Patent Abstract:
A walkway system for adaptation to a pre-existing base structure of a locomotive car body is disclosed. The walkway system includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a base section, and a cover panel. The base section is structured and arranged to overlay the pre-existing walkway of the locomotive car body and is connected to the first side panel and the second side panel. The first side panel, the second side panel, and the base section define at least one passageway. The cover panel is structured and arranged to removably engage with the first and second side panels. The cover panel encloses the passageway when the cover panel is engaged with the first and second side panels. The passageway is accessible when the cover panel is selectively removed.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to walkway systems for locomotives. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a walkway system for adaptation to a pre-existing base structure of a locomotive car body that routes electrical wires associated with the locomotive. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Locomotives are commonly known to employ a number of electrical units that are inter-connected via electrical wires and linings. Such electrical units may include, but are not limited to, electric fans, battery units, data acquisition systems, air compressors, and fluid pumps. Some of these electrical units are installed towards the frontal end of a locomotive car body, while some electrical units are installed towards the rear end of the locomotive car body. Generally, the electrical wires extend at least partially along the length of the locomotive car body, to establish an electrical connection between the electrical units at the frontal end and the electrical units at the rear end. Such electrical wires are routed through different portions of the locomotive car body to provide uninterrupted operations of the electrical units. 
         [0003]    Conventionally, wire routing mounts are installed on the locomotive car body, to route the electrical wires. Such wire routing mounts are generally mounted over a floor of the locomotive car body. However, by routing the electrical wires through the wire routing mounts mounted on the floor, considerable space on the floor needs to be dedicated to the passage of the electrical wires. Accordingly, a substantial degree of floor space remains ineffectively utilized. Moreover, as conventional wire routing mounts are generally installed on the floor of the locomotive car body, it may be cumbersome for an operator to access the electrical wires at time of service. This is because the floor may accommodate additional units and devices, which may need to be shifted and toggled to provide access to the electrical wires. Similarly, it is well known to route the electrical wires through others structures of the locomotive car body. However, it remains pertinent to deploy such electrical wiring in a space efficient manner. 
         [0004]    United States Patent Application 20120102846 is directed towards an appliance mount for a rail vehicle. The appliance mount is installed along a roof portion of the rail vehicle and is adapted to route the electrical components (or electrical wires). However, the appliance mount for the locomotive car body causes space utilization issues, as the roof of a locomotive car body commonly accommodates a number of auxiliary units that are required for varied applications of the locomotive car body. In such arrangements, during service of the locomotive, it may still be cumbersome for the operator to access the appliance mount. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Various aspects of the present disclosure illustrate a walkway system for adaptation to a pre-existing base structure of a locomotive car body. The walkway system includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a base section, and a cover panel. The base section is structured and arranged to overlay the pre-existing base structure of the locomotive car body. The base section is connected to the first side panel and the second side panel. The first side panel, the second side panel, and the base section define at least one passageway. The cover panel is structured and arranged to removably engage with the first side panel and the second side panel. The passageway is enclosed by the cover panel when the cover panel is engaged with the first side panel and the second side panel. Moreover, the passageway is accessible when the cover panel is selectively removed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary locomotive, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the locomotive of  FIG. 1  taken along a section A-A′, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of a first embodiment of the walkway system of  FIG. 2  with the cover panel in a deployed state; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view of the walkway system of  FIG. 2  with a cover panel of the walkway system being in an partially removed state; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of a second embodiment of the walkway system of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exemplary locomotive  10 . The locomotive  10  generally includes a main frame  12 , a locomotive car body  14 , a traction motor compartment  16 , a pre-existing base structure  18 , and a walkway system  20 . The locomotive car body  14  has a closed compartment structure, which is structured and arranged on the main frame  12 . The locomotive car body  14  extends longitudinally between a frontal end  22  and a rear end  24  of the main frame  12 . The locomotive car body  14  includes a first electrical unit  26  and a second electrical unit  28 . The first electrical unit  26  may be a high voltage cabinet, defined proximal to the frontal end  22  of the main frame  12 . The second electrical unit  28  may be an electrical appliances cabinet, defined proximal to the rear end  24  of the main frame  12 . The first electrical unit  26  and the second electrical unit  28  are generally electrically connected via electrical wires  30  ( FIG. 2 ) that extend along a length, L of the locomotive  10 , to facilitate the electrical connection. 
         [0012]    The pre-existing base structure  18  is a flat platform mounted on the main frame  12  of the locomotive  10 , adjacent to a first side  32  of the locomotive car body  14 . The pre-existing base structure  18  provides a mounting base for the walkway system  20 . The walkway system  20  is mounted on the pre-existing base structure  18  and is defined adjacent to the first side  32  of the locomotive car body  14 . The walkway system  20  includes a platform  34 , which facilitates an operator to stand on the platform  34  and move from one portion of the locomotive  10  to another portion of the locomotive  10 . 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exemplary rear view of the locomotive  10  of  FIG. 1 , along the section A-A′. The walkway system  20  of the locomotive car body  14  is also shown. The walkway system  20  may be a rectangular shaped structure that facilitates routing of the electrical wires  30  that electrically connects the first electrical unit  26  and the second electrical unit  28 . The electrical wires  30  extend along the length, L, of the locomotive  10  and are routed through the walkway system  20 . Although, the present disclosure contemplates the pre-existing base structure  18  and the walkway system  20  structured on the first side  32  of the locomotive car body  14 , an auxiliary pre-existing base structure  36  and an auxiliary walkway system  38  is structured on the second side  40 , as well. In an embodiment, the auxiliary walkway system  38  is adapted to facilitate ducting of cooling air to the traction motor compartment  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the locomotive  10 . Although, the present disclosure contemplates routing and management of electrical wires  30  through the walkway system  20 , it may also happen that the walkway system  20  is being utilized to route and manage fluid conduits or similar such components. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of the walkway system  20  is shown. For ease in understanding and clarity purposes, routing and arrangement of a singular electrical wire  30  through the walkway system  20  is depicted. Similar routing and arrangement of multiple other electrical wires  30  through the walkway system  20 , may also be contemplated. As illustrated, the walkway system  20  has a rectangular cross-section, which is uniformly structured along the length, L, or an expanse of the walkway system  20 . However, a cross-section of the walkway system  20  may vary and may depend on multiple factors, such as a position or shape of the pre-existing base structure  18  and a position of the first electrical unit  26  ( FIG. 1 ) and the second electrical unit  28 . Accordingly, this aspect need not be seen as limiting in any way. The walkway system  20  includes a base section  42 , a first side panel  44 , a second side panel  46 , and a cover panel  48 . 
         [0015]    The base section  42  is structured and arranged to overlay the pre-existing base structure  18 . The base section  42  includes a first side portion  50  and a second side portion  52 . The first side panel  44  is attached to the first side portion  50  of the base section  42  and extends in a vertical direction relative to the base section  42 . The first side panel  44  includes a connection port  54 , adjacent to the second electrical unit  28  of the locomotive car body  14 . Similarly, an auxiliary connection port (not shown) adjacent to the first electrical unit  26 , may also be provided. The second side panel  46  is attached to the second side portion  52  of the base section  42  and extends in a vertical direction relative to the base section  42 . At least one passageway  56  is defined between the base section  42 , the first side panel  44 , and the second side panel  46 , of the walkway system  20 . In deployment, the electrical wire  30  is positioned and routed through the passageway  56  of the walkway system  20 . Notably, one end of the electrical wires  30  pass through the connection port  54 , to electrically connect to the second electrical unit  28 . Similarly, another end of the electrical wire  30  pass through the auxiliary connection port (not shown), to electrically connect to the first electrical unit  26 . However, similar to a routing of the electrical wire  30 , multiple wires can be routed through the connection port  54 . 
         [0016]    The cover panel  48  is removably engages with each of the first side panel  44  and the second side panel  46 . Although the present disclosure contemplates slidable engagement of the cover panel  48  with the first side panel  44  and the second side panel  46 , various other engagements, may also be contemplated. The cover panel  48  defines the platform  34  that facilitates the operator to stand and traverse on the walkway system  20 , allowing operator movement from the frontal end  22  to the rear end  24 . In a deployed state, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the cover panel  48  engages with each of the first side panel  44  and the second side panel  46 . In so doing, the cover panel  48  encloses the passageway  56 . A removal of the cover panel  48  facilitates an access to the electrical wires  30 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the walkway system  20  of  FIG. 3  with the cover panel  48  partially removed from the walkway system  20 . When the cover panel  48  is removed from the walkway system  20 , the passageway  56  of the walkway system  20  is exposed to external environments. This facilitates the operator to access the electrical wire  30  positioned and routed within the walkway system  20 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an alternate embodiment of a walkway system  20 ′ of the locomotive  10 . The walkway system  20 ′ includes one or more vertical divisions  58 , which are attached to the base section  42  of the walkway system  20 ′. In this embodiment, the walkway system  20 ′ includes two vertical divisions  58  attached to the base section  42 . Therefore, the walkway system  20  defines three passageways  60 ,  62 ,  64  within the walkway system  20 ′. Each of the three passageways  60 ,  62 ,  64  may route different types of electrical wires, associated with the locomotive  10 . For example, a first passageway  60 , may route a  6 -watt electrical wire  30 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0019]    During operation, the locomotive  10  employs the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′ to execute dual functions. First, the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′ allows an operator to stand on the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′ and traverse from the frontal end  22  to the rear end  24 , and vice versa. Second, the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′ facilitates routing and management of the electrical wires  30 , to enable an electrical connection between the first electrical unit  26  and the second electrical unit  28 . 
         [0020]    In application, the electrical wires  30  are prewired in the passageways  56 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  of the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′, to enable said connection between the first electrical unit  26  and the second electrical unit  28 . More particularly, one end of the electrical wires  30  may pass through the auxiliary connection port (not shown) of the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′ and connect to the first electrical unit  26 , while the another end of the electrical wires  30  exits through the connection port  54  to connect with the second electrical unit  28 . As the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′ facilitates these dual functions, a space within the locomotive car body  14  is considerably efficiently utilized. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, during service and repair of the locomotive  10 , access to the electrical wires  30  may be required. In such a situation, an operator slideably removes the cover panel  48  of the walkway system  20 ,  20 ′, along a length, L of the locomotive  10 . This allows an access to the passageways  56 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and in turn, to the electrical wires  30 . Such an access to the electrical wires  30  is relatively easier compared to when the electrical wires  30  are laid through a floor or a roof of the locomotive  10 . Therefore, the electrical wires  30  may be serviced or replaced without the need to physically enter the locomotive  10  or disassemble any pre-existing units. Moreover, such a provision facilitates an operator to service the locomotive  10 , from an external environment of the locomotive  10 , thus reducing service cost and effort. 
         [0022]    It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure may be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claim.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1