Dual fuel system having a damper

• US 9,371,784 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Steffen, Joshua W., Coldren, Dana R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laguarda, Gonzalo
• Application Number:
  US13/725,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20140174402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 123/525, 123/431, 123/575, 123/457, 123/468, 123/510, 123/511, 123/515, 123/446
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/51 Damping of blade movements
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/024 by controlling fuel injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/06 peculiar to engines working with pluralities of fuels, e.g. alternatively with light and heavy fuel oil, other than engines indifferent to the fuel consumed
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0041 Means for damping pressure pulsations equalisation of pulses in positive displacement pumps F04B1/00; devices for damping fluid pulsations in pipes F16L55/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A dual fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The dual fuel system may have a first fuel supply providing a first fuel to the engine, and a second fuel supply providing a second fuel. The dual fuel system may also have a regulator configured to pass the second fuel from the second fuel supply to the engine, with the regulator also in fluid communication with the first fuel supply. The dual fuel system may further have a damper in fluid communication with the first fuel supply and an output of the regulator.

Claims

1. A dual fuel system for an engine, comprising:

a first fuel supply providing a first fuel to the engine;

a second fuel supply providing a second fuel;

a regulator configured to pass the second fuel from the second fuel supply to the engine, the regulator also being in fluid communication with the first fuel supply; and

a damper in fluid communication with the first fuel supply and an output of the regulator,

the damper including at least one piston having a first end in contact with the first fuel and a second end in contact with the second fuel, and

a diameter of the first end being smaller than a diameter of the second end.

2. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of the at least one piston are sized to accommodate a pressure of the first fuel supply about 5 MPa higher than a pressure of the second fuel supply.

3. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the damper further includes a seal disposed around the at least one piston.

4. The fuel system of claim 3, wherein the at least one piston includes:

first and second pistons operatively connected together by a rod; and

the first end of the at least one piston being associated with the first piston and the second end of the at least one piston being associated with the second piston.

5. The fuel system of claim 3 wherein:

the first fuel is a liquid; and

the second fuel is a gas.

6. The fuel system of claim 5 wherein the gas is natural gas.

7. The fuel system of claim 4, wherein the damper further includes a drainage port located between the first and second pistons and connected back to the first fuel supply.

8. The fuel system of claim 7, wherein the seal is disposed around the second piston.

9. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of the at least one piston have the same diameter.

10. The fuel system of claim 9, wherein the at least one piston includes:

first and second pistons operatively connected together by a rod; and

the first end of the at least one piston being associated with the first piston and the second end of the at least one piston being associated with the second piston.

11. The fuel system of claim 10, wherein the damper further includes a spring to bias the at least one piston to a neutral position.

12. The fuel system of claim 1, further including a fuel injector configured to inject the first and second fuels into the engine.

13. A dual fuel system for an engine comprising:

a supply of diesel fuel;

a supply of natural gas;

a regulator configured to pass natural gas from the supply of natural gas to the engine, the regulator also being in fluid communication with the supply of diesel fuel;

at least one fuel injector configured to inject the diesel fuel and the natural gas into the engine; and

a damper in fluid communication with the supply of diesel fuel and an output of the regulator, the damper including;

a first piston having a first end in contact with the diesel fuel;

a second piston having a second end in contact with the natural gas;

a seal disposed around the second piston;

a rod connecting the first and second pistons; and

a drainage port located between the first and second pistons and connected back to the first supply,

a diameter of the first end being smaller than a diameter of the second end, wherein the first and second ends are sized to allow a pressure of the diesel fuel to be about 5 MPa higher than a pressure of the natural gas.