Caterpillar Inc.

Lucas Industries Limited

Other

Lucas Industries Public Limited Company

David E Martin

Ronald Dean Shinogle

Scott Alan Leman

Sean Olen Cornell

Dana Ray Coldren

James J Streicher

Marvin P Schneider

Jeffrey R Ries

Stephen Robert Lewis

Wade James Robel

Glen F Forck

Dianqi Fang

Avtar S Sandhu

Larry R Mitzelfelt, Jr

Prabhakar Ramalingam

J Duwayne Manahan

Charles B Looney

James D Griffith

Alan Ray Stockner

Theodore John Nitz

Evan Earl Jacobson

Ye Tian

Richard H Holtman

Carl Thomas Wild

Clifford E Cotton, Iii

David Randal Hinton

Douglas W Bell

David Y Chang

Stephen Michael Wiley

Sudhindra Ayanji

Diego Caceres

Olaf Ohligschlaeger

Mingchun Dong

Thomas Gregory Pusch

Norman David Knapp

Bernhard Kirsch

Rene Schulz

Eric O Freed

Timothy J Matzke

William T Groff

Adam Scott Krejci

Daniel Bumpus

Kenneth A Caron

Clifford J Rebello

Virl R Voights

Benjamin H Binkele

Luis Lugo Aviles

A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and an annular filter coupled with the fuel injector, the annular filter being snap-fitted with one of a nozzle case or an injector body of the fuel injector and slip-fitted with the other of the nozzle case or the injector body. The annular filter has a perforated wall forming a filtration screen covering an actuation fluid inlet formed in the nozzle case and positioned upstream of the actuation fluid inlet to trap particulates in incoming actuation fluid.

Fuel injector assembly having external filter and method of making same

A fuel injector control valve assembly is provided that comprises a valve actuating mechanism, a cage member that is operatively connected to the valve actuating mechanism, a poppet valve member that is operatively connected to the cage member and that defines a perimeter and a longitudinal axis, a valve sleeve member that is disposed about the poppet valve member, a shim that includes an upper surface that at least partially makes uninterrupted contact with the cage member and a lower surface that at least partially makes uninterrupted contact with the sleeve member, thereby providing a fluid seal about the perimeter of the poppet valve member, and a bounce limiting mechanism that is adjacent the shim and that is interposed between the cage member and at least one of either the poppet valve member and the valve sleeve member.

Control valve bounce limiting mechanism for fuel injectors

A turbocharger includes a two-piece thrust collar that includes inner and outer portions disposed around a rotatable shaft. The inner portion is engaged with a bushing disposed in and connected to the center housing by a retainer. The outer portion is disposed adjacent the inner portion along the rotatable shaft and connected to the rotatable shaft such that it rotates therewith. The outer portion forms an annular channel that extends in a radial direction relative to the rotatable shaft and peripherally around the shaft. An oil deflector is connected to the compressor back-plate and includes a base flange and a raised portion disposed at least partially over the annular channel.

Turbocharger compressor oil deflector and method

A fuel injector is disclosed. The fuel injector includes an injector valve needle and a valve actuation assembly including a stator, an armature, and a valve, the valve in fluid communication with the injector valve needle. A stator protection device is positioned between the stator and at least a portion of the armature. The stator protection device is configured to prevent contact between the stator and the armature.

Protection device for a solenoid operated valve assembly

It is becoming more common for diesel engine cylinders to include an engine compression release brake that can utilize energy built up in the cylinder to provide additional braking for the vehicle. The present invention utilizes a software diagnostic test that is stored in an electronic control module to detect defects in the engine compression release brakes. In particular, the present invention operates a first portion of the engine cylinders in a power mode and a second portion of the engine cylinders in a braking mode and compares a resulting fuel injector response or engine response to an expected value to determine if one or more of the engine compression release brakes are performing as expected.

In-chassis engine compression release brake diagnostic test and electronic control module using the same

A control system adapted to control an actuator between extended and retracted positions has a fluid control valve connected to the actuator a source of high pressure fluid and a reservoir. The fluid control valve is movable between a first position at which the actuator is connected back to the fluid reservoir adapted and a second position operable to connect the actuator to a high pressure actuation fluid source. An electronic control module is connected in control communication with the fluid control valve and adapted to automatically generate a control signal to position the control valve at the second position in response to an elapsed time being passed at which the fluid control valve is at the first position is greater than a predetermined time.

