Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpiller Inc.

Scott G Sinn

Dennis D Feucht

James J Faletti

David L Dickrell

Thomas R Sandborg

Michael R Verheyen

Gregory S Gauger

Brian T Rolli

Richard D Rathe

Greg A Schumacher

Ronald J Mearek

Robert W Keene

Prasad V Parupalli

John W Crayton

Kyle W Scholl

Charles T Kinas

A braking control for an engine permits the timing and duration of exhaust valve opening events to be accurately determined independent of engine events so that braking power can be precisely controlled. According to one embodiment, further control over braking power can be accomplished by controlling turbocharger geometry.

Engine compression braking apparatus utilizing a variable geometry

A system is disclosed for sensing, recording, and selectively displaying data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine. The system includes a plurality of transducers delivering signals corresponding to such operational characteristics to a programmable logic device. These signals are converted to appropriate information signals which are stored in an associated storage device and can be selectively displayed on a suitable display device.

Data recording and display system

A braking control for an engine permits the timing and duration of exhaust valve opening to be accurately determined independent of engine events so that braking power can be precisely controlled.

Engine compression braking apparatus and method

The system is provided for controllably monitoring data associated with operational characteristics of an engine. The system determines a maintenance activity requirement based on such characteristics. The system includes a plurality of transducers associated with the engine and connected to a programmable logic device. Signals from the transducers are continuously monitored and stored in an associated storage device. In response to predetermined sets of operational characteristics, an indication of when maintenance is due on the engine is produced by the logic device.

Maintenance monitor system

An actuator for engaging an exhaust valve develops a first force to take up the lash between the actuator and the exhaust valve and generates a second, stronger force to open the exhaust valve.

Dual force actuator for use in engine retarding systems

A control for operating an engine in a braking mode of operation includes an actuator engagable with an engine exhaust valve. A braking magnitude is selected from a continuous range of braking magnitudes between minimum and maximum levels and turn-on and turn-off points for the actuator are established from the selected braking magnitude. The actuator is operated in accordance with the turn-on and turn-off points to cause the engine to develop the selected braking magnitude.

Infinitely variable engine compression braking control and method

A braking control for an engine having a combustion chamber, an exhaust valve movable between open and closed positions, and an electronically controlled fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber includes an actuator for engaging the exhaust valve and a control module for timing movement of the exhaust valve to the open position. The control module has an output terminal connected to first terminals of the actuator and the fuel injector and a pair of additional return terminals connected to second terminals of the actuator and fuel injector.

Wiring arrangement for an engine braking control

A system for controllably sensing, recording, and selectively displaying data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle is described. A plurality of transducers are connected to a programmable logic device along with data entry, data storage, and data display devices. Information received from the transducers is processed by the logic device to determine whether a certain operational characteristic has occurred during the time that certain other characteristics are present. In addition, the amount of time that the particular characteristic occurs is determined.

Data exception reporting system

A device for use in an engine brake control to move an exhaust valve to an open position includes an actuator engageable with the exhaust valve and an electrically-operable control valve. The actuator includes a valve spool and a slave piston wherein the slave piston includes a passage and wherein the valve spool includes a high pressure annulus coupled to a source of high fluid pressure and a low pressure annulus coupled to a source of low fluid pressure. The valve spool is movable relative to the slave piston to interconnect the passage with the high pressure annulus or the low pressure annulus. The electrically-operable control valve selectively provides high fluid pressure to the valve spool and to the slave piston to cause the slave piston to oscillate about a point at which the exhaust valve is disposed in the open position and the passage is alternately connected to the low pressure annulus and the high pressure annulus.

Dynamic positioning device for an engine brake control

An engine brake system for opening an engine exhaust valve recirculates actuating fluid between an actuator and a pump so that demands placed on an oil pump of the engine are minimized.

Recirculation of actuating fluid in an engine braking system

An engine control is provided for compensating the fuel delivery to an internal combustion engine as a function of the energy content of the fuel. The engine control includes a fuel temperature sensor connected to an electronic controller. A memory device including a standard fuel delivery map stored therein is connected to the electronic controller. The electronic controller calculates a compensated fuel delivery map as a function of the standard fuel delivery map and the fuel temperature, and the controller issues a fuel delivery command based on the compensated fuel delivery map.

Fuel delivery temperature compensation system and method of operating

An electronic engine control is disclosed having an electronic cooling fan control. The cooling fan is turned on or off according to a predetermined strategy and inputs from several engine parameter sensors. By disengaging the cooling fan when it is not needed for engine cooling, the fan control reduces the power that is unnecessarily drawn from the engine to drive the fan.

Intermittent cooling fan control

A self guided vehicle employs a highly accurate velocity sensor to determine vehicle speed and position. The velocity sensor includes a resolver connected to and rotatable with a ground engaging wheel. A resolver to digital converter (R/D) provides a highly accurate 8-bit digital signal representative of the angle of wheel rotation. A second less expensive and less accurate velocity sensor also receives the modulated sine and cosine signals from the resolver and produces a series of pulses representative of vehicle speed. The pulses are produced by detecting the zero crossings of the sine, cosine, and combinations of the sine and cosine signals. The velocity information present in the second velocity sensor signal is not used to actually guide the vehicle, but merely to generally validate the information present in the R/D signal.

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Morton, IL, United States of America

Scott G Sinn