Exhaust intake bonnet for capturing exhausts from diesel-powered locomotives

• US 20070209544A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greener Port Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Environmental Group LLC
• Inventors: Caro, Sal, Connolly, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 105/26.50
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/02 Arrangement or disposition of intakes and apparatus for supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/04 Arrangement or disposition of exhaust apparatus

Abstract

A bonnet captures exhaust gases from the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives. The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender. One or more of the bonnets are positioned over the exhaust pipe or pipes of the locomotive and are secured to the exhaust pipes or to a top surface of the locomotive. The bonnets are connected to a manifold, and the manifold carries the exhaust gasses to an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing. The bonnets enclose a volume above and/or around the exhaust pipes and the compliant bumper closes against the internal or external surface of the exhaust pipe or pipes or against the top surface of the locomotive surrounding the exhaust pipe or pipes. The closing prevents or limits outside air from entering the bonnet and the exhaust gases from being emitted to the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A system for processing diesel locomotive exhaust, the system comprising:

an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing locomotive exhaust;

a bonnet for capturing exhaust emitted from a locomotive exhaust pipe; and

a manifold connected to the bonnet for carrying the exhaust from the bonnet to the ECU.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonnet comprises:

a shell for enclosing a volume around a locomotive exhaust pipe; and

a fender for closing out outside air.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fender closes against a roof surface of the locomotive.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the fender closes against an external surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the fender closes against an internal surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the bonnet is held in place by one of a group consisting of gravity, friction, mechanical means and electromagnetic force.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the bonnet includes an extendable vertical duct for carrying the exhaust from the shell to the manifold; and

the extendable vertical duct extends to allow the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and retracts to allow the bonnet to be raised away from a locomotive.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises:

at least one parallel duct running parallel to train tracks; and

a connecting duct connecting the at least one parallel duct to the ECU.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one parallel duct is supported by an overhead structure.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one parallel duct is supported by an overhead structure and the at least one parallel duct resides approximately centered above the train tracks and sufficiently high to clear a locomotive on the train tracks.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one parallel duct includes a slot running substantially the length of the at least one parallel duct, and seals ordinarily closing the slot;

the bonnet includes a vertical duct connected to a duct transport unit slidably residing in the at least one parallel duct;

the duct transport unit is adapted to slide along the at least one parallel duct and to open the seal as the duct transport unit slides through the at least one parallel duct, wherein the seal closes behind the duct transport unit.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one parallel duct includes;

a slot running parallel to the at least one parallel duct; and

an extendable and compressible inner duct resides in the at least one parallel duct,

wherein the extendable and compressible inner duct is adapted to extend and compress within the at least one parallel duct to allow movement of the locomotive along the train tracks.

13. The system of claim 1, further including a truck having:

a tower,

at least one arm extending from the tower; and

duct supports held by the arm,

wherein the manifold comprises;

at least one connecting duct in fluid communication with the bonnet and supported by duct supports; and

a flexible duct in fluid communication between the connecting ducts and the ECU.

14. The system of claim 1, further including a truck having:

a tower,

at least one arm extending from the tower; and

duct supports held by the arm,

wherein the manifold comprises;

at least one parallel duct running parallel to train tracks and in fluid communication with the ECU;

a plurality of spaced apart hubs in fluid communication with the at least one parallel duct;

at least one connecting duct in fluid communication with the bonnet and supported by duct supports; and

a flexible duct in fluid communication between the at least one connecting duct and one of the hubs.

15. The system of claim 1, further including a base unit comprising:

a tower,

at least one arm extending from the tower; and

duct supports held by the at least one arm,

and wherein the manifold comprises at least one connecting duct in fluid communication between the bonnet and the ECU, and supported by the duct supports.

16. The system of claim 1, further including an ECU rail car comprising:

a tower,

a boom extending from the tower; and

duct supports held by the boom,

wherein;

The ECU is mounted on the ECU rail car; and

the manifold comprises at least one connecting duct supported by the duct supports and in fluid communication between the bonnet and the ECU.

17. A bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust, the bonnet comprising:

a shell for enclosing a locomotive exhaust pipe;

a vertical duct in fluid communication with the shell for carrying the exhaust.

18. The bonnet of claim 17, wherein the shell includes a fender for closing out outside air.

19. The bonnet of claim 18, wherein the fender is a compliant lower edge of the bonnet for closing against the roof of a locomotive.

20. The bonnet of claim 19, wherein the bonnet includes electromagnets for holding the compliant lower edge against a roof of the locomotive.

21. The bonnet of claim 19, wherein the compliant lower edge comprises a high-temperature silicon foam, encasing a structural member.

22. The bonnet of claim 19, wherein the compliant lower edge comprises a compliant material encasing a structural member comprising at least one of a group consisting of carbon-reinforced epoxy, ester, and of spring steel.

23. The bonnet of claim 18, wherein the fender closes against an external surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

24. The bonnet of claim 18, wherein the fender closes against an internal surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

25. The bonnet of claim 17, wherein the bonnet is held in place by one of a group consisting of gravity, friction, mechanical means and electromagnetic force.

26. The bonnet of claim 25, wherein the bonnet is held in place by an electro magnet.

27. The bonnet of claim 17, wherein a negative pressure is maintained within the bonnet.

28. The bonnet of claim 17, wherein:

the bonnet includes an extendable vertical duct for carrying the exhaust from the shell to the manifold; and

the extendable vertical duct extends to allow the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and retracts to allow the bonnet to be raised away from a locomotive.

29. The bonnet of claim 28, wherein the vertical duct is a telescoping duct thereby allowing the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and raised away from the locomotive.

30. The bonnet of claim 28, wherein the vertical duct is a flexible duct thereby allowing the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and raised away from the locomotive.

31. The bonnet of claim 17, wherein the shell comprises a tent and a frame, wherein the frame attaches to a hinge and the hinge and the frame are independently vertically supported, wherein vertically adjusting the hinge with respect to the frame causes the frame to narrow and widen.

32. The bonnet of claim 31, wherein the hinge and the frame are vertically supported by cables.

33. The bonnet of claim 31, wherein the hinge runs along a peak of the frame

34. The bonnet of claim 17, wherein the bonnet includes an air foil inside the shell for guiding exhaust into the vertical duct and stabilizing the exhaust flow into the vertical duct, wherein the air foil extends from the vertical duct towards the exhaust pipe and flairs to an increasing diameter.

35. A bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust, the bonnet comprising:

a shell for enclosing a locomotive exhaust pipe, the shell including;

a compliant lower edge for closing against the roof of a locomotive; and

electromagnets for holding the compliant lower edge against a roof of the locomotive;

an extendable vertical duct in fluid communication with the shell for carrying the exhaust from the shell to a manifold, wherein the vertical duct extends to allow the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and retracts to allow the bonnet to be raised away from the locomotive.