U.S. patent application number 10/410164 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for diesel-electric locomotive.
Invention is credited to Foesel, Ulrich, Gritsch, Christian, Hofmann, Heinz, Papp, Gyoergy.
Application Number | 20040149159 10/410164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32730629 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040149159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foesel, Ulrich ; et
al. |
August 5, 2004 |
Diesel-electric locomotive
Abstract
A diesel-electric locomotive includes an assembly including a
diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit can be
connected. There is provision for the assembly to be replaceable as
a module. For this purpose, it is arranged, for example, in a
replaceable container.
Inventors: |
Foesel, Ulrich; (Erlangen,
DE) ; Gritsch, Christian; (Nuernberg, DE) ;
Hofmann, Heinz; (Kunreuth, DE) ; Papp, Gyoergy;
(Erlangen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O.BOX 8910
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Family ID: |
32730629 |
Appl. No.: |
10/410164 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/26.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 30/00 20130101;
B61C 17/04 20130101; Y02T 30/16 20130101; B61C 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/026.05 |
International
Class: |
B61C 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 30, 2003 |
DE |
10303716.0 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A diesel-electric locomotive, comprising: an assembly including
a diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit is
connectable, wherein the assembly is replaceable as a module.
2. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the assembly is arranged in a replaceable container.
3. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 2, wherein
connecting devices are arranged on the container.
4. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the container is transportable.
5. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 4, wherein
the container is transportable on a railway wagon.
6. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the container is transportable.
7. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the container is transportable on a railway wagon.
8. The diesel-electric locomotive as claimed in claim 3, wherein
components of the locomotive are connectable at least one of
electrically and mechanically to the assembly arranged in the
container, by using the connecting devices.
9. An assembly for a diesel-electric locomotive, comprising: a
diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit is
connectable, wherein the assembly is replaceable as a module.
10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the assembly is
arranged in a replaceable container.
11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein connecting devices
are arranged on the container.
12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container is
transportable.
13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the container is
transportable on a railway wagon.
14. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the container is
transportable.
15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the container is
transportable on a railway wagon.
16. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein components of the
locomotive are connectable at least one of electrically and
mechanically to the assembly arranged in the container, by using
the connecting devices.
Description
[0001] The present application hereby claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 on German patent application number DE 10303716.0
filed Jan. 30, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention generally relates to a diesel-electric
locomotive having an assembly including a diesel engine and a
generator to which a drive unit can be connected.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In diesel-electric locomotives, the diesel engine must be
serviced more frequently than other components. For this purpose,
it has hitherto been necessary for the locomotive to spend a long
period of time, usually several days, in a service workshop. As
such service workshops are available only at relatively large
distances from one another. The servicing intervals and the
locations of the workshops had to be taken into account in the
deployment plan of the locomotives. If this was not possible,
journeys of individual locomotives without a train to a servicing
workshop became necessary. If a defect occurred on the assembly of
a locomotive during its deployment, the locomotive had to be towed
to the workshop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An embodiment of the invention is based on an object of
specifying a diesel-electric locomotive which is required to be
stationary for servicing work for a shorter time than was usually
the case hitherto. It is also intended that there will be no need
for costly transfer journeys to a servicing workshop and that the
locomotive will have to be towed away less often when there is a
defect.
[0005] An object may be achieved according to an embodiment of the
invention in that the assembly of the locomotive can be replaced as
a module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0006] By the assembly of the locomotive being replaceable as a
module, this provides the advantage that, for servicing work which
is necessary on a routine basis and also in the case of a defect in
the assembly, it will be possible to replace the entire assembly
quickly for an intact, newly serviced assembly. Such a replacement
does not last nearly as long as a repair or servicing. Moreover,
the advantage is obtained that there is no need for a costly
workshop to replace an assembly. All that is necessary is a small
amount of equipment, for example a crane, to replace the assembly.
Consequently, assembly can be carried out at any relatively large
station. Advantageously, all that is necessary is to keep
replacement assemblies available at numerous locations. If a
corresponding number of replacement assemblies are provided, it is
not necessary to completely remove any locomotive from circulation
while an assembly is being serviced or repaired.
[0007] In particular, the advantage is obtained that the operating
costs of the diesel-electric locomotive according to an embodiment
of the invention can be significantly reduced in comparison with
the operating costs of a conventional locomotive. This is due to
the fact that the diesel-electric locomotive according to an
embodiment of the invention has a significantly higher availability
level.
[0008] The assembly is arranged, for example, in a replaceable
container. Such a container can be advantageously particularly
easily replaced and also used again. Owing to their square shape,
it is also particularly easy to store such a container.
[0009] For example, connecting devices are arranged on the
container. Components of the locomotive can then be quickly and
reliably connected electrically or mechanically to the assembly
arranged in the container by use of these connecting devices or
couplings. The container does not need to be opened for this
purpose.
[0010] The container can be transported, for example, on a railway
wagon. This provides the advantage that the containers which are
removed from a locomotive can easily be moved from any desired
station to a central servicing workshop. In the same way, the
assemblies which have been serviced and repaired and which are
located in containers can be moved, using railway wagons, to the
stations where they are needed.
[0011] The advantages obtained are that locomotives for servicing
the assemblies no longer have to be moved into a central workshop.
The time for which a locomotive is stationary in order to replace
an assembly is short in comparison with servicing or repair of the
assembly. In particular, an assembly which is arranged in a
container can easily be supplied and also transported with a
railway wagon. Costs and time are saved in railway traffic.
[0012] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *