US2264950A - Engine-generator unit - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1941. L. w, MELCHER ENGINE-GENERATOR UNIT :5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1939 huu 1941. w. MELCHER I 2,264,950

ENGINE-GENERATOR UNIT Filed Nov. 20, 1959 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 hue/2Z7 f M 112 (View Dec. 2, 1941. L, w, MELHER 2,264,950

ENGINE-GENERATOR UNIT Filed Nov. 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 2, 1.941 I ENGINE-GENERATOR. UNIT Lee W. Melcher, Oconomowoc, Wis, assignorto Waukesha Motor Company, Waukesha, Wis, a. corporation of Wisconsin Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,326

, '4 Claims. The present invention relates generally tounits like vehicles. More particularly the invention relates to that type of unit which comprises an T for supplying electric current to the various or sundry electrical appliances of railroad cars or internal combustion engine and an engine driven electric generator and is mounted or suspended beneath the bottom of the body of the railroad car with which the unit is associated.

One object of the invention is 'to provide a Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of-a railroad car' having applied to the under side of the body thereof an-engine-generator unit embody ing the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse section of the car showing the 'unit'in its normal or operative position beneath the bottom of the car body;

Figure 3 is another fragmentary transverse section of the car showing the unit in'its inspection railroad car engine-generator unit of. this type which is generally of new and improved construction and has a mounting associated therewith wherebyit is shiftable bodily back and forth between a normal Operating position under the car body and an inspection or repair position at one side of the car body.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a railroad car unit of the type and character under consideration which embodies a box-like housing of novel design and also embodies simple and improved means for cooling the engine and the generator. v

A further object of the invention is the provision in connection with a railroad car enginegenerator unit of the aforementioned type of an inclined cylinder beneath the carbottom and with liquid fuel under pressure therein, such for example as propane; and a system including a flexible conduit for delivering at a predetermined and uniform pressure fuel vapor from the top of the cylinder to the carburetor of the engine, together with a heater for vaporizing the liquid fuel in the cylinder when low atmospheric temperatures are encountered, and novel means for conducting the exhaust gases or products of which occupies but a comparatively small space and is efiicient in operation.

I inder;

or repair position at one side of the car body;

Figure 4 is a plan-view of the unit showing detail the design and construction of the conduit means for delivering the exhaust gases or products of combustion from the exhaust manifold of the engine to the heater for the fuel cyl- Figure 5 is a vertical'longitudinal section on the line 5--5 of Figure 4; and I a Figure 61s a longitudinalsection of the fuel cylinder.

" The unit which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention and comprises an internal combustion en gine I and an electric generator 8. It'is shown or illustrated in connection with a railroad pas-- senger car C and-serves to supply thevarious electrical appliances of the car with current. The

car C, 'as shown in Figure 1, comprises a body Otherobjects of the invention and the vari- I ous advantages and characteristics of the present railroad car engine-generator unit will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are flywheel on one end of the crank shaft.

0 with a pair of track-engaging wheel equipped trucks 0 at its ends.v The car'body c embodies a fiat bottom 0 which together with a pair of opposed window equipped sides 0 and c and a roof 0 defines a passenger compartment. The lower portions of the sides of the car body projectbeneath the bottom 0 so as to form a'partially closed compartment c? beneath the. bottom. The engine-generator unit is normally disposed in this compartment 0 beneath the bottom of the car body c. and is encased within and supported by a boxlike housing 9.

The engine 1 is of conventional or standard design and comprises a water jacketed cylinder block it, a crank case H and a flywheel housing l2. It also comprises av crank shaft and pistons and valves (not shown). The crank case is disposed beneath the cylinder block and supports the crank shaft as well understood in the art. The flywheel housing I2 is fixed-to the crank case and cylinder block and houses a In addition to thecylinder block and other. hereinbeforementioned parts the engine 1 comprises an intake manifold l3 and an exhaust manifold H. The intake manifold has a carburetor l5 It extends lengthwise of the carC for supplying it with a mixture of fuel gas and air and embodies a plurality or set of branches which serve to supply the mixture into the cylinders via valve controlled inlet ports in the cylinder block. The exhaust manifold I4 is located is positioned at the end oi the engine that is opdriven inconnection with operation of the engine it draws air through the opening 35 and the radiator I1 and then forces the air out of the engine compartment 33 via the opening 31 in the housing bottom wall 23. The side and top walls or the housing have openings 33 therein to provide access to the interior of theengine compartment 33 and these'openings are normally closed by removable panels 39. A control box 49 for the engine is mounted on the outer side wall 25 o! the housing, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The

generator compartment 34 has an open bottom and is partially open at the sides thereof. The end wall 3| is comparatively short with the result that the outer end of the generatorcompartment is open, as shown in Figure 5. The generator is posite the flywheel housing l2 and has the-upper end thereof connectedto the top of the water jacket by a hose connection It. A hose connection l9 extends between the bottom of the radiator and the bottom of the water jacket and completes the cooling circuit. An engine driven pump at one side of the engine serves to circulate the water in the circuit and an engine driven fan between the radiator and the adjacent end of the engine operates to draw air through the radiator'ior water cooling purposes.

The generator 8 is positioned in longitudinal alignment with the engine I and comprise a cylindrical casing 2| with a closed outer end 22. The inner end of the generator casing is bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to the flywheel housing |2 of the engine. 2| the generator 8 comprises a stationary field 23 and an armature 24. The latter are mounted within the casing 2| and operate in response to drive of the armature to generate electric current. One end of the armature shaft .is journalled in a bearing (not shown) on the central portion of the outer end 22 of the generator casing and the other end of the armature shaft is connectedto the flywheel carrying end of the engine crank shaft. Flexible conductors 25 lead from the generator to storage batteries (not shown) in or under the body of the railroad car C and operate during operation of the generator to supply current to the batteries for energizing walls and 3| and a cross partition 32, all of which are suitably secured together to form a rigid structure. The crpss partition 32, as shown in Figure 5, is disposed substantially midway between the two end walls 30 and 3| of the housing and divides the housing into an engine compartcrosspiece 4|.

In addition to the casing merit 33 at one end thereof and a generator com- 5 partment 34 at the other end. The engine 'I is disposed in the engine compartment 33 and is fixedly or rigidly secured in place. The end wall 30 of the housing embodies a rectangular opening therein and the radiator H of the cooling circuit is positioned directly behindv this opening.

as shown in Figure 5. Vertically spaced horizonsubstantially fully exposed and is supported by a The latter depends from the top wall 29 and extends between and is secured to the two side walls of the housing. Bolts 42 extend through the crosspiece and into internally threaded bosses 43 on the top portion of the gen erator casing 2| and serve to hold the generator casing in connected relation with the housing 3. The casing 2| of ,the generator has an annular series of laterally spaced longitudinally extending ribs 44 on its side wall and is adatped to be cooled by means of a fan wheel 45. The latter is disposed outwardly of the closed outer end 22 cr me casing 2|. It is connected to the outer end. oi, and is driven by, the generator armature shaft and is housed within a cup shaped shell 45. This shell, as shown in Figure 5, comprises a circular end wall 41 and a cylindrical side wall 48. The side wall surrounds the outer end and central portions of the-side wall of the generator casing 2| and is clamped in place by mean of a clamping band 49. The circular end wall 41 has air inlet openings 50 therein. When the fan wheel 45 is driven in connection with drive of the generator air is drawn into the shell 46 through the openings 50. and is caused to flow first over the casing end22 and then inwardly over the side wall of the casing. The inner end of the side wall 48 of the shell 45 terminates inwardly oi the inner end of the generator casing with the result that the airwhich is drawn into the shell by the fan wheel 45 is discharged to atmosphere after it flows past the outer and central portions of the side wall of the generator casing. By reason or the fact that the fanwheel 45 moves th air for cooling the generator in opposition to the air stream emanating from the engine compartment 33 via the'opening 31 in the housing bottom wall 28 there is no likelihood of the generator being subjected to heated air. The cross partition 32 of the housing 9. separates the generator from the engine and prevents any heated air in the engine compartment 33 from flowing into the generator compartment 34. It is substantially imperforate and has a hole 5| in which the flywheel housing I2 of the engine fits snugly. The exhaust pipe l5 extends into the generator compartment 34 through a hole 52 in the cross partition 32 or the ing position in the partially closed compartment The discharge end of the exhaust removable or detachable outer sections 58.

inner sections are channel shaped as far ascross in its normal operating, position.

to an inspection or repair position wherein it is disposed outwardly of the side 0 of the car body c. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bottom portion of the-side c of the car body is cut awayv at a point adjacent the housing 9 to form a doorway 0'' leading to the compartment 0 A door 0 with a hinge c at the top thereof serves normally to close the doorway c. When access is desired to the compartment c beneath the bottom of the car body '0 the door c is swung out-. wardly and upwardly, as shown in Figure 3. The tracks 55 comprise fixed inner sections 51 and The section design is concerned and are suspended from the bottom c of the car body by way of brackets 59. They are positioned transversely of the railroad car C and together with the wheels 56 .support the unit when the latter is in its normal position. The brackets 59 support the fixed inner track sections so that they are substantially in alignment with the ends of the doorway c" in the lower portion of the side 0 of the car body. The wheels 56 are four in number and are located at the upper corner portions of the and prevent the latter from being transmitted from the engine-generator unit to the body 0 of the railroad car C. The outer track sections 58 are adapted when the door 0 is in its open position to be attached to and to form continuations of the inner track sections 51. They are channel shaped in cross section and have hooks 5 2 inwardly of their inner extremities. The hooks, as shown in Figure 3, are designed to have hooked engagement with transversely extend- The tracks 55 and the wheels 56 constitute or exemplify simple means for supporting the v engine-generator unit so that it is shiftable bodily back and forth between its normal operating position beneath the bottom of the car body and its inspection or repair position to one side of the car body.

- The engine 1 is supplied with fuel by way of a fuel cylinder 55 and a system for deliver ing fuel from the cylinder to'the carburetor l5 for the engine l. The cylinder 65 is adapted to contain liquid fuel under pressure such, for example, as propane. ing 61 at one side of the boxlike housing 9 for the engine-generator unit and comprises a cylindrical side wall, a round bottom wall and a top open position in connection with replacement. of

ing pins 53 on the outer ends of the inner track sections 51 and co-act with the pins to form removable or detachable connections for securing the outer track sections 58 in place. When the outer track sections are in place the inner extremities thereof underlie the outer ends of the inner track sections 51 and prevent the outer track sections from tilting downward. The outer ends of the outer track sections have stops 64 for limiting outward movement of the enginegenerator unit. When the outer track sections are in attached or connected relation with'the inner track sections the unit together with its housing 9 may be shifted bodily from its normal operating position in the compartment c (see Figure 2) to an inspection or repair position position access may be had to it by removing the panels 39. Suitable clamping or locking devices (not shown) are associated with the inner track sections 51 and 'serve releasably to hold the unit The outer track sections 58 are adapted when not in use to be stored in any suitable manner in the compar'tment c beneath the-bottom of the car body. The flexible conductors 25 for conducting current from the generator 8- to the storage batteries for the car C are of such lengththat it isthe fuel cylinder. The top wall of the cylinder has a reduced outwardly extending cylindrical neck and is closed by a plug 68. The latter is provided with an outlet valve 59 and an L- shaped pipe 19. The valve is exteriorly disposed with respect to the plug and is manipulable for opening and closing purposes when the front wall of the housing fills in its open position. The L-shaped pipe 10 extends between the valve 69 and the top of the fuel cylinder and serves to conduct fuel vapor from the cylinder interior to the outlet valve 59. As a result of the arrangement of the pipe 10 no liquid fuel in the cylinder can pass through the outlet valve 69. The system 66 serves as a medium for conducting the fuel vapor within the top portion of the cylinder to the carburetor I5 and supplying it to the carburetor under uniform pressure. It comprises a small pipe H and a large pipe 12. The small pipe leads from the cylinder65 and is connected to receive fuel vapor from the outlet valve 69 by way of a flexible tube 13. The large pipe 12 is disposed in the enginecompartment 33 in the housing 9 and receives fuel vapor from the pipe 'II by way of a pressure regulator 14, and excess flow valve 15 and a fuel regulator and automatic shut-off 16. The pressure regulator 14 is provided with a safety relief valve 11 and serves to supply fuel vapor at a constant pressure to the excess flow valve 15. The latter is connected to the fuel regulatorand automatic shut-off 16 by way of a flexible tube 18 and the latter isof suificicnt length that it permits the engine-generator unit to be shifted back and forth between its normal operating position and its inspection position without disconnection or detachment. The fuel regulator and automatic shut-off 16 is disposed in the engine compartment 33. The flexible tube I8 leads to it and extends through a hole in one of the side walls of the housing 9."

