Patent EA-005176-B1 (EA)
Title: System and method for providing auxiliary power to a large diesel engine
Inventor: BIESS LAWRENCE J
IPC: F02N19/02
Filed: 2001-11-08
Abstract: 1. An auxiliary power system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine having a battery, comprising: (A) a secondary engine; and (B) a controller having a timer, the controller being configured to shut down the primary engine based at least in part on a predetermined time period of idling of the primary engine, and to enable automatic operation of the secondary engine. 2. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to start the secondary engine based at least in part on a predetermined ambient temperature. 3. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising electrical power producing means driven by the secondary engine. 4. The auxiliary power system of claim 3, wherein the electrical power producing means comprise a 240vac, 60Hz, single-phase electrical generator. 5. The auxiliary power system of claim 4, wherein the electrical generator produces at least 17kVA. 6. The auxiliary power system of claim 4, further comprising battery charging means. 7. The auxiliary power system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to: (i) isolate the primary engine battery from dc loads upon operation of the secondary engine; and (ii) charge the primary engine battery, using the battery charging means, during operation of the secondary engine. 8. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising: (A) primary engine coolant pumping means; and (B) heat exchanging means. 9. The auxiliary power system of claim 8, further comprising engine coolant heating means. 10. The auxiliary power system of claim 9, further comprising coolant temperature sensing means, wherein the controller is configured to maintain, using at least the coolant temperature sensing means and the engine coolant heating means, primary engine coolant temperature within a predetermined temperature range. 11. The auxiliary power system of claim 9, wherein the engine coolant heating means comprise electric heaters. 12. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising primary engine lube-oil pumping means. 13. The auxiliary power system of claim 12, further comprising lube-oil heating means. 14. The auxiliary power system of claim 13, further comprising primary engine lube-oil temperature sensing means, wherein the controller is configured to maintain, using at least the primary engine lube-oil temperature sensing means and the lube-oil heating means, primary engine lube-oil temperature within a predetermined temperature range. 15. The auxiliary power system of claim 13, wherein the lube-oil heating means comprise electric heaters. 16. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising a remotely operable primary engine coolant drain valve. 17. The auxiliary power system of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to cause the remotely operable drain valve to open and to drain primary engine coolant after a predetermined time period, responsive to at least a predetermined ambient temperature, if the primary engine is not operating and the secondary engine does not start. 18. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, wherein the primary engine is mounted in a locomotive. 19. A method of supplying auxiliary power to a primary engine, comprising: (A) providing a secondary engine coupled to an electrical generator, and a controller having (i) a primary engine idle timer and (ii) a plurality of selectable control modes; (B) monitoring an operating condition of the primary engine; (C) automatically shutting down the primary engine based at least in part on a predetermined time period of idling of the primary engine; and (D) operating the secondary engine in response to at least one predetermined condition of the primary engine. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the operating the secondary engine comprises: (i) if the controller is selected to a first mode, (a) starting the secondary engine in response to a first selected coolant temperature or lube-oil temperature, and (b) shutting down the secondary engine in response to a second selected coolant temperature or lube-oil temperature; (ii) if the controller is selected to a second mode, (a) enabling manual control of the secondary engine, (b) starting the secondary engine in response to a first selected coolant temperature or lube-oil temperature, and (c) shutting down the secondary engine in response to a second selected coolant temperature or lube-oil temperature; and (iii) if the controller is selected to a third mode, (a) enabling manual control of the secondary engine. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the primary engine is mounted in a locomotive.