Power packaging with railcars

• US 7,608,934 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F3 & I2 LLC
• Original Assignee: F3 & I2 LLC
• Inventors: Hunter, Jefferey Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/210,527
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 290/4.R
• US Class Current: 290/4.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 25/00 Controlling two or more co-operating engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, an energy generating module comprises an energy generating device, an enclosure for the energy generating device, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, an energy-transfer receptacle, and a railcar chassis. The energy generating module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis. The modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage to support the energy generating device within the enclosure. The multi-directional extensions are movable in multiple directions as the peripheral cage sways during transportation of the energy generating module so as to permit the energy generating device to track its inertial position more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the energy generating module. The energy generating device is configured to generate an energy output that is transferable by the energy-transfer receptacle to an energy consuming device.

Claims

1. An energy generating module comprising an energy generating device, an enclosure for the energy generating device, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, an energy-transfer receptacle, and a railcar chassis, wherein:

the energy generating module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis;

the modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to an interior of the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage to support the energy generating device within the enclosure;

the multi-directional extensions support the energy generating device by suspending the energy generating device during transportation of the energy generating module and are movable in multiple directions as the peripheral cage sways during transportation of the energy generating module so as to permit the energy generating device to track its inertial position more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the energy generating module;

the energy generating device is in fluid communication with the fuel chamber and is configured to generate an energy output using fuel from the fuel chamber; and

the energy-transfer receptacle is configured to transfer the energy output to an energy consuming or transferring device.

2. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the multi-directional extensions each define multiple directions of movement.

3. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multi-directional extensions defines a single direction of movement and the multi-directional extensions collectively define multiple directions of movement.

4. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the multi-directional extensions are moveable in multiple directions so as to permit the energy generating device to track its lateral inertial position, its vertical inertial position, or a combination thereof, more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the energy generating module.

5. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the multi-directional extensions comprise a degree of elasticity sufficient to facilitate the movement of the multi-directional extensions during transportation of the energy generating module.

6. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the modular cage further comprises one or more movement dampening mechanisms to dampen movement of one or more of the multi-directional extensions during transportation of the energy generating module.

7. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the modular cage further comprises a suspension affixed to the peripheral cage that reduces the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the energy generating module.

8. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the peripheral cage is secured to the interior of the enclosure by interlocking with one or more guide rails complementary to a portion of the peripheral cage and affixed to the interior of the enclosure.

9. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the modular cage is repeatably insertable into and withdrawable from an interior of the enclosure.

10. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is integrally formed with the railcar chassis such that the railcar chassis and the enclosure cooperate to form a railway freight car.

11. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein:

the railcar chassis is integrally formed with an intermodal railcar, and

the enclosure is supported by the intermodal railcar.

12. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the energy-transfer receptacle is configured to couple to and transfer at least a portion of an energy output to a vehicle.

13. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein the energy-transfer receptacle is configured to connect to and transfer at least a portion of an energy output to a power grid.

14. The energy generating module of claim 1, wherein:

the enclosure comprises a boom system extendable from and retractable to an exterior of the enclosure such that the boom system may extend and retract between a position in-line with, and conforming to, a footprint of the exterior of the enclosure and a position projecting outward from the exterior of the enclosure, and

the boom system deploys a plurality of energy-transfer receptacle when projecting outward from the exterior of the enclosure.

15. An energy generating module comprising an energy generating device, an enclosure for the energy generating device, a modular cage, a fuel chamber, an energy storage device, an energy-transfer receptacle, and a railcar chassis, wherein:

the energy generating module is transportable on rails via the railcar chassis;

the modular cage comprises a peripheral cage secured to an interior of the enclosure and one or more multi-directional extensions extending from the peripheral cage to support the energy generating device within the enclosure;

the multi-directional extensions are movable in multiple directions as the peripheral cage sways during transportation of the energy generating module so as to permit the energy generating device to track its inertial position more closely than the sway of the peripheral cage during transportation of the energy generating module;

the energy generating device is in fluid communication with the fuel chamber and is configured to generate an electrical energy output using fuel from the fuel chamber;

and

the energy-transfer receptacle is configured to transfer the electrical energy output generated by the energy generating device to an electric-powered vehicle or an electric power grid.

16. The energy generating module of claim 15, wherein the energy generating module further comprises an energy storage device configured to store kinetic energy produced by the railcar chassis during transportation of the energy generating module.

17. The energy generating module of claim 16, wherein the energy storage device is also configured to store energy output generated by the energy generating device.

18. The energy generating module of claim 17, wherein the stored energy output generated by the railcar chassis or the energy generating module, or both, is available for transfer through the energy-transfer receptacle to the energy consuming or transferring devices.

19. The energy generating module of claim 15 further comprising a cooling system and one or more peripheral railcars, wherein:

the fuel chamber and the cooling system are supported by the peripheral railcars such that the fuel chamber and the cooling system are remote from the energy generating device;

the cooling system is in fluid communication with the energy generating device via one or more fluid conveying devices and is configured to cool the energy generating device during energy output generation.