FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Improved interface arrangement of alternators for providing power supply redundancy in railway vehicles and like transits and methods thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been seen that there are not many proposals in the past regarding the redundancy in power supply system on self-generating coaches of railways. There are two alternators mounted on each bogie of the coach and if one alternator fails the coach has to run at half the normal load thus causing great inconvenience to passengers and either immediately after the failure or after completing its run, it has to be isolated and send for maintenance.

Description of Prior art

In the prior arts, the brushless alternators are mounted underneath the bogie frames for powering the coach for heating, air conditioning and lighting needs. These arrangements require considerable mounting space and are available to specially designed bogies. As the train speeds are increasing day by day the bogies are getting lightweight and compact along with the integration of complex stability mechanisms. This is leading to a further reduction in space for the alternator installation. The limited availability of space and a higher demand for generated power leaves the only reliable option i.e. attaching the additional power/generator cars with the rake. This option however comes at the expense of additional passenger space. Beside this drawback it also poses restriction on attaching different class of coaches together to form general services trains.

US2743680, Mounting for generator on railway car truck, this method is applicable for certain makes and types of bogies which are big in size and are designed for low speed and have larger frames. However such a method is more or less not applicable for compact high speed bogies.

The problem to be addressed is by providing the existing conventional low cost brushless alternators redesigned to be fitted on the upper side of the bogie crossbeam and disposed in such a manner, that the alternator is divided into plurality sections at the two ends of its common shaft; and disposing a driven pulley in the center space; thereby providing individual alternator stator and rotor-core sections, along with increased space lengthwise enabling it to be accommodated in less vertical space with high redundancy. A drive pulley mounted in the center of prime movers along with the tensioning rollers on the plurality belts to maintain belt tensioning. A distributed electronic pairing control section in each of the alternators power converters suitably communicating with each other to sense the working of each alternator’s generated power; and if some alternator among the plurality alternators fails, it pairs the remaining in such a manner that the coach load is effectively shared. A Load shedding and distribution section disposed on the output dc bus or inverter’s ac section, communicating suitably with the pairing and control section; thereby effectively distributing, switching on, or switching off the coach load, to match the generated power and maintaining redundancy for enhanced passenger comfort.

The invention relates more particularly to Fiat type or similar bogies developed and designed by manufacturer ‘Linke Hofmann Busch’ (LHB) and employing a conventional brushless alternator along with its power converters but not by way of limitation, to such apparatus and method utilizing other type of alternators and power convertors on different manufacturer’s make and type of bogies.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide the existing conventional and proven brushless alternators with suitable dimensions enabling it to be accommodated on the upper side of the bogie crossbeam and positioned in a manner where the alternator is divided into plurality sets, sharing a common shaft.

It is another object of the invention to dispose the plurality alternators at the respective far ends of the common shaft with driven pulley in the center space providing increased alternator space lengthwise and vertically to match the available restricted space.

It is another object of the invention to provide the redundancy in power generation by splitting it into plurality generation sections along with a common and/or flexibly coupled shaft.

It is another object of the invention to provide a distributed electronic pairing control section in each of the alternator’s power converter units and; communicating with each other through suitable electronic or radio frequency means, to sense the operational status of each alternator and isolate the plurality defective one and suitably pair the operational plurality alternators.

It is another object of the invention to provide the distributed electronic pairing control section with the ability to pair the operational alternators in such a manner that the coach load is effectively shared.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide plurality load shedding and distribution section disposed on the output dc bus, communicating suitably with the pairing and control section through electronic means and distributing, switching on or switching off the coach direct current load to match the generated power and maintaining redundancy and enhanced passenger comfort.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide plurality load shedding and distribution section disposed at the output of the inverters, communicating suitably with the pairing and control section through electronic means and distributing, switching on or switching off the coach alternating current load to match the generated power and maintaining redundancy and enhanced passenger comfort.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a drive pulley of suitable dimensions mounted in the center of prime movers along with plurality tensioning roller arrangement on the plurality double sided v-belts to maintain belt tensioning.

