Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Motoren Gmbh & Co. Kg

Christopher F Gallmeyer

Arvind Sivasubramanian

Larry Glenn Waterfield

Scott Byron Fiveland

Shawn M Damm

David James Lin

Shivangi Wagle

Brett A Zook

Karthik Jayasankaran

Kamalakannan Thammireddi Vajram

Travis E Barnes

Eike Joachim Sixel

Robert Lowell Miller

L Glenn Waterfield

David Conway Atkinson

Jason Jon Rasmussen

Rammohan Sankar

Michael Aaron Caruthers

Daniel Wester

Clayton Delaney Walenta

Kenneth A Baumgartner

Kenneth J Suda

Bert Ritscher

Brian V Tranel

Ashutosh Katari

Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati

Geetika Dilawari

Joshua T Annin

Hannes Marscheider

Jeffrey A Howard

Keith A Intveld

Andy Pierpont

Alex M Kubiak

Andrew J Neaville

Jedediah Frey

Robert Calderwood

Operating a gaseous fuel engine system includes determining a detonation level in combustion cylinders in an engine in the gaseous fuel engine system, comparing the detonation level to a detonation level limit, calculating a detonation error, and limiting an engine load of the engine to a derated engine load level based on a reduction to intake manifold air pressure (IMAP) that is performed responsive to the detonation error. The gaseous fuel engine system can be operated at a reduced, derated engine load, rather than being shut down, and permitted to increase in engine load level as detonation events clear. Related control logic and structure are disclosed.

Derating operating strategy and gaseous fuel engine control system

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes receiving a request for a desired output from the internal combustion engine, receiving sensor information indicative of at least an engine speed or a pressure of gas provided to the internal combustion engine, and setting a changeable limit associated with a supply of air and fuel to the internal combustion engine. The method also includes, based at least in part on the received sensor information, changing the changeable limit to define a changed limit and reducing an output of the internal combustion engine based on the changed limit.

Method and system for load control in an internal combustion engine

A system, apparatus, and method for controlling an engine system can provide fuel reactivity compensation control for an engine of the engine system. The control can include controlling pilot fuel quantity supplied to an engine based on a pilot fuel offset value; and controlling air-to-fuel ratio (AFR) for the engine based on an AFR control trim value. A NOx error value can be used to generate one of the pilot fuel offset value or the AFR control trim value, and an exhaust temperature error value can be used to generate the other of the pilot fuel offset value or the AFR control trim value.

System, apparatus, and method for controlling an engine system to account for varying fuel quality

A control system for controlling pilot fuel injection in a dual fuel engine is disclosed. The control system may determine, using measurements from one or more sensors, one or more combustion parameters associated with the dual fuel engine during operation of the dual fuel engine. The control system may determine an estimated nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions level based on the one or more combustion parameters, and may determine a NOx error based on a comparison between the estimated NOx emissions level and a desired NOx emissions level. The control system may control a quantity of pilot fuel injected into the dual fuel engine based on the NOx error.

Controlling pilot fuel injection in an engine

A controller for an internal combustion engine is configured to operate the engine at a desired output power and at a desired air/fuel ratio provided in the cylinder, the desired air/fuel ratio depending on an amount of air, the primary fuel, and the secondary fuel provided to the cylinder selectively; gradually increase a power output of the engine during a transient event from an initial power output, to an intermediate power output, and then to a final power output; during the transient event, simultaneously with the power output increase, increase the amount of the primary fuel and the secondary fuel to produce a rich air/fuel ratio in the cylinder.

Transient controller and method for dual fuel engine

A method for controlling fuel flow in a multi fuel engine is disclosed. An input power for operating the multi fuel engine at a desired engine speed is determined and a fuel flow rate based on the input power, one or more fuel properties and a specified fuel substitution ratio for apportioning the plurality of fuels is determined. Also, a correction factor for the fuel flow rate based on a desired charge density, wherein the desired charge density is based at least on a relationship between an engine load and charge density is determined and a corrected fuel flow rate, based on the determined correction factor, is output to a corresponding actuator of a fluid flow control device for the one of the fuels to cause the corresponding actuator to provide the one of the plurality of fuels at the corrected fuel flow rate.

