Caterpillar Inc.

Ronald P Maloney

James J Faletti

Christopher Reed

John M Clarke

Charles R Miller

Lee D Kress

Ryan McHenry

Scott F Shafer

Scott Byron Fiveland

Gregory Jerome Kaufmann

Kevin Patrick Duffy

David Elliot Hackett

Keith Edward Lawrence

Steven J Funke

Craig Phillip Hittle

Eric Donald Wiebrecht

David Anthony Cusac

Seth Evan Slaughter

John Davenport

Daniel Richard Barb

Andrew Gaarder

Jorge R Agama

Devin C Tornow

Anwarul Karim

Kathleen Nackers

Timothy Edward McGreevy

Reid A Peterson

Burhan Hamdan

Brian A Cull

James J Buettner

Mysore S Satish

Arthur S Lindell

Gary L Spadin

Michael L Lusher

Loren L Randle

A modular exhaust manifold includes a plurality of exhaust manifold segments coupled together along a common axis. Exhaust manifold segments include a water jacket tube defining a liquid coolant passage around each of the plurality of exhaust manifold segments. The internal combustion engine also includes a coupling assembly for joining adjacent exhaust manifold segments. The coupling assembly includes a plurality of annular sealing devices configured to fit within a first set of grooves formed on an end portion of a first exhaust manifold segment. The coupling assembly also includes a spacing collar configured to attach to the end portion of the first exhaust manifold segment and couple with a fixed radial flange formed on an adjacent end portion of a second exhaust manifold segment to join the first exhaust manifold segment and the second exhaust manifold segment.

Water cooled exhaust manifold

An exhaust runner includes an exhaust runner inlet, an exhaust nozzle outlet aperture, and an impingement insulator. The exhaust runner inlet is configured to receive a first flow of an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. The exhaust nozzle outlet aperture is defined by an intersection of a tip flow passage and an internal surface of the exhaust runner. The exhaust nozzle outlet aperture is configured to introduce a second flow of the exhaust gas into the first flow of the exhaust gas. An impingement zone is defined by a projection of the outlet aperture onto the internal surface of the runner in a direction of the second flow of the exhaust gas. The impingement insulator is collocated with the impingement zone.

Exhaust manifold assembly and system

An exhaust nozzle tip for an exhaust runner conveying a first flow of an exhaust gas includes an inlet, outlet, and nozzle passageway. The inlet receives a second flow of the exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. The outlet introduces the second flow into the first flow in the exhaust runner. The nozzle passageway conveys the second flow from the inlet to the outlet and is defined by an upstream curved surface, and a downstream surface. The downstream surface includes a first downstream curve, a straight portion, and a second downstream curve. The first downstream curve transitions from perpendicular to the first flow to between 60 degrees and 15 degrees relative to the first flow. The straight portion extends from the first downstream curve. The second downstream curve transitions from the straight portion to a downstream portion of the exhaust runner.

Exhaust nozzle tip device and system

A system for determining a health of bearing associated with a connecting rod is provided. The system includes an oil collector placed proximate to the connecting rod and configured to receive an oil cast off from side thrust surfaces of the connecting rod during movement of the connecting rod. The system includes a sensor associated with the oil collector and configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the oil cast off from the side thrust surface of the connecting rod. The system also includes a controller communicably coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the temperature of the oil cast off from the side thrust surface of the connecting rod. The controller further determines the health of the bearing as a function of the signal of temperature of oil cast off from side thrust surface of the connecting rod.

Diagnostic system and method for a bearing of a connecting rod

An engine crankcase breather for oil segregation, from blow-by gases, in an engine. The engine crankcase breather includes a housing with an inlet located in a downstream direction of the blow-by gases and an outlet. The breather also includes a baffle within the housing which poses a tortuous path for the blow-by gases, in order to segregate oil particles from the blow-by gases. The baffle includes a hook-shaped portion, in which the oil segregation takes place. The engine crankcase breather further includes a trough extending within the housing. The trough is aligned with the hook-shaped portion of the baffle, to collect the segregated oil from the blow-by gases.

Breather for crankcase ventilation system

An apparatus and method for multi-mode fuel injection is disclosed. A sleeve is disposed about a fuel injector tip movable between a first and second position and wherein the sleeve is capable of impinging the fuel spray as it enters into the combustion chamber. By impinging the fuel spray, different spray profiles or plumes can be obtained allowing the fuel injector to inject in different modes, including homogenous charge compression ignition.

