The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1996
Applicant:
Inventor:
James A Antone, Edwards, IL (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F02P / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
1231 / ;
Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a plurality of glow plugs of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is disclosed. A voltage sensor produces a signal relative to the magnitude of the sensed voltage across a glow plug. A microprocessor compares the magnitude of the sensed signal with a preselected magnitude indicative of a predetermined temperature glow plug and responsively produces a current command signal. An alternator receives the current command signal and responsively delivers alternating current to the glow plugs.