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).

  • Patent number: 7942343
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 7484672
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 7428893
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shinogle, William J. Rodier, James D. Peltier, Udo Schlemmer-Kelling, Juergen Nagel
  • Publication number: 20080179430
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 7025047
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Leman, Ronald Shinogle, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6935305
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Publication number: 20040251312
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6802457
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Robert M. Campion, Chuong Q. Dam, Kenneth W. Hall, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6732577
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Scott A. Leman, William J. Rodier, Ronald D. Shinogle
  • Patent number: 6651613
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6588398
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Publication number: 20030111043
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Publication number: 20030101964
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6568367
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Publication number: 20030041658
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Scott A. Leman, William J. Rodier, Ronald D. Shinogle
  • Publication number: 20030024500
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 6168091
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Rodier, Haji Goudarz
  • Patent number: 6003497
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Rodier, Ronald D. Shinogle
  • Patent number: 6000379
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Stockner, William J. Rodier
  • Patent number: 5975053
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Rodier