Patents Assigned to PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC.
  • 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 10359112
    Abstract: A piston ring set for internal combustion (IC) engine is provided. The IC engine includes a cylinder having a liner and a finish on the liner. A piston having a crown and a set of grooves is disposed in the cylinder. A set of piston rings is disposed in the set of grooves. The piston rings are disposed in order from closest to the crown and include at least a first compression ring having free ends defining a first end gap, a second compression ring having free ends defining a second end gap. A nominal value of the first end gap of the first compression ring is greater than a nominal value of the second end gap of the second compression ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Graczyk, Farhan F. Devani, Edward J. Cryer, III
  • Patent number: 10358783
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Klima
  • Patent number: 10358148
    Abstract: A method of reducing vapor generation in an LNG fueled vehicle is provided. The LNG fueled vehicle includes an LNG fuel system including an external LNG pump. The method includes a step of predicting if the LNG fueled vehicle will be operated during a first forthcoming time period using a controller. If the LNG fueled vehicle will be operated during the first forthcoming time period, as determined by the first predicting step, the method includes cooling the external LNG pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Gamache Foege, Walter Henry Klaric
  • Patent number: 10323549
    Abstract: A rocker arm may comprise a body defining a pivot aperture and include a pad spaced away from the pivot aperture a predetermined distance. The pad may include a peripheral surface and a top surface that defines a blind aperture, forming an intersection therewith, and the top surface may include a plurality of aligning features disposed around the blind aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Luciano
  • Patent number: 10326686
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Fanara, Douglas G. Lihosit, John M. Handy, Wayne A. Rudolph