Caterpillar Inc.

Kenneth Carroll Adams

Benjamin R Tower

Scott F Shafer

Stephen Robert Lewis

Jayaraman Krishnapura Venkataraghavan

Michael Gerstner

Daniel Reese Puckett

Daniel Richard Ibrahim

Wade James Robel

Andrew O Marrack

Michael C Long

Martin A Lehman

Adrienne M Brasche

Zhenyu Li

Zhenlong Xu

Joshua D Carlson

Amy Shalaine Johanson

Jeffrey DePayva

Bharath Chandrashekar

Michael H McLean

Jason Z Li

Frank Jianyuan Yang

Selvakumar Duraisamy

A multipart fuel filter element includes a cartridge body having a plurality of through bores radially offset with respect to a centerline. An inlet end cap adjacent a first cartridge face includes an inlet aperture centrally aligned with the centerline and a plurality of distribution apertures aligned with and directing fuel to the plurality of through bores. An outlet end cap adjacent a second cartridge face includes an outlet aperture also aligned with the centerline and a plurality of reception aperture that are aligned with the through bores to receive fuel.

Fuel filter cartridge

A fuel flow limiter assembly includes a limiter body forming a central bore, and including a shutoff piston within the central bore having a closing hydraulic surface exposed to a fluid pressure of the fuel inlet, and being movable from an open position, to a closed position based on a fuel pressure drop from a fuel inlet to a fuel outlet in the limiter assembly. A fuel filter is resident in the limiter assembly and supported in a connector coupled to the limiter body. The fuel filter is elongate and projects from the connector into a fuel flow path from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet.

Fuel flow limiter assembly having integral fuel filter and fuel system using same

A fluid conditioning module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet is provided. The fluid conditioning module includes a first pump element, a second pump element, a pressure regulator, a controller, and a prime mover to impart rotational motion in the first and second pump elements. A first pump inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A filter inlet is in fluid communication with a first pump outlet and a second pump outlet, and a filter outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. A pressure regulator inlet and a pressure regulator outlet are in fluid communication with the filter outlet and a recirculation conduit, respectively. The control valve has a first position and a second position, which allows fluid flow through the recirculation conduit. The controller adjusts operation of one or more of the prime mover and the control valve based upon a predetermined parameter.

Fluid conditioning module

A pressure relief valve for a common rail fuel system includes a hard ceramic spherical valve member that moves into and out of contact with a conical valve seat of a soft metallic valve body. Fretting damage to the valve is inhibited by using the dissimilar materials, and by using a guide pin that is allowed to move on the spherical surface of the ceramic spherical valve member. The valve member may be constructed of silicon nitride.

Pressure relief valve for common rail fuel system

A fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The fuel system may have a pump, a plurality of fuel injectors, and a plurality of fuel accumulators. Each of the plurality of fuel accumulators may be disposed at least partially within a different cylinder head of the engine in fluid communication with an associated fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors. Each of the plurality of fuel accumulators may also be in fluid communication with adjacent fuel accumulators of the plurality of fuel accumulators. At least one of the plurality of fuel accumulators may also be in fluid communication with the pump. The fuel system may further have a plurality of flow limiters. Each of the plurality of flow limiters may be disposed between an associated fuel accumulator of the plurality of fuel accumulators and an associated fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.

Fuel system having accumulators and flow limiters

A pressure relief valve includes a valve body having a valve seat fluidly positioned between an inlet and an outlet. A valve member is movable among a first position, a second position, and a third position. The valve member is in contact with the valve seat and fluidly blocks the inlet from the outlet at the first position. At the second position of the valve member, the inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet via a small flow area. The inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet via a large flow area when the valve member is at the third position. An electrical actuator is attached to the valve body and is operably coupled to move the valve member when energized. The valve member includes an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the inlet when at the first position. A spring is operably positioned to bias the valve member toward the second position when the valve member is at the third position.

Pressure control in low static leak fuel system

A piezoelectrically actuated device includes a body, a valve disposed within the body and an actuator for the valve, the actuator including a casing coupled with the body and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing The actuator further includes a multi-function spring applying a preloading force to the piezoelectric element. The multi-function spring includes a first segment having a piston configured to translate a motion of the piezoelectric element during operation of the actuator, a second segment having at least one flexural element and a third segment having a first set of threads. The first set of threads is engaged with a second set of threads of the actuator and maintains the second segment in a tension state which corresponds with the preloading force.

Piezoelectric actuator with multi-function spring and device using same

Particularly in an engine that has been inactive for a substantial period of time at a cold temperature, fluid forces acting on moving members, such as electronically-activated fluid control valves, may be significant until the engine warms up. A way to reduce the fluid forces and their detrimental effects is to reduce the volume of fluid which are creating the fluid forces, including venting all or some of this fluid to drain. Additionally, fluid that gathers can be drained away. In order to accomplish such venting, the present disclosure includes a fluid control valve having a body with at least one fluid passage connected to a bore, a movable member in the bore, an actuator connected to the movable member to move the movable member, and at least one vent passage opening into the bore between the fluid passage and the actuator. The disclosure may include additional drain passages to drain away gathered fluid from actuating components.

Fluid control valve

Growing community of inventors

Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Kenneth Carroll Adams