Patents by Inventor Robert Graumüller
Robert Graumüller 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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Patent number: 12429005Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is described herein. The system uses a mixer to mix two fuels to provide for a transition from using only one of the fuels to using only the other fuel as power demand changes. The output of the mixer is provided to the engine as a primary fuel. A controller opens and closes throttle valves to adjust the relative concentrations of a first fuel (e.g., diesel) and a second fuel (e.g., methanol) that enter the mixer. In some examples, rather than removing the desired performance and/or environmental benefits achieved by using the second fuel at power demand levels greater than the maximum achievable by only using the second fuel, the systems described herein allow the use of at least a portion of the second fuel in the primary fuel at those power demand levels.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2023Date of Patent: September 30, 2025Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael David Gerstner, Daniel Raymond Baldwin, Robert Graumüller, Eric Lee Schroeder
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Patent number: 12297795Abstract: A fuel injector in a fuel system having a first fuel supply of a first fuel and a second fuel supply of a second fuel includes a multifunctional control valve movable in the fuel injector to control admission of the first fuel to a combined-fuel outlet passage, and to control a timing and an injection pressure of a fuel charge containing the first fuel. In an embodiment the first fuel includes a compression-ignition fuel such as diesel and the second fuel includes an alcohol fuel such as methanol. Related apparatus and methodology is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2024Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric L. Schroeder, Dana R. Coldren, Robert Graumüller, Kaushik Krishnamurthy, Dean C. Diers, Lifeng Wang, Jianhua Zhang
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Publication number: 20250084800Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is described herein. The system uses a mixer to mix two fuels to provide for a transition from using only one of the fuels to using only the other fuel as power demand changes. The output of the mixer is provided to the engine as a primary fuel. A controller opens and closes throttle valves to adjust the relative concentrations of a first fuel (e.g., diesel) and a second fuel (e.g., methanol) that enter the mixer. In some examples, rather than removing the desired performance and/or environmental benefits achieved by using the second fuel at power demand levels greater than the maximum achievable by only using the second fuel, the systems described herein allow the use of at least a portion of the second fuel in the primary fuel at those power demand levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael David Gerstner, Daniel Raymond Baldwin, Robert Graumüller, Eric Lee Schroeder
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Patent number: 12104564Abstract: A lubricated high pressure fuel pump assembly is provided, comprising a fuel pump, a sealed enclosure and a pump lubrication circuit. The fuel pump includes a pump drive shaft via which the fuel pump is configured to be mechanically driven. The sealed enclosure is configured to surround a first portion of the pump drive shaft, wherein the first portion is exterior to the fuel pump. The pump lubrication circuit comprises a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant pump configured to pump lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the pump drive shaft. The sealed enclosure is configured to prevent fluid leakage from the fuel pump via the first portion of the pump drive shaft and the lubricant reservoir is configured to collect the lubricant from the pump drive shaft, such that the lubricant is retained within the lubricated high pressure fuel pump assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Robert Graumüller
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Publication number: 20240229754Abstract: A lubricated high pressure fuel pump assembly is provided, comprising a fuel pump, a sealed enclosure and a pump lubrication circuit. The fuel pump includes a pump drive shaft via which the fuel pump is configured to be mechanically driven. The sealed enclosure is configured to surround a first portion of the pump drive shaft, wherein the first portion is exterior to the fuel pump. The pump lubrication circuit comprises a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant pump configured to pump lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the pump drive shaft. The sealed enclosure is configured to prevent fluid leakage from the fuel pump via the first portion of the pump drive shaft and the lubricant reservoir is configured to collect the lubricant from the pump drive shaft, such that the lubricant is retained within the lubricated high pressure fuel pump assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Robert GRAUMÜLLER
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Publication number: 20240133356Abstract: A lubricated high pressure fuel pump assembly is provided, comprising a fuel pump, a sealed enclosure and a pump lubrication circuit. The fuel pump includes a pump drive shaft via which the fuel pump is configured to be mechanically driven. The sealed enclosure is configured to surround a first portion of the pump drive shaft, wherein the first portion is exterior to the fuel pump. The pump lubrication circuit comprises a lubricant reservoir and a lubricant pump configured to pump lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the pump drive shaft. The sealed enclosure is configured to prevent fluid leakage from the fuel pump via the first portion of the pump drive shaft and the lubricant reservoir is configured to collect the lubricant from the pump drive shaft, such that the lubricant is retained within the lubricated high pressure fuel pump assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Robert GRAUMÜLLER
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Patent number: 11898506Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is described herein. The internal combustion engine system uses one or more fuels that may be hydrophilic. The system uses a water measuring sensor to determine the concentration of water in the hydrophilic fuel. To meet power demands, the system uses the measured water concentration to modify data stored in a fuel map. The fuel map provides a controller the pump speeds and mixing ratio of the fuels for a given power level. The system receives that data and modifies it based on the measured concentration of water.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2023Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael David Gerstner, Daniel Raymond Baldwin, Robert Graumüller
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Patent number: 11384699Abstract: A method of operating a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine comprises performing at least one measurement relating to the combustion of a mixture of gaseous fuel and air in a combustion chamber of an associated cylinder in a combustion cycle. At least one combustion parameter, for example, a start of combustion, is determined based on the at least one measurement. When the combustion parameter differs from a desired combustion parameter, an ignition device associated with the cylinder is controlled based on the comparison in order to control the combustion in the current combustion cycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Eike Joachim Sixel, Daniel Wester, Marius Wolfgramm, Robert Graumüller, Andre Schmidt
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Publication number: 20190338714Abstract: A method of operating a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine comprises performing at least one measurement relating to the combustion of a mixture of gaseous fuel and air in a combustion chamber of an associated cylinder in a combustion cycle. At least one combustion parameter, for example, a start of combustion, is determined based on the at least one measurement. When the combustion parameter differs from a desired combustion parameter, an ignition device associated with the cylinder is controlled based on the comparison in order to control the combustion in the current combustion cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Eike Joachim Sixel, Daniel Wester, Marius Wolfgramm, Robert Graumüller, Andre Schmidt