# US 5,334,878 A · Inverter control for third rail head end power > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,334,878 A - Document ID: US5334878A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/046,833 - Filed: 1993-04-13 - Granted: 1994-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 1993-04-13 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Laurence D. Vanek; Robert G. McGrath - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5334878A ## CPC - B60L 1/00: Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00) - B60L 50/10: using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines - B60L 2200/26: Rail vehicles - F02B 3/06: with compression ignition (compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02) - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system provides dual power producing capability to a diesel locomotive. The diesel engine drives the power generating system on the locomotive when the locomotive is operating under normal conditions. An inverter is provided to drive the power generating system on the locomotive and for supplying auxiliary and head end power when the locomotive is operating on third rail power and the engine is de-energized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical system for providing dual power producing capability to a locomotive having a power generating system including a main alternator, the electrical system comprising: (a) an engine for driving the power generating system of the locomotive when operating under normal conditions; and (b) conversion means for driving the power generating system of the locomotive when operating on third rail power. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conversion means comprises an inverter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrical system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the alternator is adapted to crank the engine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a line filter for reducing noise on the third rail. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine comprises a diesel engine. ### Claim 6 A method of providing dual power producing capability to an engine-driven locomotive having a power generating system including a main alternator, the method comprising the steps of: (a) driving the power generating system of the locomotive from said engine when operating under normal conditions; and (b) causing the main alternator to drive the power generating system of the locomotive when operating on third rail power with the engine shut down. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the step of causing the main alternator to drive the power generating system of the locomotive comprises the step of supplying the third rail power to the main alternator through an inverter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the step of providing a line filter for reducing noise on the third rail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said engine comprises a diesel engine. ### Claim 10 An electrical system for providing uninterrupted transfer of power to a locomotive from an engine power source to a third rail power source, the locomotive having a power generating system, the electrical system comprising: a main alternator; an inverter for causing the main alternator to drive the power generating system of the locomotive when operating on the third rail power source; and means for powering up the inverter and simultaneously powering down the engine power source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engine of said engine power source comprises a diesel engine.