Abstract:
An oxygen distribution system for a railroad locomotive having an operator cab and operable at high latitudes in ambient air conditions having a low oxygen content level that would be hazardous to locomotive operators, with the oxygen distribution system being configured to generate and supply air having enriched oxygen content levels to the operator cab to support locomotive operators is provided and includes an O 2  generation device for generating O 2  gas, an O 2  processing device for mixing the O 2  gas and ambient air and a heating/ventilation device, wherein the O 2  generation device is in fluid flow communication with the heating/ventilation device via the O 2  processing device, with the O 2  processing device receiving O 2  gas from the O 2  generation device and processing the O 2  gas and ambient air to form a processed air having enriched oxygen content levels for transfer to the heating/ventilation device for distribution to the operator cab.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/590,553 filed Jul. 23, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a locomotive operating in an extreme environmental condition and, more particularly, to oxygenation of a locomotive cab operating in a low oxygen environment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Locomotives that are used for heavy haul applications are well known and typically operate in extreme environments, including low oxygen environments at high altitudes. As such, these locomotives must provide critical life support systems, such as oxygenation devices, to sustain the life of the locomotive operator(s). To address this issue, current designs for locomotives operating at high altitudes generate oxygen and supply the oxygen to each member of the locomotive crew individually via masks worn over the mouth and nose of the crew member. Unfortunately however, this method of supplying life sustaining oxygen has several disadvantages associated with it.  
         [0004]     One disadvantage involves the spread of bacteria and/or a virus from one crew member to another crew member. One reason for this is that situations may occur where more than one crew member may have to use one specific oxygen mask. This is undesirable because these oxygen masks are typically not sterilized after being used. Thus, if one person has a bacterial and/or a viral infection and wears the mask, it is highly probable that the inside of the mask (i.e. the part of the mask exposed to the nose and mouth of wearer) will be contaminated with the bacteria and/or virus, thus exposing the next person who wears this mask to the same infections. For example, if one crew member has an undiagnosed tuberculosis infection (a bacterial infection spread by aerosolization and expulsion of the tuberculosis bacteria from the lungs by coughing and breathing) and wears the mask, the inside of the mask will be contaminated with tuberculosis bacteria. As such, this will expose the next crew member who wears that mask to tuberculosis and may increase his/her probability of becoming infected with the bacteria.  
         [0005]     Another disadvantage involves the discomfort and restriction of movement of the crew while wearing the mask. This is because the mask must be disposed securely over the nose and mouth of the wearer. As such, the mask must be snugly fastened to the wearer&#39;s face via a strap that wraps around the wearer&#39;s head causing the edge of the mask to press into the wearers&#39; face. This is undesirable because after several hours of wearing this apparatus, a rash and/or bruise may form due to contact pressure between the edge of the mask and the wearer&#39;s face. Moreover, the mask must be attached to an oxygen generation device via a long hollow delivery tube which is used to deliver oxygen to the mask and thus the wearer. As the crew moves around the locomotive cab, the delivery tube is subject to kinking and/or becoming tangled in other delivery tubes and/or equipment. This is also undesirable because it may cause a dangerous situation by restricting the movement of the crew and/or by damaging a mask and/or delivery tube cutting off the oxygen supply to the crew member.  
         [0006]     One way that has been investigated to address this problem involves supplying oxygen to the cab and pressuring the cab of the locomotive to assure sufficient oxygen, similar to that used in commercial airliners. Unfortunately however, this approach is not practical for locomotive cabs because the large flat panels of the cab are not sufficiently strong enough to resist the large forces generated by the small pressure differences caused by pressurization. Moreover, a locomotive cab requires doors and windows which are easily operated. In this case if the locomotive cab were a pressurized environment, the cab would have to undergo a pressurization/depressurization cycle every time a door or window is opened. This is undesirable because it increases the potential for injury of ear drums if a door or window is opened while the cab is pressurized.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An oxygen distribution system for a railroad locomotive having an operator cab and operable at high latitudes in ambient air conditions having a low oxygen content level that would be hazardous to locomotive operators, with the oxygen distribution system being configured to generate and supply air having enriched oxygen content levels to the operator cab to support locomotive operators is provided and includes an O 2  generation device for generating O 2  gas, an O 2  processing device for mixing the O 2  gas and ambient air and a heating/ventilation device, wherein the O 2  generation device is in fluid flow communication with the heating/ventilation device via the O 2  processing device, with the O 2  processing device receiving O 2  gas from the O 2  generation device and processing the O 2  gas and ambient air to form a processed air having enriched oxygen content levels for transfer to the heating/ventilation device for distribution to the operator cab.  
         [0008]     An oxygenated locomotive cab is provided and includes a locomotive cab structure defining a cab cavity for accommodating at least one person, wherein the cab structure includes a plurality of air ducts, wherein at least one of the plurality of air ducts is communicated with an oxygen distribution system, the oxygen distribution system including an O 2  generation device, an O 2  processing device and a heating/ventilation device, wherein the O 2  generation device is in fluid flow communication with the heating/ventilation device via the O 2  processing device, with the O 2  processing device receiving O 2  gas from the O 2  generation device and processing the O 2  gas and ambient air to form a processed air having enriched oxygen content levels for transfer to the heating/ventilation device for distribution to the cab cavity.  
         [0009]     A method for providing O 2  to an operator cab of a locomotive, wherein the operator cab includes a cab environment which is at least partially sealed from an external environment is provided, wherein the method includes receiving ambient air having an O 2  content into an O 2  generation device, processing the ambient air to separate the O 2  content from the ambient air and to generate an O 2  flow between the O 2  generation device and the operator cab and conditioning the O 2  flow to control the atmosphere within the cab environment.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of an oxygen distribution system; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is block diagram illustrating a method for providing O 2  to an operator cab of a locomotive. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram illustrating an oxygen distribution system  100  is shown and includes an oxygen generation device  102 , a flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  and a heater/ventilation device  106  communicated with a locomotive cab  108 . Oxygen generation device  102  includes an ambient air inlet port  110 , an N 2  outlet port  112  and an O 2  outlet port  114  and flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  includes a flow mixer O 2  inlet port  116 , a flow mixer outlet port  118  and a flow mixer ambient air inlet port  120 . Furthermore, heater/ventilation device  106  includes a first heater/ventilation inlet port  122 , a second heater/ventilation inlet port  123  and a heater/ventilation outlet port  124  and locomotive cab  108  includes a cab air inlet port  126  and a cab outlet port  128 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  is locomotive cab  108  having a ‘leak’ outlet port  130  which is meant to be representative of any leaks that may be present in the structure of locomotive cab  108 .  
         [0014]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , oxygen generation device  102  is disposed to be associated with flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  within a system enclosure  132  which encloses oxygen generation device  102  and flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  within an O 2  rich environment. As shown, system enclosure  132  may include a first system enclosure outlet port  134 , a second system enclosure outlet port  136 , a first system enclosure inlet port  138  and a second system enclosure inlet port  140 . O 2  outlet port  114  is connected with flow mixer O 2  inlet port  116  such that O 2  generated by oxygen generation device  102  may be transferred to flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104 . Additionally, ambient air inlet port  110  is communicated with first system enclosure inlet port  138  to allow oxygen generation device  102  to draw ambient air from the environment external to system enclosure  132 . Moreover, N 2  outlet port  112  is communicated with first system enclosure outlet port  134  to allow oxygen generation device  102  to expel N 2  generated during the O 2  generation process into the environment external to system enclosure  132 .  
         [0015]     Furthermore, flow mixer outlet port  118  is communicated with second system enclosure outlet port  136  which is further communicated with first heater/ventilation inlet port  122  to allow the regulated oxygen from flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  to be transferred to heater/ventilation device  106 . Flow mixer ambient air inlet port  120  is communicated with second system enclosure inlet port  140  to allow flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  to draw ambient air from the environment external to system enclosure  132 . Heater/ventilation device  106  is communicated with cab air inlet port  126  and cab outlet port  128  via heater/ventilation output port  124  and second heater/ventilation input port  123 , respectively. It should be appreciated that the environment surrounding the enclosed O 2  enriched environment is N 2  enriched.  
         [0016]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , oxygen distribution system  100  may operate as follows. Oxygen generation device  102  draws in ambient air via first system enclosure inlet port  138  and separates O 2  from the ambient air. The O 2  is then transferred to flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  via O 2  outlet port  114  and the remaining components are expelled into the ambient environment via first system enclosure outlet port  134 . Flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  receives the O 2  via flow mixer O 2  inlet port  116  and combines the O 2  with ambient air drawn in from flow mixer ambient air inlet port  120  to create a resultant air having a predetermined ratio of O 2  and ambient air. This resultant air is then transferred to heater/ventilation device  106 , at a predefined flow rate and mixture, via flow mixer outlet port  118  which heats the resultant air, as needed, to a predefined temperature. This resultant air is then transferred to locomotive cab  108  via heater/ventilation outlet port  124  where the resultant air is force fed into locomotive cab  108  by a plurality of cab inlet ducts. As the resultant air is being fed into locomotive cab  108 , heater/ventilation device  106  receives cab air from locomotive cab  108  via second heater/ventilation inlet port  123 . This cab air is then remixed with the resultant air and recirculated back into locomotive cab  108  at a predefined flow.  
