DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING A DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE INTO AN ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE

Abstract

A device for converting a diesel-electric locomotive into an electric locomotive includes operating components for an electric locomotive and an adapter frame on which the operating components are mounted. The adapter frame is designed so that it can be connected to connection points of a mechanical basic structure of the diesel-electric locomotive. There is also described a corresponding electric locomotive and a method for conversion.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A device for converting a diesel-electric locomotive to an electric locomotive, the device comprising: an adapter frame upon which the operational components are mounted, said adapter frame being configured for connection to connection points of a basic mechanical structure of the diesel-electric locomotive; operational components for the electric locomotive, said operational components being integral structures including an auxiliary power converter together with a static power converter, a transformer together with a cooling system, a current collector together with a transformer, and a transformer together with a static power converter; said operational components being functionally connected to one another on said adapter frame, including electrical connections, hydraulic connections, and pneumatic connections between the transformer, the static power converter, the cooling system, and the auxiliary power converter; the device being configured to be put into operation and to be tested as a system outside the diesel-electric locomotive; the device, at least in part, having an outer shape of the electric locomotive, including a roof structure and side walls, and said operational components placed onto said adapter frame forming, at least in part, an outer skin of the locomotive.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein: said operational components arranged on said adapter frame are configured for driving at least one traction motor of the diesel-electric locomotive and said operational components are equipped with, or connected to, an energy source; said operational components comprise electrical switching systems, controlling systems and transmitting systems selected from the group consisting of the transformer, the static power converter, the cooling system and auxiliary power converter, a brake pressure generator, a current collector, and charge storage unit.

18. The device according to claim 16, comprising frame connections on said adapter frame for connecting said adapter frame to connection points of a basic mechanical structure of the diesel-electrical locomotive.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein said adapter frame is configured for mounting on a basic mechanical structure of a number of different types of diesel-electric locomotives and is configured for connecting to connection points of the different types of the diesel-electric locomotives.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein said adapter frame is formed with lifting fastening units configured for engaging with hooks of a crane suspension.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said lifting fastening units are selected from the group consisting of lifting lugs and lifting eyes.

22. The device according to claim 16, wherein said adapter frame comprises ballast and/or trimming ballast.

23. The device according to claim 16, wherein said adapter frame is formed to act as a ballast and/or a trimming ballast.

24. The device according to claim 16, wherein said adapter frame has a two-part configuration with two to be connected to one another.

25. An electric locomotive, comprising a device according to claim 16.

26. A method of converting a diesel-electric locomotive into an electric locomotive, the method comprising the following steps: providing a device according to claim 16 outside the diesel-electric locomotive; functionally testing the device and subsequently mounting the device on a basic mechanical structure of the diesel-electric locomotive; connecting the device to connection points of the basic mechanical structure; connecting energy-related connections of the device to drive components of the diesel-electric locomotive.

27. The method according to claim 26, producing the device by assembling operational components of an electric locomotive on an adapter frame, wherein the adapter frame is provided with frame connections for connecting to the connection points of the basic mechanical structure of the diesel-electric locomotive.

Description

[0054] The invention is explained once again in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended figures. The same components are provided with identical designations here in the various figures. In the figures, which are generally not to scale:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows an example of an undercarriage of a diesel-electric locomotive,

[0056] FIG. 2 shows an example of an undercarriage of a diesel-electric locomotive with an adapter frame.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an example of a device according to the invention,

[0058] FIG. 4 shows an example of an undercarriage of a converted diesel-electric locomotive,

[0059] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention,

[0060] FIG. 6 shows an example of an adapter frame.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows by way of example an undercarriage of a diesel-electric locomotive which is to be converted into an electric locomotive. This undercarriage is representative of a basic mechanical structure with a body or undercarriage with a bogie with the drives (traction motors and transmission). There may likewise be a driver's cab with operating elements and comfort-enhancing equipment and the braking equipment of the diesel-electric locomotive.

[0062] The undercarriage shown here for a diesel-electric locomotive comprises four diesel-engine connection points 2 (two are concealed because of the perspective) and two generator connection points 1. The number and position of the connection points 1, 2 depend on the type of locomotive and also the diesel-electric drive units mounted there. Other diesel engines with generators have for example a different number of connection points.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows an example of an undercarriage of a diesel-electric locomotive with an adapter frame 3. This is fastened at the generator connection points 1 and the diesel-engine connection points 2. In this example, the adapter frame 3 was connected by means of screwing at the generator connection points 1 and diesel-engine connection points 2 by frame connections 4. Other possibilities for fastening, for example welding or screwing on directly without frame connections 4, may be chosen according to the application.

[0064] This figure is not intended to describe the invention directly, but merely illustrates the concept of the fixed and secure connection of the adapter frame 4 to the undercarriage. Presented hereafter is a device according to the invention that can be connected by means of its adapter frame to the undercarriage in the way shown here.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows an example of a device 9 according to the invention. According to the invention, the operational components 5, 6, 7, 8, that is to say the electric-locomotive-specific assemblies, are assembled on the adapter frame 3. In the example shown, these are the transformer 5, static power converter 6, cooling system 7 and auxiliary power converter 8. It goes without saying that other configurations of the operational components 5, 6, 7, 8, for example other groupings or other positionings, may be provided. The assembled device 9 shown here, comprising the adapter frame 3, transformer 5, static power converter 6, cooling system 7 and auxiliary power converter 8, may also be referred to as an electro power pack 9.

[0066] The adapter frame 3 is created here in such a way that it provides mechanical connection points (possibly according to the prior art) for all of the components of the device 9. Moreover, all of the electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic connections between the components, the transformer 5, static power converter 6, cooling system 7 and auxiliary power converter 8, are integrated in the device 9. All of the interfaces of the device 9 with the rest of the locomotive are positioned at suitable positions on the device 9. The device 9 is consequently a pre-testable unit, which can be electrically, hydraulically and pneumatically tested in advance and logged. Suitable lifting lugs or lifting eyes (not shown) allow the complete device 9 to be raised up as a unit onto the undercarriage, that is to say into the locomotive, and connected there.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows an example of an undercarriage of a converted diesel-electric locomotive, with an inserted device according to the invention as provided by the example shown in FIG. 3.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for converting a diesel-electric locomotive into an electric locomotive.

[0069] In step I, a construction or an assembly of a device 9 according to the invention takes place, as can be seen for example in FIG. 3. The assembly of the device 9 takes place in this case outside the diesel-electric locomotive. During the assembly of the device 9, operational components 5, 6, 7, 8 of an electric locomotive are assembled on an adapter frame 3, for example are screwed to it. The adapter frame 3 may be provided with frame connections 4 for connecting to connection points 1, 2 of a basic mechanical structure of the diesel-electric locomotive.

[0070] In step II, a test of the device (9) for its function is performed. In this case, for example, sensors may be connected to the interfaces of the device 9 and their states measured, while the device receives control signals such as it would also receive in practice from a driver's cab.

[0071] In step III, mounting of the device 9 on a basic mechanical structure of the diesel-electric locomotive takes place. For this purpose, lifting lugs may be attached to the adapter frame 3 (if there are not yet any lifting fastening units) and the adapter frame lifted by means of a crane onto the basic framework of the diesel-electric locomotive to be converted.

[0072] In step IV, the device 9 is connected to connection points 1, 2 of the basic mechanical structure, it is therefore fastened to the basic structure at the connection points 1, 2. The fastening is preferably performed by way of screwing.

[0073] In step V, an energy-related connection of the device 9 to drive components of the diesel-electric locomotive is performed.

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a preferred adapter frame 3. This adapter frame comprises a rectangular basic body 3a and holding structures 3b, 3c. Moreover, frame connections 4 are attached. Some of the holding structures 3b, 3c are shaped as shimming structures, in order to allow elevated mounting of an operational component 5, 6, 7, 8. Other holding structures are formed as fastening structures 3b, which are intended to hold a further operational component 5, 6, 7, 8 between them with a form fit.

[0075] Finally, it is once again pointed out that the device 9 previously described in detail merely comprises exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a wide variety of ways by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite article a or an does not exclude the possibility that the features concerned may also be multiply present. Similarly, the terms unit and component do not exclude the possibility that the elements concerned consist of multiple interacting part-segments, which may possibly also be spatially distributed.