System and method for segregating an energy storage system from piping and cabling on a hybrid energy vehicle

• US 7,770,525 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Pelkowski, Stephen, Ellsworth, Harold Alan, Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Mark T
• Application Number:
  US11/745,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 105/50, 105/51, 105/172, 105/35, 105/26.05, 105/436, 105/457, 104/34, 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 429/100, 429/71
• US Class Current: 105/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 7/04 Locomotives or motor railcars with two or more different kinds or types of engines, e.g. steam and IC engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance

Abstract

A system is provided for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable. The system includes a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle, and a second region positioned between the pair of first regions. The energy storage system and at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are respectively positioned within one of the pair of first regions and the second region to segregate the energy storage system from at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of the hybrid energy vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle, said energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable, said system comprising:

a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle;

a second region positioned between said pair of first regions; and

a pair of I-beams configured to separate said second region from each first region of said pair of first regions, each I beam positioned between said second region and each respective first region of said pair of first regions, and each I beam configured to extend the length of said vehicle;

said energy storage system being positioned within one of said pair of first regions and said second region;

one of said at least one air pipe and said at least one electric cable being positioned within one of said pair of first regions and said second region, such that said energy storage system and said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are positioned within mutually exclusive regions among the first regions and second region, to segregate said energy storage system from said at least one air pipe and said at least one electric cable;

wherein said at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable of said energy storage system are respectively positioned within each first region of said pair of first regions, and said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are positioned within said second region;

wherein said segregation of said at least one energy storage device from said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable is to provide a respective first and second level of security clearance to access said respective first pair of regions and said second region, said first level being greater than said second level, and wherein said first level being greater than said second level to account for a high potential in said at least one hybrid cable during normal operation of said vehicle, said second level being lower than said first level to account for a low potential in said at least one electric cable during normal operation of said vehicle other than during a motoring mode, and wherein said second level comprises a hatch to an auxiliary cabin area within said second region, said vehicle being configured to ground said at least one electric cable upon opening said hatch, and said first level comprises a password or key access hatch to said first region to ensure a worker with adequate training gains access to said first region.

2. A system for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle, said energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable, said system comprising:

a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle; and

a pair of second regions respectively positioned within said pair of walkways;

said energy storage system positioned within said pair of first regions and at least one of said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable positioned within at least one second region of said pair of second regions to segregate said energy storage system from at least one of said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of said hybrid energy vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said hybrid energy vehicle comprises a hybrid energy off-highway vehicle, a hybrid energy marine vehicle, or a hybrid energy locomotive.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said system is configured to segregate said energy storage system from at least one of said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable to maximize the physical capacity or quantity of said at least one energy storage device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said energy storage system and said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are respectively positioned within said pair of first regions and said pair of second regions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are positioned within respective second regions of said pair of second regions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said segregation of said at least one energy storage device from said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable is to provide a respective first and second level of security clearance to access said respective first pair of regions and said pair of second regions, said first level being greater than said second level.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one electric cable configured to extend the length of said locomotive within said respective second region of said pair of second regions, each electric cable comprising a pair of removable end portions adjacent to each opposing end of said locomotive and a center portion coupled to and configured to link said pair of removable end portions, and said removable end portions configured to be removable during regular maintenance of each electric cable adjacent to an opposing end of said locomotive.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a hatch along a top surface of said walkway extending along opposing sides of the locomotive, said hatch configured to provide access to said center portion of said at least one electric cable during regular maintenance.

10. A method for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle, said energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable, said method comprising:

designating a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle;

designating a pair of second regions respectively positioned within said pair of walkways; and

segregating said energy storage system from at least one of said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of said hybrid energy vehicle, wherein the energy storage system is segregated from said at least one of said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable by positioning said energy storage system within said pair of first regions and at least one of said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable within at least one second region of said pair of second regions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said hybrid energy vehicle comprises a hybrid energy off-highway vehicle, a hybrid energy marine vehicle, or a hybrid energy locomotive.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said positioning includes positioning said energy storage system within said pair of first regions and positioning said at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable within respective second regions of said pair of second regions.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a respective first and second level of security clearance to access said respective first pair of regions and said pair of second regions, said first level being greater than said second level.