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.

Abstract: A supporting leg for a working machine that has a mast includes a hollow body, which is composed of two web plates arranged at a distance from each other and two flange plates, which connect the web plates to each other and are arranged at a distance from each other and are connected to the web plates by welds, and a supporting foot protruding downward from the hollow body. The web plates each have two substantially vertically arranged broad sides and two substantially horizontally arranged narrow sides that connect the broad sides to each other. The flange plates each have two substantially horizontally arranged broad sides and two substantially vertically arranged narrow sides that connect the broad sides to each other. The flange plates each lie against broad sides of the web plates facing each other via the narrow sides of the flange plates and the narrow sides of the web plates are exposed and form lower and upper contact surfaces of the hollow body.

Abstract: A refrigeration system can include an electrical generator coupled to a mechanical interface, the mechanical interface configured to transfer mechanical energy from a vehicle to the electrical generator, and a control module connected to the electrical generator via electrical wiring. The refrigeration system can also include an electrically-driven refrigeration unit coupled to the control module, and a battery coupled to the control module via electrical wiring. The control module can be adapted to provide electrical power to the refrigeration unit from the electrical generator or the battery and is further adapted to charge the battery with electrical energy not needed for operating the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A tamper apparatus configured for being transportable upon a road is provided. A chassis is configured for supporting the tamper apparatus. A retractable turntable unit is connected to the chassis. The turntable unit has a generally quadrilateral configuration with side walls, and is rotatably attached at substantially a center of mass of the tamper apparatus. A tamping unit is connected to the chassis and configured for performing packing of a ballast under railroad ties for correcting cross and longitudinal levels of a pair of rails of a railroad track. A buggy lift assembly is removably attached to the chassis and configured for providing track alignment of the rails. At least one set of retractable rail wheels is connected to the chassis such that the chassis is towable by an automobile.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The auxiliary power unit assembly for a locomotive includes an auxiliary power unit removably coupleable to a rail car chassis. The auxiliary power unit includes a housing, and an auxiliary engine-generator set positioned within the housing. The auxiliary engine-generator set is configured to provide an auxiliary power to the locomotive. The auxiliary power unit also includes an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the auxiliary engine-generator set. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive a command and control at least one aspect of the auxiliary power unit in response to the command.

Abstract: A locomotive assembly including an auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes a locomotive having a power bus, a primary power source electrically coupled to the power bus, and a locomotive controller programmed to control the primary power source and transmit a first command signal to a power unit that is electrically coupled to the power bus. The power unit includes an auxiliary engine-generator set, a power interface electrically coupling the auxiliary engine-generate set to the power bus, and an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the locomotive controller. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive the command signal from the locomotive controller indicating a desired amount of power, control the auxiliary engine-generator set to produce at least the desired amount of power, and control the power interface to deliver the desired amount of power to the power bus.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit and a method of providing auxiliary power to a locomotive are disclosed. The auxiliary power unit assembly for a locomotive includes an auxiliary power unit removably coupleable to a rail car chassis. The auxiliary power unit includes a housing, and an auxiliary engine-generator set positioned within the housing. The auxiliary engine-generator set is configured to provide an auxiliary power to the locomotive. The auxiliary power unit also includes an auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the auxiliary engine-generator set. The auxiliary controller is programmed to receive a command and control at least one aspect of the auxiliary power unit in response to the command.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a powered system including an engine operating on a plurality of fuel types. The method includes generating operational input signals from operational input devices, and generating a respective configuration signal indicative of a particular location of the powered system along a predetermined course comprising a mission. Additionally, based on the operational input signals, the configuration signal, and a respective engine emission profile for each of said configuration signal, the method includes generating control signals to a plurality of end use devices of the powered system to limit one or more of the total engine emissions of the fuel types, the total fuel efficiency of the fuel types, the total output power of the engine, a time of arrival of the powered system along the predetermined course, and/or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A passenger locomotive is retrofitted with a hybrid energy head end power (HEP) system to generate head end power that is substantially continuously provided to a passenger railcar while the locomotive, which is operable in a motoring mode and a dynamic braking mode, is in use. The locomotive has a primary power source that provides primary electrical energy to a traction bus to power a traction motor when in the motoring mode. The traction motor generates excess electrical energy when in the dynamic braking mode. The HEP energy storage system generates head end power that is suitable for non-motoring use by a passenger railcar by converting the stored excess electrical energy and primary electrical energy into the head end power and providing the head end power to the HEP bus substantially continuously while the passenger locomotive is in use.

