively couplable to the conductive pathways. The system and method respond to a detected drop in an amount of electric current being conducted from the conductive pathway to the collector device of a vehicle with a responsive action prior to or during a subsequent drop in voltage being conducted from the conductive pathway to the collector device.

Abstract: A system and method includes a secondary energy storage system (SESS) and a control system. The SESS is configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and conductively connected via switch devices to a primary battery and a cranking device of the vehicle. The control system is configured to control the switch devices to close a conductive path to discharge electric current from the SESS for powering the cranking device to rotate an engine shaft during a cranking operation. The control system is configured to control the switch devices to open the conductive path and prevent discharge of electric current from the SESS after the cranking operation is complete.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that may identify a first battery pack to be removed from a vehicle based at least in part on a measured state of charge. The first battery pack and/or a replacement battery pack may be conditioned by changing the state of charge of the first battery pack or the replacement battery, and/or connecting a bypass connector with the replacement battery pack between the replacement battery pack and a power source that also is connected with the one or more other battery packs on the vehicle. The bypass connector may bypass charging energy from the power source to the replacement battery pack while the power source charges the one or more other battery packs to increase the state of charge of the one or more other battery packs toward the state of charge of the replacement battery pack.

Abstract: A method for operating a collector assembly of a vehicle that receives electric current from a conductive pathway extending along a route being traversed by the vehicle to power loads of the vehicle. The method includes moving the collector assembly relative to the conductive pathway to examine one or more mechanical components of the collector assembly and sensing one or more electrical characteristics of the electric current conducted to the vehicle from the conductive pathway and through the collector assembly to test electrical components of the collector assembly or the vehicle. The method may implement responsive actions to control operation of the vehicle based on outcomes of one or more of an examination of the mechanical components or the test of the electrical components.

Abstract: An equipment asset may include a body, one or more current collector rails, and a grounding element. The body may have a top side and a power transfer zone. The power transfer zone may include at least an electrically non-conductive top surface. The one or more current collector rails may be mounted to the top side of the body within the power transfer zone. The grounding element may be electrically conductive and disposed on the top side of the body. The grounding element may surround the power transfer zone and be spaced apart from the one or more current collector rails. The grounding element may receive liquid that is runoff from the power transfer zone and electrically ground charged portions of the liquid.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units. The method further includes responding to detection of the determined operating condition by: controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units, and altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, wherein the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus.

Abstract: A method including detecting that a vehicle that may be propelled by an electric drive system having one or more motors disconnects or begins disconnecting from an off-board source of power while the one or more motors are being powered by the off-board source of power. The method may include supplanting a decreasing amount of a first electric energy supplied by the off-board source of power to the electric drive system with an amount of a second electric energy supplied by an onboard source of power to the electric drive system responsive to the detection of the disconnect from the off-board source of power.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a plurality of fuel cells. The method includes coordinating a distribution of a power demand in response to a power request of a power system comprising a plurality of fuel cells, the power output of each of the fuel cells selected based on a respective efficiency of each of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A battery management system thermally conditions a battery assembly prior to a determined upcoming time or the battery assembly's arrival at an upcoming location, and selects a source of the power used for the thermal conditioning.

Abstract: An energy system for a vehicle system having a plurality of motors that may include a first power supply assembly that may also include a first battery assembly of a plurality of battery assemblies. The first power supply assembly also may include a first bus coupled to a first motor of the plurality of motors and coupled to the first battery assembly. A second power supply assembly may also be provided that includes a second battery assembly of the plurality of battery assemblies coupled to a second bus that is coupled to a second motor of the plurality of motors. A controller may also be provided that may be configured to vary conduction of electric current from the first battery assembly to the first motor by the first bus based on an operating condition of the second power supply assembly to provide a first input to the first motor that may be different than a second input provided to the second motor by the second battery assembly.