It is yet another object of the invention to dispose the said alternator arrangement on each crossbeam of the bogie thereby increasing the redundancy and generated output power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary type manual toggle control switch for pairing of power converters manually in the event of failure and also for channelizing the relevant load shedding and distribution circuit.

A further object of the invention is make use of communication bus such as CAN bus or RS485 or wireless to provide the means for communication in between the pairing and control circuits of the power converters and the load shedding and distribution section.

A further object of the invention is to suitably locate plurality thermal sensors inside the windings of the alternators and also at the heat sinks of the power devices in order to take corrective measures in the events of failure and also adjust power according to weather conditions.

With the above and other objectives in view, as will hereinafter appear, various embodiments of the present invention are described hereunder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, Improved interface arrangement of alternators for providing power supply redundancy in railway vehicles and like transits and methods thereof, comprises; plurality alternators on the upper side of the bogie crossbeam with common and/or suitably coupled shaft and positioned in such a manner, that the alternator is divided into plurality sets at the two respective ends of its common shaft; and disposing a driven pulley in the center space mated with the drive pulley mounted of the axle along with tensioning rollers on the plurality belts; thereby providing drive to plurality alternator sections, along with increased vertical and length wise space for accommodating the alternators and provide redundancy. An additional distributed electronic and pairing control section integrated with each of the alternator’s power converters, suitably communicating with each other through electronic, radio frequency means to sense the correct working of each alternator, its generated power. If some alternators among the plurality alternator fail it pairs the remaining in such a manner that the coach load is effectively shared and faulty alternators are automatically isolated. A load shedding and distribution section disposed on the output dc bus of the coach and interfaced suitably with the pairing and control section through electronic and/or radio frequency means; thereby effectively distributing, switching on or switching off the coach load, to match the generated power and maintaining redundancy and enhanced passenger comfort.

According to another embodiment of the invention well proven and conventional brushless plurality alternators are accommodated with suitable dimensions on the upper side of the bogie crossbeam and positioned in a manner where the alternator is divided into plurality core and stator windings, sharing a common shaft and driven pulley.

According to another embodiment of the invention the plurality alternators are disposed at the far ends of the common shaft with driven pulley in the center or at appropriate central location of the said shaft; thereby providing increased alternator space lengthwise and vertically.

According to another embodiment of the invention redundancy in power generation is provided by splitting single alternator into plurality generation sections along with a common and/or flexibly coupled shaft and suitably interfaced to their respective power converters to facilitate redundancy.

According to another embodiment of the invention a distributed electronic pairing control section is interfaced in each of the alternator’s power converter units and; communicating with each other through suitable electronic or radio frequency means to sense the operational status of each alternator and isolate the plurality defective and suitably pair the operational plurality alternators.

According to another embodiment of the invention the distributed electronic pairing control section has automatic electronics means to isolate the plurality faulty alternator and pair the operational plurality alternator in a manner, that the coach load is effectively and efficiently shared between the said alternators.

According to another embodiment of the invention a Load shedding and distribution section is disposed on the output dc bus and interfaced with the power converters thereby electronically communicating with the pairing and control section through wires or wireless means and power is further distributed, switching on, switching off in the respective wiring circuits of the coach direct current circuit to match the load with the generated power thereby maintaining redundancy and passenger comfort.

According to another embodiment of the invention a plurality load shedding and distribution section is disposed at the output of the inverters, communicating suitably with the pairing and control section through electronic means and distributing, switching on, switching off the coach’s alternating current load to match it with the generated power and maintaining redundancy and passenger comfort.

According to another embodiment of the invention a drive pulley of suitable dimensions mounted in the center or at appropriate location of prime mover’s axle along with plurality tensioning roller arrangement on the plurality double sided v-belts matching the driven pulleys of the plurality alternators.

According to another embodiment of the invention the said alternator arrangement is disposed on each crossbeam of the bogie thereby increasing the redundancy and generated output power per bogie and the coach itself.

According to another embodiment of the invention a rotary type manual toggle control switch is disposed for pairing of power converters manually in the events of failure and also for selecting the relevant load shedding and distribution circuit.

According to another embodiment of the invention a suitable method of communication bus such as CAN bus, RS485 or wireless could be used to provide the means for communication in between the pairing and control circuit sections of the power converters with the load shedding and distribution panel.

