Abstract: A high-altitude railroad locomotive adapted for more reliable operation at high altitudes, wherein the high-altitude railroad locomotive includes a semiconductor electric power control component, and wherein due to the high altitude the locomotive would be exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation tending to damage the semiconductor electric power control component is provided. The high-altitude locomotive includes electric power generation equipment, a plurality of traction motors mechanically connected to wheels supporting the high altitude locomotive and an electric power transmission system for transmitting electrical power from the electric power generation equipment to the plurality of traction motors.

Abstract: An electrical energy capture system for use in connection with a hybrid energy off highway vehicle system of a off highway vehicle. The hybrid energy off highway vehicle system includes an off highway vehicle, a primary power source, and an off highway vehicle traction motor propelling the off highway vehicle in response to the primary electric power. The off highway vehicle traction motor has a dynamic braking mode of operation generating electrical energy. The electrical energy capture system includes an energy management processor carried on the off highway vehicle. The capture system also includes an off highway vehicle electric generator connected to and driven by the primary power source for selectively supplying primary electric power, wherein the generator is responsive to said processor. An electrical energy storage device is carried on a off highway vehicle and is in electrical communication with the off highway vehicle traction motor.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for detecting and responding to a surge event in a locomotive engine system including a turbocharger and a diesel engine. A sensor detects an operating parameter of the turbocharged engine and generates a signal indicative of the detected operatng parameter. An engine control system is responsive to the signal representative of a sensed operating parameter, or a determined changed in a sensed parameter, for controlling a plurality of operational controls of the diesel engine system. The engine control system modifies one or more operational controls of the diesel engine system when the signal indicates a surge event.

Abstract: A portable flotation platform is disclosed for use in supporting a load of equipment, hunting dogs, or personnel above the level of a body of water. The platform includes a deck constructed to be of an overall density less than that of water and sized so as to support the load above the level of the water. An anchor extends down to the bottom of the water and up to the deck to hold the deck on station in the water. The deck is provided with a carrying attachment to facilitate the user carrying the deck to a point of deployment at the water. The deck further has anchor storage for carrying the anchor along with the deck to the point of deployment.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a constant radiant energy delta to calibrate a railway hot box detector. A wheel including an aperture is rotatingly supported within the apparatus. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of the wheel, and a radiant energy source is mounted within the apparatus such that the wheel, when rotated, periodically allows radiant energy to be transmitted directly from the energy source through the aperture to a hot box detector being calibrated. A processor is provided to receive the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and operate the energy source at a radiant energy setpoint by determining the present temperature of both the energy source and the present temperature of the wheel and the desired radiant energy delta.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the shop time of a vehicle, e.g., a locomotive, at a maintenance facility by obtaining onboard systems parameter data during a period when the vehicle is inbound to the maintenance facility for required periodic scheduled maintenance, and by determining, at the maintenance facility and prior to arrival of the vehicle at the maintenance facility, from the data received from the inbound vehicle, whether any of the data is out of a predetermined range or is trending to be out of range.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the occurrence of an actual locked condition in a locomotive system having a locomotive operating in an isolated mode of operation. The locomotive has a plurality of AC traction motors for propelling the locomotive system during normal operations. The AC motors are reconfigurable to operate as AC generators and are connected to a common DC bus. When a potential locked condition in a first motor is detected, the DC bus is energized with an initial voltage using an alternate source of power. The DC bus voltage is regulated with a second motor by reconfiguring the second motor to operate as a generator. The torque produced by the first motor is then measured at a plurality of levels of electromagnetic flux in the first motor. Based on the measured torque, it is determined whether the potential locked condition is an actual locked condition.

Abstract: A method and system for operating an electrical system including an electrical machine to predict an incipient fault in the electrical machine. A neutral-to-ground leakage signal representative of current between a neutral point of the machine and an electrical ground is generated and stored in a memory. If the leakage signal exceeds a selected threshold, the electrical system is operated at a reduced power condition to control the current. Temperature criteria of the electrical system at which any moisture that could cause the high leakage current is determined with a temperature sensing system and the temperature is monitored and compared to the selected temperature criteria. The electrical system returns to operations at normal power conditions if the leakage signal returns to within the selected threshold. The leakage current signal information stored in the memory is analyzed to predict an incipient fault in the electrical system.

Abstract: In a distributed power railroad train, an apparatus for equalizing the equalizing reservoir pressure in the remote power unit and the brake pipe pressure in response to airflow into the brake pipe from the remote locomotive. With these pressures equal, the remote unit cannot charge the brake pipe while the lead unit vents the brake pipe to command a brake application at the train railcars.

Abstract: A diesel engine, having a plurality of individually controllable fuel injected cylinders, is operated in a skip firing mode to reduce smoke emissions during low power operation. The system senses certain identified engine operating parameters and when these parameters exceed predetermined thresholds for a predetermined time, then the skip firing is implemented. In another embodiment, it is possible to implement several different skip firing patterns dependent upon engine performance. Upon implementation of skip firing, the engine timing angle is reset by a fixed angle and a multiplication factor is included in the speed loop integrator to ensure that the appropriate fuel volume value is injected into each cylinder immediately upon initiation of skip firing. Skip firing is then disabled when another set of predetermined conditions is satisfied.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the wheel speed of a vehicle propelled by DC motors mechanically coupled to at least one wheel on the vehicle so as to rotate said one or more wheel. At least one current detector is configured to measure armature and field current in each of the DC motors and produce a signal proportional to said currents and a voltage detector is configured to measure voltage applied to each of the DC motors and produce a signal proportional to said voltage. A processor is configured to determine a rotational speed as a function of the measured currents and voltages and configured to apply a correction factor to the determined rotational speed to obtain a corrected rotational speed.

