US 5,392,741 A · Locomotive engine cooling system

Abstract

A water cooling system for a locomotive engine that enables the engine to operate at a maximum power level that generates a maximum permissible engine cooling water temperature corresponding to a particular ambient air temperature. The water cooling system can be either an open-loop or a closed-loop controlled system. In the open-loop control system, an ambient air temperature sensor measures the ambient air temperature. When the ambient air temperature exceeds a predetermined value, a signal from the temperature sensor to a signal processor automatically causes the engine power to derate in accordance with the temperature such that the heat generated by the engine maintains the water temperature of the cooling water constant. An ambient pressure sensor senses ambient pressure such that a correction factor is supplied to correct for cooling losses at higher altitude. In the closed loop system, the signal processor generates an error signal as the difference in the maximum allowable engine-out water temperature and the measured water temperature. The signal processor then generates a signal causing the engine power to derate such that the heat generated by the engine maintains the water temperature near the specified design limit. A throttle notch 8 to 6 knock-down cooling procedure is also incorporated as a safety mechanism in the event that the other cooling system fails.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A cooling system for cooling a locomotive engine associated with a locomotive, said engine generating power to drive the locomotive, said cooling system comprising:

circulating means for circulating a cooling medium through the locomotive engine;
air sensor means for sensing the temperature of ambient air proximate the locomotive, said air sensor means generating a signal indicative of the ambient air temperature;
and
signal processor means for causing the engine power to decrease in relation to an increase in the ambient air temperature once the ambient air temperature reaches a predetermined air temperature value, said signal processor means being responsive to the signal from the air sensor means and causing the engine to operate at a power level that will maintain the temperature of the cooling medium substantially at a first predetermined cooling medium value.

1 more element

A cooling system for cooling an engine associated with a vehicle, said engine generating power to drive the vehicle, said cooling system comprising:

circulating means for circulating a cooling medium through the engine;
and
signal processor means for causing the engine power to decrease in relation to an increase in the temperature of the cooling medium once the temperature of the cooling medium increases above a predetermined maximum value, said signal processor means continually reducing the engine power to a reduced engine power that will maintain the temperature of the cooling medium substantially constant at the predetermined maximum value as the temperature of the cooling medium increases.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Locomotive engine cooling system

Life of this patent

Locomotive engine cooling system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22