Caterpillar Inc.

James B Maddock

Fred Mehdian

Darryl Dean Baldwin

Rodrigo L Sanchez

David Tran

Anthony E Sloan

Sridhar Deivasigamani

Michael S Lukich

Brian Eugene Lister

Larry Ellis Kendrick

Timothy A Lorentz

Scott C Brown

Phillip J Houtz

Raymond G Evans

Gregg W Uhland

Shawn J Weck

Charles J Kocian

Kevin A Vernagus

Bradley W Harrell

Mitchel Ryan Deckard

David Langsford Collins

Robert Urban Murray

David L Frohberg

Kevin A Lantz

Satish Yadav

Gareth John Estebanez

An exemplary power management system may include a power source and a transmission. The transmission may include a drive member and at least two shift ranges. The drive member may be driveably engaged with the power source. The power management system may also include a control system in communication with the power source and the transmission. The control system may be operative to cause a shift transition between the at least two shift ranges in response to a shift command. The control system may also be operative, during at least a portion of the shift transition, to modify at least one of a speed of the drive member and a speed of the power source based on at least one of a load condition of the power source, a speed of the power source, and the at least two shift ranges.

Power management system

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling the exhaust temperature of an engine is disclosed. The method includes the steps of sensing the exhaust temperature of the engine, determining a desired air pressure in response to the exhaust temperature, and controlling the air flow into the engine in response to the desired air pressure. The apparatus includes an air temperature sensor for sensing an actual exhaust temperature within the exhaust manifold and responsively generating an exhaust temperature signal. The apparatus also includes a controller for receiving the exhaust temperature signal and comparing the exhaust temperature signal to a desired exhaust port temperature, determining a desired air pressure in response to the comparison.

Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of an engine

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the speed of an engine. The engine has an associated turbo charger and a throttle. The method includes the steps of determining a load characteristic of the engine, determining a change in said load characteristic, and controlling the engine in response to said load change.

Method and apparatus for controlling the speed of an engine

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the speed of an engine. The engine has an associated turbo charger and a throttle. The method includes the steps of determining an actual speed of the engine, establishing a desired speed of the engine, determining an overspeed condition exists in response to said desired speed and said actual speed, and determining a throttle command in response to the desired and actual engine speed.

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining a fuel command for an engine having a cruise control system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining a desired engine speed, determining an actual engine speed, modifying the actual engine speed value in response to a previous value of the engine speed, and then determining the fuel command in response to the modified and desired engine speed.

Method and apparatus for determining fuel control commands for a cruise

In one embodiment of the present invention an apparatus for controlling one or more engines by synchronizing the functions of two or more electronic control modules includes a master electronic control module, one or more slave electronic control modules, and one or more data links for transferring data between the electronic control modules. Engine control and monitoring functions are divided between the master electronic control module and the slave electronic control modules. The present invention may be used to control and monitor dual fuel engines and engines that operate on one type of fuel. The master electronic control module may transition operation of the engine to the diesel fuel only mode in the event of a failure of any dual fuel mode specific components. The master ECM coordinates timing and speed of fuel injection to engine cylinders using input from an adjustable engine speed command device and a speed sensor connected to each engine. The loads driven by the engines may be allocated evenly or unevenly.

Apparatus for an engine control system

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling the air flow into an engine. The engine has a wastegate and a choke valve. The method includes the steps of determining an air pressure within the intake manifold and comparing the air pressure to a desired air pressure. A position of the choke valve and wastegate is then determined in response to the comparison. The apparatus includes an air pressure sensor for sensing the actual air pressure within the intake manifold. A controlling means compares the actual air pressure with a desired air pressure and responsively determines a position of the choke valve and the wastegate. A choke valve actuator and wastegate actuator position the choke valve and the wastegate respectively.

Apparatus and method for controlling the air flow into an engine

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining a fuel command for an fuel system. The present invention provides a method for determining a fuel command for an engine. The method includes determining a desired and actual engine speed, comparing the desired and actual engine speeds, and controlling the air/fuel mixture flow into the intake manifold of the fuel system in response to the comparison. The inlet pressure and temperature within the manifold are then determined. A fuel command is determined in response to the manifold air pressure and temperature. The fuel command is then modified in response to the comparison of the desired and actual engine speeds.

Method and apparatus for determining a fuel command for a fuel system

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 sensing the failure of hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled fuel injector in a combustion engine is disclosed. An electronic controller senses the pressure of the hydraulic actuator fluid prior to injection and samples the pressure throughout a subsequent injection cycle. If the samples show an oscillation in the pressure of the hydraulic actuator fluid, then the injector has fired. Otherwise, the injector has failed.

Cylinder fault detection using rail pressure signal

Dynamic engine diagnostic devices are useful for detecting engine faults such as a misfiring cylinder during normal engine operation. Identification of the particular cylinder having the fault enables repairs to be made more efficiently. In the subject application, an apparatus is provided for detecting malfunctions in individual cylinders of an internal combustion engine having a rotating member driven by a plurality of cylinders. The apparatus includes a sensor for measuring the time between successive angular positions as the member rotates through at least one engine cycle and producing a plurality of period signals responsive respectively to the measured time intervals. Each engine cylinder has an equal number of the angular positions associated therewith, and the member makes one rotation per engine cycle. A deviation circuit receives the period signals and produces a deviation signal for each engine cylinder. Each deviation signal is responsive to a difference between period signals of a respective cylinder. An averaging circuit receives the deviation signals and produces an average signal responsive to an average of the deviation signals. A comparator receives the deviation and average signals, compares each deviation signal to the average signal, and produces respective fault signals in response to individual deviation signals differing from the average signal by more than a first threshold.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

James B Maddock