General Electric Company

Mark Alan Linebach

Ajith Kuttannair Kumar

Bret Dwayne Worden

Jeremy Thomas McGarry

Jeffrey James Kisak

Richard Gerald Bliley

Jason A Dean

Stephen Matthew Pelkowski

Scott Joseph Zarella

Glenn Robert Shaffer

Brian D Lawry

Richard Hooker

Todd Goodermuth

A method and system is provided for detecting and performing diagnostics regarding an incipient ground fault that may occur in an electrical propulsion system of a traction vehicle, such as a locomotive, transit vehicle, or off-highway vehicle. The method allows providing a first ground connection for the electrical propulsion system. This first ground connection forms a grounding path generally used by the electrical propulsion system during normal operation. The method further allows providing a second ground connection for the electrical propulsion system. This second ground connection forms a grounding path selectively usable in lieu of the first ground connection. A control strategy is defined for switching between the first ground connection and the second ground connection. A respective leakage current associated with at least one of the first and second ground connections may be monitored. Switching between the first and second ground connections may be controlled based on the monitored leakage current associated with at least one of the first and second ground connections.

System and method for dealing with ground fault conditions that can arise in an electrical propulsion system

A compressed air system and method of operating the system wherein the slip between the compressor motor and its powering alternator is used as an indication of whether the compressor is running in a loaded or unloaded mode. A slip parameter such as % Slip is determined and compared to an allowable value in real time. If the compressor is determined to be erroneously in a loaded mode, a corrective action may be taken to reduce the probability that the motor is later started with the compressor still in the loaded mode.

Compressed air system utilizing a motor slip parameter

A compressed air system, wherein a decision to de-energize a compressor motor is made with consideration of the likely need for the operation of the compressor at a future point in time. A rate of pressure decay in an air reservoir may be extrapolated over a predetermined time period to predict the need for operation of the compressor within the time period. If operation of the compressor is predicted to be needed within the time period, the compressor is allowed to continue to run in an unloaded mode beyond a normal cool down period.

Compressed air system and method of control

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McKean, PA, United States of America

Mark Alan Linebach