Patents by Inventor Robert S. Runyon

Robert S. Runyon 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: 8640629
    Abstract: Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are provided. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage means. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly. Many locomotive or train configurations involving battery-powered or battery-toting locomotive(s) may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
    Inventors: Gibson V Barbee, Gerhard A. Thelen, Robert S Runyon, Derick Vander Klippe
  • Publication number: 20130167752
    Abstract: Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage means. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly. Many locomotive or train configurations involving battery-powered or battery-toting locomotive(s) may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Gibson V. Barbee, Gerhard A. Thelen, Robert S. Runyon, Derick Vander Klippe
  • Patent number: 8342103
    Abstract: Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage devices. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
    Inventors: Gibson V Barbee, Gerhard A Thelen, Robert S Runyon, Derick Vander Klippe
  • Publication number: 20120160124
    Abstract: Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage means. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gibson V. Barbee, Gerhard A. Thelen, Robert S. Runyon, Derick Vander Klippe
  • Patent number: 8136454
    Abstract: Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage means. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly. Many locomotive or train configurations involving battery-powered or battery-toting locomotive(s) may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
    Inventors: Gibson V Barbee, Gerhard A Thelen, Robert S Runyon, Derick Vander Klippe
  • Publication number: 20100275810
    Abstract: Designs for a battery-powered, all-electric locomotive and related locomotive and train configurations are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a locomotive may be driven by a plurality of traction motors powered exclusively by a battery assembly which preferably comprises rechargeable batteries or other energy storage means. The locomotive carries no internal combustion engine on board and receives no power during operation from any power source external to the locomotive. A battery management system monitors and equalizes the batteries to maintain a desired state of charge (SOC) and depth of discharge (DOD) for each battery. A brake system may be configured to prioritize a regenerative braking mechanism over an air braking mechanism so that substantial brake energy can be recovered to recharge the battery assembly. Many locomotive or train configurations involving battery-powered or battery-toting locomotive(s) may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Gibson V. Barbee, Gerhard A. Thelen, Robert S. Runyon, Larry Conrad, Derick Vander Klippe
  • Patent number: 4222086
    Abstract: An overcurrent control device for protection of direct-current circuits, employing a saturable reactor to provide for electrical isolation and remote location of the overcurrent detection means from the protected circuit, is provided with additional windings on the reactor and a circuit to render the device fail-safe, while another embodiment provides fail-safe protection using a modified arrangement wherein the additional reactor windings are omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Inventor: Robert S. Runyon
  • Patent number: H1961
    Abstract: A universal directional reference for trailing locomotives and railroad cars employs a two wire mating connector for each end of the car or locomotive, each wire having a male contact at one end and a female contact at the opposite end and in a sense opposite to the other wire. A positive polarity established on one conductor having its male contact at the leading end of the controlling locomotive causes the same polarity to appear on the female contact at the rear end of said locomotive which is connected to the male contact of the next car or locomotive thereby sustaining the pattern throughout the train. Reverse orientation of any trailing unit automatically swaps the internal polarity of its trainline wires to compensate for the otherwise reverse direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Norfolk Southern Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S. Runyon