Caterpillar Inc.

Gregg W Uhland

Charles J Kocian

Dana Ray Coldren

Alan Ray Stockner

Joshua W Steffen

James B Maddock

Phillip J Houtz

Edward H Betts, Jr

Brian R Weller

Brian Kenneth Garman

Shawn J Weck

David J Doddek

Mitchel Ryan Deckard

Kevin A Lantz

David L Frohberg

Robert L Pribble

Marshall T Kolb

Ronald E Smith

A dual fuel engine powers a machine by burning natural gas and liquid diesel fuel. When operating in a low load mode, some of the engine cylinders are fueled with a high ratio of diesel/gas, and the remaining cylinders are unfueled. When operating in a high load mode, all of the engine cylinders are fueled with a low ratio of diesel/gas. When operating in a limp home mode, the fuel injectors are configured to inject only diesel fuel into all of the plurality of engine cylinders.

Limp home capable dual fuel engine and machine using same

A method of avoiding low cycle fatigue failure of a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine having an electronic control module comprising the steps of: counting the number of cycles the speed of the engine and the fuel rate exceed a predetermined combination for a period of time and then drop below a lower predetermined combination for a period of time, determining an allowable number of said speed cycles that the turbocharger can experience without low cycle fatigue failure, comparing the counted number of speed cycles to the allowed number of speed cycles, providing an indication of the percentage of the counted speed cycles compared to the allowable number of speed cycles, and providing a signal that will alert an operator that the turbocharger is approaching low cycle fatigue failure.

Method of avoiding low cycle fatigue failure of turbochargers

A method for controlling an engine turbocharger having a wastegate control valve is provided where the turbocharger is controlled by an electronic controller which is capable of delivering a wastegate control signal to the wastegate control valve. A determination is made as to whether an engine speed falls within a predetermined speed range defined by a first predetermined speed and a second predetermined speed, where the second predetermined speed is higher than the first predetermined speed. A predetermined initializing wastegate control signal may be delivered to the wastegate control valve in response to the engine speed falling within the predetermined speed range. A determination is made as to whether an engine speed exceeds the second predetermined speed, and a determination is made as to whether an engine load falls within a predetermined load range defined by a first predetermined load and a second predetermined load, where the second predetermined load is greater than the first predetermined load. A stored control signal value is retrieved from memory associated with the electronic controller and a wastegate control signal corresponding thereto is delivered to the wastegate control valve in response to the engine speed exceeding the second predetermined speed and the engine load falling within the predetermined load range. The stored control signal value may be updated with a learned control signal value determined during certain engine operating conditions.

Apparatus and method for utilizing a learned wastegate control signal

An apparatus and method for reducing white smoke during start up of a compression ignition engine is disclosed. The apparatus includes an engine cylinder, a fuel injector, an engine speed sensor, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor preferably includes an engine speed controller that governs the engine speed to a desired value. The microprocessor issues a first fueling level corresponding to a difference between an actual engine speed and the desired engine speed signal. The microprocessor quits fueling the engine cylinder then determines a second fueling level. A determination about whether the cylinder is firing is then based on a comparison between the first and the second fueling level.

White smoke reduction apparatus and method

This invention relates to a cooling system for a turbocharger engine having a first and a second fluid passing cooling circuits connected to a common radiator at spaced apart locations on the radiator. The first fluid passing cooling circuit circulates cooling fluid flow between the radiator and the engine and the second fluid passing cooling circuit circulates cooling fluid between an aftercooler and the engine. A temperature controlled valve in the first fluid passing circuit increases the cooling capacity of the second fluid passing circuit when closed or partially closed.

Dual circuit cooling systems

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Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Gregg W Uhland