Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-08-28
Ballato, Josie (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
C701S029000, C340S511000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Locomotives are required by law to be inspected once every ninety-two days. During an inspection, failure to detect degrading components in a locomotive's electrical cranking system may result in a failure in the following ninety-two day period. A defect in a locomotive cranking system requires additional labor at the railroad's maintenance facility. If a failure in the energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling occurs on a railroad track during a mission while pulling rail cars, such failure can stop rail traffic on a set of tracks until the locomotive is serviced. Each mission failure is estimated to cost a railroad in excess of ten thousand US dollars.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus there is a particular need for a method and system to detect incipient failure of a locomotive energy storage unit and/or high power interface cables that connect the energy storage unit to the locomotive cranking system.
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for predicting incipient failure in a locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling comprises starting an engine of the locomotive; obtaining charge current sample values of the energy storage unit during energy storage unit charging at a predetermined rate for a predetermined period of time; calculating an average value of the charge current sample values; and using the average value of the charge current sample values to predict incipient failure of the locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for predicting incipient failure in a locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling comprises obtaining crank voltage sample values of the energy storage unit during cranking of an engine of the locomotive; calculating an average value of the crank voltage sample values; and using the average value of the crank voltage sample values to predict incipient failure of the locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for predicting incipient failure in a locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling comprises prior to energizing (cranking or jogging) an engine of the locomotive, obtaining pre-energized current and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit and calculating an average value of the pre-energized current sample values and an average value of the pre-energized voltage sample values. Then, while energizing the engine, energized current and voltage sample values of the energy storage unit are obtained, and average values of the energized current sample values and energized voltage sample values are calculated. This embodiment further includes subtracting the average value of the pre-energized current from the average value of the energized current to calculate a delta current value, subtracting the average value of the pre-energized voltage from the average value of the energized voltage to calculate a delta voltage value, dividing the delta voltage value by the delta current value to calculate an effective impedance, and using the effective resistance to predict incipient failure of the locomotive energy storage unit or energy storage unit cabling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like numerals represent like components, in which:
FIG. 1
is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention wherein charging current is obtained and used for incipient failure detection (IFD).
FIG. 2
is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention wherein cranking voltage is obtained and used for IFD.
FIG. 3
is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention wherein both current and voltage are obtained and used for IFD.
FIGS. 4-5
are graphs illustrating waveforms obtained using the embodiment of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 6
is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention similar to that of
FIG. 3
with additional voltage sensors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4320333 (1982-03-01), Hase
patent: 5739670 (1998-04-01), Brost et al.
patent: 6094617 (2000-07-01), Lapke
King Robert Dean
Koegl Rudolph Alfred Albert
Redinger Kristofor Lynn
Agosti Ann M.
Ballato Josie
Breedlove Jill M.
General Electric Company
Polk Sharon
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