Patents Assigned to PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC.
  • Publication number: 20200182137
    Abstract: A turbocharger variable speed control mechanism for a turbocharger for an engine includes a sun gear of a planetary gear set coupled to a turbocharger shaft, a planet carrier operatively connected to an engine output shaft of the engine, a brake disk coupled to and rotatable with a ring gear, and a brake actuator mechanism proximate the brake disk and mounted to a turbocharger housing. The brake actuator mechanism is selectively actuatable between a non-braking state where no braking force is applied to the brake disk so that the ring gear is free to rotate relative to the turbocharger housing, and a full braking state where a full braking force is applied to the brake disk such that the ring gear is held stationary relative to the turbocharger housing and rotation of the planet carrier is transmitted through the planetary gear set to cause rotation of the turbocharger shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Carr, Gary R. Svihla
  • Publication number: 20200173342
    Abstract: A jacket cooling system for an engine of a locomotive is disclosed. The jacket cooling system may comprise a jacket coolant pump driven by a crankshaft of the engine. The jacket cooling system may further comprise a coolant jacket associated with one or more components of the engine, and a delivery conduit in fluid communication with the outlet of the jacket coolant pump and configured to deliver a coolant from the jacket coolant pump to the coolant jacket. The jacket cooling system may further comprise a bypass circuit configured to divert the coolant away from the delivery conduit and the engine, and an electronically-controlled bypass valve in the bypass circuit. The bypass valve may allow at least some of the coolant to flow through the bypass circuit when a valve position of the bypass valve is at least partially open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Reddy Pocha Siva Sankara, Mathias Klemp, Vijaya Kumar, Michael B. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 10662862
    Abstract: A cooling system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine. The cooling system may include a first cooling circuit having a first coolant that flows through cooling channels of an engine, and a second cooling circuit having a second coolant that flows through a charge air cooling component. The cooling system may further include a drain line adapted for fluid communication with the first and second cooling circuits. A first temperature responsive valve disposed on the second cooling circuit may be included, the first temperature responsive valve configured to open to allow mixing of the first and second coolants when the temperature of the second coolant is at a preselected minimum temperature. Also included may be a second temperature responsive valve disposed on the drain line and configured to open to drain both cooling circuits when the temperature of the first and second coolants is at a preselected minimum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Sudarshan Loya, Reddy Pocha Siva Sankara, Xiao Fu, Vijaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 10648392
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc
    Inventors: Ajay Patel, Deep Bandyopadhyay, Thean Mani Rajan Kanagaraj, Raghavendra Tantry
  • Publication number: 20200102880
    Abstract: A cooling system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine. The cooling system may include a first cooling circuit having a first coolant that flows through cooling channels of an engine, and a second cooling circuit having a second coolant that flows through a charge air cooling component. The cooling system may further include a drain line adapted for fluid communication with the first and second cooling circuits. A first temperature responsive valve disposed on the second cooling circuit may be included, the first temperature responsive valve configured to open to allow mixing of the first and second coolants when the temperature of the second coolant is at a preselected minimum temperature. Also included may be a second temperature responsive valve disposed on the drain line and configured to open to drain both cooling circuits when the temperature of the first and second coolants is at a preselected minimum temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Sudarshan Loya, Reddy Pocha Siva Sankara, Xiao Fu, Vijaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 10597054
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Arndt, Mark J. Bartonek
  • Publication number: 20200039613
    Abstract: A fuel tender for providing fuel to an internal combustion engine of a marine vessel may include a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a truss structure connecting the first pontoon to the second pontoon with the first pontoon being separated from the second pontoon by a pontoon separation distance that is greater than a vessel width of the marine vessel so that the first pontoon and the second pontoon can straddle a vessel stern of the marine vessel with the truss structure disposed above a stern deck of the marine vessel. A fuel reservoir may be mounted on the truss structure and have a fuel supply line extending therefrom, with the fuel supply line being fluidly connectable to a fuel inlet port for the internal combustion engine when the first pontoon and the second pontoon straddle the vessel stern of the marine vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Christopher Kulaga, Gerald Robert West
  • Patent number: 10526929
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Adarsh Gopinathan Nair, Laura E. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10526986
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of an engine system includes determining a first EGR command according to a first method during a steady state engine condition, determining a second EGR command according to a second method during a transient engine condition, wherein the first method is based at least in part on values from a NOx sensor, and the second method is not based on values from a NOx sensor. The method further includes adjusting an EGR valve of the EGR system based on the first EGR command during the steady state engine condition, and adjusting the EGR valve based on the second EGR command during the transient engine condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Reddy P. S. Sankara, Steven D. Johnson, Liangtao Zhu, Michael B. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 10508595
    Abstract: An energy recovery system for an engine system is disclosed. The engine system includes an engine, an exhaust conduit configured to receive exhaust gases discharged from the engine, and a first turbocharger coupled to the exhaust conduit to receive exhaust gases from the engine and provides compressed air to the engine. The energy recovery system includes a bypass conduit, a second turbocharger, and an accumulator. The bypass conduit is coupled to the exhaust conduit upstream of the first turbocharger, and facilitates a portion of exhaust gases from the exhaust conduit to bypass the first turbocharger. The second turbocharger is coupled to the bypass conduit, and is driven by the portion of exhaust gases bypassing the first turbocharger to compress air received from an ambient to a first pressure. The accumulator is in fluid communication with the second turbocharger, and stores air received from the second turbocharger at the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Reddy Pocha Siva Sankara, Sudarshan Loya, Keith Moravec, Michael B. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 10501095
