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:
Jul. 25, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 04, 1998
Travis E Barnes, Loveland, CO (US);
Michael S Lukich, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Scott E Nicholson, Metamora, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for controlling the fuel rate to an engine using the throttle position, and for controlling the speed of the engine using decision logic to choose the best alternative among candidate fuel levels. A minimum speed governor determines a minimum fuel level at a predetermined low idle engine speed, a maximum speed governor determines a maximum fuel level at a predetermined high idle engine speed, and at least one fuel rate map is used to determine fuel level based on various engine operating parameters. Each governor outputs a fuel quantity signal based on the difference between the corresponding desired engine speed and the actual engine speed. The fuel rate map may be a multi-dimensional data table that provides fuel quantity signals to optimize engine performance based on the throttle position, engine speed, boost pressure, and other engine operating states. The fuel quantity signals from the lookup tables and the maximum speed governor are compared and the minimum value is chosen. The minimum value is then compared to the fuel quantity signal from the minimum speed governor, and the maximum value between these signals is provided as the output signal from the speed governor portion of the engine's electronic control module.