According to another embodiment of the invention plurality thermal sensors are disposed inside the windings of the plurality alternators, its plurality power converter, heat sinks of the power devices to sense the respective temperatures; and also the ambient temperature in order to take corrective measures in the events of failure and adjust power according to weather related conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows the detailed view of various components of the invention as installed in the bogie and the coach along with the alternators along with their power conversion sections to enhance the redundancy.

For a better understanding of the embodiments of the invention and to show how it may be performed, it will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be better understood by reading the following detailed description of some of the embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that a particular system embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. References are made to accompanying drawing in which its novel feature and advantages will be apparent.

As can be seen in Figure 1, it shows the various elements of the present invention as installed in the bogie and finally on the coach. There are two pre-existing bogies, Bogie-A 2 and Bogie-B 3 fitted on single coach 1. The Bogie-A 2, cross beam 5, is disposed with alternator-A1A 12 and alternator- A2A 14, with their shaft at the central location disposed with the driven pulley-A 13. The axle-A 6, is disposed with the drive pulley-A, to turn the driven pulley-A 13, through double sided v-belts 10. The said belts are also disposed with plurality rollers suitably mounted to press the said plurality belts surface thereby maintaining the required tensioning for proper operation. The other axle-A-A 32, of the said bogie is identical and could be disposed with similar arrangement as discussed above. The other side bogie-B 3, could also be disposed with the similar arrangement as discussed above to provide higher output power and redundancy. The outputs, field control wires, along with thermal sensor feedback wires of the plurality alternators namely Alternator interface-A 27, Alternator interface-A 25, alternator interface-A 22, Alternator interface-A 21, are connected to its respective power converters namely power converter-A 28, power converter-B 26, power converter-C 24, power converter-D 23, such that the generated AC voltage is converted to DC and fed to DC bus of coach lighting 29. The power converter-A 28 and power converter-B 26 are disposed with electronics pairing control sections-A 19, to analyze the operational status and working of the said power converters. Similarly the other side of the bogie-B 3, mounted alternators are disposed with power converter-C 24, power converter-D 23, to feed the converted dc to the coach’s dc bus 29. This side of the said power converters is also interfaced with its respective electronics and pairing control section-B 18. The plurality pairing and control sections-A 19, and pairing and control sections-B 18 are interfaced with each other through electronics wired or wireless communication means 20, to exchange the operational and working status of the power converters, and thereafter make decisions to select the isolation of the faulty converters and pairing of the healthy operational converters in order to provide the redundancy and required power to the coach’s equipment/load. A manual type rotary selection switch (36) is also provided in the even to failure to select the operational power converters and also the relevant load shedding circuits. The system is further interfaced with a Load shedding section 30, which is suitably connected with the coach’s dc bus 29, and with the communication bus 20, to further execute and enhance the said pairing and control sections decision. The Load shedding section 30, when instructed distributes the available power from the dc bus 29, in individual circuits, such that the available power is matched with the wiring load of the coach. A plurality Load shedding and distribution section (37) is disposed at the output of the inverters, communicating suitably with the pairing and control section (19) through electronic means and distributing power in relevant circuits (38), switching on, switching off the coach’s alternating current load to match it with the generated power and maintaining redundancy and passenger comfort; thereby enhancing the redundancy of power generation, providing higher comfort to passenger and time and ease of maintenance to the train crew.

Claims:I Claim:

1. Improved interface arrangement of alternators for providing power supply redundancy in railway vehicles and like transits and methods thereof:

an arrangement of plurality alternators (12), (14) on the bogie (2), of the rail coach (1), and located on the top side of its cross beams (5), sharing a common and/or coupled driven shaft along with driven pulley (13) disposed at appropriate central location of the said shaft; thereby positioned so as to exploit and achieve suitable alternator diameter and length. The said driven pulley suitably coupled with the drive pulley (8) of the axle (6) through double sided plurality V-belts (10) along with belt tensioning plurality roller arrangement (33) for pressing the surface of the said belts to maintain the necessary belt tensioning; and

an electronic plurality power converter sections (28), (26) electrically interfaced to with the alternators through control and power cables (27), (25) to generate controlled output dc voltage for coach supplies and battery charging;

a plurality pairing and control section (19), interfaced to the said plurality power converters; thereby electronically measuring the operational status of the said plurality power converters and facilitate pairing of the healthy and isolation of the faulty;

whereby plurality pairing and control (19), (18) on each respective bogie’s (2), (3), plurality power converters (28),(26),(24),(23) are electronically interfaced and communicate (20) through suitable means to exchange the operational status of each of the plurality power converters and interpret, initiate, command the pairing and decision making logic to share the coach load efficiently.

