Caterpillar Inc.

Geoffrey D Ginzel

Ricky D Vance

George W Mattson

Kevin L Bruch

Scott C Brown

Douglas James Carlton

Amy L Moore-McKee

William Christopher Boley

Robert Jay Maxson

Bryan G Poorman

Devang D Divecha

Randall B Blum

Rodney M Shurman

Mark B Rinkel

William Schubert

Kevin S King

Jordan T Thomas

Michael J Reinhart

Brady L Winkleman

A vehicle control system includes a first powertrain, a second powertrain, and a third powertrain. The first powertrain includes a first power source. The second powertrain includes a second power source. The third powertrain includes a third power source. The vehicle control system also includes an operator control interface. The operator control interface includes a first portion configured to receive a first operator input and a second portion configured to receive a second operator input. The first operator input and the second operator input are indicative of a desired speed and a desired direction. The vehicle control system additionally includes a controller configured to deliver a power control signal to at least one of the first powertrain, the second powertrain, and the third powertrain. The power control signal is a function of the first operator input and the second operator input.

Vehicle control system and method

Apparatuses and methods for determining a desired charge density for an engine. A first characteristic indicative of an engine speed of the engine is determined. A second characteristic indicative of a load on the engine is determined. A value indicative of a desired charge density of a combustion mixture for the engine is determined as a function of the first and second characteristics.

Charge density control for an internal combustion engine

An operator control assembly for a work machine has an armrest, an operator interface, and a base common to the armrest and operator interface. The operator interface has at least one control device. An electronic control module is in communication with the operator interface and at least one component of the work machine, and is mechanically coupled to at least one of the armrest, the operator interface, and the base.

Operator control assembly

Methods and apparatus for controlling an engine having a first maximum power rating based on at least a first predetermined operating condition of the engine. A first sensor transmits a first signal as a function of the engine operating at a predetermined operating condition other than the first predetermined operating condition. A control device receives the first signal and transmits a power signal to the engine as a function of the first signal. The power signal may, by itself, or in conjunction with other signals, cause the engine to produce a quantity of power in excess of the first maximum power rating.

Method and apparatus for controlling an engine

An engine controller regulates fuel flow to an internal combustion engine based on sensed air flow and sensed engine operational parameters. The engine controller includes a speed sensor, a power sensor, an airflow meter and a controller unit. The speed sensor generates an engine speed signal representative of sensed engine speed, the power sensor generates an output power signal representative of sensed engine output power and the airflow meter generates an actual airflow signal representative of sensed airflow. The controller unit is responsive to the engine speed signal, the output power signal and the actual airflow signal and develops a command signal for an air-fuel mixer.

Engine controller for an internal combustion engine

A sparkplug cooling passageway is disposed in a second body portion of the cooled pre-combustion chamber assembly. The sparkplug cooling passageway has a first side surface spaced about a threaded bore portion disposed in the second body portion. The first side surface and a second side surface define the sides of the sparkplug cooling passageway. An opening disposed in the second body portion opens into the passageway at the second side surface and passes cooling fluid between a cylinder head and the passageway.

Cooled pre-combustion chamber assembly

An engine speed command selector and method of selecting an engine speed command signal from two command signals includes a selector switch having a local and a remote position, a local low indicator, a local high indicator, a local mode indicator and a remote mode indicator; the engine speed command selector permits an operator to change between local and remote mode when a local engine speed command is within a predetermined tolerance of a remote engine speed command and the operator has moved the selector switch to the desired mode position.

Engine command selector and method of operating same

An apparatus for determining if a combustion condition in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine occurred includes a combustion sensor for sensing the occurrence of the combustion condition in the combustion chamber and producing a combustion signal responsive to the combustion condition, a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature condition in an exhaust passage from the combustion chamber and producing a temperature signal having a characteristic indicative of the sensed temperature condition, and a controller connected for receiving the combustion signal and the temperature signal and operable in the absence of receipt of an expected combustion signal to determine if the combustion condition occurred by comparing the temperature signal characteristic with a predetermined characteristic value indicative of the occurrence of the combustion condition in the combustion chamber.

Diagnostic apparatus and method for a combustion sensor feedback system

A method for delivering liquid fuel and gaseous fuel to a dual fuel engine operating in a dual fuel mode includes establishing a governor output value indicative of a total fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine to maintain a desired engine speed. A first value indicative of a liquid pilot fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine and a second value indicative of a gaseous fuel energy rate desired to be delivered to the engine are each determined such that the sum of the desired liquid pilot fuel energy rate and the desired gaseous fuel energy rate is substantially equal to the desired total fuel energy. A stored gaseous fuel energy content can be updated to assure continued accuracy of the fuel control system of the dual fuel engine.

Method for enabling a substantially constant total fuel energy rate

A method of operating a computer to automatically produce production control software for a natural gas engine controller (104) on a machine is provided. The controller (104) is adapted to control a natural gas engine (106). The method includes the steps of (1) as a function of user input, defining a set of controller (104); and (2) producing control software to operate the controller (104) as defined by the specifications.

Method for producing production control software for a natural gas

Instruments, for example diagnostic and monitoring systems, are often used in connection with electronic controls having a limited number of inputs. Advantageously, data from a plurality of sensors is received by the instrument and transferred to the electronic control via a communication link. In accordance with the invention, a plurality of sensors produce signals in response to sensed parameters. The instrument, having one or more displays, receives the sensor signals and responsively produces an instrument signal. A control receives the instrument signal and responsively produces a control signal. The displays indicate parameter values in response to the control signal.

Method and apparatus for receiving data

Gauges are often used to monitor operating conditions on machines. Advantageously, such gauges are capable of indicating the level of a parameter being either above or below a reference level. The subject invention provides a sensor for producing a sensor signal having a value representative of the level of a sensed parameter. A gauge displays the level of the sensed parameter and includes a high indicating segment and a low indicating segment. An instrument receives the sensor signal and progressively illuminates the high and low indicating segments in response to the sensor signal increasing or decreasing from a reference value, respectively.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Geoffrey D Ginzel