U.S. patent application number 14/637508 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for decoupled pinion gear detection.
This patent application is currently assigned to ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIESEL, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gregory Raymond Kupiec, Dennis John Melas, Isaac Suwa Traylor.
Application Number | 20160257321 14/637508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56850589 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160257321 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Traylor; Isaac Suwa ; et
al. |
September 8, 2016 |
DECOUPLED PINION GEAR DETECTION
Abstract
A railway machine comprising a first electrical traction motor,
a first wheel assembly, a first gear assembly and a controller
module is disclosed. The first gear assembly may include a first
pinion gear rotatably engaged with a drive shaft of the first
electrical traction motor. The first gear assembly may further
include a first driven gear that may be rotatably engaged with the
first pinion gear and also operatively coupled to the first wheel
assembly. The controller module may observe a plurality of railway
machine operating conditions, execute program instructions while
the railway machine is being operated and may determine whether the
first pinion gear is decoupled from the drive shaft of the first
electrical traction motor.
Inventors: |
Traylor; Isaac Suwa;
(Brookfield, IL) ; Kupiec; Gregory Raymond;
(Lemont, IL) ; Melas; Dennis John; (Chicago,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. |
LaGrange |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIESEL, INC.
LaGrange
IL
|
Family ID: |
56850589 |
Appl. No.: |
14/637508 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61C 9/48 20130101; B61L
15/0081 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B61L 15/00 20060101
B61L015/00; B61C 9/38 20060101 B61C009/38 |
Claims
1. A railway machine, comprising: a first electrical traction
motor; a first wheel assembly; a first gear assembly, the first
gear assembly including a first pinion gear and a first driven
gear, the first pinion gear rotatably coupled with a drive shaft of
the first electrical traction motor, the first driven gear
rotatably engaged with the first pinion gear and operatively
coupled to the first wheel assembly; and a controller module that
observes a plurality of railway machine operating parameters,
executes program instructions while the railway machine is being
operated and that determines whether the first pinion gear is
decoupled from the drive shaft of the first electrical traction
motor.
2. The railway machine according to claim 1, further including a
first rotational sensor for monitoring the rotational speed of the
first pinion gear, the first rotational sensor operatively
associated with the first pinion gear, and a first current sensor
for monitoring the electrical load on the first electrical fraction
motor, the first current sensor operatively associated with the
first electrical fraction motor.
3. The railway machine according to claim 2, wherein determining
whether the first pinion gear is decoupled from the from the drive
shaft of the first electrical traction motor includes determining
whether the rotational value detected by the first rotational
sensor is greater than zero and the electrical load on the first
electrical traction motor is negligible.
4. The railway machine according to claim 3, further including an
alarm system for indicating if the first pinion gear is decoupled
from the drive shaft of the first electrical traction motor, and
wherein the controller module sends a signal to the alarm system to
indicate that the first pinion gear is decoupled from the drive
shaft of the first electrical traction motor, if the rotational
value detected by the first rotational sensor is greater than zero
and the electrical load on the first electrical fraction motor is
negligible.
5. The railway machine according to claim 2, further including a
second electrical traction motor, a second wheel assembly, a second
gear assembly including a second pinion gear rotatably engaged with
a drive shaft of the second electrical traction motor and a second
driven gear rotatably engaged with the second pinion gear and
operatively coupled to the second wheel assembly, a second
rotational sensor operatively associated with the second pinion
gear, and a second current sensor for monitoring the electrical
load of the second electrical traction motor operatively associated
with the second electrical traction motor.
6. The railway machine according to claim 4, wherein determining
whether the first pinion gear is decoupled from the from the drive
shaft of the first electrical traction motor includes determining
whether the rotational value detected by the first rotational
sensor is greater than zero and the electrical load on the first
electrical traction motor is negligible, determining whether the
rotational value detected by the second rotational senor is greater
than zero and the electrical load on the second electrical traction
motor is greater than zero.
7. The railway machine according to claim 6, further including an
alarm system for indicating if the first pinion gear is decoupled
from the drive shaft of the first electrical traction motor, and
wherein the controller module sends a signal to the alarm system to
indicate that the first pinion gear is decoupled from the drive
shaft of the first electrical traction motor, if the rotational
value detected by the first rotational sensor is greater than zero
and the electrical load on the first electrical fraction motor is
negligible, and if the rotational value detected by the second
rotational sensor is greater than zero and the electrical load on
the second electrical traction motor is greater than zero.
