Apparatus and method for mounting a generator to the axle of a railroad car

摘要

A standard size power generating unit (30) for mounting to any one of several different sized railroad cars utilizes different sized interface blocks (28) to mate the unit to the bearing adapter blocks (14) of the cars. The axle (32) of a car includes bolts (18) extending from an end (16) thereof and mounting a drive plate (80). The power generating unit (30) includes a frame (50) and a rotor arranged for rotation in the frame for generating the power. A drive shaft (74) is attached to the rotor and includes a follower (78) for engaging between a predetermined pair of drive tabs (84) of the drive plate so that when the axle rotates the drive tabs engage the follower and thereby rotate the rotor. The interface block (28) is disposed between the frame (50) and the bearing adapter block (14), the interface block being attached to the bearing adapter block (14) and the frame (50) being attached to the interface block opposite the bearing adapter block.