Abstract: Provided is a cab isolation system for a locomotive is provided including a cab having a front and a rear. The cab isolation system further includes a pivot located generally near the rear of the cab and at least one spring generally located near the front of the cab. In another embodiment, dampers may further be provided and generally located near the front of the cab. In another embodiment, lateral links may further be provided and generally located near the front of the cab. This system may include any of the above elements, alone or in combination, to provide for a cab isolation system for isolating a locomotive cab from engine generated structure borne noise and vibration, while lower frequency track induced motions are not magnified.

Abstract: A technique for downloading data from a processor unit, such as an inverter control computer associated with a locomotive control system. When the software for the inverter control computer is originally built, a programmer assigns an ID number to all of the possible instrumentation signals that can be downloaded from the inverter control computer. From the complete list of the instrumentation signals, the programmer defines a default set of the instrumentation signals that are downloaded. If a user wishes to change the instrumentation signals that can be downloaded, then the user provides a command signal to the inverter control computer that changes the set of ID numbers of the instrumentation signals to be downloaded.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for an emissions-based EMD 710 locomotive dieselengine. The fuel injector assembly includes a needle slidably positioned within a bore of a valve body of the injector assembly, where fuel pressure introduced into a bore chamber causes the needle to open a spray tip. A spring mounted within the bore forces the needle to close the spray tip when the fuel is not being applied. The spring is a dead coil spring including inactive coils where at least portions of the coils at both ends of the spring are in intimate contact with each other so as to reduce spring wear during operation of the assembly. Because the dead coil spring has reduced wear, the VOP set point of the fuel injector assembly can be reduced, which reduces NOx emissions.

Abstract: A large-bore (at least 180 mm diameter) diesel engine cylinder configuration featuring a piston crown bowl having an acute re-entrant angle and, optionally, an anti-polish ring. The acute re-entrant angle crown bowl involves a maximum radius of the crown bowl exceeding a minimum crown bowl radius, wherein the maximum crown bowl radius is located farther from the squish face than is the minimum crown bowl radius. The acute re-entrant angle crown bowl applied to large-bore, medium-speed diesel engines yields an improvement in performance and emissions characteristics. The anti-polish ring may be integrally formed with the cylinder liner and used in any internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An optimized two-stroke internal combustion diesel engine, suitable for locomotive applications, has been developed to meet the EPA locomotive Tier 2 emission standards. To achieve a low emission target below the EPA Tier 2 standards for NOx (5.5 g/bhp-hr) and particulates (0.2 g/bhp-hr), several innovative changes have been made to the engine. These changes include: a new piston bowl geometry; low oil consumption piston rings; optimized surface finish cylinder liner; optimized fuel injection camlobe; modified fuel injector nozzle; new efficient aftercooler; optimized oil separator; and optimized turbocharger.

Abstract: A diesel locomotive engine having a piston with a unique bowl geometry. The bowl is defined in part by a center portion having a partial spherical shape. A cone portion (22) is located adjacent the central portion. An annular toroidal surface (24) is connected to the cone portion (22) and is defined by a toroidal major diameter (Dtm) and a toroidal minor radius (Rtm). A crown rim (26) is connected to the annular toroidal surface (24) and to an upper flat rim face of a sidewall.

Abstract: A charge air cooler is composed of a framed heat exchange core which is sealably attached in a selectively removable manner with any suitably shaped inlet and outlet ducts, and is, at the other sides thereof provided with cover panels which collectively necessitate that all of the hot charge air coming from the turbocharger pass entirely through the heat exchange core. In this regard, the heat exchange core is provided with a pair of opposingly disposed mounting frames, each of which being connected sealably to a commensurately sized and configured mounting flange of an inlet duct or an outlet duct.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of a locomotive diesel engine turbocharger turbine stage so as to avoid harmonic vibration in the turbine blades when the engine is operated at pre-selected throttle settings. Upon determining throttle settings for the engine and modeling of the turbocharger therefor, at least one natural vibration frequency of the turbine blades and a turbine nozzle vane excitation frequency as a function of turbocharger rotation speed are determined. Then the data obtained is analyzed to ascertain whether at least one data coincidence, that is whether a rotation speed correlative of a throttle setting has a coincidence over a predetermined range of both a natural frequency and said turbine vane nozzle excitation. If not, the model is suitable for fabrication of the turbocharger; if so, the model is modified by changing blade stiffness and/or vane numbering until no data coincidences are present.

Abstract: Selective laser and induction hardening are applied to areas of a water jacketed engine cylinder liner to provide improved resistance to scuffing resulting from the rubbing contact of the walls and piston rings of an associated piston. An upper bore portion and port relief areas of the liner are fully induction hardened to improve wear resistance. The port area is then fully laser hardened to improve wear resistance. If desired, the laser hardening process may continue beyond the intake port area to the port relief areas to ensure full hardening of the port relief areas and continuous hardening between the intake ports and the port relief areas to improve wear resistance.