8. A method to identify a decoupled pinion gear of an electrically
powered railway propulsion assembly, comprising: detecting a first
rotational value of a first pinion gear of a first electrical
traction motor; detecting a first electrical load of the first
electrical traction motor; sending the first rotational value to a
controller module that observes a plurality of electrically powered
railway propulsion assembly operating parameters, executes program
instructions while the electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly is being operated, and that determines whether the first
pinion gear is decoupled from the drive shaft of the first
electrical fraction motor; sending the first electrical load to the
controller module; and determining whether the first pinion gear is
decoupled from the first electrical traction motor.
9. The method of identifying a decoupled pinion gear of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
8, wherein determining whether the first pinion gear is decoupled
from the first electrical traction motor is in fact true, is if the
first rotational value is greater than zero and the first
electrical load is negligible.
10. The method of identifying a decoupled pinion gear of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
9, wherein the first rotational value is detected by a first
rotational sensor operatively associated with the first pinion gear
and the first electrical load is detected by a first current sensor
operatively associated with the first electrical traction
motor.
11. The method of identifying a decoupled pinion gear of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
8, further including detecting a second rotational value of a
second pinion gear of a second electrical traction motor, detecting
a second electrical load of the second electrical traction motor,
sending the second rotational value to the controller module and
sending the second electrical load to the controller module.
12. The method of identifying a decoupled pinion gear of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
11, wherein determining whether the first pinion gear is decoupled
from the first electrical traction motor is in fact true, is if the
first rotational value is greater than zero, the first electrical
load is negligible, the second rotational value is greater than
zero and the second rotational value is greater than zero.
13. The method of identifying a decoupled pinion gear of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
12, wherein the first rotational value is detected by a first
rotational sensor operatively associated with the first pinion
gear, the first electrical load is detected by a first current
sensor operatively associated with the first electrical traction
motor, the second rotational value is detected by a second
rotational sensor operatively associated with the second pinion
gear and the second electrical load is detected by a second current
sensor operatively associated with the second electrical traction
motor.
14. A method of notifying a railway machine operator that a pinion
gear of a railway machine's electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the electrically
powered railway propulsion assembly, comprising: detecting a first
rotational value of a first pinion gear of a first electrical
traction motor of the electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly; detecting a first electrical load of the first electrical
traction motor of the electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly; sending the first rotational value to a controller module
that observes a plurality of railway machine operating parameters,
executes program instructions while the railway machine is being
operated, and that determines whether the first pinion gear is
decoupled from the drive shaft of the first electrical traction
motor; sending the first electrical load to the controller module;
determining whether the first pinion gear is decoupled from the
first electrical traction motor; and sending a signal to an alarm
system for indicating that the first pinion gear is decoupled from
the first electrical fraction motor if the controller module
determines that first pinion gear is decoupled from the first
electrical traction motor.
15. The method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of the railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
14, wherein determining whether the first pinion gear is decoupled
from the first electrical traction motor is in fact true, is if the
first rotational value is greater than zero and the first
electrical load is negligible.
16. The method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of the railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
15, wherein the first rotational value is detected by a first
rotational sensor operatively associated with the first pinion gear
and the first electrical load is detected by a first current sensor
operatively associated with the first electrical traction
motor.
17. The method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of the railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
14, further including detecting a second rotational value of a
second pinion gear of a second electrical traction motor in
electrical communication with the electrical power source,
detecting a second electrical load of the second electrical
traction motor in electrical communication with the electrical
power source, sending the second rotational value to the controller
module and sending the second electrical load to the controller
module.
18. The method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of the railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
17, wherein determining whether the first pinion gear is decoupled
from the first electrical traction motor is in fact true, is if the
first rotational value is greater than zero, the first electrical
load is negligible, the second rotational value is greater than
zero and the second rotational value is greater than zero.
19. The method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of the railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
18, wherein the first rotational value is detected by a first
rotational sensor operatively associated with the first pinion
gear, the first electrical load is detected by a first current
sensor operatively associated with the first electrical traction
motor, the second rotational value is detected by a second
rotational sensor operatively associated with second pinion gear
and the second electrical load is detected by a second current
sensor operatively associated with the second electrical fraction
motor.