Abstract: A configurable diesel powered system is provided for controlling engine emissions of a diesel-fueled power generating unit. The diesel-fueled power generating unit includes an engine operating on at least one fuel type. The system includes a plurality of operational input devices coupled with a processor to generate operational input signals to the processor. A plurality of end use devices include fuel tanks for each respective fuel type and are controlled by the processor to control the engine emissions. A configuration input device in communication with the processor generates a respective configuration signal for each particular location along the predetermined course comprising a mission.

Abstract: A railroad test vehicle extending in a longitudinal direction comprises a measurement axle comprising two flanged wheels rotatable about a measuring axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and adapted to run on two track rails. A cross member extends transversely to the longitudinal direction, is vertically spaced from an underside of the vehicle and is affixed thereto. The connection between the measurement axle and the cross member comprises two trunnions transversely spaced from each other and mounted on the cross member, each trunnion defining a clearance with the cross member sufficient to enable the trunnion to be freely tilted to either side of the vehicle about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction, a support frame mounted on each trunnion for pivoting freely about an axis extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, and two pairs of linkages, the pairs being transversely spaced from each other by the same distance as the transversely spaced trunnions.

Abstract: A long distance auxiliary drive tender for railroad locomotives which stores significant quantities of fuel and delivers the fuel to the locomotives while underway and which also includes traction motor drive axles powered by the locomotive generators. The traction motors are also capable of providing dynamic braking. Preferably, the auxiliary drive tender will also store and transfer lubrication oil, water, and sand for the locomotives. The auxiliary drive tender operates much like a B-unit in conventional MU operations except that it does not have its own power source.

Abstract: A modular circuit board arrangement for use in a model train includes a motherboard mounted on the model train platform. The motherboard has receptacles that accept and communicate signals with a plurality of removable circuit modules for controlling model train operations. These circuit modules may include, for example, a light control circuit module and a sound control circuit module.

Abstract: A system for distribution of advertisements to interested recipients only via one-way nonaddressable television media and for transmission of orders from recipients to advertisers via two-way addressable Internet media. A system for electronic delivery of newspapers, magazines, books, music, video and computer software to authorized recipients only via nonaddressable television media with recipients' authorization via addressable Internet media. As a result, usage of slow and overcrowded Internet in e-commerce is limited to relatively low-volume communications that need to be addressable while all high-volume information is transferred through fast one-way television lines to bypass the Internet and reach simultaneously an unlimited number of recipients.

Abstract: A digital sound reproducing system which produces a plurality of sound effects from digital data stored at predetermined addresses in a digital sound memory. A controller connected to the digital sound memory causes recall of a sound data from a predetermined sequence of addresses when triggered. This recalled sound data is converted into an analog audio signal for reproduction by a speaker. In a first embodiment the digital sound reproducing system is disposed in the car of a model train. Magnets disposed between the tracks trigger corresponding sound effects when the digital sound reproducing system detects passage of the magnets. A speed sensor detects the rotation rate of a wheel of the car to permit sound effects to be synchronous with the rate of speed of the model train. The digital sound reproducing system may alternately be disposed in a fixed structure and triggered by a command signal or by detection of passage of the model train.

Abstract: A vehicle for use in transporting heavy equipment having a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump, which vehicle has a hydraulic motor arranged to drive a pair of railroad track wheels. The vehicle also has an arrangement such that the hydraulic motor of the vehicle can be releasably interconnected with the hydraulic system of the heavy equipment to drive the former from the latter. A ramp can be reversibly lowered to an inclined position to facilitate loading and unloading of the heavy equipment onto the vehicle. The railroad track wheels are each electrically insulated from their corresponding axles.

Abstract: A wheeled land vehicle in which at least one free-running ground-engaging wheel has power take-off means connected thereto for providing power in or on the said vehicle, such power take-off means including an input shaft coaxial with and drivingly connected to said ground-engaging wheel and extending inwardly therefrom through a non-rotary hollow axle shaft, and power take-off mechanism drivingly connected to the said input shaft and mounted in cantilever fashion on an inboard termination of said axle shaft.

Abstract: A motorized track car with a wheeled lower portion for rolling along a railroad track, and a platform carried by the wheeled lower portion. The platform has seating accommodation for one or more persons with the propulsion means for the vehicle disposed below the platform. The propulsion means consists of an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to hydraulic pump means providing fluid pressure for hydraulic motors drivingly associated with wheels of the car. There is control valve means operable by a person seated on the platform to control flow of hydraulic fluid for the pump and motor to vary the speed of travel of the vehicle from zero to maximum in each of forward and backward directions of travel. There is brake means operatively associated with at least one wheel of the track car and operable from the platform and, preferably, by a single lever control which also operates the control valve means.