Abstract: A cryocooler assembly for cooling a field winding of an electrical machine having an axis of rotation is provided. The assembly includes a cryocooler and a reservoir coupled in flow communication to the cryocooler and configured to contain a cooling agent. A flow assembly is coupled in flow communication to the reservoir. The flow assembly includes a first flow loop coupled in flow communication to the reservoir; a second flow loop coupled in flow communication to the reservoir; and a plurality of flow members coupled in flow communication to the first flow loop and the second flow loop and coupled to the field winding. Each flow member is configured to thermosiphon the cooling agent in a first state from the reservoir and in a second state to the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and moving an axle of a rail vehicle includes a frame, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted to the frame to movably support the frame on a railroad track rail, and a pair of wedges mounted to the frame having mutually opposed ramped faces. The pair of wedges adjustable along the frame between a first position in which the ramped faces bracket, but do not contact, a rail vehicle wheel that rests on the track rail, and a second position in which the ramped faces engage the circumference of the wheel to support the wheel at a height above the railroad track rail. The apparatus further includes at least one jacking device for urging the wedges toward one another from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and moving an axle of a rail vehicle includes a frame, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted to the frame to movably support the frame on a railroad track rail, and a pair of wedges mounted to the frame having mutually opposed ramped faces. The pair of wedges adjustable along the frame between a first position in which the ramped faces bracket, but do not contact, a rail vehicle wheel that rests on the track rail, and a second position in which the ramped faces engage the circumference of the wheel to support the wheel at a height above the railroad track rail. The apparatus further includes at least one jacking device for urging the wedges toward one another from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driving part and a driven part of an actuation system is disclosed. The driving part can be coupled to the actuator decoupler, and the actuator decoupler can be coupled to the driven part via at least one coupling pin. In a selectively coupled state, the driven part can be at least one of rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the actuator decoupler and, thereby, the driving part. The actuator decoupler can be decoupled from the driven part through the use of a preloaded energy mechanism configured to disengage the at least one coupling pin from the driven part. Thereby, the actuator may be responsive to a jam in the actuation system to selectively decouple the driven part from the actuator decoupler and the driving part so that the driven part has freedom to translate at least one of rotationally and longitudinally.

Abstract: A cryocooler assembly for cooling a field winding of an electrical machine having an axis of rotation is provided. The assembly includes a cryocooler and a reservoir coupled in flow communication to the cryocooler and configured to contain a cooling agent. A flow assembly is coupled in flow communication to the reservoir. The flow assembly includes a first flow loop coupled in flow communication to the reservoir; a second flow loop coupled in flow communication to the reservoir; and a plurality of flow members coupled in flow communication to the first flow loop and the second flow loop and coupled to the field winding. Each flow member is configured to thermosiphon the cooling agent in a first state from the reservoir and in a second state to the reservoir.

Abstract: An electric circuit protection system includes a control module and a circuit sensor communicatively coupled with the control module. The control module is communicatively coupled with a switch that is joined with a circuit having a power source and a fuse. The control module is configured to monitor a degradation factor related to an energy threshold value of the fuse and direct the switch to open the circuit to prevent the power source from supplying current through the fuse. The circuit sensor is configured to measure an energy parameter of the current supplied by the power source through the circuit or that is demanded by a load from the power source. The control module is configured to direct the switch to open the circuit based on the energy threshold value and the energy parameter.

Abstract: An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driving part and a driven part of an actuation system is disclosed. The driving part can be coupled to the actuator decoupler, and the actuator decoupler can be coupled to the driven part via at least one coupling pin. In a selectively coupled state, the driven part can be at least one of rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the actuator decoupler and, thereby, the driving part. The actuator decoupler can be decoupled from the driven part through the use of a preloaded energy mechanism configured to disengage the at least one coupling pin from the driven part. Thereby, the actuator may be responsive to a jam in the actuation system to selectively decouple the driven part from the actuator decoupler and the driving part so that the driven part has freedom to translate at least one of rotationally and longitudinally.

Abstract: An enclosure for an energy storage device is presently disclosed. The enclosure includes a cell housing having a base portion and at least one side portion seamlessly extending from the base portion to define a volume and having a peripheral edge defining an aperture distal from the base portion through which an electrochemical cell may be disposed within the volume, and a cover securable to the peripheral edge of the housing, where the housing and cover are configured to house at least one electrochemical cell at an operating temperature greater than about 100 degrees Celsius. The enclosure may also include an environmental housing configured to nestingly receive the cell housing, and an insulating element disposed between the environmental housing and the cell housing. Also disclosed is a method of packaging the energy storage device utilizing the enclosure.

Abstract: An electric circuit protection system includes a control module and a circuit sensor communicatively coupled with the control module. The control module is communicatively coupled with a switch that is joined with a circuit having a power source and a fuse. The control module is configured to monitor a degradation factor related to an energy threshold value of the fuse and direct the switch to open the circuit to prevent the power source from supplying current through the fuse. The circuit sensor is configured to measure an energy parameter of the current supplied by the power source through the circuit or that is demanded by a load from the power source. The control module is configured to direct the switch to open the circuit based on the energy threshold value and the energy parameter.