Caterpillar Inc.

David John Schuh

Daniel Reese Puckett

Evan Earl Jacobson

Travis E Barnes

Kevin Patrick Duffy

Anthony C Rodman

Kevin G Meyer

Timothy A Lorentz

Andrew John Kieser

Andrew Duncan Rockwell

Carl-Anders Hergart

Michael Parry Liechty

William L Hardy

Parag Mehresh

A transmission assembly for a machine is disclosed. The transmission assembly may have a clutch pack, a first pressure chamber, and a second pressure chamber. The transmission assembly may also have a first piston configured to push against the clutch pack when pressurized fluid is directed into the first pressure chamber, and a second piston configured to push against the first piston when pressurized fluid is directed into the first pressure chamber and inhibited from pushing against the first piston when pressurized fluid is directed into the second pressure chamber.

Transmission assembly having variable force clutch

A method for detecting and controlling the position of a valve actuator is provided. The method includes applying a plurality of signals of different duration and/or magnitude to the valve actuator and measuring a signal from the valve actuator. This signal from the valve actuator is indicative of valve movement for each of the plurality of applied signals. The method further includes adjusting an injection signal to the valve actuator based at least from the measured signals from the valve actuator. This disclosure also applies this method to a solenoid actuator of a fuel injector.

Method for detecting and controlling movement of an actuated component

A homogenous charge compression ignition engine is operated by compressing a charge mixture of air, exhaust and fuel in a combustion chamber to an autoignition condition of the fuel. The engine may facilitate a transition from a first combination of speed and load to a second combination of speed and load by changing the charge mixture and compression ratio. This may be accomplished in a consecutive engine cycle by adjusting both a fuel injector control signal and a variable valve control signal away from a nominal variable valve control signal. Thereafter in one or more subsequent engine cycles, more sluggish adjustments are made to at least one of a geometric compression ratio control signal and an exhaust gas recirculation control signal to allow the variable valve control signal to be readjusted back toward its nominal variable valve control signal setting. By readjusting the variable valve control signal back toward its nominal setting, the engine will be ready for another transition to a new combination of engine speed and load.

Dynamic control of a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine

A method of initially operating an internal combustion engine including operating the engine in a start-up mode is provided. The start-up mode includes injecting at least two fuel pre-shots wherein a first of the fuel pre-shots is smaller in quantity than a last of the fuel pre-shots. An engine is provided including an electronic controller with a computer readable medium having a control algorithm recorded thereon, the control algorithm including means for commanding injection of a main fuel shot and at least two fuel pre-shots wherein a first of the fuel pre-shots is smaller in quantity than a last of the fuel pre-shots.

Internal combustion engine start-up operating mode and engine using same

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

David John Schuh