Abstract: An improvement to a diesel engine cylinder head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,700, wherein the improvement comprises any of: a by-pass opening formed in partition walls thereof; a spine density of less than about five spines per square inch; spacing an inner chamber wall surface thereof with respect to an inner fire-face wall surface thereof between about 0.75 inches and 0.25 inches; coolant by-pass ports thereof having a cross-section of between about 0.1875 inches and 0.0625 inches; and a radial rib thereof extending complete and free of any rib opening.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel injection system which allows electronic control over the injection processes, wherein selective rate shaping and multiplicity of injections is possible. The hybrid fuel injection system consists of an add-on common rail system (CRS) which provides supplemental fuel injections with respect to the main fuel injections provided by a unit pump system (UPS). Additionally, the CRS can serve to provide fuel injections as necessary to effect a “limp-home” mode of engine operation in the event of a failure of the UPS. Both the CRS and the UPS use common fuel supply, return, injector, and electronic controller.

Abstract: An engine charge air-cooling system with water fumigation for an internal combustion engine includes a charge air cooler having a housing, a heat exchanger core, an air inlet and an air outlet. The charge air cooler inlet is connected to an outlet of a compressed air source, such as a turbocharger, through a cooler intake header. The charge air cooler outlet is connected through a cooler outlet header to cylinder intake ports of the engine. The cooler intake header is adapted to receive water in a passage below the cooler inlet. Hot, compressed charge air entering the charge air cooler through the intake header mixes with water vapor formed in the header, thereby humidifying the charge air that enters the cylinders from the charge air cooler. The high, energy absorbing capability of the water molecule reduces the peak combustion temperature, thereby reducing NOx production in the combustion reaction.

Abstract: A cooling system including an intake air cooling subsystem and a liquid cooling subsystem for controlling intake air temperatures in a supercharged internal combustion diesel locomotive engine. The intake air cooling subsystem includes an air-to-water aftercooler and an air-to-air aftercooler having intake air sides connected to receive intake air flow in series between a supercharger and an engine. The liquid cooling subsystem includes at least one liquid cooling loop having a pump, a radiator and a water coolant side of the air-to-water aftercooler. At least one shared fan circulates air flow to the cooling air sides of the air-to-air aftercooler and the radiator. An optional air distribution control selectively directs circulated air flow between the air-to-air aftercooler, the radiator and other optional components of the cooling system.

Abstract: A layover heating system (89) for a locomotive is provided. The layover heating system (89) is adapted to be used in conjunction with a conventional locomotive cooling systems. The layover heating system (89) includes a water tank and pump (90). A layover heater (92) heats fluid in the layover heating system (89). An orifice (98) is provided to control the flow Of fluid in the layover system (89) to generally balance the pressure on either side of the locomotive radiator. In this manner, fluid flow through the radiator is minimized, minimizing heat loss at the radiator. A variable orifice may be used that is adjustable in response to a signal generated from pressure sensors on each side of the radiator and processed by a central processing unit.

Abstract: A diesel locomotive engine having a piston with a unique bowl geometry. The bowl is defined in part by a center portion having a partial spherical shape. A cone portion (22) is located adjacent the central portion. An annular toroidal surface (24) is connected to the cone portion (22) and is defined by a toroidal major diameter (Dtm) and a toroidal minor radius (Rtm). A crown rim (26) is connected to the annular toroidal surface (24) and to an upper flat rim face of a sidewall.

Abstract: An optimized engine charge air-cooling system for an internal combustion engine includes a charge air cooler side mounted along an outboard side of each engine cylinder bank of the engine. The charge air coolers extend the full length of the cylinder banks. The charge air coolers each include a housing, a core, an air inlet and an air outlet. The charge air cooler inlets are connected to an outlet of a compressed air source, such as a turbocharger, through cooler intake headers. The charge air cooler outlets are connected through cooler outlet headers to cylinder intake ports of cylinders in the cylinder banks. The design of the charge air-cooling system allows for highly effective cooling of charge air with a corresponding small drop in charge air pressure. These features combine to achieve the result of decreased engine nitrogen oxides (NOx) production and increased engine fuel economy.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes an annular inlet air recirculation channel having a smoothly variable cross section extending from a first slot at a forward end of the channel adjacent an inlet member to a second slot at a rearward end of the channel beyond an inlet end of a vaned compressor impeller. The channel is formed between an aerodynamic channel ring supported in a smooth annular recess formed in a compressor housing and the separate inlet member. The ring may be mounted by radial struts connected with the housing and located in an area of low momentum air flow. The channel ring and the channel recess may be machined or otherwise formed with smoothly variable surfaces prior to assembly of the ring into the housing. The channel may have a smoothly diminishing annular cross section for aerodynamically efficient air flow.

Abstract: An engine cooling system includes a centrifugal coolant pump and a cavitation suppressor in the system upstream of the pump inlet. The suppressor increases pressure in the pump inlet by a converging nozzle that accelerates a jet of coolant at the location of the static head and converting kinetic energy of the jet to increased pressure in a diffuser. In an exemplary embodiment, the suppressor is formed of simple components made from available materials and preferably welded into an assembly. A machined nozzle with a diffuser and head pipe made from available steel pipe comprise the main components of the exemplary cavitation suppressor.