Caterpillar Inc.

Troy A Parker

Steven J Funke

Jason Kenneth Bloms

Mark J Hilbert

James Wallace Harris

Mitchel Ryan Deckard

A method of controlling a common rail fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The method includes delivering fuel to a fuel injector fluidly coupled to a common rail. The common rail is fluidly coupled to a fuel tank through a pump. The method also includes sending a signal to the fuel injector to deliver a first quantity of fuel to the engine. The first quantity being indicative of a desired power from the engine. The method further includes detecting a fuel transfer pressure upstream of the pump, and derating the engine as a function of the detected fuel transfer pressure. The derating includes decreasing the first quantity of fuel.

Common rail fuel control system

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.

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Lafayette, IN, United States of America

Troy A Parker