Locomotive and rail car braking regeneration and propulsion system and method

Abstract

A method of using one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to assist a train consist up an uphill climb, the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations each having one or more diesel electric locomotives and one or more separate energy storage cars, including adding the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to the train consist prior to an uphill climb; using the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to assist the train consist up the uphill climb; and removing the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations from the train consist after the uphill climb. The one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations are added to a train consist traveling downhill to assist with the downhill slowing through dynamic braking regeneration that is used to recharge the energy storage of the one or more separate energy storage cars.

1 . A method of using one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to assist a train consist up an uphill climb, the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations each having one or more diesel electric locomotives and one or more separate energy storage cars, comprising:
 adding the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to the train consist prior to an uphill climb;   using the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to assist the train consist up the uphill climb;   removing the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations from the train consist after the uphill climb.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including running the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations downhill, and using braking regeneration to charge the one or more separate energy storage cars of the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations are added to the train consist at a first switch yard to assist the train consist uphill, the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations are removed from the train consist at a second switch yard. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second switch yard is a summit location. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second switch yard is a downhill location. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations are reversed in direction at the second switch yard, and are added to a train consist heading uphill at the second switch yard to assist the train consist uphill. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more diesel electric locomotives are one or more dual mode diesel electric locomotives. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more diesel electric locomotives are one or more hybrid-electric diesel electric locomotive. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separate energy storage cars are one or more electric commuter rail cars configured to haul one or more large energy storage packs. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separate energy storage cars are one or more converted double deck commuter rail cars with one or more energy storage packs mounted therein to provide a low center of gravity. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more separate energy storage cars are at least one of one or more flat rail cars and one or more specialty built rail car chassis with a energy storage pack mounted thereon. 
   
   
       12 . A method of using one or more energy storage cars to assist a train consist up an uphill climb, the consist having one or more electrically propelled locomotives for primary propulsion power, comprising:
 adding the one or more energy storage cars to the train consist prior to an uphill climb;   using the one or more energy storage cars to supply additional power to the one or more dual mode locomotives to assist the train consist up the uphill climb;   removing the one or more energy storage cars from the train consist after the uphill climb.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including running the one or more energy storage cars downhill, and using braking regeneration to charge the one or more separate energy storage cars from the motor/generators of the dual mode locomotives or other rail cars. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more energy storage cars are added to the train consist at a first switch yard to assist the train consist uphill, the one or more energy storage cars are removed from the train consist at a second switch yard. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second switch yard is a summit location. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second switch yard is a downhill location. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more energy storage cars are reversed in direction at the second switch yard, and are added to a train consist heading uphill at the second switch yard to assist the train consist uphill. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrically propelled locomotives are one or more dual mode diesel electric locomotives. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrically propelled locomotives are one or more hybrid-electric diesel electric locomotive. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more separate energy storage cars are one or more electric commuter rail cars configured to haul one or more large energy storage packs. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more separate energy storage cars are one or more converted double deck commuter rail cars with one or more energy storage packs mounted therein to provide a low center of gravity. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more separate energy storage cars are at least one of one or more flat rail cars and one or more specialty built rail car chassis with a energy storage pack mounted thereon.