Alan R Stockner

6685160, Feb 3, 2004

Jul 30, 2001

09/918101

Ronald D. Shinogle - Peoria IL
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

F16K 3102

2511291, 239 96

A dual solenoid latching actuator is disclosed and provides an electrical circuit that includes at least one current restrictor, which are preferably a first diode and a second diode. The at least one current restrictor is positioned and arranged such that current flowing in a first direction can energize only one of a first solenoid coil and a second solenoid coil and current flowing in a second direction can energize only the other solenoid coil.

6766792, Jul 27, 2004

Dec 18, 2002

10/323701

Delos D. Messinger - Bloomington IL
Scott F. Shafer - Morton IL
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

F02M 3704

123502, 123446, 123 9012

The present invention relates to a module for actuating fuel injectors and valves an internal combustion engine. The actuation module includes a housing having a high pressure rail and a low pressure rail. A plurality of actuation pistons are disposed in the housing and engage fuel injectors and intake/exhaust valves of the engine. One or more actuating valve assemblies control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the high pressure rail each of the actuation pistons.

6817343, Nov 16, 2004

Apr 23, 2003

10/421993

Luca Greco - Altamura, IT
Amy M. Hess - Metamora IL
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

F02M 3708

123497, 123446, 123456

Particularly in a relatively large engine that has been inactive for a substantial period of time at a cold temperature, the pressure within a fuel system may decrease. Prior to initiation of engine start-up, fuel pumps that are operably coupled to the engine cannot pressurize and/or circulate fuel within the fuel system. Thus, the time required to supply the high pressure lines with fuel pressure sufficient to start and maintain the engine can be unreasonably delayed. In order to decrease the delay in starting the engine, the present invention includes an electronic control module that includes a priming algorithm. The priming algorithm is operable to activate an electrically powered fuel pump when a fuel system is in an unprimed state. The electronic control module is in communication with at least one sensor that is operable to sense the state of the fuel system.

6823287, Nov 23, 2004

Dec 17, 2002

10/320802

Scott Shafer - Morton IL
Alan Stockner - Metamora IL
Ye Tian - Bloomington IL

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

G06F 1900

702183, 702 84, 700109

A method is provided for predicting a quality characteristic of a product to be manufactured. The method may integrate one or more of feature and tolerance information associated with the product, manufacturing characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, measurement capability characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, assembly characteristic information associated with an assembly of the product, and desired quality characteristic information associated with the product. Based on the integrated information, the quality characteristic of the product may be predicted.

6827050, Dec 7, 2004

Sep 16, 2002

10/244329

Bernhard Kirsch - Mandelbachtal, DE
David E. Martin - Normal IL
Olaf Ohligschlaeger - Grunebach, DE
Rene Schulz - Burbach, DE
Ronald D. Shinogle - Peoria IL
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL
Ye Tian - Bloomington IL
Stephen M. Wiley - Normal IL

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

F01L 902

123 9012, 123 9015, 123 9031, 251 12

A control system adapted to control an actuator between extended and retracted positions has a fluid control valve connected to the actuator a source of high pressure fluid and a reservoir. The fluid control valve is movable between a first position at which the actuator is connected back to the fluid reservoir adapted and a second position operable to connect the actuator to a high pressure actuation fluid source. An electronic control module is connected in control communication with the fluid control valve and adapted to automatically generate a control signal to position the control valve at the second position in response to an elapsed time being passed at which the fluid control valve is at the first position is greater than a predetermined time.

6832599, Dec 21, 2004

Apr 14, 2003

10/412219

Daniel R. Ibrahim - Bloomington IL
Amy M. Hess - Metamora IL
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

F02M 5500

123456, 123446, 123467

A fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes at least four fuel injectors for supplying fuel to corresponding combustion chambers of the engine and a pump assembly in fluid communication with the fuel injectors and supplying working fluid to the fuel injectors. The fuel system further includes at least three high pressure rails fluidly connected between the pump assembly and the at least four fuel injectors.

6886762, May 3, 2005

Dec 20, 2001

10/029409

Joseph Angelino - Columbia SC, US
Scott F. Shafer - Morton IL, US
Charles Bates - Peoria IL, US
Jay E. Tomaseski - Gainesville GA, US
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL, US
Colby Buckman - Peoria IL, US

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

B05B001/00

239596, 23953311, 2395332, 239 88, 251360, 123299

A nozzle insert that is capable of being irreversibly attached to a needle valve tube such that the resulting needle valve member can be used in a nested needle valve configuration for a dual mode fuel injector.

6910462, Jun 28, 2005

Aug 16, 2004

10/919200

Jinhui Sun - Bloomington IL, US
Alan R. Stockner - Metamora IL, US

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

F02M001/00

123445, 123457

In one class of fuel injection systems, the individual fuel injectors cycle between high and low pressure during and between injection sequences in a given engine cycle. The fuel injectors may be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated, and possibly include common rail injectors equipped with an admission valve that enable the fuel injectors to cycle between high and low pressures. Many of these fuel injection systems also include a directly controlled nozzle valve that can apply or relieve pressure on a closing hydraulic surface associated with the nozzle valve. The nozzle valve is typically spring-biased and therefore has a pre-defined valve opening pressure that defines at what fuel pressure the nozzle valve will open when pressure is relieved on its closing hydraulic surface. While these fuel injection systems can produce a wide variety of rate shapes and injection sequences, generally, an injection sequence of particular interest is one that includes a relatively small volume pilot injection followed quickly in time by a relatively large volume main injection. In order to make the accuracy of the pilot injection more consistent, the nozzle valve is held closed while fuel pressure in the fuel injector builds and surpasses the valve opening pressure of the nozzle valve.