Method and system for predicting incipient failure in a locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling
First Claim
1. A method for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the method comprising:
- obtaining charge current sample values of the energy storage unit during energy storage unit charging at a predetermined rate for a predetermined period of time;
calculating an average value of the charge current sample values; and
using the average value of the charge current sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One method for predicting incipient failure includes starting an engine of a locomotive; obtaining charge current sample values of the energy storage unit during energy storage unit charging at a predetermined rate for a predetermined period of time; calculating an average value of the charge current sample values; and using the average value of the charge current sample to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit or the energy storage unit cabling. A related method includes obtaining crank voltage sample values of the energy storage unit during cranking; calculating an average value of the crank voltage sample values; and using the average value of the crank voltage sample to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit or the energy storage unit cabling.
22 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the method comprising:
-
obtaining charge current sample values of the energy storage unit during energy storage unit charging at a predetermined rate for a predetermined period of time;
calculating an average value of the charge current sample values; and
using the average value of the charge current sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the method comprising:
-
obtaining crank voltage sample values of the energy storage unit during loading of the energy storage unit;
calculating an average value of the crank voltage sample values; and
using the average value of the crank voltage sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the method comprising:
-
prior to energizing, obtaining pre-energized current sample values and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit;
calculating average values of the pre-energized current sample values and the pre-energized voltage sample values;
while energizing, obtaining energized current sample values and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit;
calculating average values of the energized current sample values and the energized voltage sample values;
subtracting the average value of the pre-energized current sample values from the average value of the energized current sample values to calculate a delta current value;
subtracting the average value of the pre-energized voltage sample values from the average value of the energized voltage sample values to calculate a delta voltage value;
dividing the delta voltage value by the delta current value to calculate an effective impedance; and
using the effective impedance to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
during energizing, obtaining individual voltage sample values of each of the at least two energy storage units and calculating individual average values of the individual voltage sample values; - and
using the individual voltage sample values to determine a location of a predicted incipient failure.
-
-
18. A system for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the system comprising:
-
a current sensor for obtaining charge current sample values of the energy storage unit; and
a controller for collecting the charge current sample values during energy storage unit charging at a predetermined rate for a predetermined period of time, calculating an average value of the charge current sample values, and using the average value of the charge current sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A system for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the system comprising:
-
a voltage sensor for obtaining crank voltage sample values of the energy storage unit; and
a controller for collecting the crank voltage sample values during loading of the energy storage unit, calculating an average value of the crank voltage sample values, and using the average value of the crank voltage sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A system for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the system comprising:
-
a current sensor for sensing current sample values of the energy storage unit;
a voltage sensor for sensing voltage sample values of the energy storage unit; and
a controller for obtaining pre-energized current sample and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit from the current and voltage sensors, calculating average values of the pre-energized current sample values and the pre-energized voltage sample values, obtaining energized current sample and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit from the current and voltage sensors, calculating average values of the energized current sample values and the energized voltage sample values, subtracting the average value of the pre-energized current sample values from the average value of the energized current sample values to calculate a delta current value, subtracting the average value of the pre-energized voltage sample values from the average value of the energized voltage sample values to calculate a delta voltage value, dividing the delta voltage value by the delta current value to calculate an effective impedance, and using the effective impedance to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
at least two individual voltage sensors for obtaining respective individual voltage sample values of each of the at least two energy storage units, wherein the controller is adapted to obtain individual energized voltage sample values of each of the at least two energy storage units, calculate individual average values of the individual voltage sample values, and using the individual voltage sample values to determine a location of a predicted incipient failure. -
31. The method of claim 27 wherein the incipient failure is predicted in a locomotive.
-
-
32. A system for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the system comprising:
-
means for obtaining charge current sample values of the energy storage unit; and
means for collecting the charge current sample values during energy storage unit charging at a predetermined rate of about one Hz for a predetermined period of time of about ten seconds, calculating an average value of the charge current sample values, and for using the average value of the charge current sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit.
-
-
33. A system for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the system comprising:
-
means for obtaining crank voltage sample values of the energy storage unit;
means for obtaining at least one ambient temperature sample value of the energy storage unit; and
means for collecting the at least one ambient temperature sample value and the crank voltage sample values during loading of the energy storage unit, using the at least one ambient temperature sample value to adjust the crank voltage sample values, and calculating an average value of the crank voltage sample values, and using the average value of the crank voltage sample values to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit.
-
-
34. A system for predicting incipient failure in an energy storage unit, the system comprising:
-
means for determining current sample values of the energy storage unit;
means for determining voltage sample values of the energy storage unit; and
controller means for obtaining pre-energized current sample and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit from the current and voltage sensors, calculating average values of the pre-energized current sample values and the pre-energized voltage sample values, obtaining energized current sample and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit from the current and voltage sensors, calculating average values of the energized current sample values and the energized voltage sample values, subtracting the average value of the pre-energized current sample values from the average value of the energized current sample values to calculate a delta current value, subtracting the average value of the pre-energized voltage sample values from the average value of the energized voltage sample values to calculate a delta voltage value, dividing the delta voltage value by the delta current value to calculate an effective impedance, and using the effective impedance to predict incipient failure in the energy storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (35)
-
Specification