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. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 13, 2000
William J. Love, Dunlap, IL (US);
Brian G. McGee, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A control system and method for protecting engine electronic circuitry from thermal damage including an electronic controller coupled to the engine, and one or more sensors coupled to the controller for inputting at least one signal indicative of a condition which can be correlated to the temperature of the electronic circuitry. The controller is operable to establish the temperature of the electronic circuitry based upon the at least one sensor input and to output a signal to effectively lower the temperature of the electronic circuitry when the temperature of such circuitry exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature. The sensor inputs to determine or establish a correlation between the input signal and the temperature of the electronic circuitry may include sensing engine speed, sensing the voltage level of the power source providing electrical power to the circuitry, or sensing the temperature of the circuitry directly. The signal outputted by the controller to effectively lower the temperature of the circuitry may include a signal to control the number of fuel shots delivered to the engine during a particular fuel injection event, and/or the firing frequency of the fuel injectors, and/or a signal to restrict engine performance for at least a specified period of time.