Electrical ground isolation and secondary failure reduction detection and isolation
First Claim
1. In a locomotive having a propulsion system with at least traction motors and alternators, a method of isolating an AC electrical ground fault in said propulsion system while said locomotive is operating in a braking or motoring condition, said method comprising:
- (a) operating said locomotive during a normal mission wherein said propulsion system will provide for braking and motoring of said locomotive;
(b) monitoring alternating current within said propulsion system;
(c) detecting an AC ground while said locomotive is braking or motoring;
(d) determining which traction motor or alternator is causing said ground by selectively disabling a traction motor or alternator until the AC ground fault is found;
(e) verifying said traction motor or alternator causing said ground is the correct traction motor or alternator by re-engaging said disabled traction motor or alternator;
(f) if said AC ground is still detected, isolating said traction motor or said alternator causing said AC ground from said propulsion system;
(g) if said AC ground is still detected, after a specific amount of time re-enabling said traction motor or alternator causing said AC ground to determine whether said AC ground remains; and
(h) if said AC ground is still not detected, continuing operating said locomotive with all traction motors and alternators in use.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for isolating electrical ground faults and secondary failures in an electrical system, the system comprising an AC ground isolation state machine for detecting and isolating an AC ground, a DC ground isolation state machine for detecting and isolating a DC ground, a component failure isolation state machine for detecting and isolating a change in a resistance, and a component failure early detection algorithm for determining a failure before using the state machines.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a locomotive having a propulsion system with at least traction motors and alternators, a method of isolating an AC electrical ground fault in said propulsion system while said locomotive is operating in a braking or motoring condition, said method comprising:
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(a) operating said locomotive during a normal mission wherein said propulsion system will provide for braking and motoring of said locomotive; (b) monitoring alternating current within said propulsion system; (c) detecting an AC ground while said locomotive is braking or motoring; (d) determining which traction motor or alternator is causing said ground by selectively disabling a traction motor or alternator until the AC ground fault is found; (e) verifying said traction motor or alternator causing said ground is the correct traction motor or alternator by re-engaging said disabled traction motor or alternator; (f) if said AC ground is still detected, isolating said traction motor or said alternator causing said AC ground from said propulsion system; (g) if said AC ground is still detected, after a specific amount of time re-enabling said traction motor or alternator causing said AC ground to determine whether said AC ground remains; and (h) if said AC ground is still not detected, continuing operating said locomotive with all traction motors and alternators in use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In a locomotive having a propulsion system with at least a grid box, a method of isolating a DC electrical ground fault in said propulsion system while said locomotive is operating in a braking or motoring condition, said method comprising:
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(a) operating said locomotive during a normal mission wherein said propulsion system will provide for braking and motoring of said locomotive; (h) detecting a DC ground while said locomotive is braking or motoring; (c) determining a grid box causing said ground; (d) isolating said grid box from said propulsion system; (e) verifying that said grid box causing said ground is the correct grid box; (f) if said grid box is verified as not causing said DC ground, considering other grid boxes as possibly causing said ground. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a locomotive having a propulsion system with at least traction motors and alternators, a system for isolating an AC electrical ground fault in said propulsion system while said locomotive is operating in a braking or motoring condition, said system comprising:
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(a) a first state where a plurality of traction motors and alternators all are used in braking or motoring said locomotive and to monitor alternating current within said propulsion system; (b) a second state to isolate a traction motor or alternator when an AC ground is detected while braking or motoring said locomotive; (c) a third state to verify said traction motor or alternator is causing said AC ground; (d) a fourth state to selectively isolate said traction motor or alternator causing said AC ground until said AC ground fault is found; (e) a fifth sate to enable said isolated traction motor or alternator to verify that said traction motor or alternator is causing said ground; (f) wherein if said AC ground is still detected, said fourth state again isolates said traction motor or said alternator causing said AC ground from said propulsion system for a specific time period and once said specific time period has passed said system re-enables said traction motor or alternator to determine whether said AC ground remains. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. In a locomotive having a propulsion system with at least a grid box, a system for isolating a DC electrical round fault in said propulsion system while said locomotive is operating in a braking or motoring condition, said method comprising:
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(a) a first state where a plurality of grid hasps are used in braking or motoring said locomotive and to monitor direct current within said propulsion system; (b) a second state to isolate a grid box when an DC ground is detected while braking or motoring said locomotive; (c) a third state to verify said grid box is causing said DC ground; (g) a fourth state to selectively isolate said grid box causing said DC ground until said DC ground fault is found; (h) a fifth sate to enable said isolated grid box to verify that said grid box is causing said DC ground; wherein if said isolated grid box is verified as not causing said DC ground, other grid boxes evaluated as possibly causing said DC ground. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification