Patents by Inventor Matthew J. ENGFEHR

Matthew J. ENGFEHR 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: 10934948
    Abstract: A method for determining failure of an electromechanically actuated gas shut off valve includes sensing and recording a gas fuel rail pressure and a boost pressure from an air intake manifold at a first time after the dual fuel engine has been started. The method includes opening the gas shut off valve at a second time, holding the gas shut off valve in its open state, and then closing the gas shut off valve after a predetermined interval at a third time. The method includes comparing an actual gas rail pressure decay rate to a threshold gas rail pressure decay rate for the predetermined interval, and determining failure of the gas shut off valve when the actual gas rail pressure decay rate is less than the threshold gas rail pressure decay rate. Upon determining failure of the gas shut off valve, the method also includes initiating a mitigating action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry, Hua Xu
  • Patent number: 10794346
    Abstract: A fuel rail for an engine includes a tubular body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a longitudinally extending fuel bore. The fuel rail also includes a valve bore extending normal to the fuel bore and extending through the outer surface of the tubular body at a first end and completely through the fuel bore to a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Brian M. Boksa, Brian S. Jones
  • Patent number: 10760506
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine may include a storage tank for storing liquefied gaseous fuel and supplying the fuel to the engine. The system may also include a liquid level sensor for measuring a level value of the liquefied gaseous fuel in the storage tank and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure value of gaseous fuel in the fuel supply system. The system may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to: monitor a pressure signal of the pressure sensor indicating the pressure value and a tank level signal of the liquid level sensor indicating the level value; store the level value when the pressure value indicates the storage tank is empty; store the level value when the pressure value or the level value indicates the storage tank is full; and determine a calibrated level range based on the stored level values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Asha L. Pai, Roderick S. Zehrung, Derek P. Samsel, Brett M. Nee, Joshua Perko
  • Publication number: 20200248638
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine may include a storage tank for storing liquefied gaseous fuel and supplying the fuel to the engine. The system may also include a liquid level sensor for measuring a level value of the liquefied gaseous fuel in the storage tank and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure value of gaseous fuel in the fuel supply system. The system may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to: monitor a pressure signal of the pressure sensor indicating the pressure value and a tank level signal of the liquid level sensor indicating the level value; store the level value when the pressure value indicates the storage tank is empty; store the level value when the pressure value or the level value indicates the storage tank is full; and determine a calibrated level range based on the stored level values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. ENGFEHR, Asha L. PAI, Roderick S. ZEHRUNG, Derek P. SAMSEL, Brett M. NEE, Joshua PERKO
  • Publication number: 20200240376
    Abstract: A fuel rail for an engine includes a tubular body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a longitudinally extending fuel bore. The fuel rail also includes a valve bore extending normal to the fuel bore and extending through the outer surface of the tubular body at a first end and completely through the fuel bore to a second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Brian M. Boksa, Brian S. Jones
  • Patent number: 10570833
    Abstract: A method for predicting failure in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. Each cylinder has an associated pressure sensor to provide a signal indicative of pressure in the cylinder. The method includes identifying whether there is a non-fueling interval associated with any of the cylinder on the engine. The method includes determining at least one of parameters such as an indicated mean effective pressure, a peak cylinder pressure, a total heat released, or a total duration of heat released over a combustion cycle for the cylinder. The method includes comparing the at least one of the parameters with predefined threshold value, determining whether any of the parameters exceeds the predefined threshold value, and generating a signal indicating the impending cylinder failure if at least one of the parameters exceeds the corresponding predefined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry
  • Publication number: 20190242307
    Abstract: A method for determining failure of an electromechanically actuated gas shut off valve includes sensing and recording a gas fuel rail pressure and a boost pressure from an air intake manifold at a first time after the dual fuel engine has been started. The method includes opening the gas shut off valve at a second time, holding the gas shut off valve in its open state, and then closing the gas shut off valve after a predetermined interval at a third time. The method includes comparing an actual gas rail pressure decay rate to a threshold gas rail pressure decay rate for the predetermined interval, and determining failure of the gas shut off valve when the actual gas rail pressure decay rate is less than the threshold gas rail pressure decay rate. Upon determining failure of the gas shut off valve, the method also includes initiating a mitigating action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry, Hua Xu
  • Publication number: 20190136771