Abstract: A method of servicing a mobile asset subject to utilization loss factors delaying the completion of servicing and the timely return of the asset to operation including identifying utilization loss factors that could delay the timely completion of servicing of the mobile asset. Identifying service procedures associated with each utilization loss factor and providing a database of events associated with the service procedures the events indicative of a status of completion of the procedures. A schedule may be established for at least one event for the timely completion of the respective service procedure. Monitoring the at least one event to determine when the event occurred relative to the scheduled time and if the at least one event is late, providing notice that the relevant utilization loss factor is likely to cause delay in the timely return of the asset to operation unless corrective action is taken.

Abstract: Computerized method and system for servicing a selected piece of equipment made up of a plurality of systems and subject to unique system configurations and servicing requirements are provided. The method allows to respectively provide a database including detailed system configuration data regarding a selected piece of equipment, and a database including service modules for facilitating the servicing of equipment of a group of equipment that includes a selected piece of equipment. The method further allows to provide a respective identifier for uniquely identifying any selected equipment, and an input/output device to communicate with the databases. Respective accessing steps allow to access the database having configuration data to interface with the detailed system configuration data, and the database having the service modules to interface with at least one of the service modules.

Abstract: The present invention is for a system (11) or method for conditioned based monitoring of a bearing assembly. The system (11) comprises a sensor (13) placed in proximity to a bearing assembly (12). The sensor (13) generates a signal indicative of the amplitude and frequency of the vibrational movement of the bearing assembly. A process (14) in communication with the sensor (13) receives the signal from the sensor (13) and generates spectral data representative of the bearing vibrational movement. A database (15) comprises data representative of an amplitude threshold, for at least one predetermined frequency, characteristic of a bearing fault. The processor (15) compares the spectral data to the amplitude threshold and generates a signal indication of the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A dynamic braking system for a vehicle, the system comprising an engine, an alternator, a plurality of alternating current (AC) electric traction motors, each coupled in driving relationship to a respective one of a plurality of driven wheels, a plurality of power inverters where each of the traction motors has excitation windings coupled in circuit with a corresponding one of the plurality of power inverters, a fuel-free dynamic braking controller, a fuel-free dynamic braking transfer switch located between one of the plurality of traction motors and the one of the plurality of power inverters in circuit with the corresponding one of the plurality of power inverters, wherein the one of the plurality of traction motors in circuit with the corresponding one of the plurality of power inverters that is separated by the fuel-free dynamic braking transfer switch does not generate and does not consume power, and wherein the fuel-free dynamic braking controller commands one of the plurality of power inverters that i

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chronologically combining fault data, repair data, and operational parameters for a railroad locomotive. Generally, this data is collected and stored in separate databases. The present invention teaches combining the data so that an ordered analysis reflecting the timing of faults, repairs, and operational information can be carried out to determine the root causes of the faults.

Abstract: A method for detecting electrical faulty conditions in a plurality of power devices of a propulsion system is provided. The plurality of power devices is connectable in parallel circuit through a direct current (DC) link to an external DC power source. The method provides a first sequence of actions for determining an electrical short condition in at least one of the power devices upon the power source being connected. The method further provides a second sequence of actions for determining an electrical open condition in a respective one of the plurality of power devices during the occurrence of high current events.

Abstract: A system and method for railroad cab signal quality detection and reporting for use in connection with a railroad cab signaling system in which a status signal is carried on a railroad rail. The status signal has a cab signal parameter that is indicative of a status of a zone of track. A signal detector detects the status signal transmitted via the railroad rail. A signal measurement subsystem associated with the signal detector measures the cab signal parameter. A quality analysis subsystem analyzes the measured cab signal parameter and determines a measure of quality of the cab signal parameter. The system may include equipment that is mounted on a rail vehicle, such as a locomotive, or mounted along a block of track, or on portable equipment. The system may also include a cab signal quality collection and reporting system. The method includes detecting the cab status signal and measuring the cab signal parameter from the detected status signal.

Abstract: A method and system for a lead mobile asset to verify that a remote mobile asset under the control of the lead mobile asset is following a set of command functions broadcast by the lead mobile asset in a command message. The lead and remote mobile assets may be part of a train consist equipped with a distributed power communication system. The method includes determining whether the lead mobile asset has received a status reply message from the remote mobile asset, the reply message transmitted in response to the remote mobile asset's receipt of the command message and including data indicative of at least one operational state of the remote mobile asset. A help command message may be broadcast from the lead mobile asset if the lead mobile asset has not received the status reply message from the remote mobile asset.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus (27) for a locomotive dynamic brake resistor grid stack (22) including a flow directing diffuser (24). The flow directing diffuser includes at least one turning vane member (26) disposed at an angle to the flow stream axis for directing a portion of the cooling air from a high velocity area of the air stream into a lower velocity area of the air stream. The flow directing diffuser may include an annular ring-shaped turning vane member (28) for directing high velocity air into a center low velocity area. The flow directing diffuser may further include a V-shaped turning vane member (32) associated with each corner (34) of the surrounding duct (36) for directing high velocity air into each corner low velocity area. Air is supplied to the duct 36 housing the flow directing diffuser by a mixed flow fan (54).