Diesel locomotive fuel savings and protection system
First Claim
1. A system for automatically protecting, and saving fuel consumed by, an out-of-service diesel engine of a locomotive having a liquid cooling system for said engine and a battery for electrical power supply, said battery being normally electrically disconnected while said engine is out of service, said system comprisingtemperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of cooling liquid in said cooling system and for providing a first switching function when the sensed temperature falls to a first preselected value above the freezing point of said cooling liquid, a second switching function when the sensed temperature climbs to a second preselected value higher than said first value, and a third switching function if the sensed temperature falls to a third preselected value lower than said first valve but closer to said freezing point;
- first circuit means responsive to said first switching function for electrically reconnecting said battery and for energizing a starter for said engine to initiate operation of said engine for producing increase of said temperature;
second circuit means responsive to said second switching function for energizing a stopping mechanism for said engine to terminate operation thereof;
an audible warning device; and
protection circuit means responsive to said third switching function for initiating operation of said warning device;
whereby operation of said engine normally will be automatically effected intermittently to maintain said temperature between said first and second values but said warning device will be operated if operation of said engine is not automatically initiated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system provides automatic starting of a locomotive diesel engine if the temperature drops toward freezing, which could damage the engine because of its water cooled nature, thereby saving fuel otherwise required when an engine is permitted to run continuously. Temperature sensing devices sense the temperature in the cooling water to sense a starting temperature, a shut-off temperature and a still lower temperature at which to provide an audible warning and drain the cooling water if freezing should be imminent. A circuit including a time delay relay is responsive to the sensing of the temperature at which starting is to be carried out for causing connection of the normally disconnected battery and energizing of the engine starter to initiate engine operation. This causes increase in the cooling water temperature to the level at which operation may be discontinued when this temperature is sensed, a circuit arrangement causes a stopping mechanism of the engine to be operated by solenoid, whereupon the engine and cooling water temperature gradually decreases until finally reaching a point at which restart is initiated. The starting circuitry includes provision for attempting a predetermined number of starts and an arrangement for temporarily activating the low governor oil pressure reset mechanism of the locomotive to ensure starting. Provision is made for giving audible warning and energizing a water drain solenoid valve if freezing is imminent and the engine has failed to start.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for automatically protecting, and saving fuel consumed by, an out-of-service diesel engine of a locomotive having a liquid cooling system for said engine and a battery for electrical power supply, said battery being normally electrically disconnected while said engine is out of service, said system comprising
temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of cooling liquid in said cooling system and for providing a first switching function when the sensed temperature falls to a first preselected value above the freezing point of said cooling liquid, a second switching function when the sensed temperature climbs to a second preselected value higher than said first value, and a third switching function if the sensed temperature falls to a third preselected value lower than said first valve but closer to said freezing point; -
first circuit means responsive to said first switching function for electrically reconnecting said battery and for energizing a starter for said engine to initiate operation of said engine for producing increase of said temperature; second circuit means responsive to said second switching function for energizing a stopping mechanism for said engine to terminate operation thereof; an audible warning device; and protection circuit means responsive to said third switching function for initiating operation of said warning device; whereby operation of said engine normally will be automatically effected intermittently to maintain said temperature between said first and second values but said warning device will be operated if operation of said engine is not automatically initiated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification