Patents by Inventor William J. Rodier
William J. Rodier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7942343Abstract: A coating for fuel injector components adapted for use with low lubricity fuels is disclosed. The invention consists of a metal carbon material coating or a metal nitride coating to the fuel pump plunger or other fuel injection system components. The invention utilizes a coating on the fuel injector plunger that minimizes scuffing or seizure associated with the plunger and barrel.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 7484672Abstract: A coating for fuel injector components adapted for use with low lubricity fuels is disclosed. The invention consists of a metal carbon material coating or a metal nitride coating to the fuel pump plunger or other fuel injection system components. The invention utilizes a coating on the fuel injector plunger that minimizes scuffing or seizure associated with the plunger and barrel.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 7428893Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided that includes a high pressure feed line, and a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to the high pressure feed line, each being operable to inject a fuel into the engine. The engine further includes an electronically controlled flow disabler disposed between the high pressure feed line and each one of the fuel injectors. Each of the flow disablers includes an actuator operable to move a valve member toward a closed position at which the flow disabler blocks a fuel flow to the respective fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, William J. Rodier, James D. Peltier, Udo Schlemmer-Kelling, Juergen Nagel
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Publication number: 20080179430Abstract: A coating for fuel injector components adapted for use with low lubricity fuels is disclosed. The invention consists of a metal carbon material coating or a metal nitride coating to the fuel pump plunger or other fuel injection system components. The invention utilizes a coating on the fuel injector plunger that minimizes scuffing or seizure associated with the plunger and barrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 7025047Abstract: It is known that performance of actual fuel injectors tends to deviate from performance of a nominal injector as a function of rail pressure and on-time, due to such factors as machining tolerances of fuel injector components. In addition, performance characteristics of fuel injectors tend to change after they have been broken in. These changes can lead to unexpected inconsistencies with other engine components. For example, for those engines which utilize smoke limiting maps, when the injectors are not performing as expected, the injection adjustments that result from use of the smoke limiting maps can sometimes become fruitless. Therefore, the present invention includes two in-chassis strategies for evaluating fuel injector performance, including a bare acceleration test and a loaded fuel injector performance test.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Leman, Ronald Shinogle, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 6935305Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of valve actuators, each of which is operatively connected to at least one of a plurality of combustion chambers of the engine to open and/or hold open at least one valve associated with a combustion chamber. A controller is provided that is adapted to command the use of less than all of the valve actuators in a substantially balanced manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: William J. Rodier
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Publication number: 20040251312Abstract: A coating for fuel injector components adapted for use with low lubricity fuels is disclosed. The invention consists of a metal carbon material coating or a metal nitride coating to the fuel pump plunger or other fuel injection system components. The invention utilizes a coating on the fuel injector plunger that minimizes scuffing or seizure associated with the plunger and barrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 6802457Abstract: A coating for fuel system components, including components of fuel injectors, adapted for use with low lubricity fuels is disclosed. The invention consists of a metal carbon material coating or a metal nitride coating to the fuel pump plunger or other fuel injection system components. The invention utilizes a coating on the fuel injector plunger that minimizes scuffing or seizure associated with the plunger and barrel.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 6732577Abstract: Individual fuel injector performance deviations are determined with one of two in-chassis strategies for evaluating fuel injector performance, including a bare acceleration test and a loaded fuel injector performance test. In each of the tests, less than all of the engine cylinders are operated in a power mode. Individual fuel injector performance characteristics are extrapolated from at least one of engine response date and fuel injector response data from the tests.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Scott A. Leman, William J. Rodier, Ronald D. Shinogle
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Patent number: 6651613Abstract: A method and system of fuel injector operation is provided in which the electronic control module (ECM) reduces the number of injection signals sent to the fuel injectors. Specifically, the ECM selects certain injectors to perform a post injector during a specific engine cycle and increase the quantity of fuel injected by the selected injectors to compensate for the other injectors that are not performing post injections during that engine cycle.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 6588398Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming a fuel injector that delivers multiple injections or injection segments per engine cycle is provided. Trimming a fuel injector comprises determining a first fuel quantity to be delivered by the plurality of injectors, partially suspending fuel delivery by one selected injector, determining a second fuel quantity, and determining a fuel characteristic of the selected injector in response to the first and second fuel quantities.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: William J. Rodier
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Publication number: 20030111043Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming a fuel injector that delivers multiple injections or injection segments per engine cycle is provided. Trimming a fuel injector comprises determining a first fuel quantity to be delivered by the plurality of injectors, partially suspending fuel delivery by one selected injector, determining a second fuel quantity, and determining a fuel characteristic of the selected injector in response to the first and second fuel quantities.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventor: William J. Rodier