a plurality load shedding control sections (30), (37) on DC and AC loads, communicating electronically (20) with plurality paring and control sections (19) of the coach; thereby initiating load shedding of least important plurality load circuits on priority basis through suitable plurality load control and plurality switching means.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprise of plurality alternators (12), (14), (15), (17) based on conventional brushless type alternators or other types of alternators such as permanent magnet etc. The said alternators being mounted and accommodated with suitable dimensions on the upper side of the plurality bogie crossbeam (5), (4) and disposed in a manner wherein the said alternators are further divided into plurality rotor-core and stator windings; thereby sharing a common driven shaft and pulley (13), (16).

3. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the redundancy in power generation is provided by splitting further the plurality alternator into individual plurality stator and winding sections of similar or dis-similar rated power with a common and/or flexibly coupled shaft and suitably interfaced to their respective power converters (28), (26), (24), (23) to incorporate redundancy in power supply.

4. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality distributed electronic pairing control section (19),(18) are interfaced to each of the alternator’s plurality power converter sections (28),(26),(24),(23) and; communicating (20), with each other through suitable electronic or radio frequency means, to sense the operational status of the said plurality alternators and isolate the plurality defective alternators; thereby pairing the healthy operational plurality alternators to handle the coach (1) load.

5. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality distributed electronics and pairing control section (19), (18) has electronics means to automatically discard the plurality faulty alternators and pair the operational plurality alternators in a manner, that the coach load and current of plurality alternators is effectively and efficiently shared.

6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality load shedding and distribution section (30), is disposed on the output DC bus (29) and interfaced with the said plurality power converters, electronically communicating (20), with the plurality pairing and control sections (19), (18), through wires or wireless means; thereby distributing, switching on, switching off the available power in the respective wiring circuits (35), of the coach and match the load with the generated power; thereby maintaining redundancy and enhanced passenger comfort.

7. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein plurality load shedding and distribution section (37) is disposed at the output of the coach’s inverters, communicating suitably with the pairing and control section (19) through electronic means and distributing power in relevant alternating current AC circuits (38), switching on or switching off the coach’s alternating current load to match it with the generated power.

8. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein plurality drive pulleys (8), (9) of suitable dimensions shall be mounted at an appropriate central location of prime mover’s axle (6), (7), (31), (32) along with plurality tensioning roller arrangements (33), (34) on the plurality double sided v-belts (10), (11), matching the said plurality driven pulleys of the plurality alternators.

9. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said alternator arrangement along with plurality driven pulleys (13), (16), plurality double sided v-belts and plurality drive pulleys (10), (11) is disposed on every crossbeam of the bogie along with their respective plurality power converters (28), (26), (24), (23) and plurality pairing and control sections (19), (18) communicating operational status with each other through electronics wired and or wireless means (20) utilizing CAN bus, RS485 bus; thereby increasing the redundancy in generated output power per bogie and of the coach itself.

10. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein plurality rotary type manual toggle control switch (36) is interfaced with the system to facilitate pairing of plurality said power converters, manually in the events of failure and also for selecting the relevant load shedding and distribution circuit (35) through DC load shedding and distribution section (30).

11. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein plurality thermal sensors are disposed inside the windings of the said plurality alternators, it’s said respective plurality power converter heat sinks, power devices to sense the respective temperatures; and also sense the ambient temperatures in order to take corrective measures in the events of failure and also adjust power according to weather related conditions.

12. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein Improved interface arrangement of alternators for providing power supply redundancy in railway vehicles and like transits and methods thereof, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the figure 1, of the accompanied drawings.