Caterpillar Inc.

Eaton Corporation

Steven J Funke

Scott Alan Leman

Jason Kenneth Bloms

Matthew G Mickiewicz

Dennis D Feucht

Joshua C Ruedin

Robert A Kagy

James J Faletti

Keith Edward Lawrence

Craig William Lohmann

James Richard Weber

Michael Patrick Harmon

Sean Olen Cornell

Michael Paul Withrow

Dana Ray Coldren

Evan Earl Jacobson

Donald Speranza

Andrew Alfred Knitt

Thomas Jeffrey Crowell

Steven Francis Meister

Ronald P Maloney

James Harris Mutti

Donald J Waldman

Michael Steven Bond

George E Donaldson

Daniel G Smedley

Mark J Hilbert

Sameer Bhargava

Gregory Wayne Tomlins

Chandini Muniratnam Ammineni

Anil Raina

Jeff Skorupski

Troy A Parker

Chandini A M Ammineni

Tom Genise

Rich Nellums

A system for controlling boost pressure at various different altitudes of operation of a turbo charged internal combustion engine includes a wastegate valve, an actuator, and a controller. Signals delivered from an engine speed sensor, a boost pressure transducer, a barometric pressure sensor, and a turbocharger speed sensor are processed in the controller. A control signal delivered from the controller to the actuator controls the position of the wastegate valve, bypass of exhaust gasses, and the speed of the turbocharger. The controller is configured to compare the turbocharger speed to a predetermined threshold value and determine the control signal based on the comparison.

Turbocharger control system

A power train control system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The power train control system has a power source configured to produce a power output, a transmission device operatively connected to receive the power output and propel the mobile machine, and a control module. The control module is configured to receive an indication of a power demand, receive an indication of a current travel speed of the mobile machine, and reference the power demand and the current travel speed with a power train efficiency map to determine a desired power source speed. The power train control system is also configured to control operation of the transmission device to bring a speed of the power source within a predetermined amount of the desired power source speed.

Efficiency based integrated power train control system

A valve actuation system for a combustion engine is provided. The valve actuation system may have an engine valve movable between first and second spaced apart end positions. The valve actuation system may also have a first cam element mechanically coupled to move the engine valve, and a first hydraulic slave piston operatively connected to the engine valve to move the engine valve independent of movement of the first cam element. The valve actuation system may further have a high pressure rail fluidly connected to the first hydraulic piston, and a control valve disposed between the high pressure rail and the first hydraulic piston to regulate movement of the engine valve.

Variable engine valve actuation system having common rail

A method for altering an operating condition of a filter includes actively increasing the temperature of the filter to a desired temperature below a regeneration temperature and sensing a filter operating condition at about the desired temperature. The method also includes comparing the sensed filter operating condition to an expected filter operating condition range and actively increasing the temperature of the filter to the regeneration temperature in response to the comparison.

Regeneration strategy

A method of controlling an engine during an engine startup or shutdown condition includes operating a valve to open a port of a combustion chamber to allow fluid to flow between the combustion chamber and the port for at least one entire engine cycle. The method also includes preventing combustion of fuel during a combustion stroke of the at least one engine cycle. The engine cycle occurs during the engine startup or shutdown condition.

Method and apparatus for controlling engine valve timing

A particulate trap regeneration system is provided. The system may include a particulate trap configured to remove one or more types of particulate matter from an exhaust flow of an engine. The system may also include a regeneration device configured to reduce an amount of particulate matter in the particulate trap. The system may further include a controller configured to activate the regeneration device in response to the first to occur of at least three trigger conditions.

Particulate trap regeneration system and control strategy

A method of controlling an engine having a valve actuation system is provided. The engine is started. A first parameter indicative of a first temperature of the engine is sensed. A second parameter indicative of a second temperature of the engine is sensed. The valve actuation system is disabled to prevent the implementation of a variation on conventional engine valve actuation timing in response to each of the first and second temperatures being below a predetermined value.

Control system and method for a valve actuator

An engine valve actuation system is provided. An intake valve is moveable between a first position where the intake valve prevents a flow of fluid relative to the intake valve and a second position where the intake valve allows a flow of fluid relative to the intake valve. A cam assembly is configured to move the intake valve between the first position and the second position. A fluid actuator having a chamber is adapted to selectively prevent the intake valve from moving to the first position. A fluid supply system is adapted to deliver fluid to the chamber of the fluid actuator. A pressure sensor is operatively engaged with the fluid supply system and is adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid within the fluid supply system. A controller is adapted to receive the sensed pressure of the fluid within the fluid supply system, to determine an expected pressure of the fluid within the fluid supply system, to identify when the sensed pressure deviates from the expected pressure, and to generate a responsive fault signal.

System and method for monitoring engine valve actuation

Having the ability to quickly and easily test whether a variable valve mechanism is operating properly can avoid unnecessary down time and the expense associated with potentially replacing a good component on an internal combustion engine. A test can include inducing a misfire in a cylinder of the engine at least in part by commanding a change to a state of a variable valve mechanism at a predetermined timing. For instance, in the case of a diesel engine, a variable valve mechanism can be tested by closing an intake valve late so as to reduce a cylinder compression ratio to a point that autoignition of fuel does not occur, resulting in a misfire. If a misfire is detected, either audibly by a person or possibly electronically via a sensor, then proper activation of the variable valve mechanism is confirmed.

Diagnostic test for variable valve mechanism

Engine compression release brakes include some degree of lash between the brake actuation portion and the engine exhaust valve portion. The disclosed apparatus and method provides an integral lash adjuster that includes an adjusting screw that is threadably received by a slidable plunger. Rotation of the adjusting screw causes the plunger to slide relative to a plunger cavity and responsively modify the amount of lash.

Integral lash adjustor for hydraulic compression engine brake

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

A number of engine operating strategies have been developed that allow for engine braking when combustion is not needed. In these strategies, air within the engine cylinder is compressed by the cylinder piston; however, rather than introducing fuel into the cylinder to facilitate a combustion event, the cylinder is opened to an exhaust manifold and the compressed air is vented, and the energy is released by the engine. However, it has been learned that the venting of this compressed air from the engine can produce undesirable noise emissions. Thus, the present invention employs a dual exhaust valve lift strategy to reduce noise produced during engine braking while still allowing relatively high engine braking horsepowers to be achieved.

Reduced noise engine compression release braking

A method of engine braking includes a initial step of determining whether fuel injector tip temperatures are at or above a pre-determined temperature. If the injector tip temperatures are below the pre-determined temperature, then the electronic control module commands performance of dual event engine braking. If the injector tip temperatures are at or above the pre-determined temperatures, then the electronic control module commands the performance of single event engine braking. Such a strategy can achieve higher overall engine braking horsepower without risking the potential catastrophic dangers associated with injector tip overheating.

Electronic control of engine braking cycle

Exhaust gas re-circulation is achieved internally in an internal combustion engine having intake and exhaust valves actuated by a camshaft. A controller monitors at least one engine parameter and automatically actuates an electrically actuated fluid operated brake actuator at a predetermined timing of movement of an engine piston to cause the actuator to maintain the exhaust valve at an intermediate position between a full open position and a closed position of the exhaust valve and cause exhaust gasses to be delivered from the exhaust manifold to the combustion chamber of the engine.

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Mapleton, IL, United States of America

Steven J Funke