Battery charging assembly for use on a locomotive
First Claim
1. A battery charging assembly for use on a locomotive, comprising:
- a diesel engine having a mechanical power output of less than about 50 horsepower;
an oil tank coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the diesel engine and which contains a volume of oil which facilitates the operation of the diesel engine for a time period which is at least equal to a maintenance interval for the locomotive; and
an alternator coupled to the mechanical output of the diesel engine, and which produces an electrical power output to charge a plurality of batteries which are mounted on the locomotive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charging assembly for use on a locomotive is described and which includes a diesel engine having a mechanical power output of less than about 50 horsepower; an oil tank coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the diesel engine and which contains a volume of oil which facilitates the operation of the diesel engine for a time period which is at least equal to a maintenance interval of the locomotive; an alternator coupled to the mechanical output of the diesel engine and which produces an electrical power output to charge a plurality of batteries which are mounted on the locomotive; and an air compressor coupled in fluid flowing relation to the locomotives air system.
210 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A battery charging assembly for use on a locomotive, comprising:
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a diesel engine having a mechanical power output of less than about 50 horsepower;
an oil tank coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the diesel engine and which contains a volume of oil which facilitates the operation of the diesel engine for a time period which is at least equal to a maintenance interval for the locomotive; and
an alternator coupled to the mechanical output of the diesel engine, and which produces an electrical power output to charge a plurality of batteries which are mounted on the locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A battery charging assembly for use on a locomotive, comprising:
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an oil tank which is mounted on the locomotive and which has a top surface, and which further encloses a volume of oil;
a diesel engine of less than about 50 horsepower, and which is mounted on the top surface of the oil tank, and which is further coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the oil tank, and wherein the diesel engine, when actuated, produces a mechanical power output, and is further operable to withdraw oil from oil tank, and return the oil to the oil tank following the circulation of the oil in the diesel engine;
a selectively engageable clutch which is mounted in force receiving relation relative to the mechanical power output of the diesel engine;
an air compressor mounted on the top surface of the oil tank and which mechanically cooperates with the clutch, and wherein the clutch, when engaged, is operable to deliver mechanical energy from the diesel engine to actuate the air compressor, and wherein the air compressor, when actuated, provides a source of compressed air which is delivered to the locomotive;
an alternator, mounted on the oil tank, and which is coupled in force receiving relation relative to the mechanical power output of the diesel engine, and wherein the alternator, when actuated by the diesel engine, provides a DC electrical power output to charge a plurality of batteries which are mounted on the locomotive; and
a programmable controller which is coupled in controlling relation relative to the diesel engine, and the clutch, and which further controls, at least in part, the operation of the alternator and the air compressor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A battery charging assembly for use on a locomotive, comprising:
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an oil tank defined by a top and bottom surface, and a sidewall which extends between the top and bottom surfaces, and wherein the oil tank is mounted on, and disposed in spaced relation relative to, the locomotive, and wherein the oil tank defines an internal cavity having opposite first and second ends, and which receives and stores a volume of oil which will facilitate the operation of the battery charging assembly for a time period of at least 92 days, and wherein an oil diffusing baffle is positioned within the cavity of the oil tank and is disposed in spaced relation relative to the top surface thereof, and wherein an aperture is formed in the top surface and which facilitates access to the cavity;
a diesel engine of less than about 50 horsepower and which is mounted on the top surface of the oil tank, and which is further coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the oil tank by way of the aperture which is formed in the top surface, and wherein the diesel engine, when actuated, has a mechanical power output, and further withdraws oil from the oil tank, and then, following circulation in the diesel engine, returns the previously withdrawn oil back into the oil tank and onto the oil diffusing baffle, and wherein the oil diffusing baffle directs the oil along a path of travel and delivers the oil to a location which is near the opposite ends of the cavity to facilitate the mixing of the oil within the cavity;
a fuel line coupled to the diesel engine and having a distal end which is received within a diesel fuel tank, and which is mounted on the locomotive, and which is further positioned remotely relative to the diesel engine, and wherein the diesel engine withdraws a source of diesel fuel from the diesel fuel tank and through the fuel line for consumption;
a starting battery borne by the top surface of the oil tank, and which provides an electrical current;
a starting motor coupled in force transmitting relation relative to the diesel motor and which is selectively energized by the electrical current which is provided by the starting battery, and wherein the starting motor, when energized renders the diesel engine operational;
a cooling radiator coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the diesel engine, and which cools the diesel motor after the diesel motor has been started;
a selectively engageable clutch which is mounted in force receiving relation relative to the mechanical power output of the diesel engine;
an alternator which is coupled in force receiving relation relative to the mechanical power output of the diesel engine, and wherein the alternator, when actuated, produces an electrical power output of less than about 74 volts DC which is utilized, at least in part, to charge a plurality of batteries which are mounted on, and subsequently utilized by the locomotive, to provide electrical power for propulsion of the locomotive;
a DC to DC converter which is electrically coupled to the DC electrical power output of the alternator, and which provides a charging current for maintaining the electrical charge of the starting battery;
an air compressor borne by the top surface of the oil tank and which is disposed in selective force receiving relation relative to the diesel engine by the clutch, and wherein the air compressor, when actuated, provides a source of compressed air which is delivered to the locomotive and selectively utilized by the locomotive for braking and other purposes; and
a programmable controller which is coupled in electrical charge sensing relation relative to the plurality of batteries which are mounted on the locomotive, and further disposed in controlling relation relative to the diesel engine, the starting motor for the diesel motor, the alternator, the air compressor and the selectively engageable clutch. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification