Loading patent…
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSean O. Cornell, Richard H. Holtman, Scott A. Leman, Ronald D. Shinogle
Estimating the term…
In internal combustion engines, certain hydraulically or electrically powered components can be used, such as engine intake/exhaust valves and fuel injector plungers. In many cases, these components are desirably placed in a predetermined condition prior to starting the engine, in many cases by way of a spring or other biasing devices that biased the components to the predetermined condition. In other cases, however, hydraulic pressure or electromagnetic force is used to maintain the components in the predetermined condition. In hydraulic systems, however, leakage and thermal contraction can lead to pressure loss during period of non-operation, thereby allowing the components to move away from the predetermined condition. Similar concerns arise with the use of residual electromagnetic force, which can decay over time. In the case of intake/exhaust valves, for example, such undesired movement can lead to a potential collision between the valves and the engine piston during starting. This invention provides a system and method for presetting the engine and/or the components thereof to the predetermined condition just prior to starting the engine.
A method of presetting an engine to a predetermined condition prior to starting, comprising:
An engine system for use with an internal combustion engine, comprising:
A method of starting an engine to a predetermined condition prior to starting, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.