Caterpillar Inc.

Jon E Kasen

Michelle A Lee

Philip H McCluskey

David J Beatty

Thomas G Ausman

Steven J Bockelman

The grade of oil used in a machine or apparatus can be determined by determining a temperature and pressure within an oil supply and determining the oil grade in response to determining the temperature and pressure.

System and method for determining oil grade

The oil quality used in a machine, vehicle or system can be determined in response to determining a temperature and pressure within an oil supply. Once the oil quality is determined, an oil quality warning light can be activated, indicating the need to change the oil.

System and method for determining oil quality

A fuel injector comprises an injector body that defines a high pressure passage and a nozzle outlet. The injector body includes a nozzle valve member that is positioned between the high pressure passage and the nozzle outlet. The nozzle valve member is rotatable between a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked and an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open.

Rotating valve member and fuel injector using same

A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines an actuation fluid cavity and a nozzle outlet, and further defines a low pressure area and a fuel pressurization chamber in fluid communication with a spill passage. A pumping element is positioned in the injector body and moveable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The pumping element has a first end exposed to fluid pressure in the actuation fluid cavity and a second end exposed to fluid pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber. An electronic spill valve attached to the injector body is moveable between an open position in which the spill passage fluidly connects the fuel pressurization chamber to the low pressure area, and a closed position in which the spill passage is closed. Opening and closing of the spill valve during an injection event produces various rate shaping injection effects.

Hydraulically-actuated fuel injector with electronically actuated spill valve

Existing poppet valves have a tendency to rebound or bounce during operation. This rebound or bounce adversely affects engine governability, high pressure injector fuel flow, noise and idle stability. The present invention reduces or nearly eliminates poppet valve (52) rebound or bounce. The apparatus (161) for compensating for the rebound of bounce overcomes the problem of variable injection. For example, as the poppet valve (52) rebounds the weight (174) strikes the bottom or contacting surface (168) preventing the poppet valve (52) from moving toward the first position (156). Thus, the variation in the injection of fuel is prevented or eliminated. Additionally, with the variation in the injection of fuel eliminated, the adverse affects of the bounce or rebound enables better engine governability, high pressure injector fuel flow and idle stability with reduced noise.

Apparatus for reducing the bounce of a poppet valve

A method of fuel injection comprises an initial step of providing an electronically-controlled hydraulically-actuated fuel injector. An on-time for the fuel injector that corresponds to a desired amount of fuel is determined. The fuel injector is activated for that on-time. Next, the actual amount of fuel injected by the fuel injector is estimated. The actual amount of fuel is compared to the desired amount of fuel. If the actual amount of fuel is substantially more than the desired amount of fuel, the on-time for a subsequent injection event is adjusted.

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E. Peoria, IL, United States of America

Jon E Kasen