Caterpillar Inc.

Brian Wheeler

Michael J Campagna

Dereck Glenn Heffron

Andrew W Billing

Curtis Lyle Fitchpatrick

A system for detecting a fault condition in a valvetrain of an engine is configured to measure one or more operating parameters associated with the engine and determine if the operating parameters satisfy pre-defined corresponding boundary conditions. If so, a pair of values of at least one performance parameter is measured corresponding to measurement on a first and second bank of cylinders present on the engine. The difference between the pair of values is determined and used to compute at least one measure of variation for the at least one performance parameter in a time segment. If the at least one measure of variation for the at least one performance parameter exceeds a pre-defined limit for the engine, the valvetrain is flagged as faulty.

System and method for detecting a fault condition associated with a valvetrain of an engine

A system for determining health of a component is provided. The system includes an operational parameter module associated with the component and in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to receive an operating parameter signal from the operational parameter module. The controller is configured to monitor a change of the operating parameter over a predetermined time period. The controller is configured to compare the monitored operating parameter with a first predetermined threshold. The controller is configured to determine a rate of change of the monitored operating parameter over the predetermined time period. The controller is also configured to compare the determined rate of change with a second predetermined threshold. The controller is further configured to determine the health of the component based, at least in part, on the comparisons with the first and second predetermined thresholds respectively and one or more additional parameters associated with the component.

System and method for health determination of a machine component

The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating an engine. The method may include injecting a primary fuel. The method may further include determining a need for a secondary fuel during starting of the engine and introducing the secondary fuel. The method may still further include determining an engine acceleration rate. The method may also include inhibiting the introduction of the secondary fuel when the engine acceleration rate is below an expected acceleration rate.

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Metamora, IL, United States of America

Brian Wheeler