Patents by Inventor Daniel R. Puckett
Daniel R. Puckett 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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Publication number: 20250020095Abstract: Operating a fuel injector in a fuel system for an engine includes energizing a first solenoid actuator to move a spill valve from a first position to a second, closed position, and energizing a second solenoid actuator to move a fuel injection valve in the fuel injector from a closed position to an open position. A pull-in tier of a waveform energizing the second solenoid actuator is generated via a first current produced by a boosted voltage power supply and a second current produced by a lower voltage power supply. Arrival timing of the valve at the open position is detected based on a property of the second current, such that a valve arrival timing error may be used to trim the fuel injector. Related methodology and control logic is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2023Publication date: January 16, 2025Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mitchell B. Juchems, Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack
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Publication number: 20240410326Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a common rail fuel system of an engine system is provided. The common rail fuel system includes a fuel pump, a fuel rail, a plurality of fuel injectors, and a pressure-responsive relief valve fluidly coupled to the fuel rail. The method comprises identifying a pressure condition of the fuel rail indicative of the pressure-responsive relief valve being in an open and latched condition, the identification being based on detecting a rise and reduction in rail pressure within a threshold time period. The method further comprises terminating flow from the fuel pump, while the common rail fuel system is operating, to unlatch and close the pressure-responsive relief valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2023Publication date: December 12, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael E. SATTLER, Daniel R. PUCKETT, Bradley S. BASHORE
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Patent number: 12116941Abstract: Operating a fuel system for an engine includes moving a plunger during a pumping cycle between an advanced position and a retracted position, and pulsing a solenoid actuator in an electrical circuit during at least one off cycle of the plunger where the plunger is neither advancing nor retracting with a plurality of current pulses of varied duration. An electrical property such as a freewheeling response in the electrical circuit induced by moving a valve in response to each respective current pulse is monitored, and a valve timing of the valve determined based on the monitored electrical property. The fuel system including a fuel injector may be electronically trimmed based on the determined valve timing. Related apparatus and control logic is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2023Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mitchell B. Juchems, Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack, Kaushik Krishnamurthy
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Patent number: 11598302Abstract: A pump health assessment system and a method for providing a pump health of a pump is disclosed. The method includes: determining that there is an imbalance in the pump; increasing pump flow from the pump; measuring a rail pressure of a fuel rail; determining if the rail pressure is substantially equal to an expected rail pressure profile; and in accordance with a determination that the rail pressure is not substantially equal to the rail pressure profile, outputting an indication of pump damage.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Bradley S. Bashore
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Patent number: 11415070Abstract: A method for identifying a fuel injector characteristic may include generating a signal to supply electrical current to the fuel injector, and monitoring the electrical current supplied to the fuel injector. The method may also include identifying the characteristic of the fuel injector based on the electrical current, the characteristic including a type of fuel injector, and performing a corrective action based on the type of fuel injector which was identified based on the electrical current.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Michael E. Sattler, Dustin K. Fee, Gregory L. Armstrong
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Publication number: 20220163006Abstract: A method for identifying a fuel injector characteristic may include generating a signal to supply electrical current to the fuel injector, and monitoring the electrical current supplied to the fuel injector. The method may also include identifying the characteristic of the fuel injector based on the electrical current, the characteristic including a type of fuel injector, and performing a corrective action based on the type of fuel injector which was identified based on the electrical current.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Michael E. Sattler, Dustin K. Fee, Gregory L. Armstrong
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Publication number: 20220163010Abstract: A pump health assessment system and a method for providing a pump health of a pump is disclosed. The method includes: determining that there is an imbalance in the pump; increasing pump flow from the pump; measuring a rail pressure of a fuel rail; determining if the rail pressure is substantially equal to an expected rail pressure profile; and in accordance with a determination that the rail pressure is not substantially equal to the rail pressure profile, outputting an indication of pump damage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Bradley S. Bashore
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Patent number: 11313338Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Andrew O. Marrack, Daniel R. Puckett, Kranti K. Nellutla, Dustin K. Fee
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Patent number: 11293370Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack, Michael E. Sattler, Mitchell B. Juchems
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Patent number: 11230990Abstract: A fuel injection method includes applying a first method current to close a spill valve according to a first method, applying a control valve current to open a control valve, and discontinuing the application of the control valve current to thereby cause the control valve to close. The method also includes applying a second method current to maintain the spill valve closed according to a second method and detecting a timing of a closing of the control valve while applying the second method current according to the second method, the second method being different than the first method.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Kranti K. Nellutla, Gregory L. Armstrong
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Publication number: 20210140386Abstract: A fuel injection method includes applying a first method current to close a spill valve according to a first method, applying a control valve current to open a control valve, and discontinuing the application of the control valve current to thereby cause the control valve to close. The method also includes applying a second method current to maintain the spill valve closed according to a second method and detecting a timing of a closing of the control valve while applying the second method current according to the second method, the second method being different than the first method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2019Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. PUCKETT, Kranti K. NELLUTLA, Gregory L. ARMSTRONG
