Abstract: A locomotive assembly including a legacy locomotive controller and an intercept locomotive controller and a method of controlling a locomotive are disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes a locomotive having a power bus, a primary power unit coupled to the power bus, and a legacy locomotive controller programmed to transmit control signals to the primary power unit. The locomotive assembly further includes an intercept locomotive controller programmed to receive a control signal indicating an requested amount of locomotive power from the legacy locomotive controller, allocate a portion of the requested amount of locomotive power to an auxiliary power unit, and control the auxiliary power unit to deliver the portion of the amount of locomotive power to the power bus.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 10, 2014
Publication date:
September 18, 2014
Applicant:
Bright Energy Storage Technologies, LLP
Inventors:
Jeffrey Orion Pritchard, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Scott Raymond Frazier
Abstract: A locomotive assembly including an auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes a locomotive having a power bus, a primary power source electrically coupled to the power bus, and a locomotive controller programmed to control the primary power source and transmit a first command signal to a power unit that is electrically coupled to the power bus. The power unit includes an auxiliary engine-generator set, a power interface electrically coupling the auxiliary engine-generate set to the power bus, and an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the locomotive controller. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive the command signal from the locomotive controller indicating a desired amount of power, control the auxiliary engine-generator set to produce at least the desired amount of power, and control the power interface to deliver the desired amount of power to the power bus.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 28, 2013
Publication date:
February 20, 2014
Applicant:
Bright Energy Storage Technologies, LLP
Inventors:
Scott Raymond Frazier, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Jeffrey Orion Pritchard
Abstract: A locomotive assembly including an auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes a locomotive having a power bus, a primary power source electrically coupled to the power bus, and a locomotive controller programmed to control the primary power source and transmit a first command signal to a power unit that is electrically coupled to the power bus. The power unit includes an auxiliary engine-generator set, a power interface electrically coupling the auxiliary engine-generate set to the power bus, and an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the locomotive controller. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive the command signal from the locomotive controller indicating a desired amount of power, control the auxiliary engine-generator set to produce at least the desired amount of power, and control the power interface to deliver the desired amount of power to the power bus.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2013
Assignee:
Bright Energy Storage Technologies, LLP
Inventors:
Scott Raymond Frazier, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Jeffrey Orion Pritchard
Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a locomotive assembly having a locomotive and an auxiliary power unit is disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes at least one locomotive having a power bus, a primary engine-generator set electrically coupled to the power bus, and a locomotive controller programmed to control the primary engine-generator set. The locomotive assembly also includes an auxiliary power unit having an auxiliary engine-generator set electrically coupled to a locomotive power bus, and a first auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive a command signal from the locomotive controller indicating a desired amount of power, and control the auxiliary engine-generator set of the auxiliary power unit to produce the desired amount of power.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
September 19, 2013
Applicant:
BRIGHT ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, LLP
Inventors:
Scott Raymond Frazier, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Jeffrey Orion Pritchard
Abstract: A locomotive assembly including an auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes a locomotive having a power bus, a primary power source electrically coupled to the power bus, and a locomotive controller programmed to control the primary power source and transmit a first command signal to a power unit that is electrically coupled to the power bus. The power unit includes an auxiliary engine-generator set, a power interface electrically coupling the auxiliary engine-generate set to the power bus, and an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the locomotive controller. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive the command signal from the locomotive controller indicating a desired amount of power, control the auxiliary engine-generator set to produce at least the desired amount of power, and control the power interface to deliver the desired amount of power to the power bus.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
September 19, 2013
Applicant:
BRIGHT ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, LLP
Inventors:
Scott Raymond Frazier, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Jeffrey Orion Pritchard
Abstract: An auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The auxiliary power unit assembly for a locomotive includes an auxiliary power unit removably coupleable to a rail car chassis. The auxiliary power unit includes a housing, and an auxiliary engine-generator set positioned within the housing. The auxiliary engine-generator set is configured to provide an auxiliary power to the locomotive. The auxiliary power unit also includes an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the auxiliary engine-generator set. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive a command and control at least one aspect of the auxiliary power unit in response to the command.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
September 19, 2013
Applicant:
BRIGHT ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, LLP
Inventors:
Scott Raymond Frazier, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Jeffrey Orion Pritchard
Abstract: A fuel assembly and a method of providing fuel is disclosed. The fuel assembly includes a frame, a first fuel storage tank sized to fit within the frame and configured to store one of a liquid and a gaseous fuel, and a fuel control assembly configured to regulate delivery of the gaseous fuel to an external power unit. The fuel control assembly includes a first fuel assembly memory module having stored thereon identifying information of the interchangeable fuel assembly.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
September 19, 2013
Applicant:
BRIGHT ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, LLP
Inventors:
Scott Raymond Frazier, Kevin Pykkonen, Karl Ginter, Jeffrey Orion Pritchard