Abstract: A system for monitoring a useful life of an insulation component of a braking resistor includes a sensor that can be embedded below an outer surface of the insulation component to measure a temperature of the insulation component; and a controller connected to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the measured temperature of the insulation component, and programmed to compare the measured temperature of the insulation component to a predetermined threshold activation temperature for the insulation component, decrement from a predetermined useful life value for the insulation component a life depreciation value assigned to the measured temperature to determine a remaining life value of the insulation component if the measured temperature of the insulation component is greater than the threshold activation temperature, compare the remaining life value to an end-of-life value for the insulation component, and generate a warning signal if the remaining life value is at or below the end-of-life value.

Abstract: A cooling fan vane assembly for a resistor grid may include a duct having a substantially round inlet opening, a substantially rectangular outlet opening, and a side wall extending between the inlet opening and the outlet opening shaped to transition from a substantially round shape to a substantially rectangular shape; the inlet opening including a plurality of radially extending turning vanes; and a frustoconical vane positioned in the duct adjacent a downstream side of the plurality of radially extending vanes.

Abstract: A braking grid cooling system may include a fan having a hub supporting a rotor and at least partially enclosing a stator, and a plurality of fan blades connected to and projecting radially from the hub; and a dynamic braking grid receiving the fan in a nested relation such that a combined height of the grid and the fan is less than a sum of a height of the grid and a height of the fan.

Abstract: A cooling fan vane assembly for a resistor grid may include a duct having a substantially round inlet opening, a substantially rectangular outlet opening, and a side wall extending between the inlet opening and the outlet opening shaped to transition from a substantially round shape to a substantially rectangular shape; the inlet opening including a plurality of radially extending turning vanes; and a frustoconical vane positioned in the duct adjacent a downstream side of the plurality of radially extending vanes.

Abstract: A braking grid cooling system may include a fan having a hub supporting a rotor and at least partially enclosing a stator, and a plurality of fan blades connected to and projecting radially from the hub; and a dynamic braking grid receiving the fan in a nested relation such that a combined height of the grid and the fan is less than a sum of a height of the grid and a height of the fan.