Power sharing for a locomotive consist

Abstract

A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist may include receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, with the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist. The control computer may determine an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist, and the power generating capacity of all power sources that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus. One or more power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist may be activated to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist, the method comprising:
 receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist;   determining an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist;   determining the power generating capacity of power sources on all locomotives of the consist that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus; and   activating one or more of the power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 determining an allocation of power output requirements from each of the power sources that will meet a performance goal for the consist; and   activating the one or more of the power sources in accordance with the determined allocation of power output requirements.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a power demand signal at a control computer includes one or more of receiving input from an operator onboard one of the locomotives, receiving input from a command control center, and receiving input from data indicative of a trip plan or look-ahead parameters for the consist. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist includes measuring one of voltage or current on the electrical power bus. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the power generating capacity of all power sources includes measuring a signal indicative of a power source operational parameter from each of the power sources. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a power source operational parameter includes at least one of voltage, current, torque output, speed, and fuel injection rate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a performance goal for the consist includes one or more of improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, improved engine life, reduced noise levels, increased or more accurate power output, and improved tractive effort. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating one or more power sources to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus includes at least one of:
 generating AC electrical power with an alternator driven by an engine and providing the AC electrical power to the electrical power bus;   generating AC electrical power with an alternator driven by an engine, rectifying the AC electrical power and providing the resulting DC electrical power to the electrical power bus; and   operating one or more traction motors in a regenerative braking mode to generate electrical power and providing the traction-motor-generated electrical power to the electrical power bus.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more traction motors are DC traction motors, and the method further including processing DC electrical power from the electrical power bus by pulse width modulating the DC electrical power with a DC chopper circuit including an insulated gate bipolar transistor and a free-wheeling diode to convert the DC electrical power into a form suitable for use by the one or more traction motors. 
     
     
         10 . A locomotive consist power sharing system, comprising:
 a plurality of locomotives, each of said locomotives including:
 at least one mechanical power source, said at least one mechanical power source producing a rotational output; 
 an electrical power generator coupled to the rotational output of said at least one mechanical power source and configured to generate electrical power when being rotated by the rotational output; and 
 a plurality of electric traction motors driven by electrical power generated by said electrical power generator; and 
   an electrical power bus running through all of the plurality of locomotives, the electrical power bus electrically connected to receive generated electrical power from each of the electrical power generators on each of the locomotives and to supply the generated electrical power to each of the electric traction motors on each of the locomotives.   
     
     
         11 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 10 , further including:
 a control computer configured for:
 determining an allocation of power output requirements from the at least one mechanical power source and electrical power generator on each of said locomotives that will meet a performance goal for the consist; and 
 activating one or more of the at least one mechanical power source and electrical power generator in accordance with the determined allocation of power output requirements. 
   
     
     
         12 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 11 , wherein the control computer is further configured for receiving a power demand signal indicative of a total output power requirement for the locomotive consist. 
     
     
         13 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 12 , wherein the control computer is configured for at least one of:
 receiving input from an operator onboard one of the locomotives;   receiving input from a command control center; and   receiving input from data indicative of a trip plan or look-ahead parameters for the consist.   
     
     
         14 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 11 , wherein the control computer is configured for determining an amount of available power on the electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist by measuring one of voltage or current on the electrical power bus. 
     
     
         15 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 11 , wherein the control computer is configured for determining power generating capacities of the mechanical power sources and electrical power generators by measuring signals indicative of a power source operational parameter from each of the mechanical power sources and electrical power generators. 
     
     
         16 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 15 , wherein a power source operational parameter includes at least one of voltage, current, torque output, speed, and fuel injection rate. 
     
     
         17 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 11 , wherein a performance goal for the consist includes one or more of improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, improved engine life, reduced noise levels, increased or more accurate power output, and improved tractive effort. 
     
     
         18 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 10 , wherein said electrical power generators are configured for at least one of:
 generating AC electrical power when being rotated by the rotational output from the at least one mechanical power source and providing the AC electrical power to the electrical power bus; and   generating AC electrical power when being rotated by the rotational output from the at least one mechanical power source, rectifying the AC electrical power and providing the resulting DC electrical power to the electrical power bus.   
     
     
         19 . The locomotive consist power sharing system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electric traction motors are DC traction motors. 
     
     
         20 . A method of sharing power between locomotives in a consist, the method comprising:
 receiving a power demand signal at a control computer on one of the locomotives, the power demand signal indicative of a total power output requirement for the consist;   determining an amount of available power on an electrical power bus running through all of the locomotives in the consist;   determining the power generating capacity of power sources on all locomotives of the consist that are electrically coupled to the electrical power bus;   determining an allocation of power output requirements from each of the power sources that will meet a performance goal for the consist; and   activating one or more of the power sources on any one of the locomotives in the consist in accordance with the determined allocation of power output requirements from each of the power sources to provide electrical power to the electrical power bus for use by a load on a different one of the locomotives in the consist.