Brett A Zook

US Patent:

20170074183, Mar 16, 2017

Filed:

Sep 11, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/851129

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
Timothy B. JAMES - Lafayette IN, US
Todd A. REZAC - Whitestown IN, US
Brett A. ZOOK - Cutler IN, US
David J. LIN - Peoria IL, US
Gary BOYER - Lafayette IN, US
Robert MAXSON - Lafayette IN, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F02D 41/00
H02P 9/04
F02B 21/00
F02B 37/02
F02B 63/04
F02B 43/10

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20160327464, Nov 10, 2016

Filed:

May 4, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/703587

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
Brett Zook - Cutler IN, US
Baoyang Deng - Edwards IL, US
Arvind Sivasubramanian - Peoria IL, US

Assignee:

CATERPILLAR INC. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G01N 9/26
F02B 43/10

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20150369716, Dec 24, 2015

Filed:

Jun 23, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/311853

Inventors:

- Peoria IL, US
Christopher Gallmeyer - Chillicothe IL, US
Venkat Vijay Kishore Turlapati - Peoria IL, US
Brett Zook - Cutler IN, US
Jason Rasmussen - Hopewell IL, US

International Classification:

G01N 9/26

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20140290614, Oct 2, 2014

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851377

Inventors:

- Peoria, IL
Christopher F. Gallmeyer - Peoria IL, US
David J. Lin - Peoria IL, US
Brett A. Zook - Cutler IN, US

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria

International Classification:

F02D 41/00

US Classification:

12317918

Abstract:

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.