Westinghouse Air Brake Company

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Other

Wabtec Corporation

Walter E Goettel

Brian L Cunkelman

Daniel G Wagner

Roger Drummond

James M Varney

Ronald J Shaffer

Dale A Chovan

Julie A Krawczyk

Richard S Patterson

George Drahusz

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

The present invention provides an externally mounted assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft member driven by an electric motor. The externally mounted assembly comprises an annularly projected bearing support member disposed on a substantially vertical plane and a bearing member mounted on the bearing support member. Such bearing member is connectable with the rotatable shaft member for supporting such rotatable shaft member thereby reducing extraneous vertical and horizontal movement of such rotatable shaft member while permitting such rotatable shaft member to rotate freely.

Locomotive air compressor with an electric motor supported by an external bearing

The present invention provides an assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft member driven by a motor. The assembly comprises a base member, an upright support member connected to the base member and a bearing member mounted on the upright support member Such bearing member is connectable with the rotatable shaft member for supporting such rotatable shaft member thereby reducing extraneous vertical and horizontal movement of such rotatable shaft member while permitting such rotatable shaft member to rotate freely.

Locomotive air compressor with motor supported by outside bearing

A shaft extension for attachment to a crankshaft of an electric motor driven air compressor to axially extend the crankshaft for engagement with an outboard rotational bearing. The electric motor driven air compressor includes a bearing plate, an inboard rotational bearing mounted on the bearing plate, the crankshaft projecting through both of the inboard rotational bearing and the bearing plate and terminating in a distal end disposed exterior of the bearing plate. The air compressor also includes an electric motor, the electric motor having a stator frame, a stator fixedly mounted within the stator frame, and a rotor fixedly mounted to the crankshaft for rotation therewith and disposed interior of the stator. The air compressor further includes the outboard rotational bearing disposed axially outboard of the stator frame, the stator, and the rotor. The shaft extension includes an extension member having an extended major axis and a minor axis extending substantially transverse to the extended major axis and a connection mechanism for connecting the extension member to the distal end of the crankshaft.

Shaft extension for use with outboard bearing designs

A combined bearing plate and stator frame for an air compressor powered by an electric motor. The air compressor includes a crankshaft rotationally supported by a rotational bearing, and the electric motor includes a rotor and a stator substantially surrounding the rotor. The rotor is mounted on a portion of the crankshaft for rotation therewith. The combined bearing plate and stator frame is adapted for integration into the air compressor so as to provide a bearing plate for mounting of the rotational bearing and a stator frame for mounting of the stator therein and an aligning the stator with the rotor mounted on the portion of the crankshaft. The combined bearing plate and stator frame includes a bearing plate member and a stator frame member, the bearing plate member and the stator frame member being integrally formed from a single piece of material.

Combined bearing plate and stator frame casting

Endplate for use with outboard bearing designs

Retrofit apparatus is provided for rapidly exhausting air pressure from one or more intercoolers connected in fluid communication between two low pressure heads of an air compressor and a high pressure head of the compressor. The retrofit apparatus comprises an unloader valve, a center header for commonly connecting the intercoolers to the high pressure head, and means for connecting the unloader valve to the center header to effect rapid unloading of the header and the intercoolers connected thereto of pressurized air when the valve receives a compressor unload signal.

Rapid unloader retrofits

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

The present invention provides an improved lubrication system for use in a railway locomotive brake valve. Such railway locomotive brake valve includes a suppression cam having a plurality of detented control positions. It further includes a handle connected to the suppression cam for moving the suppression cam to such plurality of detented control positions. There is a spring loaded latch mechanism for engaging the suppression cam and providing a positive stop for such plurality of detented positions. The latch mechanism is a cylindrically shaped member with an elongated convex shaped protrusion at one end for engaging the suppression cam. Such brake valve further includes a bushing surrounding and guiding such latch mechanism. Such improved lubrication system comprises a coating of a preselected low friction material applied to and dried on at least one of the latch mechanism, the bushing and the suppression cam.

Brake valve latch with enhanced lubricity

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.

Growing community of inventors

Monogahela, PA, United States of America

Walter E Goettel