Abstract: An energy management system for use with off-highway vehicles, including locomotives, that traverse a known course. A processor determines power storage and transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of electrical energy. A hybrid energy locomotive system has an energy storage and regeneration system. In one form, the system can be retrofitted into existing locomotives or installed as original equipment. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and or externally supplied energy. The captured energy is stored in an energy storage system such as a battery, a flywheel system, or a capacitor system. The energy storage and regeneration system can be located in a separate energy tender vehicle. The separate energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors.

Abstract: A hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. In one form, the system can be retrofitted into existing locomotives or installed as original equipment. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy, and stores the energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. The energy storage and regeneration system can be located in a separate energy tender vehicle. The separate energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. An energy management system is responsive to power storage and power transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information, to determine present and future electrical energy storage and supply requirements. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of energy accordingly.

Abstract: An energy tender vehicle for use in connection with a hybrid energy locomotive system having an energy storage and regeneration system. The energy storage and regeneration system captures dynamic braking energy, excess motor energy, and externally supplied energy in one or more energy storage subsystems, including a flywheel, a battery, an ultra-capacitor, or a combination of such subsystems. In one form, the energy storage and regeneration system is located in the energy tender vehicle. The energy tender vehicle is optionally equipped with traction motors. In one form, the energy tender is configured to operate without any power connections to the locomotive. An energy management system is responsive to power storage and power transfer parameters, including data indicative of present and future track profile information, to determine present and future electrical energy storage and supply requirements. The energy management system controls the storage and regeneration of energy accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the root cause of no trouble found events in a machine is disclosed. The actual faults occurring during a predetermined time interval prior to the no trouble found event are analyzed and correlated with the no trouble found events in an effort to identify those actual faults that have a high correlation with each no trouble found event. If a high correlation is not found, then the no trouble found event is analyzed off-line to determine the root cause.

Abstract: Method and system for determining a reference speed indicative of true ground speed of a vehicle having a plurality of axles are provided. The reference speed for a designated one of the axles is dynamically adjusted to account for changes in vehicular acceleration that may occur while determination of the reference speed is being performed. The method allows collecting a stream of samples over respective sampling intervals of at least one motion-indication parameter corresponding to a respective axle of the vehicle. In one aspect thereof, one may use a torque reduction rulebase configured to avoid high torque reduction, and inaccuracies in the motion-indication parameter due to high levels of creep, if any, in a wheel of the respective axle. The method further allows estimating an inertia value for the vehicle based on respective changes in tractive effort and acceleration over each sampling interval.

Abstract: A cable support is provided having a support member and a plurality of rungs. The support member has a center portion and two downward portions that generally define an interior area of the channel. The rungs have a lower retaining section and an upper cable retaining section and are made from a resilient nonconductive material for being detachably secured to the support member.

Abstract: An apparatus (40,60) for aligning a rail conditioning system, such as a sanding system or a compressed air snow removal system of a locomotive. A source of light (50,70) is removeably and unmovingly attached to a conduit (44,62) of the rail conditioning system to direct a beam of light (53) toward a rail (46) to verify a location of impingement (56) of a spray of rail conditioning material (45,66). The source of light may be a battery operated laser pointer, and it may be attached to a fixture (48,72) that is removeably secured to the conduit. The fixture may be attached over an outlet nozzle (42,62) of the conduit, or it may be threaded onto the conduit in place of the nozzle when the nozzle is removed for cleaning and inspection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing locomotive assignments on a railroad network. The locomotives are assigned to power and signaling classes, based on equipment installed within each locomotive. An objective function is set forth that considers the cost of moving extra power in the network, the penalties incurred for late train departures due to the failure to assign an appropriately-equipped locomotive and the cost of train operation. Various constraints are set forth that must be taken into consideration when optimizing the objective function.

Abstract: A traction motor speed sensor support arrangement (30). A proximity sensor (34) is mounted within a housing (32) having a sensor support portion (44) cantilevered from a base portion (40). Dowel pins (60) extending from the base portion (40) position the sensor (34) at a predetermined locative relative to a rotating wheel (56) within the motor (10). A wire (50) leading from sensor (34) is formed in a rolling U (68) to accommodate movement of the motor (10) relative to the locomotive (52). The wire (50) is terminated at a connector (36) including a back shell portion (74) containing a stress-relieving loop (80) formed in wire (50). The natural frequency of the housing (32) is controlled to be greater than a predetermined value associated with the natural frequency of the motor operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying and transmitting time critical or high priority files from an on-board monitor aboard a vehicle. During operation of the vehicle, the on-board monitor collects and stores operational parametric information in the form of data files. The data files are transmitted to a remote site on a periodic basis or in response to certain predetermined conditions above the vehicle. To reduce the latency and delay times with transmitting the high priority files, those files are merged and transmitted before the transmission of relatively lower priority data files.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a railroad locomotive is configured with the correct software versions. The version numbers for software on board the vehicle are periodically determined by an on-board monitoring system. This information is later transmitted to a remote monitoring and diagnostic center, where the actual software version numbers are compared to the expected software versions. If there is a mismatch, personnel at the remote monitoring and diagnostic center are alerted to resolve the mismatch.

