Automatic flashover protection for locomotive traction motors
US5168416A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/7072
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Flashover protection is provided for a locomotive propulsion system including a plurality of d-c traction motors each having a commutator subject to flashovers, a traction alternator having armature and field windings and a rotor driven by a prime mover, a controllable source of excitation current connected to the alternator field, and means including an electric power rectifier for connecting the alternator to the motor commutators. It comprises means for producing a fault signal whenever a flashover occurs in any motor, a solid-state controllable electric valve connected between the excitation current source and the alternator field and having alternative conducting and non-conducting states, and means for changing the valve from conducting to non-conducting states in response to a fault signal being produced, whereupon the magnitude of excitation current in the alternator field is rapidly reduced toward zero and the alternator's output current is correspondingly decreased whenever a flashover occurs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.