20. The method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of the railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly according to claim
14, further including locating the alarm system for indicating that
the first pinion gear is decoupled from the first electrical
traction motor at the operator section.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure generally relates to electrically powered
railway propulsion assemblies and, more specifically, relates to
systems and methods to detect decoupled pinion gears of
electrically powered railway propulsion assemblies.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally speaking, an electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly includes an electrical fraction motor, a wheel
assembly and a gear assembly. The gear assembly further includes a
pinion gear and a driven gear. The pinion gear is rotatably coupled
with a drive shaft of the traction motor, while the driven gear is
rotatably engaged with the pinion gear. Further, the driven gear is
operatively coupled to the wheel assembly. As electrical energy is
passed to the electrical traction motor, the traction motor drive
shaft rotates, thereby converting the electrical energy to
mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then passed to the
wheel assembly via the gear assembly, thereby rotating the wheel
assembly and thus propelling a railway machine to which the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly is joined.
[0003] Maintaining proper coupling between the pinion gear and the
electrical traction motor drive shaft is important to the operation
of electrically powered railway propulsion assemblies. If the
coupling between these two pieces is less than optimal, or
non-existent, the electrically powered railway propulsion assembly
may fail to propel the railway machine to which the propulsion
assembly is joined. Accordingly, it is advantageous for railway
machine owners, operators and maintenance personnel to know when
the pinion gear is decoupled from the drive shaft of the traction
motor.
[0004] One attempt to monitor an electrically powered propulsion
assembly of a machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,886,378 (the
'378 patent). The '378 patent is directed to a system and methods
for monitoring whether the drive train of a material handling
machine, such as, a sit-down counterbalanced forklift, a stand-up
counterbalanced forklift, a stand-up narrow-aisle reach forklift
and the like, is properly working. The '378 patent does so by
providing the drive train with a device that monitors gear box
speed in addition to a tool that measures the flow of electric
charge to a motor. This information is then sent to a system that
determines whether the linkages in the drive train are properly
connected.
[0005] While arguably effective for its specific purpose, the '378
patent is related to material handling machines, namely forklifts,
and in no way to railway machines. Moreover, the electrical
propulsion assemblies of railway machines are subjected to
substantially greater torques than a material handling machine. For
example, the weight of the electrically powered propulsion assembly
of a railway machine alone meets the total weight of a forklift in
many instances. Adding in the weight of the remaining railway
machine and the cargo that it hauls, the torque on the electrically
powered propulsion assembly of a railway machine is orders of
magnitude greater than the torque experienced by a forklift.
Accordingly, the system to monitor the drive train of a forklift
would not withstand the environment to which electrically powered
railway propulsion assemblies are exposed.
[0006] The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more
problems set forth above and/or other problems associated with the
prior art.
SUMMARY
[0007] In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,
a railway machine comprising a first electrical traction motor, a
first wheel assembly, a first gear assembly and a controller module
is disclosed. The first gear assembly may include a first pinion
gear rotatably coupled with a drive shaft of the first electrical
traction motor. The first gear assembly may further include a first
driven gear that may be rotatably engaged with the first pinion
gear and also operatively coupled to the first wheel assembly. The
controller module may observe a plurality of railway machine
operating conditions, execute program instructions while the
railway machine is being operated and may determine whether the
first pinion gear is decoupled from the drive shaft of the first
electrical traction motor.
[0008] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
disclosure, a method to identify a decoupled pinion gear of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly is disclosed. In a
first step, a first rotational value of a first pinion gear of a
first electrical traction motor may be detected. Next, a first
electrical load of the first electrical traction motor may be
detected. Then, the first rotational value may be sent to a
controller module that observes a plurality of electrically powered
railway propulsion assembly operating parameters, that executes
program instructions while the electrical railway propulsion system
is being operated and that determines whether the first pinion gear
is decoupled from the drive shaft of the first electrical traction
motor. Next, the first electrical load may be sent to the
controller module. Finally, a determination may be made whether the
first pinion gear is decoupled from the first electrical traction
motor.
