Abstract: A coupling mechanism for a sealing structure having interacting seals in non-parallel planes includes a male portion of a mechanical joint and a female portion of the mechanical joint. The male portion is coupled with a first sealing member contained in a first plane. The female portion is coupled with a second sealing member which is contained in a second plane. The second plane is different from the first plane. The male portion and the female portion of the mechanical joint are configured to mate for coupling the first sealing member with the second sealing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing installation of a network equipment onboard a locomotive of a consist is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing and a test network equipment is disposed within the housing. The test network equipment includes a first port to connect with an output port of the locomotive via a Multiple Unit (MU) cable. The apparatus includes a user interface to connect with a second port of the test network equipment. The test network equipment establishes a communication with the user interface based on a predefined attribute of the user interface. Upon establishing the communication between the test network equipment and the user interface, the user interface is configured to identify the network equipment, establish one or more communication routes with the network equipment, and determine a status of installation of the network equipment onboard the locomotive using the one or more communication routes.

Abstract: A pumping system is disclosed for use in pressurizing a cryogenic fluid. The pumping system has a motor, an arm reciprocated by the motor, and a reciprocating pump configured to be submerged in a liquid. The pump includes a piston. The pumping system also has a rod mechanically coupled to the piston and a magnetic coupling configured to reciprocate the rod in response to the reciprocation of the arm. The magnetic coupling includes an outer magnetic portion associated with the arm and an inner magnetic portion associated with the rod.

Abstract: A fully submergible dual-action cryogenic pump has a housing configured to receive a liquid into the interior compartment when submerged in the liquid. The housing includes an interior compartment having an inner peripheral surface, a first end, and a second end. A free piston having a first end, a second end, and an outer peripheral surface is contained within the interior compartment. A first compression chamber is formed between the first end of the free piston and the first end of the interior compartment. A second compression chamber is formed between the second end of the free piston and the second end of the interior compartment. An electromagnetic drive is configured to reciprocate the free piston. A sealing area is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the free piston sealing with the inner peripheral surface of the interior compartment.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting components of a moving train having a locomotive and a plurality of rail cars is disclosed. An inspection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be deployed from the locomotive or one of the rail cars of the train, and the inspection UAV may fly to an initial inspection position relative to the moving train. The inspection UAV performs an inspection function on components of the moving train via inspection equipment mounted on the inspection UAV and starting at the initial inspection position. The inspection UAV then returns to the locomotive and the rail car after the inspection of the components of the moving train is complete.

Abstract: A liquid-gas separation unit of a dual-fuel engine is provided. The liquid-gas separation unit includes an exhaust conduit and a separator mounted on the exhaust conduit. The exhaust conduit has a first end and a second end distal to the first end. The first end of the exhaust conduit is coupled to a gaseous fuel supply conduit of the dual-fuel engine for receiving a leaked liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel. The leaked liquid fuel is received from at least one injector of the dual-fuel engine. Further, the separator is adapted to separate the leaked liquid fuel from the gaseous fuel before ejecting the gaseous fuel through the second end of the exhaust conduit.

Abstract: A valve assembly of a fuel supply system includes a first body defining a first bore, an inlet port to receive fuel into the first bore, and an outlet port. The valve assembly further includes a pneumatic chamber disposed in fluid communication with the first bore. The valve assembly further includes a first piston to move between a first position and a second position. The first piston restricts and allows flow of fuel from the inlet port to the outlet port, in the first position and the second position, respectively. The valve assembly further includes a vent passage located upstream of the pneumatic chamber and configured to receive fuel leaked from a flow path defined between the inlet port and the outlet port. The valve assembly also includes a check valve disposed in the vent passage and configured to selectively vent the fuel entering the vent passage.

Abstract: A weight shifting mechanism for a bogie frame is provided. The weight shifting mechanism may include an axle support pivotally coupled to the idler axle, a pusher link pivotally coupled to the axle support and forming a first fulcrum with the bogie frame, a support member pivotally coupled to the pusher link and the axle support, and an actuator mounted on the support member and actuatably coupled to the axle support via a live lever and a connector link. The live lever may form a second fulcrum with the support member and may be pivotally coupled to the connector link. The connector link may be pivotally coupled to the axle support. The actuator may selectively pivot the live lever about the second fulcrum to pivot the axle support about the idler axle and move the bogie frame relative to the idler axle.

Abstract: A rail conditioning system associated with a locomotive is provided. The locomotive operates on a rail. The rail conditioning system includes a fluid supply tank. The rail conditioning system also includes a first nozzle coupled to the locomotive. The first nozzle is adapted to direct a first beam of fluid received from the fluid supply tank towards a first portion of the rail. The rail conditioning system further includes a second nozzle coupled to the locomotive. The second nozzle is adapted to direct a second beam of fluid received from the fluid supply tank towards a second portion of the rail. The rail conditioning system includes a valve element provided in fluid communication with the first and second nozzles. The rail conditioning system further includes a control module in communication with the valve element.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing surge-tolerant power to an appliance is provided. The apparatus includes an input circuit for receiving a source of DC voltage. The apparatus also includes a pass device having a first terminal, a control terminal and a second terminal. Further, the apparatus includes a first means for providing an output voltage based on an input of the pass device. The apparatus also includes a second means for applying a voltage to a control terminal of the pass device based on the output voltage. The voltage is sufficient to put the pass device into a low impedance state between the first terminal and the second terminal thereof.

