Locomotive Drive Unit Mounting Standardization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of electric locomotives is hindered by high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for various types of power supply networks and the complexity of their drive systems, which results in a limited savings potential and increased production complexity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves producing locomotives with different drive units in a uniform manner, with the supporting vehicle structure and additional devices designed to be identical or similarly arranged, allowing for a consistent and optimized manufacturing process by connecting drive units such as motor-generator combinations or current transformer-high-voltage frame combinations at the same location, thereby reducing material and weight usage and simplifying electrical line routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different types of drive units are used for different power supply networks, then the locomotive can operate on multiple electrical systems, but the manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a standardized mounting structure and connection interface that can accommodate different types of drive units (diesel-electric, electric, hybrid) on the same supporting vehicle structure. This allows a single locomotive platform to be configured for multiple power supply networks without redesigning the entire vehicle architecture, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining operational versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different types of drive units are used for different power supply networks, then the locomotive can operate on multiple electrical systems, but the manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized mounting structure and connection interfaces enable economies of scale in manufacturing. By producing common components (supporting vehicle structure, connection interfaces, auxiliary devices) that can serve multiple drive unit types, the patent reduces per-unit manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to operate on different power supply networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the locomotive into modular components: a standardized supporting vehicle structure and interchangeable drive units. This segmentation allows independent manufacturing and optimization of each module, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining operational versatility across different power supply networks.
3Ease of manufacture
If the supporting vehicle structure is designed identically for different drive unit types, then the number of identical parts increases, but the space utilization and routing optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic design by creating a standardized supporting vehicle structure that can adaptively accommodate different drive unit configurations. The structure includes flexible connection points and routing paths that can be optimized for each specific drive unit type while maintaining the same base architecture, thus achieving both production efficiency and space utilization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the production of a locomotive, with a load-bearing vehicle structure being connected to an assembly (DE) for production of traction power from an energy source, and being connected to additional apparatuses (AUX, KT) which allow operation of the locomotive. A motor-generator combination, in particular a diesel-electric assembly, or a converter/high-voltage equipment combination is optionally chosen as the assembly, so that either the motor-generator combination (first case) or the converter/high-voltage equipment combination (second case) is connected as the assembly to the load-bearing vehicle structure. The points at which the assembly (DE) and the additional apparatuses (AUX, KT) are arranged on the load-bearing vehicle structure and are connected to the load-bearing vehicle structure are the same in the first case and in the second case.