Abstract: A control system for a machine having an engine, a first alternator, a second alternator, and an aftertreatment system is disclosed. The control system may include a sensor associated with the aftertreatment system and configured to determine a temperature of exhaust passing through the aftertreatment system, and a controller in communication with the sensor and connectable to the first and second alternators. The controller may be configured to determine an available power output of the first alternator, determine a load increase of the engine needed to raise the temperature of the exhaust to an operating temperature of the aftertreatment system, and selectively connect the first alternator to a power consumer to achieve the load increase when the available power output of the first alternator is greater than the load increase.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power contactor from an existing contactor having a magnetic amplifier that comprises a blowout coil and a ferromagnetic core, and an arc chute for extinguishing an arc generated by opening the existing contactor under a current load is disclosed. The method includes removing a bolt assembly from the existing contactor and at least one side plate from the existing contactor. The method also includes removing the ferromagnetic core from the existing contactor.

Abstract: A control system for a machine having an engine, a first alternator, a second alternator, and an aftertreatment system is disclosed. The control system may include a sensor associated with the aftertreatment system and configured to determine a temperature of exhaust passing through the aftertreatment system, and a controller in communication with the sensor and connectable to the first and second alternators. The controller may be configured to determine an available power output of the first alternator, determine a load increase of the engine needed to raise the temperature of the exhaust to an operating temperature of the aftertreatment system, and selectively connect the first alternator to a power consumer to achieve the load increase when the available power output of the first alternator is greater than the load increase.

Abstract: A traction motor drive system may include a plurality of armatures arranged in parallel with each other. The traction motor drive system may also include a plurality of field circuits arranged in series with one another, where each field circuit is associated with a respective one of the armatures. The plurality of field circuits may be arranged in parallel with the plurality of armatures. The traction motor drive system may also include a field isolation system. The field isolation system may include a shunt circuit associated with at least one of the field circuits. The shunt circuit may have a first and second shunt terminal. The field isolation system may also include a first field switch arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits. The first field switch may be configured to switch between the first shunt terminal of the shunt circuit and a first field terminal of at least one of the field circuits.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a traction motor drive system. The traction motor drive system may include a field winding subsystem comprising a field winding associated with a traction motor. The traction motor drive system may also include an armature subsystem arranged in parallel with the field winding subsystem. The armature subsystem may include an armature having first and second armature terminals and a grid resistor selectively electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature subsystem may also include an armature chopper arranged in parallel with the grid resistor and electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature chopper may be configured, when the grid resistor is electrically coupled to the armature, to conditionally conduct current to the armature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power contactor from an existing contactor having a magnetic amplifier that comprises a blowout coil and a ferromagnetic core, and an arc chute for extinguishing an arc generated by opening the existing contactor under a current load is disclosed. The method includes removing a bolt assembly from the existing contactor and at least one side plate from the existing contactor. The method also includes removing the ferromagnetic core from the existing contactor.

Abstract: A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist may include receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, with the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist. The control computer may determine an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist, and the power generating capacity of all power sources that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus. One or more power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist may be activated to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power contactor from an existing contactor having a magnetic amplifier that comprises a blowout coil and a ferromagnetic core, and an arc chute for extinguishing an arc generated by opening the existing contactor under a current load is disclosed. The method includes removing a bolt assembly from the existing contactor and at least one side plate from the existing contactor. The method also includes removing the ferromagnetic core from the existing contactor.

Abstract: A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist may include receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, with the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist. The control computer may determine an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist, and the power generating capacity of all power sources that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus. One or more power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist may be activated to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.

Abstract: A locomotive includes a plurality of axles and a plurality of pairs of wheels, each pair of wheels being connected to one of said axles. The locomotive also includes a plurality of traction motors, each traction motor operably attached to at least one of the axles. The locomotive includes a power system including at least one power module, the power system being configured to provide power to the traction motors. The locomotive includes a controller configured to receive a control signal indicative of a locomotive powering mode and determine a number of power modules operably connected to the power system and, based on the number of power modules operably connected to the power system and the control signal, send a command signal to the power system for operating the power system.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a traction motor drive system. The traction motor drive system may include a field winding subsystem comprising a field winding associated with a traction motor. The traction motor drive system may also include an armature subsystem arranged in parallel with the field winding subsystem. The armature subsystem may include an armature having first and second armature terminals and a grid resistor selectively electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature subsystem may also include an armature chopper arranged in parallel with the grid resistor and electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature chopper may be configured, when the grid resistor is electrically coupled to the armature, to conditionally conduct current to the armature.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a traction motor drive system. The traction motor drive system may include a field winding subsystem comprising a field winding associated with a traction motor. The traction motor drive system may also include an armature subsystem arranged in parallel with the field winding subsystem. The armature subsystem may include an armature having first and second armature terminals and a grid resistor selectively electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature subsystem may also include an armature chopper arranged in parallel with the grid resistor and electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature chopper may be configured, when the grid resistor is electrically coupled to the armature, to conditionally conduct current to the armature.

