Patents by Inventor Andrew Tarnow

Andrew Tarnow has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7906862
    Abstract: A control strategy for operating a plurality of prime power sources during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. It is directed at a general control strategy for multi-engine systems where the power systems need not be of the same type or power rating and may even use different fuels. It is based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Railpower, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow, Bruce Wolff, John Watson
  • Patent number: 7518254
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control strategy for operating a plurality of prime power sources during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. The present invention is directed at a general control strategy for multi power plant systems where the power systems need not be of the same type or power rating and may even use different fuels. The invention is based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Railpower Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow, Bruce Wolff, John D. Watson
  • Patent number: 7514807
    Abstract: A circuit for boosting the voltage output of an alternator utilizes the armature coils of the alternator as part of the boost circuit. The circuit and methods utilizing this circuit can enable refined control strategies for operating a plurality of engine systems during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Railpower Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow
  • Publication number: 20080296970
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control strategy for operating a plurality of prune power sources (101-1 to 101-3) during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations The present invention is directed at a general control strategy for a multi-engine systems (101-1, 101-2) where the power systems need not be of the same type or power rating and may even use different fuels The invention is based on a common DC bus (103) electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: RAILPOWER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow, Bruce Wolff, John Watson
  • Publication number: 20080051967
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining a true acceleration and velocity of a locomotive and for controlling wheel slip and wheel skid of the locomotive is disclosed. The system, using accelerometers, can control the velocity of the wheels of the locomotive based on the comparison between a true locomotive velocity signal and a wheel velocity signal such that an actual tangential speed of the wheels is regulated to correspond to the true locomotive longitudinal velocity plus an allowance velocity for creepage. The accelerometer can also be used at the same time for impact detection purposes. Furthermore, if a set of accelerometers are used, the locomotive can also play a diagnostic role for track quality reporting in rail yards. The control of wheel slip and wheel is particularly useful in DC locomotive applications with individual axle control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: RAILPOWER Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew Tarnow, Serge Mai
  • Patent number: 7309929
    Abstract: A system and method of starting or restarting an engine on a locomotive having at least one of another engine, a fuel cell system and an energy storage system. The method is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. The method is directed, in part, at a flexible control strategy for a multi-engine systems based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Railpower Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow
  • Publication number: 20060266256
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control strategy for operating a plurality of prime power sources during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. The present invention is directed at a general control strategy for multi power plant systems where the power systems need not be of the same type or power rating and may even use different fuels. The invention is based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: Railpower Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow, Bruce Wolff, John Watson
  • Publication number: 20060266255
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a to a means of starting or restarting an engine on a locomotive having at least one of another engine, a fuel cell system and an energy storage system. The method is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. The present invention is directed, in part, at a flexible control strategy for a multi-engine systems based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: Railpower Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow
  • Publication number: 20060266044
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a means of boosting the voltage output of an alternator utilizing the armature coils of the alternator as part of the boost circuit. This invention can enable refined control strategies for operating a plurality of engine systems during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow
  • Publication number: 20060076171
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to regenerative braking methods for a hybrid vehicle such as a hybrid locomotive, which are compatible with optimum management of a large battery pack energy storage system. Four methods for recovering energy from regenerative braking and for transferring this energy to an energy storage systems are disclosed. These methods may also be used with battery operated vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, John Watson, Ronald Bailey, Andrew Tarnow