         [0017]     It should be appreciated that although resultant air created by flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  is shown as being comprised of a 27% concentration of O 2  at ambient pressure, resultant air created by flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  may be comprised of any O 2  concentration at any pressure, suitable to the desired end purpose. It should also be appreciated that although the resultant air created by flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  is shown as being transferred to heater/ventilation device  106  at a flow rate of 30 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM), any flow rate suitable to the desired end purpose may be used. Additionally, it should be appreciated that although the flow rate of air being transferred from heater/ventilation device  104  to locomotive cab  108  is shown at 400 CFM and the flow rate of air being transferred from locomotive cab  108  to heater/ventilation device  104  is shown at 370 CFM, any flow rate suitable to the desired end purpose may be used.  
         [0018]     As can be seen, both oxygen generation device  102  and flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  are shown as being configured to receive ambient air. Oxygen generation device  102  receives this ambient air from an oxygen generation device ambient inlet  110 , separates out the N2 components and the O 2  components and exhausts the N2 component into the N2 rich environment and the O 2  component. Moreover, oxygen distribution system  100  may have sensor(s) external to and internal to locomotive cab  108  which senses oxygen content of the particular environment. This may allow oxygen distribution system  100  to automatically engage and/or disengage, in part or in whole, in a manner responsive to these sensor(s). It should also be appreciated that oxygen distribution system  100  may be operated remotely from a control communicated with oxygen distribution system  100  via any type of communication system suitable to the desired end purpose, such as via wireless communications. Moreover, it should be appreciated that oxygen distribution system  100  may be operated from any locomotive in the locomotive consist and as such, may be applied to all or only one locomotive in the consist.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram illustrating a method  200  for providing O 2  to an operator cab  108  of a locomotive, wherein the operator cab  108  includes a cab environment which is at least partially sealed from an external environment is shown. The locomotive includes an O 2  generator  102 , a flow mixer/oxygen concentration regulation device  104  and a heater/ventilation device  106 , wherein the heater/ventilation device  106  is communicated with the locomotive cab  108 . The method  200  includes receiving an ambient fluid having an O 2  content, such as air, into the O 2  generator  102 , as shown in operational block  202 . The O 2  generator  102  processes the ambient fluid to separate the O 2  content from the ambient fluid and expels the ambient fluid into the external environment, as shown in operational block  204 . An O 2  flow is then generated and the O 2  flow is directed to flow between the O 2  generation device  102  and the operator cab  108 . Prior to reaching the operator cab  108 , the O 2  flow is conditioned to control the atmosphere within the operator cab  108 , as shown in operational block  206 . The operator cab air may then be redirected back into the heater/ventilation device  106  which may heat the air and re-circulate the air back into the operator cab  108 .  
         [0020]     As described above, the method  200  of  FIG. 2 , in whole or in part, may be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The method  200  of  FIG. 2 , in whole or in part, may also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. Existing systems having reprogrammable storage (e.g., flash memory) may be updated to implement the method  200  of  FIG. 2 , in whole or in part.  
         [0021]     Also as described above, the method  200  of  FIG. 2 , in whole or in part, may be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments may configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.  
         [0022]     It should be further appreciated that oxygen generation device  102  allows for the generation, conditioning (i.e. heated and/or filtered) and distribution of oxygen-rich air to be supplied to a locomotive cab, wherein oxygen generation device  102  supplies a flow of oxygen-rich air to the heating and ventilation system of the locomotive which distributes the enriched air to the locomotive cab through its duct work and several outlets. This is a desirable feature for heavy haul locomotives because these locomotives operate at elevations where the quantity of oxygen in the atmosphere is less than required for human occupation and survival. Oxygen generation device  100  allows crew personnel to move freely about the locomotive cab and/or to depart the cab as necessary. Because enriched air is introduced into the cab at several points in the cab and forcefully mixed with the entrained air of the cab, oxygen will be uniformly distributed about the locomotive cab. Additionally, because oxygen is forcefully mixed with the low oxygen content air of the locomotive cab, concentration of oxygen at all points of the distribution system and in the locomotive cab is enough to sustain human life but less than the oxygen at sea level. This eliminates any fire hazard which could exist due to high concentration of oxygen in proximity to burnable materials.  
         [0023]     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.