Abstract:
According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar. A well component supported by the pair of trucks is disposed between the pair of trucks. A pair of end sections are disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well. A step is coupled to the well platform and extends into the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform. A handrail is proximate the step, the handrail is sized to accommodate a hand of the operator. The handrail may be positioned above the step and below the well platform.
Abstract:
According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a railcar body comprising at least one end or side arranged in a generally vertical plane. The railcar comprises a staggered ladder coupled to the railcar body and extending in a generally vertical direction. The staggered ladder comprises a plurality of steps that are staggered such that at least one step proximate a bottom of the ladder is offset from the generally vertical plane of the railcar body by a greater distance than at least one step proximate a top of the ladder. The railcar further comprises a staggered handrail coupled to the rail car body and proximate the staggered ladder, wherein a bottom portion of the staggered handrail is offset from the vertical plane of the railcar body by a greater distance than a top portion of the staggered handrail.
Abstract:
An electrical consumer of a rail vehicle is operated with electrical power generated by a braking process of the rail vehicle. A control unit controls the operation of the consumer in a first operating mode for a first operating phase of the consumer during a braking phase of the rail vehicle and in a second operating mode for a second operating phase during a travel phase of the rail vehicle preceding the braking phase. The consumer is controlled for the first and second operating modes such that the operating power of the consumer is less in the second operating mode than in the first operating mode. In order to assure that a power generated during the braking process is used more efficiently, the device has a unit that determines at least one triggering parameter of the second operating phase, depending on at least one feature of the braking phase.
Abstract:
This is a system of kinetic power generating stations that produce renewable and clean energy from moving railcars. The amount of green energy produced will be dependent on inertia, weight, momentum, and speed of train.The system has a second purpose of braking and reducing the trains speed by using the actuator pads necessary for harnessing the kinetic energy formed by the train. This will reduce the cost of fuel.By utilizing a plurality of opposing stations along the railway, braking of the train can be done more safely. Using computers and sensors, the actuator pads can control how much “drag” is necessary to slow the train down while collecting the energy formed by the moving train. The generators are spun by passing actuators attached to railcars at specific intervals. Opposing braking mechanisms will increase drag pressure by being engaged.
Abstract:
A system for supplying electric power for running electric trains has an electric motor which drives a train engine, an electrical generator connectable with at least one wheel of at least one wheel pair of a train and generating electricity, at least one electrical capacitor storing and discharging electricity, and means for connecting the electric motor, the electrical generator and the electrical capacitor so that the electrical generator in response to rotation of the at least one wheel generates electric current and supplies it to the electric motor which drives the train engine and to the electrical capacitor which stores electricity, and when electric current from the electrical generator to the electric motor diminishes or disappears, the electric capacitor supplies accumulated electric current to the electric motor.
Abstract:
A power generating system includes a railroad track configured to define a looped track; a series of railroad cars riding on and extending substantially the full length of the looped track forming a train loop; a drive gear mounted to the train loop and having a gear circumference substantially concentric with the looped track; and several turbine generators secured relative to the ground at the outer periphery of the drive gear, the turbine generators having individual generator pinion gears in meshed driving contact with the drive gear, so that movement of the train loop around the looped track causes the drive gear to rotate the generator pinion gears and thereby operate the turbine generators. The turbine generators preferably are electrically connected by cables to a power station. The train loop and track preferably include electromagnets for propelling the train loop around the looped track, and alternatively includes a diesel locomotive.
Abstract:
A sorting system includes a train of carriages moving along a track. Each carriage has an electrically driven cross belt for onloading and unloading items to be sorted. Some, but less than all, of the carriages, i.e., master carriages, carry electricity generating equipment, such as a track-engaging wheel connected to an electrical alternator, for converting kinetic energy of the train into electric energy. That energy is made available to all of the carriages through wiring that interconnects the carriages.
Abstract:
An apparatus and a method of mounting a standard size power generating unit (30) to any one of several different sized railroad cars utilizes different sized interface blocks (28) to mate the unit to the bearing adapter blocks (14) of the cars. The axle (32) of the car includes a projection (18) extending from an end (16) thereof and the power generating unit (30) includes a frame (50) and a rotor arranged for rotation in the frame for generating the power. A drive shaft (74) is attached to the rotor and includes a follower (78) for engaging the projection (18) so that when the axle is rotated about the axis (44), the projection engages the follower and thereby rotates the rotor. The interface block (28) is disposed between the frame (50) and the bearing adapter block (14), a first surface (54) of the interface block being attached to the bearing adapter block (14) and the frame (50) being attached to a second surface (56) of the interface block opposite the first surface.
Abstract:
An electrical power device (30) for mounting on a vehicle includes a drive coupling (44, 100, 120) for rotationally coupling the rotor (46) of the power device to the axle and wheel assembly (12) of the vehicle. The drive coupling includes a drive shaft (60, 122) having a portion extending outwardly into proximity with a projection (48) on the vehicle axle. A crank arm (74, 128) extends from the drive shaft for engaging the projection so that when the axle is rotated, the projection engages the crank arm and thereby rotates the drive shaft of the power device.