Patents by Inventor Brett A. Zook
Brett A. Zook 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: 11434842Abstract: Operating a gaseous fuel engine system includes determining a detonation level in combustion cylinders in an engine in the gaseous fuel engine system, comparing the detonation level to a detonation level limit, calculating a detonation error, and limiting an engine load of the engine to a derated engine load level based on a reduction to intake manifold air pressure (IMAP) that is performed responsive to the detonation error. The gaseous fuel engine system can be operated at a reduced, derated engine load, rather than being shut down, and permitted to increase in engine load level as detonation events clear. Related control logic and structure are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brett A. Zook, Christopher F. Gallmeyer, Karthik Jayasankaran, Kamalakannan Thammireddi Vajram
-
Publication number: 20220268232Abstract: Operating a gaseous fuel engine system includes determining a detonation level in combustion cylinders in an engine in the gaseous fuel engine system, comparing the detonation level to a detonation level limit, calculating a detonation error, and limiting an engine load of the engine to a derated engine load level based on a reduction to intake manifold air pressure (IMAP) that is performed responsive to the detonation error. The gaseous fuel engine system can be operated at a reduced, derated engine load, rather than being shut down, and permitted to increase in engine load level as detonation events clear. Related control logic and structure are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: August 25, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brett A. Zook, Christopher F. Gallmeyer, Karthik Jayasankaran, Kamalakannan Thammireddi Vajram
-
Patent number: 10815912Abstract: A reformer system may include a reformer device having a fuel inlet, an air inlet and a gas outlet, a first valve set coupled to the fuel inlet and configured to selectively supply a reformer fuel flow from an engine fuel flow to the fuel inlet, a second valve set coupled to the air inlet and configured to selectively supply a reformer air flow from a compressor outlet air flow to the air inlet, and a controller in electrical communication with the first valve set and the second valve set. The controller may determine a target reformer fuel flow based on a target gas flow, determine a target reformer air flow based on the reformer fuel flow and a target air-to-fuel ratio, adjust the reformer fuel flow according to the target reformer fuel flow, and adjust the reformer air flow according to the target reformer air flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Deepti Bhosekar, Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati, Brett A. Zook, Andrew J. Loetz
-
Patent number: 9903264Abstract: A control system for an engine cylinder having a pre-chamber and a main chamber includes a pressure sensor being provided in the pre-chamber, and a processor coupled to the pressure sensor. The processor is configured to measure pre-chamber pressure using the pressure sensor, determine a peak pre-chamber pressure from the measured pre-chamber pressure, calculate an estimated main chamber pressure corresponding to the peak pre-chamber pressure from at least one cylinder condition at ignition, calculate a pressure ratio of the peak pre-chamber pressure to the estimated main chamber pressure, calculate a fuel parameter for at least one of the pre-chamber and main chamber from the pressure ratio to achieve a desired pressure ratio, and generate a control signal to provide fuel to at least one of the pre-chamber and main chamber in accordance with the fuel parameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mary Louise Yeager, Lucas Allen Burger, Andrew Loetz, Brett Zook
-
Publication number: 20180030907Abstract: A reformer system may include a reformer device having a fuel inlet, an air inlet and a gas outlet, a first valve set coupled to the fuel inlet and configured to selectively supply a reformer fuel flow from an engine fuel flow to the fuel inlet, a second valve set coupled to the air inlet and configured to selectively supply a reformer air flow from a compressor outlet air flow to the air inlet, and a controller in electrical communication with the first valve set and the second valve set. The controller may determine a target reformer fuel flow based on a target gas flow, determine a target reformer air flow based on the reformer fuel flow and a target air-to-fuel ratio, adjust the reformer fuel flow according to the target reformer fuel flow, and adjust the reformer air flow according to the target reformer air flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Deepti Bhosekar, Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati, Brett A. Zook, Andrew J. Loetz
-
Patent number: 9856803Abstract: A natural gas engine system may have an engine having at least one cylinder. The engine may also have an intake manifold configured to deliver air for combustion to the cylinder and an exhaust manifold configured to discharge exhaust from the cylinder. The natural gas engine system may have a generator coupled to the engine. The generator may be configured to generate electrical power for an electrical load. The natural gas engine system may have a fuel source configured to supply natural gas for combustion in the engine, and an air tank in fluid communication with the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. Further, the natural gas engine system may have a controller. The controller may be configured to direct a first amount of air from the air tank to the exhaust manifold and a second amount of air from the air tank to the intake manifold.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jeff Howard, Timothy B. James, Todd A. Rezac, Brett A. Zook, David J. Lin, Gary Boyer, Robert Maxson
-
Publication number: 20170074183Abstract: A natural gas engine system may have an engine having at least one cylinder. The engine may also have an intake manifold configured to deliver air for combustion to the cylinder and an exhaust manifold configured to discharge exhaust from the cylinder. The natural gas engine system may have a generator coupled to the engine. The generator may be configured to generate electrical power for an electrical load. The natural gas engine system may have a fuel source configured to supply natural gas for combustion in the engine, and an air tank in fluid communication with the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. Further, the natural gas engine system may have a controller. The controller may be configured to direct a first amount of air from the air tank to the exhaust manifold and a second amount of air from the air tank to the intake manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jeff HOWARD, Timothy B. JAMES, Todd A. REZAC, Brett A. ZOOK, David J. LIN, Gary BOYER, Robert MAXSON
-
Patent number: 9546941Abstract: A method for estimating a specific gravity of a gaseous fuel is described. The gaseous fuel may power an engine and the engine may include a cylinder, a gas valve configured to supply an intake port of the cylinder with the gaseous fuel, a gas rail configured to deliver the gaseous fuel to the gas valve, and a microprocessor adapted to perform the method. The method may comprise establishing a pressure wave in the gas rail by opening and closing the gas valve, wherein the pressure wave travels at the speed of sound in the gaseous fuel. The method may further comprise determining a frequency of the pressure wave in the gas rail, and estimating the specific gravity of the gaseous fuel based on the frequency of the pressure wave.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason Rasmussen, Brett Zook, Baoyang Deng, Arvind Sivasubramanian
-
Patent number: 9528922Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for determining the specific gravity of a fuel used in a dual fuel engine. The system includes a fuel rail, at least one sensor, and a processor. The method includes sensing and recording, with the at least one sensor and the at least one memory, a first pressure profile of a first fuel in the fuel rail and a second pressure profile of a second fuel in the fuel rail. The first fuel has a known specific gravity and the second fuel has an unknown specific gravity. The method further includes calculating the second specific gravity of the second fuel, with a processor, based on the first pressure profile, the second pressure profile, and the first specific gravity.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Christopher Gallmeyer, Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati, Brett Zook, Jason Rasmussen
-
Publication number: 20160327464Abstract: A method for estimating a specific gravity of a gaseous fuel is described. The gaseous fuel may power an engine and the engine may include a cylinder, a gas valve configured to supply an intake port of the cylinder with the gaseous fuel, a gas rail configured to deliver the gaseous fuel to the gas valve, and a microprocessor adapted to perform the method. The method may comprise establishing a pressure wave in the gas rail by opening and closing the gas valve, wherein the pressure wave travels at the speed of sound in the gaseous fuel. The method may further comprise determining a frequency of the pressure wave in the gas rail, and estimating the specific gravity of the gaseous fuel based on the frequency of the pressure wave.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2015Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Jason Rasmussen, Brett Zook, Baoyang Deng, Arvind Sivasubramanian
-
Publication number: 20150369716Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for determining the specific gravity of a fuel used in a dual fuel engine. The system includes a fuel rail, at least one sensor, and a processor. The method includes sensing and recording, with the at least one sensor and the at least one memory, a first pressure profile of a first fuel in the fuel rail and a second pressure profile of a second fuel in the fuel rail. The first fuel has a known specific gravity and the second fuel has an unknown specific gravity. The method further includes calculating the second specific gravity of the second fuel, with a processor, based on the first pressure profile, the second pressure profile, and the first specific gravity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Christopher Gallmeyer, Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati, Brett Zook, Jason Rasmussen
-
Publication number: 20140290614Abstract: An engine system includes a fuel supply unit configured to supply fuel into a combustion chamber. The engine system includes a fuel supply unit to regulate the supply of fuel into an inlet port via a fuel rail and an air supply unit configured to supply compressed air into the combustion chamber. A control system is configured to receive operating conditions of the engine system. Further, the control system includes a detector component configured to generate a control signal indicative of a start-up condition of an engine system. A switching component of the controller receives the control signal indicative of the start-up condition of the engine system from the detector component and further transmits a fuel supply control signal to the fuel valve based on an air-fuel ratio error signal, and transmit an air supply control signal to the choke valve based on an engine speed error signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Arvind Sivasubramanian, Christopher F. Gallmeyer, David J. Lin, Brett A. Zook