    Abstract: A power system for a locomotive includes a dynamic brake (DB) grid, at least one chopper circuit, and a controller. The locomotive includes at least one traction motor to power one or more loads during a braking of the locomotive. The DB grid includes at least one resistor bank and is configured to dissipate at least a portion of the power generated by the traction motor. The chopper circuit includes a three-phase inverter module, and selectively disables an electrical communication between the resistor bank and the traction motor. The controller is coupled to the chopper circuit and the loads. The controller determines a magnitude of the loads, and controls the chopper circuit to disable an electrical communication between the resistor bank and the traction motor for a predetermined duration to control a portion of the power dissipated by the DB grid to meet the magnitude of the loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventor: Madan M. Jalla
  • Publication number: 20190368436
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of an engine system includes determining a first EGR command according to a first method during a steady state engine condition, determining a second EGR command according to a second method during a transient engine condition, wherein the first method is based at least in part on values from a NOx sensor, and the second method is not based on values from a NOx sensor. The method further includes adjusting an EGR valve of the EGR system based on the first EGR command during the steady state engine condition, and adjusting the EGR valve based on the second EGR command during the transient engine condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Reddy P.S. SANKARA, Steven D. JOHNSON, Liangtao ZHU, Michael B. GOETZKE
  • Publication number: 20190339164
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising: initiating a diagnostic test of the engine, disabling a cylinder of the engine, measuring a parameter indicative of performance of the engine, re-enabling the cylinder, comparing the parameter to reference data, assessing a status of the cylinder based on the comparison, and generating a diagnostic result based on the status of the disabled cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Kupiec, Dennis J. Melas
  • Patent number: 10464578
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Saket Ashokkumar Mishra, Xiaoying Ma, Kevin Lucas Kohler
  • Publication number: 20190331066
    Abstract: An EGR cooler may include an EGR cooler housing having top, bottom and side walls, inlet and outlet end walls disposed at opposite ends, and a longitudinal axis extending in a direction of exhaust gas flow from the inlet end to the outlet end. A plurality of cooling tubes extend through the EGR cooler between the top and bottom walls, and are arranged in a cooling tube array to form an exhaust gas receiving area at an upstream side of the cooling tube array proximate the inlet end wall so that exhaust gas flowing into the EGR cooler through an exhaust gas inlet opening will flow into the exhaust gas receiving area and then disperse through the cooling tube array. A pitch distance between the cooling tubes may be greater proximate the longitudinal axis than proximate the side walls to promote flow through, instead of around, the cooling tube array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Sudarshan Kedarnath Loya, Steven D. Johnson, Vijaya Kumar, Laura Elise Rasmussen, Adarsh Gopinathan Nair, Michael B. Goetzke
  • Patent number: 10422278
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a pressure sensor associated with an engine system includes a one-way valve having an inlet side and an outlet side. The outlet side is in selective fluid communication with an inlet of the pressure sensor. The cleaning device also includes a compressed air source in selective fluid communication with the one-way valve. The cleaning device further includes a control module communicably coupled to each of the pressure sensor, the one-way valve, and the compressed air source. The control module is configured to control an operation of the one-way valve and the compressed air source to impart at least one of a long burst of modulated air and a short burst of modulated air on the inlet of the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Marroquin, Jaldeep Niranjan Kansara, Arvindkumar Makasana
  • Patent number: 10421472
    Abstract: A visual diagnostic system for a railroad network is disclosed. The visual diagnostic system may have a sensor associated with a train asset in the railroad network and configured to generate a signal indicative of an operational status of the train asset, and a user interface associated with the train asset. The visual diagnostic system may also have a controller in communication with the sensor and the user interface. The controller may be configured to display on the user interface a graphical representation of the train asset in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Shubs, James David Seaton, David Matthew Roenspies
  • Patent number: 10415498
    Abstract: A coolant outlet system for a cylinder head associated with an engine includes a core hole communicating with an upper surface thereof, wherein the core hole is in fluid communication with a coolant jacket of the cylinder head. The coolant outlet system includes an outlet tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the outlet tube is coupled to the core hole. The coolant outlet system also includes a jumper elbow coupled to the second end of the outlet tube, wherein the outlet tube and the jumper elbow provide fluid communication between the coolant jacket and an engine crankcase to introduce coolant discharged from the core hole into the engine crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Funk, Frank Kalemba, Patricia A. McWade
  • Publication number: 20190279438
    Abstract: A method for generating instructions for servicing a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving fault data related to a fault of the vehicle to a database, wherein the fault data is generated by a diagnostic system of the vehicle, and wherein the database comprises technical information of at least a portion of the vehicle and information related to one or more faults of the vehicle; sending, to a mobile device, solution data addressing the fault, wherein the solution data identifies a defective part in the vehicle; receiving an image of an object associated with the vehicle, wherein the image is captured by an image sensor on the mobile device; determining a location of the mobile device in a three-dimensional model of the vehicle based on the image; sending computer-executable programing instructions on performing an augmented reality procedure for displaying, on the mobile device, a route from the mobile device to the defective part, and instructions on servicing the defective part; after the defective part
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Scott SWENSON, Eric REMBOLDT
  • Patent number: 10371101
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh R. Malhotra