Caterpillar Inc.

Steven Francis Meister

David Painter

Scott F Shafer

Dennis D Feucht

Charles R Miller

Michael C Gatz

Thomas S Carroll

Steven J Funke

Glen F Forck

Dwain L Kamphuis

Thomas V Staley

Anthony K Chan

Kirk S Shively

Howard N Cannon

J Roger Weber

Loran Hoffman

Philip Stephen Bruza

Jeffrey J Carter, Jr

Raj T Nagarajan

Jamie Erin Frisch

Gregory J Kaufman

David R Orr

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for measuring ash deposit levels in a particulate filter comprising at least one cell. One or more indicator components is inserted into the at least one cell so as to lie upon any deposits contained therein. Radiation is emitted from a radiation source into the cell, and the position of the one or more indicator components is detected on the basis of the emitted radiation. The deposit level within the cell is then calculated on the basis of the position of the one or more indicator components.

Method and apparatus for measuring ash deposit levels in a particular filter

Method and apparatus for measuring ash deposit levels in a particulate filter

A system for determining ash height in a filter is disclosed. The system may comprise a string, and a pressure source configured to propel a portion of the string down a channel of a filter. A method for determining ash height in a filter is also disclosed. The method may comprise propelling a portion of a string down a channel of a filter, and determining an ash height in the filter channel based on a measurement of the string inside the filter channel and a known length of a clean filter channel having no ash accumulation.

Apparatus and method for determining ash height in a filter

A tool for removing particulate matter from a diesel particulate filter (DPF) includes a container defining a chamber that has an open end, and a support associated with the open end that supports a first axial end of the DPF and forms a seal around an outside surface of the can of the DPF and the container. An air nozzle mounted proximate to a second axial end of the DPF directs a narrow flow of air through the DPF that passes through a portion of the DPF element bundle and exits through the first axial end into the container.

Filter cleaning tool and method

A system for removing matter from a filtering device is disclosed. The system may have an impact wave generating device. The system may further have a vacuum source to draw matter away from the filtering device.

Filter purge system utilizing impact wave generating device and vacuum source

A system for removing matter from a filtering device is disclosed. The system may have a reactive propellant located downstream of the filtering device. The reactive propellant may be configured to generate an impact wave.

Filter purge system utilizing a reactive propellant

An actuator for opening a poppet exhaust valve, which is closed by a spring and opens in normal operation against a relatively low pressure and which opens for compression braking against a relatively high pressure, is motivated in either event by the same hydraulic pressure. The actuator has a unitary central valve and piston element, which is coaxially directed toward the exhaust valve stem and has an area providing, when subjected to the pressure, a force sufficient to open the exhaust valve for normal operation but insufficient to open the exhaust valve during compression braking. The element extends through a relatively larger diameter annular piston which is slidably fitted about the element and within a bore receiving the annular piston. In normal operation, the element provides enough force to move from an unactuated position and open the exhaust valve, and initial movement of the element closes off passages in the element that admit the pressure to the piston which thus does not move. During compression braking, the force developed by the central element cannot move the element and the exhaust valve so that these passages admit pressure to the piston which provides sufficient force to move with the central element and open the exhaust valve. In either event, when the hydraulic pressure is subsequently reduced, the spring closes the exhaust valve and returns the actuator to its unactuated position. The actuator may be constructed to provide a smaller valve opening for braking than for normal operation.

Camless valve actuator for compression braking and normal engine operations

An outward opening valve system includes an engine having a fluid cavity in fluid communication with an accumulator chamber by a transfer passage, a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening, and an intensifier bore that opens to the hollow piston cylinder. The opening includes an outward valve seat adjacent the gas passageway. An outward valve member with a valve face is moveable between a closed position in which the valve face is against the valve seat closing the opening and an open position in which the valve face is away from the valve seat. A compression spring is utilized to bias the outward valve member toward its open position. An intensifier piston is positioned in the intensifier bore with one end exposed to fluid pressure in the hollow piston cylinder. A coupling linkage interconnects the intensifier piston to the outward valve member. An accumulator plunger is positioned in the accumulator chamber and moveable between a release position and a storage position, but is biased toward its release position by a compression spring. A control valve member is positioned in the transfer passage and has a first position in which the accumulator chamber is open to the fluid cavity and a second position in which the accumulator chamber is closed to the fluid cavity.

