Method for producing production control software for a natural gas engine controller

• US 5,724,242 A
• Filed: 03/21/1995
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ginzel, Geoffrey D., King, Kevin S., Schubert, William, Moore-McKee, Amy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/408,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 395/700, 395/800, 395/375, 395/905, 395/911, 395/919, 395/922, 395/703, 395/887, 395/701, 395/712, 395/10, 395/23, 364/424.01, 364/424.04, 364/431.01, 364/431.03, 364/431.04, 364/431.11, 364/431.12, 364/551.01, 364/423.098, 364/424.045 , 364/431.051, 364/431.052, 364/431.053, 364/431.054, 364/431.055, 123/480, 123/486, 123/569, 123/571, 123/676, 123/526, 123/527, 123/321, 123/27 GE, 123/458, 123/577, 123/578
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0215 Mixtures of gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Biogas; Mine gas; Landfill gas
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence

Abstract

A method of operating a computer to automatically produce production control software for a natural gas engine controller (104) on a machine is provided. The controller (104) is adapted to control a natural gas engine (106). The method includes the steps of (1) as a function of user input, defining a set of controller (104); and (2) producing control software to operate the controller (104) as defined by the specifications.

Claims

1. Method of operating a computer to produce control software for an electronic controller for a natural gas engine, the method comprising:

(1) defining a set of air features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input;

(2) defining a set of fuel features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input;

(3) defining a set of timing features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function user input;

(4) defining a set of protection features of the electronic controlled and the natural gas engine as a function of user input, wherein said defining a set of protection features including,

(i) enabling protection features for at least one parameter,

(ii) defining a caution value for said at least one parameter, and

(iii) defining a shutdown value for said at least one parameter; and

(5) producing control software to operate the controller as specified by the user defined features.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of defining a set of engine core features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter ms air temperature.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter ms air restriction.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter is crankcase pressure.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter is differential oil pressure.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter ms battery voltage.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter is jacket water temperature.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of defining a set of protection features further includes the steps of:

enabling protection features for a set of parameters;

defining a set of caution values corresponding to said set of parameters; and

defining a set of shutdown values corresponding to said set of parameters.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at set of protection features includes air temperature, air restriction, crankcase pressure, differential oil pressure, battery voltage, jacket water temperature.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air features include wastegate parameters.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air features include a volumetric efficiency map.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air features include a choke map.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air features include a combustion probe map.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air features include an air/fuel map.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel features includes governor parameters.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel features includes feedback points, a BTU setting, and fuel factors.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel features includes a transient air/fuel map.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel features includes a torque limit map.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel features include an idle fuel map.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said timing features include a timing retard map.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said timing features include steady state timing parameters.

23. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said timing features include a steady state timing map.

24. A method of operating a computer to produce control software for an electronic controller for a natural gas engine, the method comprising:

(1) defining a set of air features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input;

(2) defining a set of fuel features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input;

(3) defining a set of timing features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input;

(4) defining a set of engine core features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input;

(5) defining a set of protection features of the electronic controller and the natural gas engine as a function of user input; and

,

(6) defining a set of protection features of the electronic controlled and the natural gas engine as a function of user input, wherein said defining a set of protection features including,

(i) enabling a set of protection features for a set of parameters,

(ii) defining a set of caution values for said set of parameters, and

(iii) defining a set of shutdown values for said set of parameters; and

(7) producing control software to operate the controller as specified by the user defined features.