Abstract: The electrode plate for use in an electrochemical battery is made of a casting; a planar portion; a perimeter and a bus bar extending along a portion of that perimeter. The planar portion and the bus bar are integral parts of the aforesaid casting. The electrode plate is made of lead when used in a lead-acid battery or of other electrode material capable of being formed by casting, when used in other types of batteries. More specifically, the electrode plate has a rectangular shape and a higher-current-density side, and the aforesaid bus bar extends over three adjacent sides of the rectangular shape including the higher-current-density side.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems for prolonging battery life, such as maintaining battery cell temperatures in battery packs within specified limits, providing vibration and shock resistance, and/or electrically isolating groups of batteries from nearby conductive surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a locomotive comprising energy storage units, such as batteries, a prime energy source, such as a diesel engine, and an energy conversion device, such as a generator. The locomotive comprises one or more of the following features: a separate chopper circuit for each traction motor; energy storage units that can be switched from parallel to series electrical connections, an fluid-activated anti-lock brake system, a controller operable to control separately and independently each axle/traction motor, and a controller operable to control automatically a speed of the locomotive. The present invention includes an integrated system for monitoring, controlling and optimizing an electrically powered locomotive using a combination of sensors and software to provide feedback that optimizes power train efficiency and individual drive axle performance for a locomotive that utilizes one of several possible electrical energy storage systems to provide the tractive power.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the termination of the occurrence of wheel slip/skid and prediction and prevention of the onset of wheel slip/skid in a locomotive. In one configuration, a lookup table of adhesion factors is used to predict the occurrence of wheel slip/skid.