Noel R Lepp

US Patent:

6520164, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Jul 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912126

Inventors:

Noel R. Lepp - Peoria IL
Maurice E. Moushon - Peoria IL

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

International Classification:

F02B 2506

US Classification:

123572

Abstract:

An oil drain tube is provided for an internal combustion engine, which prevents oil draining from an oil separator from encountering blowby gases. The oil drain tube includes a first non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with the oil separator, a second non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with an oil sump and a tube portion connecting the first non-horizontal tube portion and the second non-horizontal tube portion in fluid communication with one another.

US Patent:

20020073979, Jun 20, 2002

Filed:

Dec 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/739495

Inventors:

Noel Lepp - Peoria IL, US
Cho Liang - West Lafayette IN, US
Steven Mccoy - Washington IL, US

International Classification:

F02M025/07

US Classification:

123/568180

Abstract:

An internal combustion engine system, particularly suitable for a motor vehicle, is provided with an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and an exhaust gas recirculation rate control system fluidly connected to the exhaust manifold and to the intake manifold. The exhaust gas recirculation rate control system includes at least two critical-flow nozzles, each critical-flow nozzle having an intake end and output end, the intake ends being fluidly coupled to the exhaust manifold; at least one valve, each valve being fluidly coupled with at least one output end; and a control module operatively connected to each valve for controlling exhaust gas flow therethrough. Some advantages of such a system is that the exhaust gas recirculation is accurately provided with an “open-loop” control system, thereby avoiding the use of a feedback system; the flow can be accurately determined under a choked-flow operating conditions; and the system can readily handle different exhaust gas flow rates.