POWER SHARING FOR A LOCOMOTIVE CONSIST
First Claim
1. A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist, the method comprising:
- receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist;
determining an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist;
determining the power generating capacity of power sources on all locomotives of the consist that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus; and
activating one or more of the power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.
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Abstract
A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist may include receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, with the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist. The control computer may determine an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist, and the power generating capacity of all power sources that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus. One or more power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist may be activated to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist, the method comprising:
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receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist; determining an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist; determining the power generating capacity of power sources on all locomotives of the consist that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus; and activating one or more of the power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A locomotive consist power sharing system, comprising:
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a plurality of locomotives, each of said locomotives including; at least one mechanical power source, said at least one mechanical power source producing a rotational output; an electrical power generator coupled to the rotational output of said at least one mechanical power source and configured to generate electrical power when being rotated by the rotational output; and a plurality of electric traction motors driven by electrical power generated by said electrical power generator; and an electrical power bus running through all of the plurality of locomotives, the electrical power bus electrically connected to receive generated electrical power from each of the electrical power generators on each of the locomotives and to supply the generated electrical power to each of the electric traction motors on each of the locomotives. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist, the method comprising:
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receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist; determining an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist; determining the power generating capacity of power sources on all locomotives of the consist that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus; determining an allocation of power output requirements from each of the power sources that will meet a performance goal for the consist; and activating one or more of the power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist in accordance with the determined allocation of power output requirements from each of the power sources to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.
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Specification