For the purpose of heating the fuel cylinder 65 when temperatures below 20 F. are encounteredla hollow heater l9 and a conduit system are provided. At temperatures below 20 F.

there is not sumcient vaporization of the-liquid fuel in'the cylinder to supply the engine under full load operation. By heating the cylinder It is mounted in a housslides out of engagement with the flared inlet of the pipe is in surrounding relation with the when low atmospheric temperatures are encountered the necessary vaporization of the liquid in the cylinder takes place to create a suflicient fuel vapor supply for engine operating purposes. The heater I9 is mounted in the inner portion of the fuel cylinder housing 6! in heat exchange relation with the bottom wall of the fuel cylinder 65 andis adapted as hereinafter described, to have the exhaust gases from the engine I circulated through it for heating purposes. The conduit system 88 constitutes the medium for supplying the exhaust gascs from the engine to the heater [9. It embodies a fixed pipe 8| and includes the exhaust pipe l6. The pipe 8| is suitably supported beneath the bottom of the car body 0 and hasa flared inlet end 82. The latter is located in alignment with the discharge piece 54 of the exhaust pipe i6 and fits around such piece when the engine-generator unit is in its normal operating position, as shown in Figure 4. When the unit is shifted into its inspection or repair position the discharge piece 54 end 82 of the pipe 8|. When the unit is in its normal operating position and the inlet end d2 discharge piece 54 the products of combustion emanating from the engine and flowing through the exhaust pipe I6 pass through the pipe 85.

The outlet end of the pipe 8| is connected to the heater l9 and communicates with the interior thereof. An exhaust drain pipe 83' is connected to the bottom portion of the heater l8. and per mits the exhaust gases to flow to atmosphere after travelling through and heating the heater. In order that the exhaust gases may be directly discharged to atmosphere without passing through the heater when the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere is high, 1. e., above 20 F. and hence suflicient to effect the necessary vaporization of the liquid fuel in the cyl inder, the discharge end of the pipe 8! is provided with a fitting 84. This fitting embodies a pair of branches 85 and 86 and has in the interior thereof a butterfly type valve 81 for controlling the flow of exhaust gases through the two branches. The branch 85 leads to and communicates with the hollow heater l9 and the branch 86 extends downwards and leads to'at-' mosphere. The valve 81 is connected to a pivot shaft 88 and is adapted to be swung back and forth between a position wherein it closes the branch 86 leading to atmosphere and opens the branch 85 leading to the heater, and a position wherein it closes the branch 85 and opens the branch 86. A temperature responsive bellows. 88 is connected to the pivot shaft 88 by way of a linkage 98 and is adapted so to control the valve that the latter only permits the flow of exhaust gases to the heater when temperatures below F. are encountered. i v

