Fuel distribution system for multi-locomotive consist

• US 9,073,556 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progress Rail Locomotive Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Foege, Aaron Gamache, Cryer, Edward John
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jason C
• Application Number:
  US13/563,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20140033943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 105/1.4, 105/231, 105/236, 105/287, 105/288, 105/289, 246/187.A
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/00 Arrangement or disposition of parts; Details or accessories not otherwise provided for; Use of control gear and control systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/02 Bunkers; Tanks; Tenders coachwork B61D; Water or fuel pick-up or scoop apparatus; Water or fuel supply fittings trackside installations, e.g. bunkers, tanks, for filling locomotives with sand or water B61K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/00 Locomotives or motor railcars with IC engines or gas turbines characterised by power transmission B61C9/00; engines F02
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 5/00 Tank wagons for carrying fluent materials
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/00 Pipe-line systems conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a fuel distribution system for a consist. The fuel distribution system may have a first locomotive, a second locomotive, and a tender car. The fuel distribution system may also have at least one pump located onboard the tender car, and at least one fluid conduit attached to the at least one pump. The at least one fluid conduit may be configured to deliver gaseous fuel from the tender car to the first and second locomotives.

Claims

1. A fuel distribution system for a consist, comprising:

a first locomotive;

a first engine associated with the first locomotive;

a second locomotive;

a second engine associated with the second locomotive

a tender car;

a first pump located onboard the tender car;

a second pump located onboard the tender car;

a first fluid conduit attached to the first pump and configured to deliver gaseous fuel from the tender car to the first locomotive for combustion of the gaseous fuel in the first engine; and

a second fluid conduit attached to the second pump and configured to deliver the gaseous fuel from the tender car to the second locomotive for combustion of the gaseous fuel in the second engine.

2. The fuel distribution system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pumps are positioned on a same end of the tender car.

3. The fuel distribution system of claim 2, wherein the tender car is between the first and second locomotives.

4. The fuel distribution system of claim 2, wherein the first and second locomotives are coupled directly to each other.

5. The fuel distribution system of claim 4, wherein the first conduit passes through the first locomotive to connect with the second locomotive.

6. The fuel distribution system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pumps are positioned at opposing ends of the tender car.

7. The fuel distribution system of claim 6, wherein the tender car is coupled between the first and second locomotives.

8. The fuel distribution system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second conduits includes multiple conduits connected to each other by a tee.

9. The fuel distribution system of claim 1, wherein the tender car includes a tank configured to store a liquefied natural gas.

10. The fuel distribution system of claim 9, further including:

a first accumulator disposed on the first locomotive in fluid communication with the first conduit; and

a second accumulator disposed on the second locomotive in fluid communication with the second conduit.

11. The fuel distribution system of claim 10, wherein the first and second accumulators are configured to store gaseous fuel.

12. The fuel distribution system of claim 10, further including at least one regulator configured to control fuel flow from the first and second accumulators.

13. The fuel distribution system of claim 12, further including at least one heat exchanger configured to gasify the liquefied natural gas before it enters the first and second accumulators.

14. The fuel distribution system of claim 1, wherein the tender car includes an auxiliary engine configured to propel the tender car.

15. The fuel distribution system of claim 14, wherein the tender car includes a generator configured to be driven by the auxiliary engine.