[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
disclosure, a method of notifying a railway machine operator that a
pinion gear of a railway machine's electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly is decoupled from a traction motor of the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly is disclosed. In a
first step, a first rotational value of a first pinion of a first
electrical traction motor of the electrically powered propulsion
assembly may be detected. Next, a first electrical load of the
first electrical traction motor of the electrical railway
propulsion system may be detected. Then, the first rotational value
may be sent to a controller module that observers a plurality of
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly operating
parameters, that executes program instructions while the electrical
railway propulsion system is begin operated and that determines
whether the first pinion gear is decoupled from the drive shaft of
the first electrical traction motor. Next, the first electrical
load may be sent to the controller module. In a next step, a
determination may be made whether the first pinion gear is
decoupled from the first electrical traction motor. Finally, a
signal may be sent to an alarm system for indicating that the first
pinion gear is decoupled from the first electrical traction motor,
if the if the controller module determines that first pinion gear
is decoupled from the first electrical traction motor.
[0010] These and other aspects and features of the present
disclosure will be more readily understood when read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side, plan view of a railway machine constructed
in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, partially exploded, perspective
view of an electrically powered railway propulsion assembly for use
with the railway machine of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away, perspective view of an
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly for use with the
railway machine of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a power system for use with the
railway machine of FIG. 1 including rotational sensors and current
sensors to detect decoupled pinion gears of electrically powered
railway propulsion assemblies and used in conjunction with the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly of FIGS. 2 and
3.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic of a monitoring system for use with
the railway machine of FIG. 1 for detecting decoupled pinion gears
of electrically powered railway propulsion assemblies and used in
conjunction with the electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary method of
identifying a decoupled pinion gear of an electrically powered
railway propulsion assembly of a railway machine.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary method of
notifying a railway machine operator that a pinion gear of a
railway machine's electrically powered propulsion assembly is
decoupled from the traction motor of the electrically powered
railway propulsion assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference
to FIG. 1, a railway machine is shown and generally referred to be
reference numeral 10. While the railway machine 10 is generally
depicted as a locomotive, it is to be understood that this is only
exemplary, as the teaching of the present disclosure can be
employed elsewhere as well. The railway machine 10 disclosed herein
generally incorporates an operator section 12, a power section 14
and an ancillary equipment section 16. The power section 14 may
include an engine, such as a diesel engine, mechanically coupled to
an electrical power generating device. While not meant to be
limiting, the electrical power generating device may be a direct
current (i.e., "DC") generator or and alternating current (i.e.,
"AC") alternator. Alternatively, such railway machine 10 may not
contain a power section, rather obtaining electrical energy from an
electrical power source that is external to the railway machine 10.
For example, the railway machine 10 may be electrically powered by
an overhead line or a third-rail that is located next to or near a
railway track.
[0019] The railway machine 10 may further include one or more
trucks (a.k.a., "bogie") 18 positioned below the operator section
12, power section 14 and ancillary equipment section 16 of the
machine 10. The one or more trucks 18 may carry the weight of
operator section 12, power section 14 and ancillary equipment
section 16 of the railway machine 10. Further, and now while
additionally referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the one or more trucks 18
may further include an electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly 20 that converts the electrical energy of the power
section 14 to mechanical energy, thereby propelling the railway
machine 10.
[0020] Now turning specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrically
powered railway propulsion assembly 20 generally includes an
electrical traction motor 22, a wheel assembly 24 and a gear
assembly. The gear assembly 26 may include a pinion gear 28 and a
driven gear 30. The pinion gear may be rotatably coupled to a drive
shaft 32 of the electrical traction motor 22, while the drive gear
30 is rotatably engaged with the pinion gear 28, and further is
operatively coupled to the wheel assembly 24. As electrical energy
is passed from the electrical power generating device to the
electrical traction motor 22, the traction motor drive shaft 32
rotates, thereby converting the electrical energy to mechanical
energy. This mechanical energy is then passed to the wheel assembly
24 via the gear assembly, thereby rotating the wheel assembly 24
and thus propelling a railway machine 10 to which the electrically
powered railway propulsion assembly 20 is joined.
[0021] Maintaining proper coupling between the pinion gear 28 and
the electrical traction motor drive shaft 32 is important to the
operation of electrically powered railway propulsion assemblies 20.
