Patents by Inventor Bruce Wolff

Bruce Wolff 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: 7944081
    Abstract: Control modes for operating multiple power sources include energy storage systems and applicable to large systems such as locomotives. Selectable operating modes are provided for different locomotive speed ranges and work loads. A common DC bus electrical architecture is used so that prime power sources need not be synchronized. Multiple-engine locomotives have the engine systems that may be electrically connected in parallel or in series or in combinations of parallel and series to a DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Railpower, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, John David Watson, Bruce Wolff
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100106343
    Abstract: Control modes for operating multiple power sources include energy storage systems and applicable to large systems such as locomotives. Selectable operating modes are provided for different locomotive speed ranges and work loads. A common DC bus electrical architecture is used so that prime power sources need not be synchronized. Multiple-engine locomotives have the engine systems that may be electrically connected in parallel or in series or in combinations of parallel and series to a DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, John David Watson, Bruce Wolff
  • Patent number: 7667347
    Abstract: Control modes for operating multiple power sources include energy storage systems and applicable to large systems such as locomotives. Selectable operating modes are provided for different locomotive speed ranges and work loads. A common DC bus electrical architecture is used so that prime power sources need not be synchronized. Multiple-engine locomotives have the engine systems that may be electrically connected in parallel or in series or in combinations of parallel and series to a DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Railpower, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, John David Watson, Bruce Wolff
  • Patent number: 7565867
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-engine locomotive includes at least one converter to convert mechanical energy outputted by the engines to Direct Current (DC) electrical energy, a traction motor, and a DC bus connected to the engines, converter, and traction motor. The engines are configured to provide a power-per-length and/or power density that is greater than the power-per-length and/or power density of a single-engine locomotive having a power rating approximately the same as the cumulative power rating of the engines in the multi-engine locomotive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, Bruce Wolff
  • 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
  • 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: 20080246338
    Abstract: Control modes for operating multiple power sources include energy storage systems and applicable to large systems such as locomotives. Selectable operating modes are provided for different locomotive speed ranges and work loads. A common DC bus electrical architecture is used so that prime power sources need not be synchronized. Multiple-engine locomotives have the engine systems that may be electrically connected in parallel or in series or in combinations of parallel and series to a DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: RAILPOWER Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, John David Watson, Bruce Wolff
  • 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: 20060091832
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-engine locomotive includes at least one converter to convert mechanical energy outputted by the engines to Direct Current (DC) electrical energy, a traction motor, and a DC bus connected to the engines, converter, and traction motor. The engines are configured to provide a power-per-length and/or power density that is greater than the power-per-length and/or power density of a single-engine locomotive having a power rating approximately the same as the cumulative power rating of the engines in the multi-engine locomotive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Bruce Wolff
  • Patent number: D735876
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce Wolff