Patents by Inventor Andrew O. Marrack

Andrew O. Marrack 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: 11933257
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply passage configured to receive a pressurized fuel, a nozzle orifice downstream of the fuel supply passage, and an injection valve positionable to open the nozzle orifice and to close the nozzle orifice. The injection valve has a first configuration with a first lift and a second configuration with a second lift, the first lift being different than the second lift. The fuel injection system includes a fluid-actuated lift control valve configured to cause the injection valve to change from the first configuration to the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew O. Marrack
  • Publication number: 20240044299
    Abstract: A fuel injection installation method includes detecting an actuation timing of a first valve of a fuel injector, detecting an actuation timing of a second valve of the fuel injector, detecting a return timing of the first valve of the fuel injector, and detecting a return timing of the second valve of the fuel injector. The method includes, for one or more fuel injection events, modifying at least one of: a maximum amplitude of solenoid current, an average amplitude of solenoid current, a start time of solenoid current, an end time of solenoid current, or a total time of solenoid current. The modification is based on the actuation timing of the first valve, the actuation timing of the second valve, the return timing of the first valve, and the return timing of the second valve, and may be performed for installation of the fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. MARRACK, Mitchell B. JUCHEMS
  • Publication number: 20240044298
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector having a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated. A second fuel injector has a second electronically-controlled valve and a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated. The fuel injection system also includes a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. MARRACK, Bradley D. FERGUSON, Eric L. SCHROEDER
  • Patent number: 11873776
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a first fuel injector having a first electronically-controlled valve and a first injection valve configured to inject fuel when the first electronically-controlled valve is actuated. A second fuel injector has a second electronically-controlled valve and a second injection valve configured to inject fuel when the second electronically-controlled valve is actuated. The fuel injection system also includes a single fuel injector driver configured to actuate the first electronically-controlled valve and the second electronically-controlled valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Bradley D. Ferguson, Eric L. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11795887
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel injector, the fuel injector having an injection control valve, a solenoid that, when energized, is configured to modify a position of the injection control valve, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a command for energizing the solenoid, identify variability in one or more injection events, and based on the identified variability, increase an amount of energy supplied to the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell B. Juchems, Andrew O. Marrack
  • Patent number: 11795886
    Abstract: Operating an engine system and fuel system includes energizing a solenoid actuator for a spill valve in a fuel injector in a first engine cycle via a standard waveform to inject a shot of fuel. Operating an engine system and fuel system further includes determining suitability for reduced energy operating of the fuel system, and energizing the solenoid actuator via a reduced energy waveform based on the determining suitability so as to inject one or more shots of fuel in a second engine cycle. The operating methodology and control logic can extend an engine speed range for multi-shot fuel injection in an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Daniel Reese Puckett, Mitchell B. Juchems
  • Patent number: 11773792
    Abstract: A multi-fuel injector includes a primary fuel inlet configured to receive a liquid primary fuel, a pilot fuel inlet configured to receive a liquid pilot fuel that is a different fuel than the primary fuel, and a spill valve in fluid communication with the primary fuel inlet. The fuel injector also includes a control valve configured to control a pressure of fluid within a hydraulic control chamber, and an injection valve abutting the hydraulic control chamber, the injection valve being configured to move to an injection position to inject both the primary fuel and the pilot fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Eric L. Schroeder, Robert Graumueller, Andrew O. Marrack
  • Publication number: 20230296070
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply passage configured to receive a pressurized fuel, a nozzle orifice downstream of the fuel supply passage, and an injection valve positionable to open the nozzle orifice and to close the nozzle orifice. The injection valve has a first configuration with a first lift and a second configuration with a second lift, the first lift being different than the second lift. The fuel injection system includes a fluid-actuated lift control valve configured to cause the injection valve to change from the first configuration to the second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew O. MARRACK
  • Publication number: 20230184189
    Abstract: Operating an engine system and fuel system includes energizing a solenoid actuator for a spill valve in a fuel injector in a first engine cycle via a standard waveform to inject a shot of fuel. Operating an engine system and fuel system further includes determining suitability for reduced energy operating of the fuel system, and energizing the solenoid actuator via a reduced energy waveform based on the determining suitability so as to inject one or more shots of fuel in a second engine cycle. The operating methodology and control logic can extend an engine speed range for multi-shot fuel injection in an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Daniel Reese Puckett, Mitchell B. Juchems
  • Patent number: 11313338
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel injector includes applying a spill valve current, applying a control valve current, the control and spill valves including components in electrical communication with each other, and detecting a timing at which the spill valve returns to an open position based on induced spill valve current. The method includes detecting a timing at which the control valve returns to a resting position based on induced control valve current, the induced spill valve current and the induced control valve current being included in respective freewheeling currents that at least partially overlap each other, adjusting a spill valve current that is applied during an injection, based on the detected spill valve return timing, and adjusting a control valve current that is applied during the injection, based on the detected control valve return timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Daniel R. Puckett, Kranti K. Nellutla, Dustin K. Fee
  • Patent number: 11293370
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel injector of an engine system includes applying a pull-in current to close a spill valve of the fuel injector and detecting a timing at which the spill valve closes. The method also includes adjusting at least one of an amplitude of the pull-in current, a duration of the pull-in current, or a timing of a start of an application of the pull-in current based on the detected timing of the closing of the spill valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack, Michael E. Sattler, Mitchell B. Juchems
  • Patent number: 10941738
    Abstract: A method of injecting fuel with a fuel injector includes applying a spill valve current to close a spill valve and applying a control valve current to move a control valve to an injection position. The method also includes discontinuing the application of the spill valve current to open the spill valve and preventing a return of the control valve to a non-injection position while detecting a timing when the spill valve opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack
  • Patent number: 10208727
    Abstract: A fluid conditioning module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet is provided. The fluid conditioning module includes a first pump element, a second pump element, a pressure regulator, a controller, and a prime mover to impart rotational motion in the first and second pump elements. A first pump inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A filter inlet is in fluid communication with a first pump outlet and a second pump outlet, and a filter outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. A pressure regulator inlet and a pressure regulator outlet are in fluid communication with the filter outlet and a recirculation conduit, respectively. The control valve has a first position and a second position, which allows fluid flow through the recirculation conduit. The controller adjusts operation of one or more of the prime mover and the control valve based upon a predetermined parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Scott F. Shafer, Martin A. Lehman, Kenneth C. Adams
  • Publication number: 20170184110
    Abstract: A fluid conditioning module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet is provided. The fluid conditioning module includes a first pump element, a second pump element, a pressure regulator, a controller, and a prime mover to impart rotational motion in the first and second pump elements. A first pump inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A filter inlet is in fluid communication with a first pump outlet and a second pump outlet, and a filter outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. A pressure regulator inlet and a pressure regulator outlet are in fluid communication with the filter outlet and a recirculation conduit, respectively. The control valve has a first position and a second position, which allows fluid flow through the recirculation conduit. The controller adjusts operation of one or more of the prime mover and the control valve based upon a predetermined parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Scott F. Shafer, Martin A. Lehman, Kenneth C. Adams