If the coupling between these two pieces is less than optimal, or
non-existent, the electrically powered railway propulsion assembly
20 may fail to propel the railway machine 10 to which the
propulsion assembly is joined. Accordingly, it is advantageous for
railway machine 10 owners, operators and maintenance personnel to
know when the pinion gear 28 is decoupled from the drive shaft 32
of the electrical traction motor 22.
[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a system that may monitor
the decoupling of a pinion gear 28 from the drive shaft 32 of the
electrical traction motor 22 of a railway machine 10 is generally
referred to by reference numeral 34. This monitoring system 34 may
include one or more rotational sensors 36 that are operatively
associated the electrical traction motors 22. The rotational
sensors 36 may monitor the rotational speed of the pinion gear 28
of the electrical traction motor 22 with which it is operatively
associated. The system 34 may further include one or more current
sensors 38 operatively associated with the one or more electrical
traction motors 22. The current sensors 38 may measure an
electrical load on the traction motor 22 to which each current
sensor 38 is operatively associated.
[0023] Turning specifically now to FIG. 5, the rotational sensors
36 and current sensors 38 may be in electrical communication with a
controller module 40. The controller module 40 may observe a
plurality of the railway machine's 10 operating parameters, such
as, for example, the signals from the rotational sensors 36 and the
current sensors 38. Further, such controller module 40 may comprise
a microprocessor having non-transitory computer readable storage
medium having computer-executable program instructions thereon.
Such controller module 40 therefore may execute program
instructions while the railway machine is being operated.
Furthermore, such controller module 40 may determine when a pinion
gear 28 is decoupled from drive shaft 32 of the electrical traction
motor 22 by comparing the signals it receives from a rotational
sensor 36 and comparing it to the signal it receives from a current
sensor 38.
[0024] For example, the controller module 40 may determine that a
pinion gear 28 is decoupled from the drive shaft 32 of its
respective traction motor 22 if the rotational value detected by
the rotational sensor 36 is greater than zero, while the electrical
load on the traction motor 22 measured by the current sensor 38 is
negligible. Alternatively, the controller module 40 may determine
that a pinion gear 28 is decoupled the drive shaft 32 of its
respective traction motor 22 if the rotational value detected by
the rotational sensor 36 is greater than zero, while the electrical
load on the traction motor 22 measured by the current sensor 38 is
negligible, and further if the rotational value detected by a
second rotational sensor 36 operatively associated with a second
electrical traction motor 22 is greater than zero, and electrical
load associated with the second fraction motor 22 measured by a
second current sensor 38 is also greater than zero.
[0025] The controller module 40 may be in electrical communication
with an alarm system 42. This alarm system may be located in the
operator station 12 of the railway machine 10. In the event the
controller module 40 detects that a pinion gear 28 is decoupled
from the drive shaft 32 of its respective traction motor 22, the
controller module 40 may send a signal to the alarm system 42 to
indicate that such an event has occurred.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 6, steps of a method to identify a
decoupled pinion gear 28 of an electrically powered railway
propulsion 20 assembly is illustrated. At a step 44, a first
rotational value of a first pinion gear 28 of a first electrical
traction 22 motor may be detected. Then, at a step 46, the first
electrical load of the first electrical traction motor 22 may be
detected. Next, at a step 48, the first rotational value may be
sent to a controller module 40 that observes a plurality of
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly operating
parameters, executes program instructions while the electrically
powered railway propulsion assembly 20 is being operated, and that
determines whether the first pinion gear is decoupled from the
drive shaft of the first electrical fraction motor. In addition, at
a step 50, the first electrical load may be sent to the controller
module 40. Finally, at a step 52, the controller module may
determine whether the first pinion gear 28 is decoupled from the
first electrical traction motor 22.
[0027] A pinion gear of 28 may be decoupled from the first traction
motor 22 if the first rotational value is greater than zero and the
first electrical load is negligible. Additionally, the method may
further include, detecting a second rotational value of a second
pinion gear 28 of a second electrical traction motor 22, detecting
a second electrical load of the second electrical traction motor
22, sending the second rotational value to the controller module 40
and sending the second electrical load to the controller module 40.
