System and method for supplying auxiliary power to a large diesel engine
First Claim
1. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine having a battery, the auxiliary power system comprising:
- (A) a secondary engine, and (B) a controller which automatically shuts down the primary engine in response to a first predetermined condition of the primary engine, the controller also enabling automatic operation of such secondary engine in response to a second predetermined condition of the primary engine, the second predetermined condition being different then the first predetermined condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing auxiliary power to a large diesel engine allowing shutdown of such large engine in all weather conditions. An auxiliary power unit made up of a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator is provided. An automatic control system shuts down the primary engine after a period of idling and the auxiliary power unit provides electrical power for heating and air conditioning. In cold weather, the auxiliary power unit maintains the primary engine coolant and lube-oil warm to facilitate engine restart. The coolant system is kept warm using a heat exchanger and electrical heaters. The lube-oil system is kept warm using a recirculating pump and electrical heaters. In warm weather, the auxiliary power unit provides electrical power for air conditioning and other hotel loads. The auxiliary power unit isolates the primary engine batteries during operation and provides electrical power for hotel and non-vital loads.
95 Citations
91 Claims
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1. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine having a battery, the auxiliary power system comprising:
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(A) a secondary engine, and (B) a controller which automatically shuts down the primary engine in response to a first predetermined condition of the primary engine, the controller also enabling automatic operation of such secondary engine in response to a second predetermined condition of the primary engine, the second predetermined condition being different then the first predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of supplying auxiliary power to a primary engine comprising:
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(A) providing a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator;
(B) monitoring the operating condition of such primary engine while the primary engine is running;
(C) automatically shutting down the primary engine based on the monitoring following a predetermined time period of idling of the primary engine; and
(D) automatically starting such secondary engine in response to a predetermined condition of such primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of supplying auxiliary power to a primary engine comprising:
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(A) providing a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator;
(B) monitoring an operating condition of such primary engine;
(C) starting such secondary engine in response to a predetermined condition of such primary engine, the predetermined condition being a different condition then the monitored operating condition; and
(D) heating primary engine coolant with electric heaters.
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23. A method of supplying auxiliary power to a primary engine comprising:
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(A) providing a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator;
(B) monitoring an operating condition of such primary engine;
(C) starting such secondary engine in response to a predetermined condition of such primary engine, the predetermined condition being a different condition then the monitored operating condition; and
(D) heating engine lube-oil with electric heaters.
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24. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine having a battery, comprising:
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(A) a secondary engine, and (B) an engine controller which automatically shuts down the primary engine, the engine controller automatically starting such secondary engine in response to a predetermined condition of the primary engine, wherein the engine controller shuts down such primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of such primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine having a battery, comprising:
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(A) a secondary engine, and (B) an engine controller having a timer, wherein such engine controller automatically shuts down the primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of said primary engine, said engine controller enabling automatic operation of such secondary engine based on a predetermined condition of the primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine, comprising:
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(A) a secondary engine, and (B) an engine controller that automatically shuts down the primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of said primary engine the engine controller enabling automatic operation of the secondary engine based on a predetermined condition of the primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method of operating an engine system for a locomotive comprising:
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operating a primary engine on the locomotive;
automatically shutting down the primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of said primary engine; and
automatically operating a secondary engine on the locomotive while the primary engine is shut down based on a predetermined condition of the primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method of operating an engine system for a locomotive comprising:
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operating a primary engine on the locomotive;
automatically shutting down the primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of said primary engine; and
automatically operating a secondary engine on the locomotive while the primary engine is shut down based on a detected operating condition of the primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A method of operating an engine system comprising:
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operating a primary engine;
automatically shutting down the primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of the primary engine; and
automatically starting a secondary engine when the primary engine is shut down, wherein such secondary engine is started in response to a predetermined condition of the primary engine. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A method of supplying auxiliary power to a primary engine comprising:
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(A) providing a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator;
(B) automatically shutting down the primary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of said primary engine; and
(C) automatically starting such secondary engine in response to non-operation of such primary engine combined with a predetermined ambient temperature.
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86. A locomotive auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine, the locomotive auxiliary power system comprising:
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a secondary engine; and
an automatic control system that automatically shuts down the primary engine in response to a first detected operating condition of the primary engine and automatically starts the secondary engine in response to a second detected operating condition of the primary engine, the second detected operating condition being different then the first detected operating condition. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88)
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89. A locomotive auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine, the locomotive auxiliary power system comprising:
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a secondary engine; and
control logic that automatically shuts down the primary engine in response to a first detected operating condition of the primary engine and automatically starts the secondary engine in response to a second detected operating condition of the primary engine, the second detected operating condition being different then the first detected operating condition.
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90. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine having a battery, the auxiliary power system comprising:
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(A) a secondary engine, and (B) a controller which shuts down such primary engine and starts such secondary engine following a predetermined time period of idling of such primary engine automatically without operator intervention with the auxiliary power system.
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91. A method of operating a locomotive, the method comprising:
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operating a primary engine;
automatically shutting down the primary engine when the primary engine has been idling for a period of time; and
automatically starting a secondary engine after said primary engine has been shut down and in response to a condition of said primary engine.
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Specification