Exhaust intake bonnet for capturing exhausts from diesel-powered locomotives

• US 7,832,338 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greener Port Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Environmental Group LLC
• Inventors: Connolly, Kevin, Caro, Sal
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano; S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCarry, Jr.; Robert J
• Application Number:
  US11/370,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 104/51, 104/52, 454/64, 454/166, 454/167
• US Class Current: 104/52
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/02 Arrangement or disposition of intakes and apparatus for supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/04 Arrangement or disposition of exhaust apparatus

Abstract

A bonnet captures exhaust gases from the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives. The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender. One or more of the bonnets are positioned over the exhaust pipe or pipes of the locomotive and are secured to the exhaust pipes or to a top surface of the locomotive. The bonnets are connected to a manifold, and the manifold carries the exhaust gasses to an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing. The bonnets enclose a volume above and/or around the exhaust pipes and the compliant bumper closes against the internal or external surface of the exhaust pipe or pipes or against the top surface of the locomotive surrounding the exhaust pipe or pipes. The closing prevents or limits outside air from entering the bonnet and the exhaust gases from being emitted to the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A system for processing diesel locomotive exhaust, the system comprising:

an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing locomotive exhaust;

at least one parallel duct running parallel to train tracks the duct including an extendable and compressible inner duct residing in the at least one parallel duct and the extendable and compressible inner duct is adapted to extend and compress within the at least one parallel duct to allow movement of the locomotive along the train tracks;

a slot forming a longitudinal opening into the at the least one parallel duct, the slot running substantially the length of the at the least one parallel duct;

seals running the length of the slot and ordinarily closing the slot to resist the escape of exhaust emitted from a locomotive exhaust pipe from the at least one parallel duct;

a duct transport unit adapted to slide along the at least one parallel duct and to open the seal as the duct transport unit slides along the at least one parallel duct, wherein the seal closes behind the duct transport unit;

a bonnet for capturing the exhaust emitted from the locomotive exhaust pipe;

a vertical duct connecting the bonnet to the duct transport unit carrying the captured exhaust from the bonnet to the duct transport unit; and

a connecting duct connected to the at least one parallel duct for carrying the exhaust from the at least one parallel duct to the ECU.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonnet is moveable to position over the locomotive exhaust pipe, the bonnet further including:

a shell having a closed perimeter enclosing a volume around a single locomotive exhaust pipe.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the shell closes against a roof surface of the locomotive.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the shell closes against an external surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the shell closes against an internal surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the bonnet is held in place against the locomotive roof by one of a group consisting of gravity, friction, mechanical means and electro-magnetic force.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the vertical duct is an extendable vertical duct for carrying the exhaust from the shell to the horizontal duct; and

the extendable vertical duct extends to allow the bonnet to be lowered against the locomotive and retracts to allow the bonnet to be raised away from the locomotive.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the shell includes a fender along a lower edge, the fender sufficiently compliant so as to conform to the shape of the locomotive roof and to close against the roof.

9. A bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust, the bonnet comprising:

a shell forming a volume for enclosing a single locomotive exhaust pipe and capturing exhaust from the locomotive exhaust pipe and held in place by an electromagnet; and

a vertical duct connected to the shell and in fluid communication with the shell for receiving the exhaust captured by the shell, wherein the bonnet is moveable to position over the locomotive exhaust pipe,

wherein the bonnet is not in direct contact with the single locomotive exhaust pipe and the bonnet relies on receiving locomotive exhaust from the enclosed volume around the single locomotive exhaust pipe.

10. The bonnet of claim 9, wherein the shell includes a fender around a lower edge of the shell for closing out outside air.

11. The bonnet of claim 10, wherein the fender is a compliant lower edge of the bonnet for closing against the roof of a locomotive.

12. The bonnet of claim 11, wherein the bonnet includes electromagnets for holding the compliant lower edge against a roof of the locomotive.

13. The bonnet of claim 11, wherein the compliant lower edge comprises a high-temperature silicon foam, encasing a structural member.

14. The bonnet of claim 11, wherein the compliant lower edge comprises a compliant material encasing a structural member comprising at least one of a group consisting of carbon-reinforced epoxy, ester, and of spring steel.

15. The bonnet of claim 10, wherein the fender closes against an external surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

16. The bonnet of claim 10, wherein the fender closes against an internal surface of the locomotive exhaust pipe.

17. The bonnet of claim 9, wherein a negative pressure is maintained within the bonnet.

18. The bonnet of claim 9, wherein:

the duct comprises an extendable vertical duct for carrying the exhaust from the shell to a manifold; and

the extendable vertical duct extends to allow the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and retracts to allow the bonnet to be raised away from a locomotive.

19. The bonnet of claim 18, wherein the vertical duct is a telescoping duct thereby allowing the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and raised away from the locomotive.

20. The bonnet of claim 18, wherein the vertical duct is a flexible duct thereby allowing the bonnet to be lowered against a locomotive and raised away from the locomotive.

21. A system for processing diesel locomotive exhaust, the system comprising:

an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing locomotive exhaust;

a bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust emitted from a locomotive exhaust pipe of a locomotive; and

an ECU rail car comprising;

a tower,

a boom extending from the tower; and

duct supports held by the boom,

wherein;

the ECU is mounted on the ECU rail car;

a manifold comprises at least one connecting duct supported by the duct supports and providing fluid communication between the bonnet and the ECU; and

the ECU rail car is carried on train tracks and the locomotive is carried by the same train tracks.

22. A bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust, the bonnet comprising:

a shell forming a volume for enclosing a single locomotive exhaust pipe and capturing exhaust from the locomotive exhaust pipe; and

a vertical duct connected to the shell and in fluid communication with the shell for receiving the exhaust captured by the shell, wherein the bonnet is moveable to position over the locomotive exhaust pipe;

wherein the shell comprises a tent and a frame, wherein the frame attaches to a hinge and the hinge and the frame are independently vertically supported, wherein vertically adjusting the hinge with respect to the frame causes the frame to narrow and widen.

23. The bonnet of claim 22, wherein the hinge and the frame are vertically supported by cables.

24. The bonnet of claim 22, wherein the hinge runs along a peak of the frame.

25. A bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust, the bonnet comprising:

a shell forming a volume for enclosing a single locomotive exhaust pipe and capturing exhaust from the locomotive exhaust pipe; and

a vertical duct connected to the shell and in fluid communication with the shell for receiving the exhaust captured by the shell, wherein the bonnet is moveable to position over the locomotive exhaust pipe,

wherein;

no part of the bonnet is in direct contact with the single locomotive exhaust pipe and the bonnet relies on receiving locomotive exhaust from the enclosed volume around the single locomotive exhaust pipe; and

the bonnet includes an air foil inside the shell for guiding exhaust into the vertical duct and stabilizing the exhaust flow into the vertical duct, wherein the air foil extends from the vertical duct towards the exhaust pipe and flairs to an increasing diameter.

26. A bonnet for capturing locomotive exhaust, the bonnet comprising:

a shell forming a volume for enclosing a single locomotive exhaust pipe and capturing exhaust from the locomotive exhaust pipe; and

a vertical duct connected to the shell and in fluid communication with the shell for receiving the exhaust captured by the shell, wherein the bonnet is moveable to position over the locomotive exhaust pipe,

wherein;

no part of the bonnet is in direct contact with the single locomotive exhaust pipe and the bonnet relies on receiving locomotive exhaust from the enclosed volume around the single locomotive exhaust pipe; and

the ECU reduced particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the locomotive exhaust released to the environment.