Abstract: A method for controlling start of a compression ignition engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided without a cam sensor is provided. Each cylinder includes a respective piston reciprocally movable between respective top and bottom positions along a cylinder longitudinal axis. The method comprises proving a respective fuel delivery assembly for each cylinder. In one embodiment the method further comprises retrieving from memory a set of fuel delivery assembly firing rules and then processing the firing rules so that a firing signal is delivered to each fuel delivery assembly on every crank revolution during a cranking mode of operation. The fuel delivery assembly is arranged to be responsive to any firing signal received during an injection window leading to the top position along the longitudinal axis so as to supply fuel to each cylinder during the injection window.

Abstract: A method for determining the ideal fuel usage value of a locomotive or other off-highway vehicle is disclosed. The time spent in each of a plurality of operating modes is determined and applied to an algorithm for calculating the ideal fuel usage associated with that operating mode. The individual values calculated for each operating mode are summed in accord with the operating modes experienced during a given train run. The sum value represents the ideal fuel usage quantity for the train run.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for limiting diesel engine overspeed conditions (and thereby prevent engine damage) caused by the ingestion of lubricating oil from the turbocharger, or other source, into the diesel engine cylinders. In response to the development of an overspeed condition, the dynamic brake grids are coupled to the output of the main alternator to absorb the excess energy caused by the overspeed condition. Alternatively, non-combustible gases can be injected into the combustion system to limit the overspeed condition.

Abstract: An elastomeric joint (100) that comprises a wing plate (102) including a base plate (104) generally extending along a first axis and generally perpendicular to a second axis is provided. The wing plate further includes a mutually opposite first and second bushing-receiving bores (120) co-axially aligned relative to a third axis perpendicular to said first and second axes. A plurality of elastomeric shear pads (106) is affixed on mutually opposite sides of the base plate. The plurality of shear pads is stacked generally perpendicular to the second axis. Top and bottom elastomeric bushings (122) are received by said respective bushing-receiving bores. Each elastomeric bushing comprises a plurality of torsion pads (124) and includes a respective pin-receiving bore(128).

Abstract: A process and system for populating a database of repair codes used by respective diagnostic tools to identify repairs of respective machines is provided. The process allows for collecting a list of available repair codes. The process further allows for executing expert analysis upon the collected list so as to determine compatibility of the respective repair codes with the diagnostic tools. A customizing step allows for customizing the list of repair codes based upon the executed expert analysis, and a storing step allows for storing the customized list of repair codes in the database of repair codes.

Abstract: A semi-automated method for forming armature coils comprising a plurality of transposed wire pairs includes joining a plurality of pairs of wires having offset segments along their lengths, insulating each of the transposed pairs of wires, assembling the plurality of the insulated transposed pairs of wires with the transpositions being staggered to create a pack, and forming the pack into an armature coil in an automated coil forming machine by bending the pack in two planes. The joining of the plurality of pairs of wires having the offset segments along their lengths is effectuated at a transposition point. Each pair of wires has a transposition at a unique point relative to others of the plurality of the pairs of wires forming the coils.

Abstract: A system for detecting conditions indicative of substandard performance of cylinders in a diesel engine includes an engine control unit disposed in operable communication with the engine and a computer disposed in informational communication with the engine control unit. The engine control unit is in operable communication with the engine through a communication element. The system measures the required fuel with all cylinders operating and enables a recommendation to be made with respect to corrective or maintenance measures that should be undertaken with respect to the cylinder. A method for utilizing the system includes comparing fuel requirements of the engine operating under power of all cylinders and under the successive arrest of each of the cylinders. The process is repeated until each cylinder is individually removed and all of the data can be compiled and considered to determine the performance of each individual cylinder.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for detecting a potentially locked axle on a vehicle propelled by an AC motor. The method includes conducting a speed test by estimating axle speed and comparing estimated axle speed to measured vehicle speed. The existence of a potential locked axle condition is determined based on the comparing of estimated axle speed to measured vehicle speed. Additional tests are disclosed for determining a potential locked axle condition and a sensor fault condition.

Abstract: A transponder-based distributed power train control system using a plurality of transponders located between the track rails or along the track wayside for setting the control functions, for example the brake or throttle controls of the remote power units in a train. Each remote power unit includes a transponder reader and the transponder return signal provides a pointer into a look-up table. The look-up table value represents the control setting for the remote power unit for the read transponder.