Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpiller Inc.

Bradley Scott Bashore

Daniel Reese Puckett

Michael E Sattler

Kranti Kumar Nellutla

Bryan Moore

Prasanna Mohan Ballal

Andrew O Marrack

Sasidhar Rayasam

Michael Scott Marchionda

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a common rail fuel system of an engine system is provided. The common rail fuel system includes a fuel pump, a fuel rail, a plurality of fuel injectors, and a pressure-responsive relief valve fluidly coupled to the fuel rail. The method comprises identifying a pressure condition of the fuel rail indicative of the pressure-responsive relief valve being in an open and latched condition, the identification being based on detecting a rise and reduction in rail pressure within a threshold time period. The method further comprises terminating flow from the fuel pump, while the common rail fuel system is operating, to unlatch and close the pressure-responsive relief valve.

Systems and methods for resetting a pressure relief valve of a common rail fuel system

A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel control system having a fueling control unit structured to determine a test point on a tip wear-sensitive region of a fuel injector delivery curve, and store measurements of pressure drops in a pressurized fuel reservoir caused by injections of fuel at the test point. The fueling control unit is further structured to produce an injector health signal based on the stored measurements of pressure drop. Related methodology and control logic for calculation of wear parameters for injection signal duration electronic trimming and prognostic health determinations are also disclosed.

Onboard diagnosis and compensation for tip wear in fuel injector

A pump health assessment system and a method for providing a pump health of a pump is disclosed. The method includes: determining that there is an imbalance in the pump; increasing pump flow from the pump; measuring a rail pressure of a fuel rail; determining if the rail pressure is substantially equal to an expected rail pressure profile; and in accordance with a determination that the rail pressure is not substantially equal to the rail pressure profile, outputting an indication of pump damage.

Fuel pump health assessment system

A fuel system is disclosed for use with an engine. The fuel system may have a plurality of fuel injectors, a common rail fluidly, a pump, and an outlet valve associated with the pump. The fuel system may also have a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of fuel in the common rail, and an electronic control module. The electronic control module may be configured to detect a zero-fueling condition, to determine a first pressure decay rate of the common rail during the zero-fueling condition while the pump is rotating, and to determine a second pressure decay rate of the common rail during the zero-fueling condition after the pump has stopped rotating. The electronic control module may also be configured to selectively generate a diagnostic flag associated with wear of the outlet valve based on the first and second pressure decay rates.

Fuel system having pump prognostic functionality

Fuel is injected by energizing a solenoid of a fuel injector for an on-time that terminates at a first end-of-current timing. An end-of-current trim is determined at least in part by estimating a duration between an induced current event in a circuit of the solenoid and a valve/armature interaction event. An induced current event occurs when an armature abruptly stops, and a valve/armature interaction event occurs when the armature couples with or de-couples from the valve member. Fuel is injected in a subsequent injection event by adjusting the end-of-current timing by the end-of-current trim.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Bradley Scott Bashore