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Publication number: 20030101964Abstract: A method and system of fuel injector operation is provided in which the electronic control module (ECM) reduces the number of injection signals sent to the fuel injectors. Specifically, the ECM selects certain injectors to perform a post injector during a specific engine cycle and increase the quantity of fuel injected by the selected injectors to compensate for the other injectors that are not performing post injections during that engine cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2001Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventor: William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 6568367Abstract: An electronic control unit varies the braking power level of a compression release brake system for an internal combustion engine in response to a signal based upon a machine's operating conditions. A sensor senses the operating conditions, generates a signal in response to the sensed condition and delivers the signal to the electronic control unit. The sensor can sense a variety of operating conditions including, speed, load, terrain grade, and requested brake power by a machine operator.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventor: William J. Rodier
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Publication number: 20030041658Abstract: It is known that performance of actual fuel injectors tends to deviate from performance of a nominal injector as a function of rail pressure and on-time, due to such factors as machining tolerances of fuel injector components. In addition, performance characteristics of fuel injectors tend to change after they have been broken in. These changes can lead to unexpected inconsistencies with other engine components. For example, for those engines which utilize smoke limiting maps, when the injectors are not performing as expected, the injection adjustments that result from use of the smoke limiting maps can sometimes become fruitless. Therefore, the present invention includes two in-chassis strategies for evaluating fuel injector performance, including a bare acceleration test and a loaded fuel injector performance test.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Scott A. Leman, William J. Rodier, Ronald D. Shinogle
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Publication number: 20030024500Abstract: An electronic control unit varies the braking power level of a compression release brake system for an internal combustion engine in response to a signal based upon a machine's operating conditions. A sensor senses the operating conditions, generates a signal in response to the sensed condition and delivers the signal to the electronic control unit. The sensor can sense a variety of operating conditions including, speed, load, terrain grade, and requested brake power by a machine operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventor: William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 6168091Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a high pressure passage, a low pressure passage, a control passage, a fuel inlet, and a nozzle outlet. The injector body includes upper surface and a lower surface that partially define an armature cavity. The injector body also defines a fluid displacement passage that is separated from the upper surface and the lower surface and extends between the armature cavity and a low pressure area. The fluid displacement passage is positioned and sized such that an amount of oil is always maintained in the armature cavity at least to a level below the fluid displacement passage but above the lower surface. In addition, the fluid displacement passage is sized and positioned to ensure adequate drainage for cold start, yet provide a flow restriction especially at idle conditions to produce sufficient valve damping that a substantial reduction in impact noise occurs.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William J. Rodier, Haji Goudarz
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Patent number: 6003497Abstract: A fuel injector adapted for an internal combustion engine has a cam driven pumping mechanism, a pressure intensifier mechanism, an injection mechanism, and an electronically responsive relief valve mechanism. The cam driven pumping mechanism has a pumping piston operably reciprocating to pressurize a hydraulic fluid to a first pressure. The pressure intensifier mechanism receives the hydraulic fluid at the first pressure from the pumping mechanism, and acts against fuel to pressurize it to a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The injection mechanism receives the highly pressurized fuel from the intensifier mechanism. The injection mechanism includes a check blocking an orifice in an end portion of the injection mechanism. The pressurized fluid displaces the check away from the end of the injection mechanism by the pressurized second fluid to begin fuel injection.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1994Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William J. Rodier, Ronald D. Shinogle
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Patent number: 6000379Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulically actuated electrically controlled unit fuel injectors to operate quietly and with less seat wear on a valve disposed therein is disclosed. The disclosed method comprises controlling the pressure of a high pressure working fluid which operates the injector to inject the proper amount of fuel in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine; and responding to changes in the pressure of the working fluid to vary the timing duration and amplitude of a current pulse which activates a stator that draws an armature to the stator and opens a first seat of the poppet valve or other flow regulating device against a spring bias to allow the high pressure working fluid into the injector and closes a second seat to prevent the working from draining from the injector to allow the working fluid to operate the injector.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, William J. Rodier
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Patent number: 5975053Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulically actuated electrically controlled unit fuel injectors to operate quietly and with less seat wear on a valve disposed therein is disclosed. The disclosed method comprises controlling the pressure of a high pressure working fluid which operates the injector to inject the proper amount of fuel in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine; and responding to changes in the pressure of the working fluid to vary the timing duration and amplitude of a current pulse which activates a stator that draws an armature to the stator and opens a first seat of the poppet valve or other flow regulating device against a spring bias to allow the high pressure working fluid into the injector and closes a second seat to prevent the working from draining from the injector to allow the working fluid to operate the injector.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1999Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: William J. Rodier