Abstract: A traction motor drive system includes a plurality of armatures arranged in parallel with each other and a plurality of field circuits arranged in series with one another. The plurality of field circuits is arranged in parallel with the armatures. The traction motor drive system also includes a field isolation system including a shunt circuit associated with at least one field circuit. The field isolation system includes a first field switch arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits and configured to switch between a first terminal of the shunt circuit and a first field terminal of at least one field circuit. The field isolation system includes a second field switch, arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits and configured to switch between a second terminal of the shunt circuit and a second field terminal of at least one field circuit.

Abstract: A traction motor drive system may include a plurality of armatures arranged in parallel with each other. The traction motor drive system may also include a plurality of field circuits arranged in series with one another, where each field circuit is associated with a respective one of the armatures. The plurality of field circuits may be arranged in parallel with the plurality of armatures. The traction motor drive system may also include a field isolation system. The field isolation system may include a shunt circuit associated with at least one of the field circuits. The shunt circuit may have a first and second shunt terminal. The field isolation system may also include a first field switch arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits. The first field switch may be configured to switch between the first shunt terminal of the shunt circuit and a first field terminal of at least one of the field circuits.

Abstract: A cooling system for a mobile machine having a heat-sensitive component is provided. The cooling system may include a first coolant tank and a pump configured to circulate coolant from the first coolant tank through the heat-sensitive component. The cooling system may also include a heat exchanger configured to receive coolant from the heat-sensitive component and transfer heat to ambient air passing through the heat exchanger, and a blower configured to direct ambient air through the heat exchanger. The cooling system may further include a first temperature sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a temperature of ambient air, and a controller in communication with the blower and the first temperature sensor. The controller may be configured to selectively deactivate the blower based on the first signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a power contactor from an existing contactor having a magnetic amplifier that comprises a blowout coil and a ferromagnetic core, and an arc chute for extinguishing an arc generated by opening the existing contactor under a current load is disclosed. The method includes removing a bolt assembly from the existing contactor and at least one side plate from the existing contactor. The method also includes removing the ferromagnetic core from the existing contactor.

Abstract: A traction motor drive system includes a plurality of armatures arranged in parallel with each other and a plurality of field circuits arranged in series with one another. The plurality of field circuits is arranged in parallel with the armatures. The traction motor drive system also includes a field isolation system including a shunt circuit associated with at least one field circuit. The field isolation system includes a first field switch arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits and configured to switch between a first terminal of the shunt circuit and a first field terminal of at least one field circuit. The field isolation system includes a second field switch, arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits and configured to switch between a second terminal of the shunt circuit and a second field terminal of at least one field circuit.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a traction motor drive system. The traction motor drive system may include a field winding subsystem comprising a field winding associated with a traction motor. The traction motor drive system may also include an armature subsystem arranged in parallel with the field winding subsystem. The armature subsystem may include an armature having first and second armature terminals and a grid resistor selectively electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature subsystem may also include an armature chopper arranged in parallel with the grid resistor and electrically coupled in series with the armature. The armature chopper may be configured, when the grid resistor is electrically coupled to the armature, to conditionally conduct current to the armature.

Abstract: A wheel slip control for DC series wound traction motor vehicles such as railway locomotives in which each traction motor drives an axle and connected wheel set. The control utilizes motor field shunting, also known as field weakening, for providing wheel slip control. Each traction motor has its field shunted by a small percentage, such as 10%, during normal motoring operation. In the event that slipping of a wheel set is sensed by the control system, the motor powering the slipping wheel set is controlled by opening the shunting circuit, causing the motor's armature current and power to be dramatically reduced, thus stopping the wheel slip and allowing the shunting of the fields to be reapplied. This permits the continuous application of a higher aggregate amount of power over previous wheel slip correction methods and apparatus.