Locomotive propulsion system module for refurbishment of used locomotives

• US 20050279243A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bendig, John B., Grigorian, Alexander G., McQuiston, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,392,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 105/26.50
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/00 Locomotives or motor railcars with IC engines or gas turbines characterised by power transmission B61C9/00; engines F02

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a propulsion skid module useful for refurbishing locomotives. In one embodiment, the propulsion skid module includes a skid base serving as a support for an engine; said skid base comprising at least two support members extending substantially the length of the module and at least one panel spanning said two support members; with the module further comprising an engine; a blower for delivery of air under pressure, a control device compartment, an auxiliary cab comprising power connectors, and an air compressor secured onto said skid base; and an air plenum defined in said base. Also disclosed herein are methods for refurbishing a locomotive.

Claims

1. A locomotive propulsion system module comprising propulsion system components assembled together as a modular unit for installation onto a locomotive platform whose propulsion system has been removed but whose traction motors are retained, said module comprising:

a skid base serving as a support for at least one propulsion system component, said skid base comprising at least two elongate support members extending substantially the length of the module at the sides thereof and at least one panel spanning the two support members, and an air plenum defined in said base; and

at least one propulsion system component selected from the group consisting of an engine;

an alternator;

a control device compartment; and

an air compressor secured to said skid base.

2. The locomotive propulsion system module of claim 1 wherein said at least one panel comprises a top panel and a bottom panel spanning across said two support members to thereby define said air plenum;

and

further comprising a blower on the skid base for delivery of air under pressure to the air plenum to serve as cooling air directed to at least one of said propulsion system components, and said traction motors.

3. The locomotive propulsion system module of claim 2, wherein said bottom plate comprises at least one portal defined thereon to pass air from said plenum to said locomotive platform.

4. The locomotive propulsion system module of claim 1 wherein said module comprises an alternator;

an auxiliary generator/exciter;

a control device compartment; and

an air compressor positioned above said at least one panel.

15. The propulsion skid module of claim 11, wherein said locomotive platform comprises a first operator cab positioned on a first end of said locomotive platform and second operator cab positioned on a second end of said locomotive platform, said first and second operator cabs are removed from said locomotive platform, and said skid module comprises at least one operator cab secured to said base.

5. A method of replacing a propulsion system of a locomotive comprising removing old propulsion system components, and cabs housing said old propulsion system components, from said locomotive thereby leaving a locomotive platform that comprises an existing operator cab, existing traction motors with electrical power cables, existing fuel tank, and existing brake system;

positioning a propulsion system module onto said platform, said module comprising a skid base serving as a support for an engine;

said skid base comprising at least two support members extending substantially the length of the module and at least one panel spanning said two support members;

with the module further comprising a blower for delivery of air under pressure, a control device compartment, an auxiliary cab comprising power connectors, and an air compressor secured onto said skid base; and

all air plenum defined in said base that extends a majority of a length of said base;

connecting said fuel tank to said engine;

connecting said air compressor to said locomotive brake system;

connecting said traction motor electric power cables to said power connectors; and

connecting wiring from the operator cab to the control device compartment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said plenum comprises at least one outlet for delivering forced cooling air to an end use device that requires cooling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said end use device comprises at least one of the devices selected from the group consisting of alternator, generator/exciter, rectifier, control device compartment and traction motor.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said connecting said power lines to said power connectors comprises fixing onto said power lines terminals configured for engagement to said power connectors.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising delivering air under pressure from the blower to the air plenum to end use devices for cooling.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising delivering air under pressure from the blower to the air plenum, wherein said air plenum is configured such that air is directed to said traction motors for cooling.

11. A propulsion skid module for installation onto a locomotive platform comprising at least one operator cab whose propulsion system components and cabs housing said propulsion system components have been removed but which locomotive platform has retained its existing traction motors, existing fuel tank, and existing brake system, said skid module comprising

a skid base serving as a support for an engine;

said skid base comprising at least two support members extending substantially the length of the module and at least one panel spanning between said two support members;

a blower for delivery of air under pressure secured to said base;

a control device compartment secured to said base;

an auxiliary cab secured to said base, said auxiliary cab comprising power connectors;

an air compressor secured onto said skid base; and

an air plenum defined in said base which extends a majority of a length of said base.

12. The propulsion skid module of claim 11, wherein said locomotive platform comprises one operator cab positioned on one end of said locomotive platform, said operator cab being retained on said locomotive platform.

13. The propulsion skid module of claim 11, wherein said locomotive platform comprises one operator cab positioned on one end of said locomotive platform which is removed and said skid module comprises at least one operator cab secured to said base.

14. The propulsion skid module of claim 11, wherein said locomotive platform comprises a first operator cab positioned on a first end of said locomotive platform and second operator cab positioned on a second end of said locomotive platform, said first operator cab, second operator cab, or both being retained on said locomotive platform.