Diesel-electric locomotive

Abstract

A diesel-electric locomotive includes an assembly including a diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit can be connected. There is provision for the assembly to be replaceable as a module. For this purpose, it is arranged, for example, in a replaceable container.

Description

[0001] The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on German patent application number DE 10303716.0 filed Jan. 30, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention generally relates to a diesel-electric locomotive having an assembly including a diesel engine and a generator to which a drive unit can be connected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In diesel-electric locomotives, the diesel engine must be serviced more frequently than other components. For this purpose, it has hitherto been necessary for the locomotive to spend a long period of time, usually several days, in a service workshop. As such service workshops are available only at relatively large distances from one another. The servicing intervals and the locations of the workshops had to be taken into account in the deployment plan of the locomotives. If this was not possible, journeys of individual locomotives without a train to a servicing workshop became necessary. If a defect occurred on the assembly of a locomotive during its deployment, the locomotive had to be towed to the workshop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An embodiment of the invention is based on an object of specifying a diesel-electric locomotive which is required to be stationary for servicing work for a shorter time than was usually the case hitherto. It is also intended that there will be no need for costly transfer journeys to a servicing workshop and that the locomotive will have to be towed away less often when there is a defect.

[0005] An object may be achieved according to an embodiment of the invention in that the assembly of the locomotive can be replaced as a module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] By the assembly of the locomotive being replaceable as a module, this provides the advantage that, for servicing work which is necessary on a routine basis and also in the case of a defect in the assembly, it will be possible to replace the entire assembly quickly for an intact, newly serviced assembly. Such a replacement does not last nearly as long as a repair or servicing. Moreover, the advantage is obtained that there is no need for a costly workshop to replace an assembly. All that is necessary is a small amount of equipment, for example a crane, to replace the assembly. Consequently, assembly can be carried out at any relatively large station. Advantageously, all that is necessary is to keep replacement assemblies available at numerous locations. If a corresponding number of replacement assemblies are provided, it is not necessary to completely remove any locomotive from circulation while an assembly is being serviced or repaired.

[0007] In particular, the advantage is obtained that the operating costs of the diesel-electric locomotive according to an embodiment of the invention can be significantly reduced in comparison with the operating costs of a conventional locomotive. This is due to the fact that the diesel-electric locomotive according to an embodiment of the invention has a significantly higher availability level.

[0008] The assembly is arranged, for example, in a replaceable container. Such a container can be advantageously particularly easily replaced and also used again. Owing to their square shape, it is also particularly easy to store such a container.

[0009] For example, connecting devices are arranged on the container. Components of the locomotive can then be quickly and reliably connected electrically or mechanically to the assembly arranged in the container by use of these connecting devices or couplings. The container does not need to be opened for this purpose.

[0010] The container can be transported, for example, on a railway wagon. This provides the advantage that the containers which are removed from a locomotive can easily be moved from any desired station to a central servicing workshop. In the same way, the assemblies which have been serviced and repaired and which are located in containers can be moved, using railway wagons, to the stations where they are needed.

[0011] The advantages obtained are that locomotives for servicing the assemblies no longer have to be moved into a central workshop. The time for which a locomotive is stationary in order to replace an assembly is short in comparison with servicing or repair of the assembly. In particular, an assembly which is arranged in a container can easily be supplied and also transported with a railway wagon. Costs and time are saved in railway traffic.

[0012] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A diesel-electric locomotive, comprising:

an assembly including a diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit is connectable, wherein the assembly is replaceable as a module.

2. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly is arranged in a replaceable container.

3. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 2, wherein connecting devices are arranged on the container.

4. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 2, wherein the container is transportable.

5. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container is transportable on a railway wagon.

6. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container is transportable.

7. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 6, wherein the container is transportable on a railway wagon.

8. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 3, wherein components of the locomotive are connectable at least one of electrically and mechanically to the assembly arranged in the container, by using the connecting devices.

9. An assembly for a diesel-electric locomotive, comprising:

a diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit is connectable, wherein the assembly is replaceable as a module.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the assembly is arranged in a replaceable container.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein connecting devices are arranged on the container.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container is transportable.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the container is transportable on a railway wagon.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the container is transportable.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the container is transportable on a railway wagon.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein components of the locomotive are connectable at least one of electrically and mechanically to the assembly arranged in the container, by using the connecting devices.