Lester L Peters

US Patent:

6336598, Jan 8, 2002

Filed:

Apr 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/552480

Inventors:

Alain M. J. Touchette - Vancouver, CA
Bradley D. Douville - Vancouver, CA
S. Michael Baker - Delta, CA
Lester L. Peters - Columbus IN
Julius Perr - Columbus IN
A. S. Ghuman - Columbus IN
Donald J. Benson - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Westport Research Inc. - Vancouver

International Classification:

R05B 112

US Classification:

239408, 409410

Abstract:

A hydraulically actuated dual fuel injector separately injects two fuels into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. In particular, the two fuels may be controlled quantities of a first liquid fuel and a second gaseous fuel that are used to fuel a diesel engine. The injector preferably begins injecting the first fuel sequentially before beginning to inject the second fuel. The dual fuel injector comprises: (a) an injector body; (b) a hydraulic fluid inlet port formed in the injector body for enabling pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source to be introduced into the interior of the injector body, said hydraulic fluid being of sufficient pressure to maintain sealing and to prevent leakage of the gaseous fuel into the hydraulic fluid; (c) a first fuel inlet port formed in the injector body for enabling a first fuel to be introduced into the interior of the injector body; (d) a first injection valve disposed within the injector body fluidly connected to the first fuel inlet port for controlling injection of the first fuel from the injector through a first fuel ejection port; (e) a second inlet port formed in the injector body for enabling a second fuel to be introduced into the interior of the injector body; (f) a second injection valve disposed within the injector body fluidly connected to the second inlet port for controlling injection of the second fuel from the injector through a second fuel ejection port; (g) a first two-way control valve which controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid to actuate the first injection valve; (h) a second control valve which controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid to actuate the second injection valve; (i) a metering device within the injector body for metering the amount of first fuel injected by the first injection valve; and (j) a seal in the injector body which prevents leakage of the second fuel within the injector body.

US Patent:

6439202, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Nov 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/986481

Inventors:

Donald J Benson - Columbus IN
Lester L Peters - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02M 3704

US Classification:

123467, 123446, 123300

Abstract:

An improved fuel injection system is provided which incorporates a common rail and a plurality of unit injectors which function together to efficiently produce various injection rate shapes and different combinations of discreet and blended pilot, main, post and after treatment fuel injection events during a single injection. The fuel injection system effectively permits flexible, responsively timed, square shaped, discreet low to mid pressure level injections utilizing the fuel pressure of the common rail while also allowing the unit injector portion to function independently to produce flexible and responsively timed and pressure controlled, triangular shaped high pressure fuel injection events and to recover excess energy. In one embodiment, a separate common rail pump is avoided by utilizing the unit injector plunger to replace fuel into the common rail which was previously injected.

US Patent:

6557779, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Mar 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/796823

Inventors:

Julius P. Perr - Columbus IN
J. Victor Perr - Greenwood IN
Lester L. Peters - Columbus IN
Donald J. Benson - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Engine Company, Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02M 4116

US Classification:

239 96, 239 88, 239124, 2395334, 2395339, 2395851, 123468, 123472

Abstract:

An improved closed nozzle injector assembly for injecting high pressure fuel into the combustion chamber of an engine is provided which includes a first needle valve element associated with a first set of injector orifices, a first needle valve control device for controlling the opening and closing of the first needle valve, a second needle valve associated with a second set of injector orifices and a second needle valve control device for controlling the opening and closing of the second needle valve. Each needle valve control device includes a control volume positioned at one end of the respective needle valve, a control volume charge circuit for supplying high pressure fuel to the respective control volume and the respective injection control valve for controlling the flow of high pressure fuel from the respective control volume to a low pressure drain thereby controlling the movement of the respective needle valve. Using a dedicated control volume and injection control valve for each needle valve element permits effective control over the duration of pilot and post fuel injection events while also providing variable rate shaping capability for optimized emissions and fuel economy. The present dual needle valve element injector includes various components such as biasing springs which are positioned and interconnected to other components in a manner which creates a simple, compact fuel injector package providing independent control of two sets of spray orifices in one injector.

US Patent:

6561157, May 13, 2003

Filed:

May 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/850189

Inventors:

Axel O zur Loye - Columbus IN
Larry J Brackney - Columbus IN
Cariappa M Chenanda - Columbus IN
Robert M Hurst - Columbus IN
Lester L Peters - Columbus IN
Patrick M Pierz - Columbus IN
John F Wright - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02B 1700

US Classification:

123295, 123299, 123305, 123435

Abstract:

A multi-mode internal combustion engine and method of operating the engine is provided which is capable of operating in a variety of modes based on engine operating conditions to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The multi-mode engine include a fuel delivery system and control system for permitting the engine to operate in a diesel mode, a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, a spark ignition or liquid spark ignition mode and/or a premixed charge compression ignition mode. The control system and method permits the engine operation to transfer between the various modes in an effective and efficient manner by controlling one or more fuel delivery devices or other engine components so as to move along a continuous transfer path while maintaining engine torque at a substantially constant level.

US Patent:

6588262, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Feb 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/782510

Inventors:

Joseph D. Kirzhner - Columbus IN
Lester L. Peters - Columbus IN
Todd M. Wieland - Bloomington IL
Wayne A. Eckerle - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

G01M 1500

US Classification:

73119A

Abstract:

A novel and improved motion sensor for high pressure fluid delivery devices is provided which effectively senses movement of a component in a high pressure environment while minimizing the likelihood of fluid leakage through a receiving cavity containing at least a portion of the sensor. The motion sensor includes a sealing surface shaped and positioned relative to a force resisting surface formed on an annular cavity surface of the receiving cavity so as to apply a fluid, e. g. fuel, pressure induced sealing force against the force resisting surface due to the high pressure fluid forces acting on the sensor body. The sealing surface may be conically shaped for contacting a complementary conically shaped force resisting surface and/or the sealing surface may extend perpendicular to the direction of the fluid forces acting on the sensor body for abutment against a complementary positioned annular land containing the force resisting surface.

US Patent:

6595436, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

May 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/850117

Inventors:

Joseph Kirzhner - Peoria IL
Lester Peters - Columbus IN
John D. Crofts - Edinburg IN
Wayne Eckerle - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Engine Company, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B05B 108

US Classification:

2391022, 239 88, 239584, 25112906, 251231, 251243

Abstract:

The fuel injector includes a solid state actuator that operates through an actuator motion amplifying lever to directly control the needle valve motion. Hydraulic forces, which act along the axes of the needle valve and the motion amplifying lever, are compensated by using a control piston, or other biasing means, to reduce the required amplitude of the control current/voltage and to reduce the required strength of the spring biasing the needle valve closed. The fuel injector may also include a control fuel inlet that is separate from the injection fuel inlet port.

US Patent:

6659071, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

May 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/850187

Inventors:

Leon A. LaPointe - Columbus IN
Cariappa M. Chenanda - Columbus IN
Tim R. Frazier - Columbus IN
Robert M. Hurst - Columbus IN
Lester L. Peters - Columbus IN
Patrick M. Pierz - Columbus IN
Axel O. zur Loye - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02B 1700

US Classification:

123299, 123305, 123431, 123295

Abstract:

An internal combustion engine operable in a premixed charge compression ignition mode and a method for operating the engine, the engine including an engine body with a piston assembly, a combustion chamber formed in the engine body by the piston assembly, an intake system for delivering intake air to the combustion chamber during an intake stroke, a mixing device that mixes a first fuel with the intake air to provide a premixed charge of air and the first fuel, a direct fuel injector adapted to directly inject a second fuel into the combustion chamber, and a control system adapted to control the direct fuel injector in a manner to provide at least one early control injection, and preferably, a plurality of early control injections of the second fuel into the combustion chamber before start of combustion of the premixed charge.

US Patent:

6684849, Feb 3, 2004

Filed:

Mar 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/387579

Inventors:

Axel O. zur Loye - Columbus IN
Larry J. Brackney - Columbus IN
Cariappa M. Chenanda - Columbus IN
Robert M. Hurst - Columbus IN
Lester L. Peters - Columbus IN
Patrick M. Pierz - Columbus IN
John F. Wright - Columbus IN

Assignee:

Cummins Inc. - Columbus IN

International Classification:

F02B 1700

US Classification:

123295, 123299, 123304, 123305

Abstract:

A multi-mode internal combustion engine and method of operating the engine is provided which is capable of operating in a variety of modes based on engine operating conditions to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The multi-mode engine include a fuel delivery system and control system for permitting the engine to operate in a diesel mode, a homogeneous charge dual fuel transition mode, a spark ignition or liquid spark ignition mode and/or a premixed charge compression ignition mode. The control system and method permits the engine operation to transfer between the various modes in an effective and efficient manner by controlling one or more fuel delivery devices or other engine components so as to move along a continuous transfer path while maintaining engine torque at a substantially constant level.