Diagnostics for identifying a malfunctioning component in an air compressor system onboard a locomotive

• US 20050220628A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pervaiz, Muhammad
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

A method and computer program product for identifying one or more malfunctions in a locomotive air compressing system is provided. Some of the malfunctions may be correctable onboard a locomotive, and constitute onboard serviceable malfunctions, while the remaining of the malfunctions may only be correctable with the air compressing system being uninstalled and serviced at an off-board servicing site, such malfunctions constitute off-board serviceable malfunctions. The method allows monitoring responses indicative of a malfunction type that may be associated with at least with one of the following: a corrective action that may be performed onboard the locomotive, and a corrective action that may only be performed off-board the locomotive.

Claims

1. A method for identifying one or more malfunctions in a locomotive air compressing system comprising a plurality of components, with certain of said malfunctions being correctable onboard a locomotive, such malfunctions constituting onboard serviceable malfunctions, while the remaining of said malfunctions only being correctable with the air compressing system being uninstalled and serviced at an off-board servicing site, such malfunctions constituting off-board serviceable malfunctions, said method comprising:

performing a test sequence configured to isolate components of the air compressing system from one another to identify a component that may be subject to a malfunction;

applying a pressurizing stimuli to the isolated components; and

monitoring a response indicative of a malfunction type, the malfunction type being associated with at least with one of the following;

a corrective action that may be performed onboard the locomotive, and a corrective action that may only be performed off-board the locomotive.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing a crankcase inspection prior to performing said test sequence, and determining whether or not predefined criteria for passing said crankcase inspection is met, and, if said crankcase inspection meets the predefined passing criteria, proceeding to perform the test sequence.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said air compressor system comprises a high-pressure stage and a low-pressure stage and performing the test sequence comprises isolating the low-pressure stage from the high-pressure stage to identify a malfunction likely to correspond to a respective one of said stages.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said low-pressure stage comprises at least one low-pressure cylinder and at least one intercooler coupled to the low-pressure cylinder and wherein the applying of the pressurizing stimuli comprises pressurizing through an inlet port said least one low-pressure cylinder and said at least one intercooler.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises monitoring a depressurization rate of the pressurized said at least one low-pressure cylinder and said at least one intercooler.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising comparing the monitored depressurization rate relative to a predefined depressurization rate limit, and identifying a likely malfunction type based on the results of said comparison.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises visually monitoring said at least one intercooler to detect an air leak in the intercooler, and, in the event said intercooler air leak is identified, replacing said intercooler onboard the locomotive.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises monitoring air flow through an oil-filling port in a crankcase, and wherein a sensing of said air flow is indicative of a leak through a wall of said at least one low-pressure cylinder, and, in the event said air flow is sensed, performing a compressor removal from the locomotive for performing a compressor overhaul at the specialized servicing site.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein said high-pressure stage comprises a high-pressure cylinder and an aftercooler coupled to the high-pressure cylinder and wherein the applying of a pressurizing stimuli comprises pressurizing through an outlet port said high-pressure cylinder and said aftercooler.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises monitoring a depressurization rate of the pressurized high-pressure cylinder and aftercooler.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising comparing the monitored depressurization rate relative to a predefined depressurization rate limit, and identifying a likely malfunction type based on the results of said comparison.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises visually monitoring said aftercooler to detect an air leak in the aftercooler, and, in the event said aftercooler air leak is detected, replacing said aftercooler onboard the locomotive.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises monitoring air flow through an oil-filling port in a crankcase, a sensing of said air flow being indicative of a leak through a high-pressure cylinder wall, and, in the event said air flow is sensed, performing a compressor removal from the locomotive for performing a compressor overhaul at the specialized servicing site.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises sensing air flow through an intake port of the high pressure cylinder, a sensing of said air flow being indicative of a leak through a high-pressure cylinder wall being indicative of at least one malfunctioning valve in the high pressure cylinder, and, in the event said air flow is sensed, performing a cylinder head replacement onboard the locomotive for the high pressure cylinder.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying of pressurizing stimuli comprises pressurizing a crankcase and the monitoring of a response indicative of a malfunction type comprises monitoring a depressurization rate of the pressurized crankcase, said crankcase pressurizing and monitoring avoiding removal of a compressor motor for gaining visual access to crankcase seals wherein leakage is likely to develop.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying of pressuring stimuli comprises energizing a compressor motor at a predefined RPM and monitoring a volume of pressurized air actually delivered by said compressor system over a period of time, and comparing the volume of pressurized air delivered by the compressor system relative to a predefined range indicative of whether or not said air compressor system meets a specified air-compressing capability.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising monitoring an intercooler pressure and comparing said intercooler pressure relative to predefined pressure values to determine occurrence of a likely malfunction in one of the following:

a cylinder head of a high-pressure stage and cylinder heads of a low-pressure stage of said compressor system.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having a computer-readable code therein for identifying one or more malfunctions in a locomotive air compressing system comprising a plurality of components, with certain of said malfunctions being correctable onboard a locomotive, such malfunctions constituting onboard serviceable malfunctions, while the remaining of said malfunctions only being correctable with the air compressing system being uninstalled and serviced at an off-board servicing site, such malfunctions constituting off-board serviceable malfunctions, the computer program product comprising:

computer-readable code for identifying a test sequence configured to isolate components of the air compressing system from one another to identify a component that may be subject to a malfunction;

computer-readable code for activating a pressurizing stimuli to be applied to the isolated components; and

computer-readable code responsive to data indicative of a malfunction type, the malfunction type being associated with at least with one of the following;

a corrective action that may be performed onboard the locomotive, and a corrective action that may only be performed off-board the locomotive.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising computer-readable code for determining whether or not predefined criteria for passing a crankcase inspection performed prior to performing said test sequence is met, and, if said crankcase inspection meets the predefined passing criteria, computer-readable code for instructing to proceed to perform the test sequence.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the computer-readable code responsive to data indicative of a malfunction type comprises computer-readable code for monitoring a depressurization rate of a pressurized low-pressure cylinder and an intercooler of said air compressing system.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising computer-readable code for comparing the monitored depressurization rate relative to a predefined depressurization rate limit, and identifying a likely malfunction type based on the results of said comparison.

22. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the computer-readable code responsive to data indicative of a malfunction type comprises monitoring a depressurization rate of a pressurized high-pressure cylinder and an aftercooler of said air compressing system.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising computer-readable code for comparing the monitored depressurization rate relative to a predefined depressurization rate limit, and identifying a likely malfunction type based on the results of said comparison.

24. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising computer-readable code for energizing a compressor motor at a commanded RPM and monitoring a volume of pressurized air actually delivered by said compressor system over a period of time, and comparing the volume of pressurized air delivered by the compressor system relative to a predefined range indicative of whether or not said air compressor system meets a specified air-compressing capability.