    Abstract: A method for predicting failure in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine is provided. Each cylinder has an associated pressure sensor to provide a signal indicative of pressure in the cylinder. The method includes identifying whether there is a non-fueling interval associated with any of the cylinder on the engine. The method includes determining at least one of parameters such as an indicated mean effective pressure, a peak cylinder pressure, a total heat released, or a total duration of heat released over a combustion cycle for the cylinder. The method includes comparing the at least one of the parameters with predefined threshold value, determining whether any of the parameters exceeds the predefined threshold value, and generating a signal indicating the impending cylinder failure if at least one of the parameters exceeds the corresponding predefined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry
  • Publication number: 20190040818
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a machine powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) fuel is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a pressure sensor provided in fluid communication with a fuel supply line, a first valve provided in in association with a high-pressure fuel rail circuit, a second valve provided in association with a low-pressure circuit, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a pressure of the LNG fuel present in the fuel supply line. The controller is also configured to compare the pressure of the LNG fuel with a predetermined pressure threshold. The controller is further configured to control at least one of the first valve and the second valve to selectively supply the LNG fuel to the high-pressure fuel rail circuit and the low-pressure circuit based, at least in part, on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry
  • Patent number: 10113493
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for controlling a gas substitution characteristic in a dual fuel engine are provided. The gas substitution characteristic can be controlled based on measured characteristics directly or indirectly associated with operation of the dual fuel engine, including intake manifold air pressure (IMAP), load of the dual fuel engine, ambient air temperature, exhaust temperature, fan speed, and/or pressure of natural gas supplied to the dual fuel engine. Further, the gas substitution characteristic can be controlled by controlling intake manifold air temperature (IMAT) based on control of a cooling capacity of a cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. Atterberry, Matthew J. Engfehr
  • Patent number: 10082109
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling intake manifold air temperature (IMAT) of a dual fuel engine are provided. A determination regarding whether IMAT is to be modified is performed, followed by modifying the IMAT by changing flow of coolant in a cooling circuit in fluid communication with a separate circuit aftercooler (SCAC) of a SCAC circuit from a first flow path to a second flow path when it is determined that the IMAT is to be modified. A portion of the first flow path overlaps a portion of the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Engfehr, Nathan P. Atterberry, David F. Schaller
  • Patent number: 10006398
    Abstract: A control system for a multiple fuel internal combustion engine on a vehicle in a fleet of vehicles may include at least one gas analyzer configured to monitor real-time characteristics of gaseous fuel being supplied to the engine, a fleet management data monitoring module, and a cylinder pressure sensor associated with each cylinder of the engine. The control system may further include a data collection module configured to receive real-time fuel characteristics measurements from the gas analyzer, fleet data characteristic of one or more operational parameters, fuel usage, and performance results for vehicles in the fleet, and cylinder pressure measurements from each of the cylinder pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. Atterberry, Matthew J. Engfehr
  • Publication number: 20180142633
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for controlling a gas substitution characteristic in a dual fuel engine are provided. The gas substitution characteristic can be controlled based on measured characteristics directly or indirectly associated with operation of the dual fuel engine, including intake manifold air pressure (IMAP), load of the dual fuel engine, ambient air temperature, exhaust temperature, fan speed, and/or pressure of natural gas supplied to the dual fuel engine. Further, the gas substitution characteristic can be controlled by controlling intake manifold air temperature (IMAT) based on control of a cooling capacity of a cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. ATTERBERRY, Matthew J. Engfehr
  • Publication number: 20180112622
    Abstract: A control system for a multiple fuel internal combustion engine on a vehicle in a fleet of vehicles may include at least one gas analyzer configured to monitor real-time characteristics of gaseous fuel being supplied to the engine, a fleet management data monitoring module, and a cylinder pressure sensor associated with each cylinder of the engine. The control system may further include a data collection module configured to receive real-time fuel characteristics measurements from the gas analyzer, fleet data characteristic of one or more operational parameters, fuel usage, and performance results for vehicles in the fleet, and cylinder pressure measurements from each of the cylinder pressure sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan P. ATTERBERRY, Matthew J. ENGFEHR
  • Publication number: 20180066618
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling intake manifold air temperature (IMAT) of a dual fuel engine are provided. A determination regarding whether IMAT is to be modified is performed, followed by modifying the IMAT by changing flow of coolant in a cooling circuit in fluid communication with a separate circuit aftercooler (SCAC) of a SCAC circuit from a first flow path to a second flow path when it is determined that the IMAT is to be modified. A portion of the first flow path overlaps a portion of the second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. ENGFEHR, Nathan P. ATTERBERRY, David F. SCHALLER