Outward opening valve system for an engine

A push-pull valve assembly for an engine cylinder includes an engine defining a gas passageway in fluid communication with a hollow piston cylinder via a first opening and a second opening. An inward valve seat is positioned in the first opening adjacent the hollow piston cylinder. An outward valve seat is positioned in the second opening adjacent the gas passageway. A first valve member has a first stem and a first enlarged portion with an inward valve face positioned in the hollow piston cylinder. A second valve member has a second stem and a second enlarged portion with an outward valve face position in the gas passageway. The first valve member and the second valve member are operably coupled via a mechanical or hydraulic linkage. A spring is utilized to bias the inward valve face against the inward valve seat to close the first opening and the outward valve face against the outward valve seat to close the second opening.

Push-pull valve assembly for an engine cylinder

The present invention is an apparatus 10 for hydraulically slowing a member (12), preferably an engine poppet valve, to an acceptable impact seating velocity as the valve (12) is moved from open to closed. The poppet valve (12) has a stem (16) having a first portion (18) connected through a stepped portion (20) to a second portion (22) having a greater cross-sectional area than the first portion (18). The valve (12) rides within a guide body (28) having an opening (34) in an end wall (32) thereof through which the first portion (18) of the stem (16) extends. A hydraulic fluid space (50) is formed by the guide body (28) and the valve (12). As the valve (12) closes, fluid is forced out of the space (50) through a first fluid exit opening (66). As the valve (12) nears its seat (44), the fluid still in the space (50) is forced out through a second fluid exit opening (68) through which the rate of flow is less than the rate of flow through the first fluid exit opening (66). As the valve (12) continues closing, fluid still in the space (50) is compressed, increasing its hydraulic pressure and creating a resistive force to further movement of the poppet valve (12), thereby slowing it to an acceptable impact velocity.

Engine valve seating velocity hydraulic snubber

An actuation valve for a hydraulically-operated fuel injector includes an actuator having a plunger and a spool valve coupled to the plunger. The spool valve includes a high pressure port and is operable by the actuator to selectively place the high pressure port or the low pressure port in fluid communication with an injection mechanism of the injector.

Direct-operated spool valve for a fuel injector

The design and construction of current electronically-controlled hydraulically-actuated engine valve systems are currently still being tested for dependability. The electronics control various activities including actuation velocity and, therefore, can include complicated components. The present invention overcomes this and other problems by providing a valve actuation system including an electronically-controlled hydraulically-actuated plunger for actuating an engine valve. Hydraulic means are utilized for reducing the plunger velocity thereby controlling the valve lift and the valve seating as the valve approaches the open and closed positions. The hydraulic means reduces the need for a complicated electronic control unit, therefore, improving the feasibility and dependability of the present invention.

Hydraulically actuated valve system

A staged activation logic is utilized in the transition zone of operation for a fuel injector having an electronically actuated valve that opens to permit flow of high pressure fluid into the injector to initiate injection when activated but is biased to close when deactivated to end injection. Many different types of injectors could potentially utilize the present invention, regardless of whether the high pressure fluid is a high pressure hydraulic actuation fluid or high pressure fuel. The transition zone of operation corresponds to that range of activation durations for the injector in which the electronically actuated valve experiences a bouncing phenomenon because the valve member bounces off of its stop and closes prematurely. If it is determined that the desired amount of fuel to be injected during the next cycle falls within the transition zone of operation, then a revised activation duration for the electronically actuated valve is calculated. The valve is then quickly activated and deactivated with a staging pulse to raise pressure within the injector before actually initiating the injection of fuel. After a brief deactivation period, the electronically actuated valve is actuated for the revised activation duration. If the originally calculated amount of fuel falls outside of the transition zone then the electronically actuated valve is activated in a conventional manner.

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Chillicothe, IL, United States of America

Steven Francis Meister