Abstract: A diesel locomotive includes a number of auxiliary subsystems operating in conjunction with the locomotive diesel engine and deriving their energy, from the diesel engine. Included among the subsystems are various cooling systems, the battery charging system, and the electrical generation system, comprising one or more alternators drivingly coupled to the engine shaft. Each of the subsystems includes a component that is activated when one or more operational conditions associated with the subsystem are met. For instance, an engine cooling system fan motor is activated when the coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined value. Similarly, a battery charger is activated when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined value, and an alternator blower is activated when the main or auxiliary alternator temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A diesel locomotive includes a number of auxiliary subsystems operating in conjunction with the locomotive diesel engine and deriving their energy, from the diesel engine. Included among the subsystems are various cooling systems, the battery charging system, and the electrical generation system, comprising one or more alternators drivingly coupled to the engine shaft. Each of the subsystems includes a component that is activated when one or more operational conditions associated with the subsystem are met. For instance, an engine cooling system fan motor is activated when the coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined value. Similarly, a battery charger is activated when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined value, and an alternator blower is activated when the main or auxiliary alternator temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A diesel engine, having a plurality of individually controllable fuel injected cylinders, is operated in a skip firing mode to reduce smoke emissions during low power operation. The system senses certain identified engine operating parameters and when these parameters exceed predetermined thresholds for a predetermined time, then the skip firing is implemented. In another embodiment, it is possible to implement several different skip firing patterns dependent upon engine performance. Upon implementation of skip firing, the engine timing angle is reset by a fixed angle and a multiplication factor is included in the speed loop integrator to ensure that the appropriate fuel volume value is injected into each cylinder immediately upon initiation of skip firing. Skip firing is then disabled when another set of predetermined conditions is satisfied.

Abstract: An apparatus (11) for controlling the peak pressure in the combustion chamber (46) of a turbo-charged diesel locomotive engine (12). A pressure relief valve (56) is disposed in the compressor discharge downstream of the turbo-charger (18). The relief valve (56) is operable to release a selected amount (58) of the compressed air (24) produced by the compressor section (20) of turbo-charger (18). The actuation of valve (56) may be a function of the pressure of the compressed air (24), and/or a manifold air temperature signal (52) and a fuel injection timing signal (40). An actuator (60) attached to valve (56) is responsive to a valve position signal (62) generated by a controller (38) having the appropriate inputs and programmed logic capability.

Abstract: A method and system for determining degradation of fuel pump performance in a locomotive having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method allows for monitoring a signal indicative of a fuel value delivered by the fuel pump and for adjusting the value of the monitored signal for deviations from an estimated nominal fuel value due to external variables to generate an adjusted fuel value. The method further allows for comparing the value of the adjusted fuel value against the nominal fuel value to determine the performance of the pump.