Caterpillar Inc.

Jeffrey Clark Krieger

Michael Dean Roley

Kyle Michael Rader

Stephan Donald Roozenboom

Quinton Burcar

Sravan K Karri

Bradley Morgan

Paul Kenneth Stark

A spacer for a valvetrain in an engine system includes a spacer body defining a spacer axis and including a through-bore extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, an outer arcuate surface, and an inner arcuate surface having an oil feed inlet. The spacer further includes an orientation element extending from the spacer body and defining an orientation axis transverse to the spacer axis, and including an inner orientation surface and an outer orientation surface. The spacer further includes an oil application structure defining a structure axis oriented transverse to both the spacer axis and the orientation axis, and including a plurality of oil spray channels, each respective one of the plurality of oil spray channels including an oil outlet at a termination point and being fluidly connected to the oil feed inlet.

Spacer equipped to spray oil for valvetrain in an engine system

An engine valve includes a stem, a head comprising an outer lip surface, a seating surface extending from the outer lip surface toward the stem, and a combustion surface extending from the outer lip surface on the opposite side of the head as compared to the seating surface. The combustion surface includes a first convex arcuate surface spaced away from the outer lip surface, at least partially forming a raised ring, and a first concave arcuate surface spaced away from the outer lip surface, at least partially forming a dimple.

Engine valve with raised ring or dimple

A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of valve pockets formed in a piston rim, the valve pockets forming fluid flow paths through the piston rim. Each of the valve pockets includes a central step standing proud of a pocket floor to limit a fluid flow area through the pocket and slow combustion gas flow from a combustion bowl toward a cylinder liner and thereby reduce displacement of an engine oil film thereon.

Piston for internal combustion engine having valve pocket step for slowing combustion gas flow

An engine valve actuation system includes a hydro-mechanical valve actuation module having a first hydro-mechanical linkage and a second hydro-mechanical linkage, each within a different housing block of a housing. Each of the first hydro-mechanical linkage and the second hydro-mechanical linkage includes a cam-follower piston in contact with a cam of a camshaft, and a valve-actuation piston hydraulically co-acting with the respective cam-follower piston. The hydro-mechanical valve actuation module may include hydro-mechanical linkages for an intake valve, for an exhaust valve, and for engine braking.

Hydro-mechanical module for engine valve actuation system

An engine head assembly includes a valve seat insert having a valve seating surface defining a center axis, and each of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface extending circumferentially around the valve seat center axis. The outer peripheral surface includes an upper section interference-fitted with the engine head, and a lower section. A stiffness relief channel is formed by a relief cutout in the valve seat insert, and extends radially between the lower section of the outer peripheral surface and the engine head. The stiffness relief channel permits flexing of the valve seat insert to cushion valve seating to prolong engine valve and valve seat insert service life.

Engine head assembly with valve seat insert with stiffness relief cutout

A method for estimating wear of at least one component of an internal combustion engine includes receiving sensor information and fuel commands indicative of an amount of fuel supplied to at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and determining an incremental increase in an amount of wear of at least one component of the internal combustion engine based on at least the sensor information and the fuel commands. The method also includes determining an updated amount of wear based on the incremental increase in the amount of wear, and outputting a notification indicative of the updated amount of wear.

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Brimfield, IL, United States of America

Jeffrey Clark Krieger