Abstract: A method for controlling engine operations, is provided herein. The engine includes at least a first bank having a first cylinder and a second cylinder associated with at least a turbocharger or an exhaust gas recirculation system. Each of the first and the second cylinder has a respective intake valve. The method determines an exhaust back pressure for each one of the first and the second cylinder. Further, the method determines an intake mass flow rate for each one of the first and the second cylinder based at least on the determined exhaust back pressure for the respective first and the second cylinder. The method adjusts a time duration of an open position of the respective intake valve for each one of the first and the second cylinder based on the determined intake mass flow rate for the corresponding first and the second cylinder.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid system such as a cryogenic fuel system for an engine includes a storage vessel, and a pumping mechanism with a pump positioned inside the storage vessel to be submerged in fluid stored therein. The system further includes a reciprocable pumping element operated by way of a drive mechanism including a rotatable driving element and a magnetic coupling operably between the rotatable driving element and the reciprocable pumping element.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid system includes a vessel and a pumping system positioned for submerging within cryogenic fluid within the vessel. The pumping system includes an electric drive structured to move a pumping element within a pumping chamber to pump cryogenic fluid out of the vessel. A cooling jacket forms a heat exchange cavity about the electric drive such that heat is rejected externally of the storage vessel.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system in a machine system includes a pumping element, and a drive mechanism for actuating the pumping element. The drive mechanism has an electromagnetic element with a superconducting state at or below a critical temperature. A temperature control jacket and cooling mechanism are provided to pump heat from a heat exchange cavity to cool the drive mechanism to or below a critical temperature less than an ambient temperature in a cryogenic environment.

Abstract: An aftertreatment system for a diesel engine is disclosed. The aftertreatment system may include a first flow conduit configured to convey an exhaust gas stream, and a first diffuser assembly positioned fluidly downstream of the first flow conduit and be configured to increase flow uniformity of the exhaust gas stream. The first diffuser assembly may include a first disperser having a honeycomb structure surrounded by a first outer frame. The first disperser may have a number of cells per square inch defining a first cell density. The aftertreatment system may also include a first selective catalytic reduction cassette positioned fluidly downstream of the first diffuser assembly, and the first selective catalytic reduction cassette may include a selective catalytic reduction catalyst.

Abstract: A valve bridge for a valve system of an engine includes one or more valves and a valve rotator coupled to the valves. The valve bridge includes one or more end portions, a seat formed at the one or more end portions to receive the one or more valves, and an extension portion that extends outwardly from the one or more end portions. The extension portion defines a cavity configured to accommodate the valve rotator, and guide the valve bridge with the valve rotator during each opening and closing of the one or more valves relative to the engine.

Abstract: A valvetrain for an engine includes a pair of valves that are disposed in a spaced apart relation to one another, and in which each of the valves has an elongated valve stem. The valvetrain further includes a valve bridge that is coupled to the pair of valves. The valve bridge is configured to define a pair of receptacles to at least partly receive the pair of valve stems therein. The valve bridge further defines a central recess that is located midway between the pair of receptacles and disposed in a co-planar relationship with the pair of receptacles.

Abstract: A control system for remotely configuring a locomotive may include an operational control device located on-board the locomotive, wherein the operational control device may be configured in a run configuration when the locomotive is ready for travel. An on-board controller located on-board the locomotive may be configured to switch the operational control device to the run configuration upon receipt of a configuration command signal. An off-board remote controller interface located remotely from the locomotive may be configured to receive a configuration failure signal, wherein the configuration failure signal may be indicative of the operational control device being in a configuration other than the run configuration. The off-board remote controller interface may selectively send the configuration command signal to the on-board controller to switch the operational control device to the run configuration.

Abstract: A method for operating a consist is disclosed. The consist includes a number of locomotives. The method includes selecting a power setting in a lead locomotive of the consist to generate an overall power request by an input device. Thereafter, a controller determines a power setting in each locomotive based on the overall power request. Next, the controller modulates a power output of one or more locomotives according to a difference between a measure of the overall power request and a measure of a combined power output of all locomotives according to the power setting determined by the controller, such that the combined power output matches the overall power request by keeping the power setting, determined by the controller, of each of the one or more locomotives unchanged.

Abstract: A locomotive is disclosed. The locomotive includes a car body, including an operator cabin, a power source, and an operator health monitor within the operator cabin, the operator health monitor configured to monitor at least one health condition associated with the operator and configured to generate an operator health signal associated with the at least one condition. The locomotive includes an operator warning system within the operator cabin, configured to present the operator with an operator warning in response to an operator warning signal, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller may be configured to determine an operator fatigue score based on, at least, the operator health signal, determine if the operator fatigue score exceeds a warning threshold, and transmit the operator warning signal to the operator warning system if the operator fatigue score exceeds the warning threshold.