US3701556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Control system for diesel locomotive
Assignee: Eaton Aeroquip LLC
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Filing: 1971-10-01
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1991-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A control system for a diesel locomotive wherein the locomotive is controlled on a power basis, the engineer selecting the power to be supplied the traction motors from the electrical generator, the power selection being sensed and used to control the diesel engine. The system includes means for selecting an infinite number of power settings. Thus, the engineer selects a particular desired power setting or successively selects power settings and the control system automatically controls the engine to achieve that power setting.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham W Richmond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/10; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A throttle control system for selecting a large number of power settings in excess of sixteen for controlling the operation of a diesel locomotive, the locomotive including a diesel engine, an electrical generator driven thereby, and a plurality of govenor solenoids, the energization of a combination of the solenoids controlling the amount of fuel being fed the engine, the improvement comprising infinitely variable throttle control means for controlling the amount of energy being fed from the engine to the output of the generator, means connected to the generator for sensing the power output of the generator, and circuit means connected to the govenor solenoids for selecting an appropriate solenoid combination in response to the sensed power of the generator output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A throttle control system for selecting a large number of power settings in excess of sixteen for controlling the operation of a diesel locomotive, the locomotive including a diesel engine, an electrical generator driven thereby, and a plurality of govenor solenoids, the energization of a combination of the solenoids controlling the amount of fuel being fed the engine, the improvement comprising infinitely variable throttle control means for controlling the amount of energy being fed from the engine to the output of the generator, means connected to the generator for sensing the power output of the generator, and circuit means connected to the govenor solenoids for selecting an appropriate solenoid combination in response to the sensed power of the generator output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a govenor control circuit having a means responsive to the sensed power of the output of the generator, said govenor control circuit selecting preselected combinations of govenor solenoids in response to the sensed power.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said generator power sensor generates an output analog signal having a characteristic which varies in accordance with variations in output power from said generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said generator govenor control circuit includes a signal characteristic magnitude sensitive circuit, said circuit being energized in response to the magnitude of sensed output power.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said magnitude sensitive circuit includes a plurality of circuit modules, said circuit modules being connected in cascade so that successively connected circuit modules are energized in response to increases in magnitude of sensed generator power.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said circuit means further includes a plurality of feedback circuits, each feedback circuit being connected between successive stages of said circuit modules, said feedback circuit being connected to turn off previously turned on modules in response to the turning on of the next successive module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said power sensing means includes means responsive to both the current and voltage output of said generator and conversion means for generating a voltage signal in response to sensed power.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein each said module includes a voltage responsive circuit having a set voltage level at which the voltage responsive circuit means is energized, each said voltage responsive circuit being responsive to successively higher voltage magnitudes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said voltage responsive module includes monostable circuit means connected to said voltage responsive means for energizing a selected module in response to the sensed power voltage signal exceeding the set voltage magnitude of said voltage responsive circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein said power sensing means includes a magnetostrictive diode connected to respond to the output voltage and current from said generator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said selecting circuit means includes a matrix circuit having a plurality of input conductors at least equal to in number to said voltage responsive modules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvement of claim 11 wherein said govenor solenoids are four in number, said matrix circuit being connected to each of said govenor solenoids such that the energization of a particular matrix input conductor energizes a preselected combination of govenor solenoids in accordance with the sensed generator power.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein said module circuit selectively energizes one of a single govenor solenoid, two govenor soleNoids, three govenor solenoids and four govenor solenoids in response to the sensed power from said generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said circuit means generates an output signal for selecting two combinations of govenor solenoids on a time basis such that the duty cycle of the energization of one combination of govenor solenoids is selected to feed fuel to said engine to respond to the sensed power output of said generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein the sensed power causes the energization of the second combination of govenor solenoids until such time that the power output of said generator drops below that required to maintain energization of said second combination of govenor solenoids, said circuit means thereafter selecting first combination of govenor solenoids, until such time as said power output of said generator exceeds that required by said first combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein said selection of the time said first and second combinations of govenor solenoids are energized is responsive to the ratio of said power requirement of said generator relative to the power generator in response to the selection of said second combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said circuit means generates an output signal for selecting two combinations of govenor solenoids on a time basis such that the duty cycle of the energization of one combination of govenor solenoids is selected to feed fuel to said engine to respond to the sensed power output of said generator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improvement of claim 17 wherein the sensed power causes the energization of the second combination of govenor solenoids until such time that the power output of said generator drops below that required to maintain energization of said second combination of govenor solenoids, said circuit means thereafter selecting first combination of govenor solenoids, until such time as said power output of said generator exceeds that required by said first combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement of claim 18 wherein said selection of the time said first and second combinations of govenor solenoids are energized is responsive to the ratio of said power requirement of said generator relative to the power generator in response to the selection of said second combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of selecting a large number of power settings in excess of sixteen for controlling the operation of diesel locomotive, the locomotive including a diesel engine, an electrical generator driven thereby, and a plurality of govenor solenoids, the energization of a combination of the solenoids controlling the amount of fuel being fed the engine, the improvement comprising infinitely, variably controlling the amount of energy being fed from the engine to the output of the generator, sensing the power output of the generator, and selecting an appropriate govenor solenoid combination in response to the sensed power of the generator output.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of selecting a large number of power settings in excess of sixteen for controlling the operation of diesel locomotive, the locomotive including a diesel engine, an electrical generator driven thereby, and a plurality of govenor solenoids, the energization of a combination of the solenoids controlling the amount of fuel being fed the engine, the improvement comprising infinitely, variably controlling the amount of energy being fed from the engine to the output of the generator, sensing the power output of the generator, and selecting an appropriate govenor solenoid combination in response to the sensed power of the generator output.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 20 wherein said method includes selecting preselected combinations of govenor solenoids in response to the sensed power.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 21 wherein said method includes generating an output analog signal having a characteristic which varies in accordance with variations in output power from said generator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 22 wherein said power sensing steps includes sensing both the current and voltage output of said generator and generating a voltage signal in response to sensed power.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein each method includes controlling the selection of said govenor solenoids in response to successively higher voltage magnitudes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 22 wherein said method includes generating an output signal for selecting two combinations of govenor solenoids on a time basis such that the duty cycle of the energization of one combination of govenor solenoids is seleCted to feed fuel to said engine to respond to the sensed power output of said generator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improvement of claim 25 wherein the sensed power causes the energization of the second combination of govenor solenoids until such time that the power output of said generator drops below that required to maintain energization of said second combination of govenor solenoids, and thereafter selecting first combination of govenor solenoids, until such time as said power output of said generator exceeds that required by said first combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement of claim 26 wherein said selection of the time said first and second combinations of govenor solenoids are energized is responsive to the ratio of said power requirement of said generator relative to the power generator in response to the selection of said second combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 24 wherein said method includes generating an output signal for selecting two combinations of govenor solenoids on a time basis such that the duty cycle of the energization of one combination of govenor solenoids is selected to feed fuel to said engine to respond to the sensed power output of said generator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improvement of claim 28 wherein the sensed power causes the energization of the second combination of govenor solenoids until such time that the power output of said generator drops below that required to maintain energization of said second combination of govenor solenoids, and thereafter selecting first combination of govenor solenoids, until such time as said power output of said generator exceeds that required by said first combination of govenor solenoids.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The improvement of claim 29 wherein said selection of the time said first and second combinations of govenor solenoids are energized is responsive to the ratio of said power requirement of said generator relative to the power generator in response to the selection of said second combination of govenor solenoids.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |