Patent ID: 7721855

Claim:
In a locomotive having a dynamic braking capability, a method for maintaining an airflow path to a resistive grid disposed within a resistive grid enclosure having an enclosure inlet and an enclosure outlet, comprising: generating an inlet airflow into the enclosure inlet; creating a heated inlet airflow by associating said inlet airflow with the resistive grid such that said inlet airflow absorbs heat generated by the resistive grid; directing said heated inlet airflow toward the enclosure outlet to generate a heated outlet airflow; redirecting at least a portion of said heated outlet airflow to be thermally associated with a structural portion of the enclosure inlet such that the temperature of said structural portion of the enclosure inlet is increased above a predetermined temperature to reduce blockage of the enclosure inlet by snow; and recirculating said redirected heated outlet airflow with ambient air being drawn into the resistive grid enclosure.