Aftercooler bypass means for a locomotive compressed air system
AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Company
InventorsWalter E. Goettel, Brian L. Cunkelman, Daniel G. Wagner, Roger Drummond
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for heating gases cooled by an aftercooler that receives hot gases from a compressor. The method includes the steps of directing at least a portion of said hot gases to means for bypassing the aftercooler, and using the bypass means to direct hot gases to a location that receives cooled gases from the aftercooler. The hot gases are used at the location to heat the cooled gases when ambient temperature is at or below freezing, and are used downstream from the aftercooler when moisture freezes in the aftercooler.
Claims22
A method of heating gases cooled by an aftercooler receiving hot gases from a compressor, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) directing a portion of said hot gases to a bypass means for by-passing the aftercooler,
- (b) using said bypass means to direct hot gases to a location receiving cooled gases exhausted from the aftercooler for use at a location downstream from the aftercooler, and
- (c) using said hot gases bypassed by the bypass means to heat the cooled gases exhausted from the aftercooler.
Apparatus for heating gases cooled in an aftercooler connected to receive hot gases from a compressor, the apparatus comprising:
- means connected to receive a portion of such hot gases from such compressor for directing said portion of said hot gases around such aftercooler and to a predetermined location receiving cooled gases from such aftercooler, while a remainder of such hot gases is sent to such aftercooler from such compressor for cooling,
- such hot gases being effective to heat such cooled gases at such receiving location.
The apparatus-of claim is wherein said apparatus further includes a magnet valve connected to receive hot compressed gases from such source of such gases, and use same as a control gas for operating said three-way valve.
A method of by passing an aftercooler connected to receive high temperature compressed air from a source of such air, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting (1) a first port of a three-way valve to such source of high temperature air, (2) a second port of such valve to such aftercooler, and (3) a third port of such valve to an output pipe, and
- (b) opening said valve between said first and second ports to conduct high temperature air through said valve to said third port when ambient temperature is near, at or below freezing, and to close said valve when ambient temperature is above freezing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.