Power converter
AssigneeRailway Equipment Company, Inc.
InventorDavid K. Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power converter for a rail car is disclosed. The power converter may be electrically coupled with a generator, a battery, and a load. The generator may generate an electrical current using a rotation of the axle and provide the current to the power converter. The power converter may convert the current received from the generator and provide the converted current to one or more of the battery or the load. The power converter may be activated in response to detecting a rotation of the axle or in response to detecting air pressure in the air brake system. The power converter may be deactivated when the rail car has not moved for an amount of time.
Claims21
A power supply system for a rail car, the power supply system comprising:
- a power converter that receives a first electrical current from a generator coupled to an axle of the rail car and converts the first electrical current into a second electrical current;
- and
- a battery electrically coupled to the power converter, wherein one or more of the power converter or the battery are electrically coupled to a load via a switch;
- wherein the power converter is configured to:
- close the switch after detecting a rotation of the axle of the rail car or after receiving a signal from an air brake system;
- and
- open the switch a predetermined time after determining that the rail car is stationary.
A power converter for a rail car, the power converter comprising:
- a voltage converter configured to receive a first electrical current from a generator coupled to an axle of the rail car and convert the first electrical current into a second electrical current;
- a processor;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the power converter to:
- detect an activation event;
- in response to detecting the activation event, closing a switch electrically coupling a load with one or more of the power converter or a battery;
- determining that the rail car is stationary;
- and
- a predetermined time after determining that the rail car is stationary, opening the switch.
A method for providing power in a rail car, the method comprising:
- converting a first electrical current received from a generator into a second electrical current;
- detecting a rotation of an axle of the rail car or receiving a signal from an air brake system;
- after detecting the rotation of the axle of the rail car or receiving the signal from the air brake system, closing a switch electrically coupling a load with one or more of a power converter or a battery;
- and
- opening the switch after determining that the rail car is stationary for a predetermined amount of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.