Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

Richard A DeKeyser

Ronald Dean Shinogle

Vernon Richard Smith

Stephen F Glassey

John H Parks

Robert H Miller

Yasser A Al-Charif

Jerry A Clouse

A structure and method for electronically minimizing or eliminating performance variation of an apparatus controllable by a control signal, such as an electronically-controlled fuel injector, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring the resultant characteristics of the apparatus at a plurality of operating conditions, such as timing and delivery characteristics of the fuel injector, adjusting the control signal as a function of the measured resultant characteristics, such as by adjusting a base timing and duration or pulse width of a fuel delivery command signal for a fuel injector, and controlling the apparatus in accordance with the adjusted control signal to reduce performance variation. A structure is disclosed to compensate or trim for individual injector variation, includes an electronic control module having a memory for storing trim signals for each injector, the trim signals being derived from observed performance parameter values taken at a plurality of operating conditions, a plurality of sensors for detecting at least one, and preferably a plurality of operating parameters and generating a respective one, and preferably a plurality of, operating parameter signals, and a means for communicating the trim signals to the memory. The electronic control module adjusts a base fuel delivery signal for each injector as a function of the trim data signals for each injector.

Method and structure for controlling an apparatus, such as a fuel

A fuel injection pump has a barrel with a central bore communicating through axially staggered fuel inlet and outlet ports with an outer peripheral recess in the barrel which, in cooperation with a fuel pump housing, forms an annular fuel receiving cavity about the pump barrel. A relatively large fuel reservoir in the housing communicates with the annular cavity through fuel inlet and outlet conduits in the housing, the outlet conduit being aligned with the outlet port in the pump barrel. A plunger having a scroll surface at one end is rotatably and reciprocably received in the pump barrel bore, and the scroll surface is selectively registrable with the fuel ports. A pulse shield of hardened material is disposed within the fuel reservoir in alignment with the fuel outlet conduit to deflect fuel from the outlet conduit into the main portion of the reservoir and to prevent erosion of the housing surfaces.

Fuel injection pump

Adjustments are preset to factory specifications, during assembly of a vehicle engine, which limit the maximum amount of fuel, per stroke, being injected by each injection pump. Because of these preset adjustments, an increase in fuel temperature above a critical point can cause a power loss. A compensator (30) is provided to vary the preset adjustments. The compensator includes a member (70) which responds to fuel temperature increase and permits more volume of fuel per stroke to be injected by each injection pump.

Temperature responsive fuel compensator

A fuel filtering system comprises a case having a cartridge-type filter disposed therein, along with a separator which defines a reservoir. Fuel, such as diesel fuel, is adapted to normally enter an inlet to the case, flow through the filter and thence to an outlet of the case for engine consumption purposes. A valve member, having a specific gravity less than water but greater than that of the fuel, is movably mounted adjacent to the outlet. When the level of water in the reservoir exceeds a predetermined level, the valve member will float on the water and move upwardly to at least partially close-off communication of fuel to the outlet to thus adversely affect engine performance whereby the vehicle operator is alerted to the water-in-fuel problem. In a first embodiment of this invention, such valve member comprises a tubular member mounted exteriorly on a tube defining the outlet therein whereas in a second such embodiment the valve member comprises a spherical ball movably mounted in the tubular member.

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Edelstein, IL, United States of America

Richard A DeKeyser