Abstract: A system comprising resistive circuit legs coupled with and disposed between (a) a converter that converts electric current for a motor of a powered system and (b) a source of electric current for powering the motor, each of the circuit legs including a braking resistor coupled with the converter, a contactor coupled with the braking resistor such that the braking resistor is between the converter and the contactor, and a semiconductor switch coupled with the contactor such that the contactor is between the semiconductor switch and the braking resistor, where, during a regenerative braking mode of operation of the powered system, the regenerated energy from the motor is conducted to the braking resistor and dissipated as heat.

Abstract: A power system is disclosed. The power system includes a first power generating unit. The first power generating unit includes a first power converting subunit and a first control unit coupled to the first power converting subunit, where the first control unit is configured to regulate a voltage of the first power generating unit. The power system further includes a second power generating unit coupled to the first power generating unit and a load, where the second power generating unit includes a second power converting subunit and a second control unit coupled to the second power converting subunit, wherein the second control unit is configured to control a current of the second power generating unit to share a quantity of electrical output current flowing through the load among the first and second power generating units.

Abstract: System and method configured to determine a direction of movement of a vehicle in response to a brake being released or in response to initiating movement of the vehicle from a stopped position along a route. The direction of movement is determined based on a selected travel direction of the vehicle, a grade of the route, and at least one of applied tractive efforts or applied braking efforts.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.

Abstract: A power delivery system includes a turbocharger assist device and an inverter. The turbocharger assist device is mechanically connected to a turbocharger that is operably coupled to an engine, and is configured to generate electric current based on rotation of a rotor of the turbocharger. The inverter is electrically connected to the turbocharger assist device via a bus, and is configured to receive the electric current generated by the turbocharger assist device via the bus and supply the electric current to power a load.

Abstract: An energy device control system may include an energy source enclosure that can be coupled with external loads via first external connectors outside of the energy source enclosure. The system also may include an external control device coupled with the energy source enclosure via second external connectors such that the external control device is galvanically isolated from energy device cells inside the energy source enclosure. The external control device may communicate with internal control components of the energy source enclosure via the second external connectors to control charging and/or discharging of the device cells via the first external connectors.

Abstract: A propulsion circuit for a vehicle includes an engine, a generator, a power rectifier, a direct current (DC) bus, a propulsion battery system, and at least one converter. The generator is coupled to the engine and configured to receive an input from the engine, and to provide an alternating current (AC) output. The power rectifier is configured to receive the AC output from the generator and provide a DC output responsive to receiving the AC output. The DC bus is coupled to the rectifier. The propulsion battery system is coupled to the DC bus. The at least one converter is configured to convert a direct current to an alternating current, and is coupled to the DC bus. Further, the propulsion circuit includes at least one charging component that is configured to selectably provide a charge to the battery system via at least one of the at least one converter.

Abstract: A charge transfer timing system and method include determining a charge capability of one or more power sources configured to supply charging power to multiple battery packs of a powered system. The system and method include calculating a time required to charge the battery packs to at least one of a target voltage or a target energy level. The time that is calculated may be based at least in part on a current state of charge (SOC) of the battery packs, a pack configuration of the battery packs, and the charge capability.

Abstract: A charge transfer timing system and method include determining a depletion configuration of one or more loads of a powered system. The one or more loads are configured to be powered by multiple battery packs of the powered system. The charge transfer timing system and method include calculating a time required to deplete the battery packs to at least one of a target voltage or a target energy level. Calculating the time is based at least in part on a current state of charge (SOC) of the battery packs, a pack configuration of the battery packs, and the depletion configuration.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply system and method may include plural vehicle contacts extending along a vehicle. At least three of the vehicle contacts may be power contacts that receive different phases of three-phase alternating current electrical power from an off-board power supply system to power the vehicle. A first power contact of the power contacts may receive a first phase of the three-phase alternating current and a second power contact of the power contacts may receive a second phase of the three-phase alternating current while the vehicle has a first orientation relative to the off-board power supply system. The first power contact may receive the second phase and the second power contact may receive the first phase while the vehicle has a second orientation relative to the off-board power supply system.