Fuel apportionment for multi fuel engine system

The disclosure relates to a system and method for determining the specific gravity of a fuel used in a dual fuel engine. The system includes a fuel rail, at least one sensor, and a processor. The method includes sensing and recording, with the at least one sensor and the at least one memory, a first pressure profile of a first fuel in the fuel rail and a second pressure profile of a second fuel in the fuel rail. The first fuel has a known specific gravity and the second fuel has an unknown specific gravity. The method further includes calculating the second specific gravity of the second fuel, with a processor, based on the first pressure profile, the second pressure profile, and the first specific gravity.

System and method for determining the specific gravity of a gaseous fuel

A control system for a dual gaseous and liquid fuel engine includes an electronic controller configured to receive data from a plurality of sensing mechanisms indicative of an error in a plurality of different engine operating parameters. The electronic controller is further configured to determine a highest priority one of the errors, and limit substitution of the gaseous fuel responsive to a normalized value thereof.

Control strategy for dual gaseous and liquid fuel internal combustion engine

A fuel injection timing management system for a dual fuel engine is configured to determine a first diesel injection timing corresponding to a first mode of operation of the engine system and a second diesel injection timing corresponding to a second mode of operation. The system may further determine a direction of change in a mode of operation of the engine system, and selectively perform a change in the diesel injection timing from the first diesel injection timing to the second diesel injection timing at a first rate of transition or a second rate of transition, based on the direction of change in a mode of operation of the engine system.

Injection timing management in dual fuel engine system

A first target wheel has an opening and rotates about an axis of rotation to move the opening along a generally circular path. A second target wheel adjacent the first target wheel has a second projection projecting into the opening of the first target wheel with the second projection being movable along the generally circular path. A single sensor is positioned adjacent the generally circular path and senses movement of the opening and the second projection past the sensor. An electronic controller may be used to process signals from the sensor to determine the relative angular difference between the first target wheel and the second target wheel.

Apparatus for sensing cam phaser position

A method of determining and regulating a mass flow rate exhaust gases recirculated into an engine is disclosed. The method may comprise directing the exhaust gases through a venturi and sensing a differential exhaust pressure across the venturi. The method may further include sensing an absolute exhaust pressure at the venturi, and sensing a temperature of the exhaust gases. The method may further include determining the mass flow rate of the exhaust based on the sensed differential fluid pressure, absolute fluid pressure, and temperature.

Onboard method of determining EGR flow rate

A fuel injector for an engine is disclosed. The fuel injector has a plunger disposed within a bore, a nozzle member, a valve needle, a check valve, a spill valve, and a controller. The check valve is movable between a first position at which the valve needle is communicated with the bore, and a second position at which the valve needle is fluidly communicated with a drain. The spill valve is movable between a first position at which fuel flows from the bore to the drain, and a second position at which the fuel from the bore is blocked. The controller moves the spill valve toward its second position and the check valve toward its second position during a downward displacing movement of the plunger. The controller detects an unsuccessful movement of the check valve to the second position, and prematurely halts the current injection event in response to the detection.

Fuel injector control system and method

Apparatus and methods for exciting a piezoelectric device. A control device receives a first control signal excites the piezoelectric device at about at least one predetermined electrical resonant frequency of the piezoelectric device as a function of the first control signal.

Method and apparatus for exciting a piezoelectric material

Apparatuses and methods for controlling the temperature induced deformation of a piezoelectric device. A piezoelectric device receives an activation signal and displaces in a first direction for a first predetermined distance as a function of the activation signal. The piezoelectric device also displaces in a second direction as a function of a change in temperature of the piezoelectric device. A stop is located a second predetermined distance from the piezoelectric device. The stop prevents the displacement of the piezoelectric device in the second direction beyond a third predetermined distance. A charge redistributing device is coupled with the piezoelectric device. The charge redistributing device redistributes charge on the piezoelectric device due to the temperature change to relieve internal electric fields of the piezoelectric device due to temperature induced deformation of the piezoelectric device.

Method and apparatus for restraining temperature induced deformation of a piezoelectric device

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling an electric field across a piezoelectric device. A temperature determining device transmits a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the piezoelectric device. A control device receives the temperature signal and a first control signal indicative of a desired displacement of the piezoelectric device. The control device transmits a second control signal to the piezoelectric device as a function of the temperature signal and the control signal. The second control signal creates the electric field across the piezoelectric device, when the temperature of the piezoelectric device is below a predetermined threshold, having a magnitude above a normal operating range for the piezoelectric device.

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Chillicothe, IL, United States of America

Christopher F Gallmeyer