Timothy W Erickson

US Patent:

7966945, Jun 28, 2011

Filed:

Feb 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/658741

Inventors:

Arnold R. Miller - Lakewood CO, US
Kris S. Hess - Westminster CO, US
Timothy L. Erickson - Parker CO, US
James L. Dippo - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

BNSF Railway Company - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B61C 3/00

US Classification:

105 49, 105 50, 105 51, 105 35

Abstract:

A hydrogen hybrid locomotive driven by a set of electric traction motors powered by at least one hydrogen fuel cell power module and plurality of batteries includes a chassis, an isolation structure disposed on the chassis for isolating the at least one hydrogen fuel cell power module from shock and vibration and a battery rack disposed on the chassis for supporting the plurality of batteries. A hydrogen containment module is disposed above the battery rack and includes a support rack supporting a plurality of hydrogen tanks and a manifold coupled to each of the plurality of hydrogen tanks for allowing charging and discharging of the hydrogen tanks.

US Patent:

7971538, Jul 5, 2011

Filed:

Feb 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/658517

Inventors:

Arnold R. Miller - Lakewood CO, US
Kris S. Hess - Westminster CO, US
Timothy L. Erickson - Parker CO, US
James L. Dippo - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

BNSF Railway Company - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B61C 3/00

US Classification:

105 50, 105 60, 105 35, 105 2605, 429430

Abstract:

A hydrogen hybrid locomotive including traction motors for moving the locomotive along a set of tracks, a set of batteries for providing electrical power to the traction motors, a hydrogen fuel cell power plant for charging the set of batteries, an air system having a variable speed compressor for providing air flow to the power plant, and a DC to DC converter for managing power distribution from the hydrogen fuel cell power plant to the batteries. A controller determines an amount of current required from the power plant to produce a selected amount of power, determines a stoic operating setpoint for the power plant based on the current required, sets the speed of a compressor within the air system to provide a selected amount of air flow to the power plant for the determined stoic operating setpoint, determines from a resulting actual air flow to the power module available power, and sets an operating setpoint of the DC to DC converter from the determined an available power.

US Patent:

8006627, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

Feb 10, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/658458

Inventors:

Arnold R. Miller - Lakewood CO, US
Kris S. Hess - Westminster CO, US
Timothy L. Erickson - Parker CO, US
James L. Dippo - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

BNSF Railway Company - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B61C 3/00

US Classification:

105 49, 105 35, 105 2605, 105 50, 105 61, 180 651, 180 6521

Abstract:

A cooling system for a hydrogen hybrid locomotive having a set of electric traction motors and a hydrogen fuel cell system for providing electric power for driving the traction motors includes a radiator for extracting heat from cooling fluid circulated through the hydrogen fuel cell system by a circulation system. The circulation system includes a bypass valve for bypassing a selected amount of the cooling fluid around the radiator and a radiator output valve for controlling an amount of the cooling fluid passed to the hydrogen fuel cell system from the radiator. A fan system provides air flow across the radiator. A control system selectively sets a position of the radiator output valve and a position of the bypass valve and selectively controls a speed of the fan, as required to control cooling of the hydrogen fuel cell system.

US Patent:

8117969, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Aug 4, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/462473

Inventors:

Arnold R. Miller - Lakewood CO, US
Kris S. Hess - Westminster CO, US
Timothy L. Erickson - Parker CO, US
James L. Dippo - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

BNSF Railway Company - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B61C 3/00

US Classification:

105 50, 105 2605, 105 61

Abstract:

A hydrogen hybrid locomotive including a set of batteries for driving a plurality of electric traction motors for moving the locomotive along a set of railroad rails and a fuel cell power plant for charging the set of batteries and driving the electric traction motors. The fuel cell power plant includes at least one fuel cell power module for generating electrical current by reacting hydrogen fuel and oxygen from intake air, the amount of electrical current being proportional to an air mass flow of the intake air. An air system selectively provides an air mass flow to the fuel cell module to generate an amount of electrical current required for corresponding operating conditions of the locomotive. A cooling system cools the at least one fuel cell power module in response to the amount of current being generated.

US Patent:

8171860, May 8, 2012

Filed:

May 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/134040

Inventors:

Arnold R. Miller - Lakewood CO, US
Kris S. Hess - Westminster CO, US
Timothy L. Erickson - Parker CO, US
James L. Dippo - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

BNSF Railway Company - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B61C 3/00

US Classification:

105 49, 105 35, 105 2605, 105 50, 105 61, 180 651, 180 6521

Abstract:

A cooling system for a hydrogen hybrid locomotive including a set of electric traction motors and a hydrogen fuel cell system for providing electric power for driving the traction motors. The cooling system includes a radiator for extracting heat from cooling fluid circulated through the hydrogen fuel cell system and a circulation system. The circulation system has a pump for moving the cooling fluid through the circulation system, a first circulation path including a radiator output valve for controlling a selected amount of the cooling fluid provided by the pump to a cooling fluid inlet of the hydrogen fuel cell system through the radiator, and a second circulation path including a bypass valve for bypassing a selected amount of the cooling fluid provided by the pump around the radiator and to the cooling fluid inlet of the hydrogen fuel cell system. A fan system provides air flow across the radiator. A control system selectively sets a position of the radiator output valve and a position of the bypass valve such that the cooling fluid provided by the first and second circulation paths maintains a selected approximate temperature at the cooling inlet of the hydrogen fuel cell system and selectively controls a speed of the fan to control cooling of the hydrogen fuel cell system.

US Patent:

8381658, Feb 26, 2013

Filed:

Feb 17, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/385412

Inventors:

Arnold R. Miller - Lakewood CO, US
Kris S. Hess - Westminster CO, US
Timothy L. Erickson - Parker CO, US
James L. Dippo - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

BNSF Railway Company - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

B61C 3/00

US Classification:

105 50, 105 2605, 105 61

Abstract:

A method of operating a locomotive including a set of electrical traction motors, a fuel cell power module for generating electrical current for the traction motors, an air system for providing an air mass to the fuel cell power module, and a cooling system for cooling the fuel cell power module. When an amount of power is requested from the power module, a required current and a stoic set point for the power module are determined. From the required current, the stoic set point, and numerical factors characterizing the power module, an air mass flow set point is determined for producing the requested amount of power. A compressor set point including speed and torque set points of a compressor motor are determined for the air system to produce the air mass flow corresponding to the requested amount of power.