Locomotive air compressor system with enhanced protection against leakage causative of backflow of pressurized air from a reservoir

• US 20060013698A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pervaiz, Muhammad, Fisher, Kevin Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/177,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20060013698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/266
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves

Abstract

A compressor system, method and kit are provided for supplying pressurized air to a main storage reservoir of a locomotive. The compressor system includes a high-pressure cylinder having at least one outlet valve having a first set of sealing characteristics. The compressor system further includes a piping assembly connected to the outlet valve to selectively pass pressurized air to the reservoir. The piping assembly may comprise a T-fit coupler connected to first and second pipes for delivering the pressurized air to the reservoir. A check valve may be installed in a chamber defined in the T-fit coupler. The check valve has a second set of sealing characteristics different than the sealing characteristics of the outlet valve. The check valve is responsive to predefined operational conditions of the air compressor system so that when the compressor system is supplying pressurizing air to the reservoir the check valve is set to an open condition. When the compressor system stops supplying pressurizing air to the reservoir, the check valve is set to a closed condition. The combined sealing characteristics of the outlet valve and the check valve is chosen to limit backflow of pressurized air from the reservoir to the high pressure cylinder.

Claims

1. A compressor system for supplying pressurized air to a main storage reservoir of a locomotive, said compressor system comprising:

a high-pressure cylinder having at least one outlet valve having a first set of sealing characteristics;

a piping assembly connected to said outlet valve to selectively pass pressurized air to the reservoir; and

a valve disposed in said piping assembly having a second set of sealing characteristics different than the sealing characteristics of the outlet valve, said valve responsive to predefined operational conditions of the air compressor system so that when the compressor system is supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said valve is set to an open condition, and when said compressor system stops supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said valve is set to a closed condition, the combined sealing characteristics of the outlet valve and the valve in the piping assembly being chosen to limit backflow of pressurized air from the reservoir to the high pressure cylinder.

2. The compressor system of claim 1 wherein said piping assembly includes a T-fit coupler connected to first and second pipes for delivering the pressurized air to said reservoir, said T-fit coupler defining a chamber for accommodating said valve.

3. The compressor system of claim 1 wherein the valve in the piping assembly comprises a check valve selected from the group consisting of a ball check valve and a swing check valve, and the set of sealing characteristics for said outlet valve comprises a spring-load sealing.

4. A compressor system for supplying pressurized air to a main storage reservoir of a locomotive, said compressor system comprising:

a high-pressure cylinder having at least one outlet valve having a first set of sealing characteristics;

a piping assembly connected to said outlet valve to selectively pass pressurized air to the reservoir, said piping assembly comprising a T-fit coupler connected to first and second pipes for delivering the pressurized air to said reservoir; and

a check valve disposed in a chamber defined in said T-fit coupler, said check valve having a second set of sealing characteristics different than the sealing characteristics of the outlet valve, said check valve responsive to predefined operational conditions of the air compressor system so that when the compressor system is supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said check valve is set to an open condition, and when said compressor system stops supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said check valve is set to a closed condition, the combined sealing characteristics of the outlet valve and the check valve being chosen to limit backflow of pressurized air from the reservoir to the high pressure cylinder.

5. The compressor system of claim 4 wherein said check valve is selected from the group consisting of a ball check valve and a swing check valve, and the set of sealing characteristics for said outlet valve comprises a spring-load sealing.

6. A method for pneumatically interconnecting a high-pressure cylinder having at least one outlet valve having a first set of sealing characteristics to a main storage reservoir of a locomotive, said method comprising:

connecting a piping assembly to said outlet valve to selectively pass pressurized air to the reservoir, said piping assembly comprising a T-fit coupler connected to first and second pipes for delivering the pressurized air to said reservoir; and

installing a valve in a chamber defined in said T-fit coupler, said valve having a second set of sealing characteristics different than the sealing characteristics of the outlet valve, the valve in the chamber responsive to predefined operational conditions of the air compressor system so that when the compressor system is supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said valve is set to an open condition, and when said compressor system stops supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said valve is set to a closed condition, the combined sealing characteristics of the outlet valve and the valve in the chamber being chosen to limit backflow of pressurized air from the reservoir to the high pressure cylinder.

7. A kit for a compressor system for supplying pressurized air to a main storage reservoir of a locomotive, said compressor system comprising a high-pressure cylinder having at least one outlet valve having a first set of sealing characteristics, said compressor system further comprising a piping assembly connected to said outlet valve to selectively pass pressurized air to the reservoir, said piping assembly comprising a T-fit coupler connected to first and second pipes for delivering the pressurized air to said reservoir, said kit comprising:

a valve to be installed in a chamber defined in said T-fit coupler, said valve having a second set of sealing characteristics different than the sealing characteristics of the outlet valve, said valve responsive to predefined operational conditions of the air compressor system so that when the compressor system is supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said valve is set to an open condition, and when said compressor system stops supplying pressurizing air to said reservoir said valve is set to a closed condition, the combined sealing characteristics of the outlet valve and the valve to be installed in the chamber being chosen to limit backflow of pressurized air from the reservoir to the high pressure cylinder.

8. The kit of claim 7 wherein said valve comprises a check valve selected from the group consisting of a ball check valve and a swing check valve, and the set of sealing characteristics for said outlet valve comprises a spring-load sealing.