Fuel injector spray alteration through a moveable tip sleeve

The present invention relates generally to the field of homogenous charge compression ignition engines, in which fuel is injected when the cylinder piston is relatively close to the bottom dead center position for its compression stroke. The fuel mixes with air in the cylinder during the compression stroke to create a relatively lean homogeneous mixture that preferably ignites when the piston is relatively close to the top dead center position. However, if the ignition event occurs either earlier or later than desired, lowered performance, engine misfire, or even engine damage, can result. The present invention utilizes internal exhaust gas recirculation and/or compression ratio control to control the timing of ignition events and combustion duration in homogeneous charge compression ignition engines. Thus, at least one electro-hydraulic assist actuator is provided that is capable of mechanically engaging at least one cam actuated intake and/or exhaust valve.

Variable valve timing in a homogenous charge compression ignition engine

An internal combustion engine, particularly suitable for use in a work machine, is provided with a combustion cylinder, a cylinder head at an end of the combustion cylinder and a primary piston reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder. The cylinder head includes a secondary cylinder and a secondary piston reciprocally disposed within the secondary cylinder. An actuator is coupled with the secondary piston for controlling the position of the secondary piston dependent upon the position of the primary piston. A communication port establishes fluid flow communication between the combustion cylinder and the secondary cylinder.

Variable compression ratio device for internal combustion engine

The present invention relates generally to the field of homogeneous charge compression engines. In these engines, fuel is injected upstream or directly into the cylinder when the power piston is relatively close to its bottom dead center position. The fuel mixes with air in the cylinder as the power piston advances to create a relatively lean homogeneous mixture that preferably ignites when the power piston is relatively close to the top dead center position. However, if the ignition event occurs either earlier or later than desired, lowered performance, engine misfire, or even engine damage, can result. Thus, the present invention divides the homogeneous charge between a controlled volume higher compression space and a lower compression space to better control the start of ignition.

Homogenous charge compression ignition engine having a cylinder including a high compression space

An apparatus for testing internal combustion engine valves is provided. The apparatus includes a housing with a bore for receiving a seat fixture. The seat fixture, in turn, receives a seat insert. A valve is inserted into the apparatus so the valve head is received at the seat insert and the valve stem extends through the seat fixture and through an axial bore in the housing. One end of the valve engages an actuating apparatus that provides a lifting action of the valve so that the valve head moves off of the seat insert as well as a rotating action to the valve. Another actuator is provided to move the valve from a lifted position to a seated position. A heater is employed to heat the valve to high temperatures to simulate extreme operating conditions. A cooling system is also provided to rapidly cool the valve and associated elements to simulate a rapid cooling condition. A method for testing internal combustion engine valves is also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for testing internal combustion engine valves

An engine including a crankshaft having a crankshaft pump portion including at least one cam lobe for operably engaging a pump integral to the engine block of the engine, such that the pump is actuated directly by the crankshaft pump portion, thereby eliminating the typical drive train so as to reduce weight of the pump and engine combination while enhancing the reliability thereof and improving pump efficiency.

Internal combustion engine with integral crankshaft driven pump

A fuel injection system includes a hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled fuel injector having a needle valve member and an injector body that defines a fuel pressurization chamber that opens to a nozzle outlet. The needle valve member is positioned in the injector body and is moveable between an inject position at which the nozzle outlet is open, and a blocked position at which the nozzle outlet is blocked. A portion of the injector body adjacent the nozzle outlet is a mono gas valve member. The movement of the gas valve member controls one or both of the intake and exhaust portions of the engine cycle. The gas valve member is also hydraulically-actuated and electronically-controlled by the same hydraulic actuator that operates the fuel injector.

Engine having an intake/exhaust valve integrated with a fuel injector

Crankcase ventilation systems for internal combustion engines generally utilize external lines which increase the complexity of the engine while decreasing the engine's flexibility. Additionally, systems which utilize internal methods for ventilating the blow-by gas leaking past the piston rings generally do not properly ventilate the crankcase. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing crankcase ventilation system which utilizes a simplified design for an internal combustion engine with hydraulically actuated valves. A passage is disposed within the engine for fluid communication between a crankcase and a combustion chamber. A valve means is disposed within the passage for controlling the communication therebetween. Either by utilizing a means for sensing the pressure within the crankcase or in sequential cycles, an intake valve is closed as the valve means is simultaneously opened by any suitable means so that blow-by gas within the crankcase flows freely through the passage to the combustion chamber for reburning. The present invention is simple, cost-effective, and eliminates additional external lines for an effective method of ventilating the crankcase.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Ronald P Maloney