Rail system fuel tender

Abstract

An improved rail system fuel tender for use with one or more railroad locomotives capable of transporting a plurality of fuel containers suitable for containing pressurized fuel and suitable for directly fueling the one or more locomotives. The improved fuel tender may be powered by the locomotives to increase tractive effort, and the fuel containers may be separately fillable and separately removable from the fuel tender.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The invention relates generally to the field of vehicles used on railroads. More specifically, the invention is directed to an improved fuel tender adapted to run on railroad rails as part of a train comprising at least one locomotive for which the improved fuel tender provides fuel.[0003]2. Description of Prior Art[0004]Railroad fuel tenders are well known in the art. From the earliest coal cars which were coupled to steam locomotive engines to the diesel tankers used more recently, separate vehicles have been employed to transport the fuel used by the locomotives powering trains. More recently there has been a trend towards integrating fuel carrying capability within the locomotive itself, much as an automobile has an integrated gas tank. One example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,328 (Jul. 14, 1992, to Donnelly), whereby a gas turbine locomotive fueled by compressed natural gas carries gas storage tanks on the locomoti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a propulsion mechanism capable of propelling the fuel tender. The propulsion mechanism is powered by the engine located in the locomotive, with power provided to the fuel tender by the locomotive through a power connection. This configuration allows the fuel tender to add to the tractive efficiency of the train without incurring the penalty of onboard power generation capability. Because locomotive engines are capable of producing power in excess of the capacity of the tractive limits of the locomotive, the use of this excess power for the propulsion mechanism of the fuel tender does not lessen the maximum tractive effort of the locomotive. In the most preferred embodiment the propulsion mechanism of the fuel tender comprises one or more electric traction motors.

Problems solved by technology

However, when the fuel carrying capability is onboard the locomotive there is a penalty paid in weight and capacity.

However, fuel tanks that are large enough to contain a sufficient quantity of pressurized fuel to practically fuel a locomotive are very costly.

Typically, unpowered fuel tenders negatively impact the efficiency of a train, since some of the pulling power provided by the locomotive is used to move the fuel tender.

However, a fuel tender with power generation capabilities on board can hold a lesser quantity of fuel than one without such capability, thereby negatively impacting its primary purpose.

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