Westinghouse Air Brake Company

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Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Daniel G Wagner

Walter E Goettel

Brian L Cunkelman

Roger Drummond

Dale A Chovan

Julie A Krawczyk

Richard S Patterson

Method and apparatus for heating gases cooled by an aftercooler that receives hot gases from a compressor. The method includes the steps of directing at least a portion of said hot gases to means for bypassing the aftercooler, and using the bypass means to direct hot gases to a location that receives cooled gases from the aftercooler. The hot gases are used at the location to heat the cooled gases when ambient temperature is at or below freezing, and are used downstream from the aftercooler when moisture freezes in the aftercooler.

Aftercooler bypass means for a locomotive compressed air system

Apparatus for rapidly unloading air pressure in an intercooler to atmosphere when a compressor pneumatically connected to the intercooler is unloaded. The apparatus includes a governor pneumatically connected to a reservoir, that, in turn, is connected to receive pressurized air from the air compressor. The governor has a pressure sensing device operable to order unloading of the compressor when air pressure level in the reservoir tank reaches a preset level. An electrically operated valve is pneumatically connected to the intercooler and connected electrically to the pressure sensing device of the governor, with the electrically operated valve being effective to exhaust air pressure in the intercooler when the valve receives an unload signal from the pressure sensing device. The compressor is driven, by an electrical motor having one or more speed configurations, with transition occurring between one configuration and another when the compressor is unloaded. The electrically operated valve is effective to unload the intercooler at the time of speed configuration transition to reduce undue motor and electrical contactor heat and thus increase life expectancy of the motor and contactors.

Compressor intercooler unloader arrangement

Apparatus for rapidly exhausting air pressure from an intercooler pneumatically connected to receive compressed air from an air compressor. The apparatus includes a blowdown valve pneumatically connected to receive air pressure contained in the intercooler. The valve has a large exhaust port and a valve member seatable against the port to open and close the same. An inlet port is provided for admitting a compressor unload signal to the valve, with the unload signal being effective to move the valve member away from the large exhaust port to allow rapid exhaustion of intercooler air pressure to atmosphere through the exhaust port.

Intercooler blowdown valve

Apparatus for lubricating components in an air compressor having a crankcase for holding oil. The apparatus includes an oil pump located in the crankcase and oil, and a hollow plunger mechanically and hydraulically connected between the oil pump and an eccentric provided on a crankshaft of the air compressor. A filter for filtering the oil held in the crankcase is mounted on a block secured to an external surface of the crankcase. The block mounts the filter on the crankcase and in fluid communication with the pump such that filtered oil is directed to the hollow plunger from the pump after oil is directed into the pump from the filter and after oil is pumped from the crankcase and sent to the filter by the pump.

Air compressor bearing lubrication

An electrical circuit for controlling the operation of a fan cooled aftercooler receiving pressurized air from a compressor located in a locomotive. The circuit includes a motor for driving the fan of the aftercooler, an electrical relay comprising a coil and contacts operated by the coil, and a temperature sensitive switch connected in electrical series with the coil. The contacts of the relay are connected in electrical series with the motor. The temperature sensitive switch is effective to open the circuit of the coil and thereby open the contacts to stop operation of the fan when ambient temperature falls to or below freezing.

Fan powered aftercooler and control circuit for locomotive compressors

A thermostatically controlled intercooler system for use with a multiple stage compressor to prevent the condensation of water from the compressed gas, such as air, within the system, whereby the temperature of a compressed gas entering a second compressor stage following the first compressor stage is controlled to a target temperature, ideally up to about 250.degree. F., as will not allow the partial pressure of the water vapor therein to exceed the saturation vapor pressure associated with and defined by the temperature achieved by cooling the air prior to the air entering the subsequent compression stage.

Thermostatically controlled intercooler system for a multiple stage

An air supply system having a multi-cylinder, two-stage air compressor including a pair of low pressure cylinders and a high pressure cylinder. A first intercooler interconnected between the outlet of one of the pair of low pressure cylinders and the inlet of the high pressure cylinder and a second intercooler interconnected between the outlet of the other of the pair of low pressure cylinders. An aftercooler connected to the outlet of the high pressure cylinder for effectively reducing the temperature of the compressed air supplied to a storage reservoir to near or at ambient temperature. A protective housing including a frontal screened opening for permitting a rotary fan to draw cooling air into the housing and including an internal shroud for directing the cooling air over the intercoolers and aftercooler.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Daniel G Wagner