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Patent number: 10941738Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Andrew O. Marrack
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Publication number: 20180106249Abstract: A control system for a fuel supply module of an engine is provided. The control system includes a first fuel flow sensor in a fuel supply line which detects a first amount of fuel flowing through the fuel supply line and generates a first signal indicative of the first amount of fuel. The control system includes a second fuel flow sensor in the fuel return line which detects a second amount of fuel flowing through the fuel return line and generates a second signal indicative of the second amount of fuel. A controller receives the first signal and the second signal. The controller calculates a difference between the first signal and the second signal. The controller commands operation of the fuel supply module to supply a fuel flow to the engine independent of the engine speed, based on the difference between the first signal and the second signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Martin A. Lehman, Scott F. Shafer, Daniel R. Puckett
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Patent number: 9856840Abstract: Fuel is injected by energizing a solenoid of a fuel injector for an on-time that terminates at a first end-of-current timing. An end-of-current trim is determined at least in part by estimating a duration between an induced current event in a circuit of the solenoid and a valve/armature interaction event. An induced current event occurs when an armature abruptly stops, and a valve/armature interaction event occurs when the armature couples with or de-couples from the valve member. Fuel is injected in a subsequent injection event by adjusting the end-of-current timing by the end-of-current trim.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Caterpiller Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Bryan Moore, Michael E. Sattler, Prasanna M. Ballal, Bradley S. Bashore, Kranti K. Nellutla
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Patent number: 9683498Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes monitoring engine parameters using an electronic controller, determining a surge speed limit for the engine based on a compressor map, determining an offset engine speed based on a margin between the surge speed limit and an engine speed, determining a minimum engine speed based on the margin, applying the offset engine speed to an engine speed signal to provide an adjusted engine speed, and applying the adjusted engine speed to a desired engine speed when a speed of the engine approaches the surge speed limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Urvish Joshi, Travis Barnes, Eric W. Cler, Anand KrishnamurthyGopalan, Eric A. Hutchison, Kirti Tamhane, Andrew N. Schifferer, Tyler Bowman, Kevin Sergott, Matthew Mowers, Daniel R. Puckett
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Publication number: 20170009693Abstract: A method of diagnosing a fault in a common rail fuel system having a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller includes determining a first integral output corresponding to a first fuel flow condition and a first rail pressure setting. The method includes comparing the first integral output with a threshold integral output and determining a second integral output corresponding to a second fuel flow condition and the first rail pressure setting, when the first integral output is greater than the threshold integral output. The method includes determining a third integral output corresponding to the first fuel flow condition and a second rail pressure setting, when the first integral output is greater than the threshold integral output. The method includes identifying a failure in at least one of a flow control valve arrangement and a pressure relief valve of the common rail fuel system based on the first, second, and the third integral outputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nandagopal Methil, Daniel R. Puckett
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Patent number: 9518518Abstract: A compression ignition engine is fueled from common rail fuel injectors that predominately inject natural gas fuel that is compression ignited with a small pilot injection of liquid diesel fuel. Before and after a rapid load loss transient, the liquid and gaseous rail pressures are controlled toward respective pressures based upon engine speed and load. During the transient, the liquid rail pressure is controlled relative to the gas rail pressure in order to maintain the liquid rail pressure greater than the gas pressure during the transient to avoid migration gaseous fuel into the liquid fuel side of the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Steven Thomas Grant, Frank Lombardi, Daniel R. Puckett
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Publication number: 20160341136Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes monitoring engine parameters using an electronic controller, determining a surge speed limit for the engine based on a compressor map, determining an offset engine speed based on a margin between the surge speed limit and an engine speed, determining a minimum engine speed based on the margin, applying the offset engine speed to an engine speed signal to provide an adjusted engine speed, and applying the adjusted engine speed to a desired engine speed when a speed of the engine approaches the surge speed limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Urvish Joshi, Travis Barnes, Eric W. Cler, Anand KrishnamurthyGopalan, Eric A. Hutchison, Kirti Tamhane, Andrew N. Schifferer, Tyler Bowman, Kevin Sergott, Matthew Mowers, Daniel R. Puckett
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Publication number: 20160305383Abstract: Fuel is injected by energizing a solenoid of a fuel injector for an on-time that terminates at a first end-of-current timing. An end-of-current trim is determined at least in part by estimating a duration between an induced current event in a circuit of the solenoid and a valve/armature interaction event. An induced current event occurs when an armature abruptly stops, and a valve/armature interaction event occurs when the armature couples with or de-couples from the valve member. Fuel is injected in a subsequent injection event by adjusting the end-of-current timing by the end-of-current trim.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. Puckett, Bryan Moore, Michael E. Sattler, Prasanna M. Ballal, Bradley S. Bashore, Kranti K. Nellutla
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Patent number: 9376977Abstract: A common rail fuel system includes a common rail supplied by an inlet metered high pressure pump and fluidly connected to a plurality of zero-leak fuel injectors. An electronic controller controls pressure in the common rail predominantly responsive to a rail pressure error when outside of an overshoot avoidance condition corresponding to the error being less than a first threshold and a time rate of change of the error being greater than a second threshold. Pressure in the common rail is controlled predominantly responsive to the time rate of change of the error during the overshoot avoidance condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nandagopal Methil-Sudhakaran, Daniel R. Puckett, Frank Lombardi