The operation of the unit is as follows: When the engine I is in operation and the unit is in its normal operating position wherein it is disposed within the compartment c beneath the (if suificiently long 2,ae4,ouo

ficient rate to take care of the fuel requirements of the engine under full load operation. If it is desired to inspect or repair the engine or the generator the door 0 for the doorway c" in the lower portion of the side c of the car body is first swung outwardly and upwardly into an open position. Thereafter the outer track sections 58 of the tracks are attached to the outer ends 6 of the inner track sections 51 by arranging the' hooks 62 intohooked relation with the pins 63 on the outer extremities of the inner track sections'. and is then wheeled outwards onto the outer track sections 58. When the unit is on such track sections, as shown in Figure 3 a d h inbefore described, it is positioned wholly outwards of the car side c and may be inspected or repaired by removing the removable panels 38. When the unit is shifted outwards into its inspection or repair position it is not necessary to disconnect the flexible conductors 25 and flexible tube or hose 18 because these are to permit of unrestricted shift of the unit back and forth between its normal and inspection positions. When the unit is shifted back into its normal operating position into the compartment 0 the discharge piece 54 at the discharge end of the exsition of. the butterfly valve Bl in the fitting 34. When the unit is in its normal operating position-the outer track sections 58 of the tracks 55 are disconnected or detached from the inner track sections 5'! and are suitably stored as heretofore described.

The herein described unit occupies but a comparatively small space and is emcient in operation. It is readily accessible for inspection or repair and imposes no burden other than weight on the locomotive for the railroad car with which it is associated. Preferably the unit is positioned under the car 0 so that the engine I faces in the direction in which the car is adapted normally to travel. By so positioning the unit the radiator H of the closed water circuit for cooling the engine is at the front of the unitand hence receives a substantial flow of air therethrough in connection with forward propulsion of the car C.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a vehicle having elec trical apparatus therefor, of a mounting beneath the bottom of the body of the vehicle, a horizontally elongated cross partition equipped boxlike housing carried by the mounting and shaped to define a substantially closed engine compartment at one side of the partition and a generator compartment at the other side of the partition and with an open bottom and a substantially open outer end together with substantially open sides, an electric generator mounted in the generator compartment of the housing and com After this operation the unit is released prising a closed casing with an armature shaft therein and in addition an armature driven fan located outwardly of the casing and adjacent the open end of the generator compartment and arranged so that when driven it operates to flow air around the casing and toward, the partition, and an internal combustion engine mounted in the engine compartment and connected to drive the generator.

2. The combination with a vehicle having electrical apparatus therefor, of amounting beneath the bottom of the body of the vehicle, a horizontally elongated cross partition equipped boxiike housing carried by the mounting so that it extends lengthwise of the vehicle body, and shaped to form at one side of the partition an engine compartment with an outer end wall opening and a bottom opening and at the other side of said partition a generator compartment with an open bottom and a substantially open outer end together with substantially open sides, an electric generator mounted in the generator compartment and comprising a closed. casing with an armature shaft therein and in addition an armature driven fan located outwardly of the casing, and adjacent the substantially open outer end of the generator compartment and arranged to flow air around the casing and toward the partition, and an internal combustion engine in the engine compartment of the housing connected to drive the armature of the generator and having cooling means thereforin the form of a radiator adjacent the end wall opening and an engine driven fan behind the radiator and operative when driven to draw-air into the engine compartment through the radiator and to discharge such air from said engine compartment via the bottom opening.

3. The combination with a vehicle, of a mounting on the vehicle, an internal combustion engine provided with an exhaust manifold and carried by the mounting so that it is shiftable bodily back' and forth between a normal operating positon and an inspection or repair position, a cylinder with readily vaporizable liquid fuel under pressure carried by the vehicle in proximity to the engine and having means associated therewith for supplying fuel vapor from it to the engine, a hollow heater in heat exchange relation with the cylinder, and means for automatically connecting the exhaust manifold of the engine to the heater when the engine is shifted into its normal operating position and automatically disconnecting said manifold from the heater when the engine is shifted into its inspection or repair position.

4. The combination with a vehicle, of a mounting thereon, an internal combustion en- .in proximity to the engine andv having means associated therewith for supplying fuel vapor from it to the engine, a hollow heater in heat exchange relation with the cylinder, and a fixed pipe leading to the heater and having the inlet end thereof so positioned and arranged that when the engine is shifted into its normal operating position the discharge piece of the exhaust pipe is brought into connected relation with said inlet end and connection is established whereby the exhaust gases from the engine are delivered to the heater and when the engine is shifted out of its normal operating position and into its inspection position said discharge piece moves out of connected relation with said inlet end of the fixed pipe and thus breaks said con-

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