Patents by Inventor Pete Claussen

Pete Claussen 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: 12139177
    Abstract: An energy recovery system for locomotives having a diesel engine to provide power for propulsion and also having non-propulsion electrical devices. The system includes a primary power battery to supply power to the non-propulsion electrical devices. The primary power battery is in electrical communication with a traction motor of the locomotive configured to send power to the primary power battery when the locomotive is coasting or braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood
  • Patent number: 12060090
    Abstract: An energy efficient locomotive according to the disclosure utilizes a companion generator operably associated with a prime mover engine and electrically independent from a main generator. The companion generator is connected directly to a DC to DC regulator and is configured to supply a DC output to the DC to DC regulator for providing power for non-propulsion electrical devices when the locomotive is coasting or braking and the prime mover engine and main generator are not providing electrical power to the traction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood
  • Patent number: 11845475
    Abstract: A locomotive consist including a pair of fuel-electric locomotives, each having a prime mover engine and a power transmission system including a main generator and traction motors coupled to driving wheels, a high voltage electrical connection operable in an on state or an off state, and a computer controller. The pair of fuel-electric locomotives is configured to selectively cooperate to operate in three different operating modes as controlled by the computer controller: (1) a prime mover mode, (2) a mother/slug mode, and a mother/inoperative mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood
  • Patent number: 11845476
    Abstract: A locomotive consist including a pair of fuel-electric locomotives, each having a prime mover engine and a power transmission system including a main generator and traction motors coupled to driving wheels, a high voltage electrical connection operable in an on state or an off state, and a computer controller. The pair of fuel-electric locomotives is configured to selectively cooperate to operate in three different operating modes as controlled by the computer controller: (1) a prime mover mode, (2) a mother/slug mode, and a mother/inoperative mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood
  • Patent number: 11623665
    Abstract: A locomotive consist including a pair of fuel-electric locomotives, each having a prime mover engine and a power transmission system including a main generator and traction motors coupled to driving wheels, a high voltage electrical connection operable in an on state or an off state, and a computer controller. The pair of fuel-electric locomotives is configured to selectively cooperate to operate in three different operating modes as controlled by the computer controller: (1) a prime mover mode, (2) a mother/slug mode, and a mother/inoperative mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood
  • Publication number: 20220388548
    Abstract: An energy efficient locomotive according to the disclosure utilizes a companion generator operably associated with a prime mover engine and electrically independent from a main generator. The companion generator is connected directly to a DC to DC regulator and is configured to supply a DC output to the DC to DC regulator for providing power for non-propulsion electrical devices when the locomotive is coasting or braking and the prime mover engine and main generator are not providing electrical power to the traction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood
  • Patent number: 8820247
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling rebuilding of locomotives by replacing the existing two-stroke diesel engine with a four-stroke diesel engine, while retaining the generator and its associated electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Knoxville Locomotive Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Claussen, Scott Gatewood, Robert Anthony Di Domizio, Jr., David Tennent, Tom German