US Patent Issued to Caterpillar on June 23 for "Lightoff fuel pressure reduction system" (California, Utah Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- United States Patent no. 12,662,966, issued on June 23, was assigned to Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, Ill.).

"Lightoff fuel pressure reduction system" was invented by David W. Howarth (La Mesa, Calif.), Kiara Breadmore (San Diego), Terry R. Tarver (Saratoga Springs, Utah) and John S. Bowen (San Diego).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Traditionally, during ignition of a gas turbine engine, the fuel control valves are controlled to be nearly closed, in order to provide the small amount of fuel that is necessary to ignite the gas turbine engine. The error that is inherent in providing fuel flow through small openings results in a higher likelihood of start-up failures. Accor...