B61C5/00

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICULAR POWER GENERATION
20190344808 · 2019-11-14 ·

A vehicle may include: a genset including: an engine configured to combust light fuel such as natural gas, a generator linked to the engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the engine into electrical energy; one or more light fuel storage containers; one or more electrical storage devices such as batteries; a plurality of wheels; a plurality of electric motors configured to drive the plurality of wheels; a first power bus configured to electrically connect the generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, and the plurality of electric motors. Each of the one or more electrical storage devices may be disposed lower than each of the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to a reference plane parallel to ground.

GEARBOX ASSEMBLY

An engine system includes a gearbox assembly that includes a housing having plural interconnected gears disposed between an engine side of the housing and an alternator side of the housing, a rotatable engine coupler connected with the engine side of the housing, the engine coupler configured to engage a rotatable shaft of an engine, and a rotatable alternator coupler connected with the alternator side of the housing, the alternator coupler configured to engage a rotor of a first alternator. The housing is configured to be positioned between the engine and the first alternator. The engine coupler is configured to engage the engine that is resiliently mounted in the powered system and the alternator coupler is configured to engage the first alternator that is rigidly mounted in the powered system to transfer rotation of the shaft of the engine to rotation of the rotor of the first alternator.

System and method for controlling a vehicle

A system includes a drive system having one or more traction motors coupled in driving relationship to a plurality of wheels of a vehicle system. The traction motors are configured to provide both motive power for the vehicle system in a propel mode of operation and retarding effort to brake the vehicle system in a braking mode of operation. The system further includes a parking brake for maintaining a static position of the vehicle system when in an engaged state, and a controller configured to detect when the parking brake is in the engaged state. The controller is further configured to control at least one of the one or more traction motors to provide a braking effort to resist movement of the vehicle system when the parking brake is in the engaged state.

System and method for controlling a vehicle

A system includes a drive system having one or more traction motors coupled in driving relationship to a plurality of wheels of a vehicle system. The traction motors are configured to provide both motive power for the vehicle system in a propel mode of operation and retarding effort to brake the vehicle system in a braking mode of operation. The system further includes a parking brake for maintaining a static position of the vehicle system when in an engaged state, and a controller configured to detect when the parking brake is in the engaged state. The controller is further configured to control at least one of the one or more traction motors to provide a braking effort to resist movement of the vehicle system when the parking brake is in the engaged state.

Managing a supply of gaseous fuel on a tender car

A supply of gaseous fuel on a tender car for fuelling a locomotive engine requires the coordination of a variety of operational modes to improve the safety and efficiency 10 when operating components for delivering, refueling, draining, capturing and storing gaseous fuel. A method and apparatus for managing a supply of gaseous on a tender car comprises receiving on the tender car a command signal from the locomotive commanding delivery of gaseous fuel from the tender car to the locomotive; transferring from the tender car at least one status signal to the locomotive indicating 1 status of the tender car; representing a plurality of operational modes of the tender car as a plurality of states; and transitioning between the plurality of states in response to the command signal and the at least one status signal.

Managing a supply of gaseous fuel on a tender car

A supply of gaseous fuel on a tender car for fuelling a locomotive engine requires the coordination of a variety of operational modes to improve the safety and efficiency 10 when operating components for delivering, refueling, draining, capturing and storing gaseous fuel. A method and apparatus for managing a supply of gaseous on a tender car comprises receiving on the tender car a command signal from the locomotive commanding delivery of gaseous fuel from the tender car to the locomotive; transferring from the tender car at least one status signal to the locomotive indicating 1 status of the tender car; representing a plurality of operational modes of the tender car as a plurality of states; and transitioning between the plurality of states in response to the command signal and the at least one status signal.

Methods and systems for engine

Methods and systems are provided for controlling fueling and mitigating knock in internal combustion engines, such as multi-fuel engines. In one example, a method may include monitoring a frequency of knock events corresponding to one or more engine cylinders, and dynamically increasing a substitution ratio while the frequency of knock events is less than a maximum action threshold. In some examples, the method may further include actively adjusting one or more engine operating conditions to decrease the substitution ratio responsive to a severity of knocking in the one or more engine cylinders being greater than or equal to a threshold severity.

Methods and systems for engine

Methods and systems are provided for controlling fueling and mitigating knock in internal combustion engines, such as multi-fuel engines. In one example, a method may include monitoring a frequency of knock events corresponding to one or more engine cylinders, and dynamically increasing a substitution ratio while the frequency of knock events is less than a maximum action threshold. In some examples, the method may further include actively adjusting one or more engine operating conditions to decrease the substitution ratio responsive to a severity of knocking in the one or more engine cylinders being greater than or equal to a threshold severity.

Methods and systems for multi-fuel engine

Methods and systems are provided for a multi-fuel engine. In one example, a method includes adjusting a substitution ratio based on an intake manifold temperature. The method further including adjusting the intake manifold temperature to increase the substitution ratio.

System and method for reducing vapor generation in liquefied natural gas fueled vehicle

A method of reducing vapor generation in an LNG fueled vehicle is provided. The LNG fueled vehicle includes an LNG fuel system including an external LNG pump. The method includes a step of predicting if the LNG fueled vehicle will be operated during a first forthcoming time period using a controller. If the LNG fueled vehicle will be operated during the first forthcoming time period, as determined by the first predicting step, the method includes cooling the external LNG pump.