Fluid control valve actuating system

A method of engine compression release braking with avoidance of turbine overspeed is disclosed. Initially, an electronic control module determines whether a turbine overspeed condition is present. If an overspeed condition is present, then the blow down timing of an engine compression release braking event is advanced. The present invention is particularly applicable to preventing turbine overspeed for vehicles operating at higher altitudes while compression braking.

Variable timing to avoid turbocharger overspeed while engine braking under different atmospheric conditions

An actuator for adjusting a clearance between an end of a valve and an end of the actuator. The actuator has a piston therein having a central bore of which a portion is threaded. The piston has an end and has a flat defined near the end. The actuator has a stem member positioned therein. The stem member has a central portion which is threadedly positioned within the threaded portion of the central bore. The stem member defines a first end and a second end, and a threaded portion is located near the second end. The first end of the stem member and the end of the piston has a predetermined length which is adjustable. The predetermined length is adjusted by threadedly rotating the stem member relative to the piston. A locking device fixes the predetermined length during operation of the engine.

Lash adjustment for use with an actuator

The present invention finds application in hydraulically actuated valves, such as gas exchange valves, having a valve member that moves within a valve body between an open position and a closed position. In valves such as these, the valve member typically includes a valve surface that contacts a valve seat included on the valve body when moving to its closed position. However, the impact velocity when the valve surface contacts the valve seat can be quite high. This can lead to fatigue of the valve stem and can wear out the valve seat, both of which can shorten the effective life of the valve. Therefore, the present invention includes a hydraulic pulse generator for slowing movement of the valve member which includes the direction of a hydraulic pulse toward the valve member as the valve member moves from its open position to its closed position.

Method of controlling hydraulically actuated valves and engine using same

A method of engine compression release braking includes an initial step of compressing gas in an engine cylinder. A compression release brake valve is then opened at least in part by fluidly connecting a brake actuator to a source of high pressure actuation fluid. Next, a valve closing timing that results a valve seating velocity that is less than a pre-determined velocity is determined. The compression release brake valve is then closed at the valve closing timing at least in part by fluidly connecting the brake actuator to a low pressure actuation fluid reservoir.

Duration control strategy for a hydraulically actuated engine compression release brake

A hydraulic valve with hydraulically assisted opening comprises a valve body that defines a fluid passage which includes an upstream segment and a downstream segment. Contained within the valve body is a moveable valve member which includes a hydraulic surface. The hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure within the downstream segment of the fluid passage. When the valve member is in a closed position, the upstream segment of the fluid passage is closed to the downstream segment. The upstream segment is fluidly connected to the downstream segment when the valve member is away from the closed position.

Hydraulic valve with hydraulically assisted opening and fuel injector using same

An enhanced warm-up operation mode operates a first portion of engine cylinders in a power mode and a second portion of engine cylinders in a braking mode. More fuel is injected into the powered cylinders in order to maintain engine speed and overcome the retarding force of the engine compression release brakes on the braking cylinders. The engine cycles through which cylinders are powered and which are braking during the warm-up procedure. The process reduces emissions, such as white smoke, that are common during cold start conditions.

Vehicle with engine having enhanced warm-up operation mode

A spool slides in a bore to open and close a valve. The spool moves in a first direction until the spool forcibly engages a seat in the bore, closing the valve. The spool moves in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the spool disengages with the seat, opening the valve. Proper configuration of the spool and bore geometries in the vicinity of the seat keeps static pressure from developing that could otherwise retard spool valve opening.

Poppet valve shaping for quick valve opening

A valve comprises a valve body that includes an upper valve seat and a bore wall that defines a bore. A seat component is at least partially positioned in the bore and includes a lower valve seat. The seat component is radially out of contact with the bore wall. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat are concentrically coupled via a valve member which is movable between the upper valve seat and the lower valve seat. The valve finds preferred application as a needle control valve in a fuel injector.

Valve with self-centering, self-sealing seat component

A fuel injector includes a tappet assembly mounted on an injector body. At least one of the tappet assembly and the injector body define a retention opening therethrough. A retention member is positioned in the retention opening and concealed by at least one of the tappet assembly and the injector body. The tappet assembly is moveable with respect to the injector body an unadjustable displacement distance between an advanced position and an extended position. The height of the retention opening is less than the unadjustable displacement distance.

Tappet retention for a fuel injector

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Normal, IL, United States of America

David E Martin