In this alternative, a pinion gear 28 of a first traction motor 22
if the first rotational value is greater than zero, the first
electrical load is negligible, the second rotational value is
greater than zero and the second rotational value is greater than
zero.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 7, steps of a method of notifying a
railway machine operator that a pinion gear 28 of a railway
machine's electrically powered propulsion assembly 20 is decoupled
from the traction motor 22 of the electrically powered railway
propulsion assembly 20 are depicted. At a step, 54, a first
rotational value of a first pinion gear 28 of a first electrical
traction motor 22 of the electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly 20 may be detected. At a step, 56, a first electrical load
of the first electrical traction motor 22 of the electrically
powered railway propulsion assembly 20 may be detected. Then, at a
step 58, the first rotational value may be sent to a controller
module 40 that observes a plurality of railway machine operating
parameters, executes program instructions while the railway machine
10 is being operated, and that determines whether the first pinion
gear 28 is decoupled from the drive shaft 32 of the first
electrical traction motor 22. Next, at a step, 60, the first
electrical load may be sent to the controller module 40. Then, at a
step 62, the controller module 40 may determine whether the first
pinion gear 28 is decoupled from the first electrical traction
motor 22. If the controller module 40 determines that the first
pinion gear 28 is decoupled from the first traction motor 22, then
the controller module 40 may send a signal to the alarm system 42
indicating that such event has occurred.
[0029] A pinion gear of 28 may be decoupled from the first traction
motor 22 if the first rotational value is greater than zero and the
first electrical load is negligible. Additionally, the method may
further include, detecting a second rotational value of a second
pinion gear 28 of a second electrical traction motor 22, detecting
a second electrical load of the second electrical traction motor
22, sending the second rotational value to the controller module 40
and sending the second electrical load to the controller module 40.
In this alternative, a pinion gear 28 of a first traction motor 22
if the first rotational value is greater than zero, the first
electrical load is negligible, the second rotational value is
greater than zero and the second rotational value is greater than
zero. Furthermore, the alarm system 42 for indicating that the
first pinion gear is decoupled from the first electrical traction
motor may be located in the operator section 12.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0030] In operation, a system for detecting whether a pinion gear
is decoupled from an electrically powered traction motor can find
use in many industrial applications, such as in the electrically
powered propulsion assemblies. More specifically, the system for
detecting whether a pinion gear is decoupled from an electrically
powered traction motor finds use in the electrically powered
propulsion assemblies of railway machines, such as,
locomotives.
[0031] Generally, an electrically powered railway propulsion
assembly includes an electrical traction motor, a wheel assembly
and a gear assembly. The gear assembly further includes a pinion
gear and a driven gear. The pinion gear is rotatably coupled with a
drive shaft of the traction motor, while the driven gear is
rotatably engaged with the pinion gear. Further, the driven gear is
operatively coupled to the wheel assembly. As electrical energy is
passed to the electrical traction motor, the traction motor drive
shaft rotates, thereby converting the electrical energy to
mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then passed to the
wheel assembly via the gear assembly, thereby rotating the wheel
assembly and thus propelling a railway machine to which the
electrically powered railway propulsion assembly is joined.
[0032] During use, it is important to maintain proper coupling
between the pinion gear and the drive shaft to which the pinion
gear is associated. If the coupling between these two pieces is
ineffective, or completely lacking, then the railway machine to
which electrically powered railway propulsion assembly is attached
may need to lessen its speed to operate safely, or may need to
cease operation all together. Accordingly, it is beneficial for
railway machine owners, operators and maintenance personnel to know
if such decoupling events occur.
[0033] To keep such persons informed of the state of an electrical
railway propulsion assembly, the current application discloses
systems and methods to this end. Such a system may include a
rotational sensor and a current sensor operatively associated with
each electrical traction motor. These sensors may be in electrical
communication with a controller module that observes a plurality of
railway operating machine parameters. This controller module may
determine whether a pinion gear decoupling event has occurred by
comparing the signals sent from the rotational sensor and current
sensor operatively associated with each motor, and in other
instances may further compare the signals from a first motor to a
second motor. In the instance a decoupling event occurs, the
controller module may send a signal to an alarm system located in
the operator section of the railway machine. It additionally may
send a signal to such railway machine's owners and maintenance
personnel.
[0034] The above description is meant to be representative only,
and thus modifications may be made to the embodiments described
herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus,
these modifications fall within the scope of present disclosure and
are intended to fall within the appended claims.
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