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:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1998
Min Wu, Lafayette, IN (US);
Dennis Walling, Lafayette, IN (US);
John J. Bernardi, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Richard P. Staab, Metamora, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A method of controlling a internal combustion engine assembly is disclosed. The internal combustion engine assembly includes (i) a internal combustion engine having an engine inlet and an engine outlet, (ii) a mixing chamber having an air inlet, a gaseous fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet, (iii) a fuel valve which controls a ratio of air-to-gaseous fuel in a fuel-air mixture advanced through the fuel-air mixture outlet of the mixing chamber, and (iv) a throttle operable to control flow rate of the fuel-air mixture which is advanced from the fuel-air mixture outlet to the engine inlet. The method includes the step of determining oxygen content of exhaust gases advanced through the engine outlet and generating a oxygen content signal in response thereto. The method further includes the step of determining a load on the internal combustion engine and generating a load signal in response thereto. The method still further includes the step of adjusting the fuel valve to alter the ratio of air-to-gaseous fuel in the fuel-air mixture advanced through the fuel-air mixture outlet of the mixing chamber based on the oxygen content signal and the load signal. The internal combustion engine assembly further includes an exhaust conduit positioned in fluid communication with the engine outlet, and an oxygen sensor positioned in the exhaust conduit for generating the oxygen content signal. The internal combustion engine assembly further includes a pressure sensor positioned in a fuel-air mixture conduit for generating the load signal. An internal combustion engine assembly is also disclosed.