APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POWER PRODUCTION, CONTROL, AND/OR TELEMATICS, SUITABLE FOR USE WITH LOCOMOTIVES

摘要

A power system housed in one or more modules or containers may be located as a unitary structure where desired, for example secured to a locomotive platform, allowing easy retrofits. A control subsystem may maintain an RPM of a prime mover at minimum that still provides an expected level of power from an electric machine for any one of a finite number of throttle settings. The control subsystem may dynamically adjust loads between various combinations of series and/or parallel couplings. A set of processor executable instructions may be configured for specific platforms by selecting appropriate set of values based on number of loads (e.g., driven axles), rating (e.g., horse power), other criteria (e.g., manufacturer, model, year). Characteristics may be determined and verified, and operation based on the outcome of such. A telematics system method logs and provides remote access to operational data, engine data, power system data, anti-idling overrides, unauthorized changes, and/or location.

主权项

1. A power system for a locomotive platform having a plurality of traction motors coupled to drive a number of driven axles, the power system comprising:
a combustion engine operable to produce rotation of a crank shaft at a plurality of rotational speeds; at least one of electric machine having at least one drive shaft coupled to the crank shaft of the combustion engine to be driven therewith and to produce electrical power in response thereto at an output of the electric machine; a set of traction motor power switching components electrically coupled to the output of the electric machine and having at least one set of contacts electrically coupled to the traction motors of the locomotive platform; and a control subsystem comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium that stores instructions and data executable by the processor, the control subsystem coupled to receive an input indicative of a user-entered horse power rating of the traction motors of the locomotive platform, to confirm that the user-entered horse power rating is within a defined threshold of an expected horse power rating of the locomotive platform; and produce a notification if the user-entered horse power rating is not within the defined threshold of the expected horse power rating of the locomotive platform.