IFPE 2005 Caterpillar ACERT Engines
More than 124,300 industry professionals from around the world attended the co-located IFPE 2005 and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005 trade expositions in Las Vegas, USA during the shows' five-day run March 15-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The shows featured the latest equipment, product innovations and technological advances of the construction, construction materials and power transmission industries. In addition to breaking the all-time record attendance number and setting a new record for international attendance, IFPE 2005 was also the largest in the show’s history in terms of exhibit space.

Caterpillar® C13 Industrial Engine With ACERT® Technology Provides Tier 3/Stage IIIa Compliance

With a displacement of 12.8 liters and five ratings from 385 to 520 hp (287 to 388 kW) at 1800 to 2100 rpm, the C13 industrial engine announced at Bauma 2004 is the successor to Cat's long-successful C12 engine and features ACERT Technology to meet Tier 3/Stage IIIa emission standards.

The essence of ACERT Technology is precise control of the combustion cycle. While the concept is the same across the engine families that use ACERT Technology, there are differences in how the concept is implemented.

ACERT Technology features on the new C13 not only reduce emissions, they also improve overall operating characteristics. For example:

Mechanically actuated, electronically controlled unit injectors (MEUI) provide multiple injections for rate shaping, reducing NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), and have 30000-psi peak injection pressure for complete atomization of fuel for improved combustion;
The ADEM 4 engine control module has increased speed and memory and a 120-pin engine connector in addition to a 70-pin OEM connector for faster, more complete vehicle systems communications;
Cross-flow cylinder heads improve combustion by providing better breathing.
The engine has been designed for a higher compression ratio. In addition to improving emissions, the higher compression also enhances power density and improves startability. These higher peak cylinder pressures are achieved by the use of an improved block-to-head joint, stronger connecting rods and steel pistons.

With careful engineering, the C13 retains the reliability, durability and performance of the C12. But it has a maximum output of 520 horsepower compared to a maximum of 425 for the C12. And it adds the benefit of ACERT Technology for compliance with the stringent Tier 3/Stage IIIa emissions standards that take effect in January 2005 in the U.S. and in January 2006 in Europe. In fact, the C13 is so advanced in its design that it will serve as the platform on which Caterpillar will build its Tier 4/Stage IIIb compliant engine.
Despite the sophistication of ACERT Technology, the C13's service intervals are actually greater than those for the C12. A higher-capacity sump extends oil drains to 500 hours.

The C13 is scheduled to go into production in July 2004.

Applications

Engines in the C6.6 power range are used in a broad range of applications, including compressors, chippers, harvesters, snow blowers and other off-road and construction machines.
Release Number: I10PR04

Cat® C18 Engine, Launched in 2003, First to Bring ACERT® Technology to the Off-Highway Market

The principle behind ACERT Technology is simple. If you better control the combustion process, you minimize emissions and improve performance. Controlling the combustion process requires precise control of two elements: air and fuel.

In a nutshell: ACERT Technology is a series of evolutionary, incremental improvements that provide breakthrough engine technology built on systems and components that have been developed by Cat with proven reliability.

ACERT Technology and the C18

The proven C18: This 18.1-liter engine is available in five ratings from 585 to 785 hp (429 to 585 kW).

Cylinder heads on the C18 feature cross-flow design and four valves per cylinder. This superior design provides better distribution of air throughout the combustion chamber. With improved distribution of air, combustion is more complete and emissions are reduced.

Controlling air is only half the solution to achieving superior combustion. The other half is controlling the fuel. The C18 does this with Cat's Mechanically Actuated, Electronically Controlled Unit Injection (MEUI) system, which provides multiple injection and rate shaping capability and has millions of hours of proven experience. MEUI provides precise metering and control necessary for ACERT applications.

Coordinating everything is the ADEM™ 4 electronic control module. The most sophisticated ECM ever produced by Cat, ADEM 4 has a 120-pin engine connector and a 70-pin OEM connector. This ensures seamless integration with not only engine operations, but with hydraulics, transmissions and other systems and components, as well. The ADEM 4 microprocessor operates at 40 MHz, a 66 percent increase over its predecessor. Flash ROM has been doubled to 2 MB.

Applications

Engines in the C18 power range are flexible enough to be used in a broad range of applications, including blast hole drill rigs, 4WD agriculture tractors, forage harvesters, pavers, construction and mining equipment, irrigation, petroleum drill rigs, chippers, shredders, and more.

Adding to the C18's flexibility is its impressive power density. The C18 takes no more space than Cat's C15, itself a compact engine, yet the C18's base power rating is only 20 hp lower than the Tier 2, Stage II C15's highest rating.

Torque increase on the C18 will be greater than 30 percent.

Service technicians will appreciate the familiarity of the new C18. Even with its full complement of ACERT technology, there are no unusual service or maintenance procedures. Technicians, operators and especially fleet managers will appreciate that service intervals for the C18 - Tier 3/Stage IIIa engines are the same as for Tier 2 /Stage II engines.
Release Number: I12PR04

Caterpillar ACERT Engines       Caterpillar ACERT Engine

2005©AM Technologies Inc.

New Caterpillar® 47-90 tonne C-series excavators feature ACERT® engine, new cab and multiple hydraulics options for increased productivity

Caterpillar® announces the new C-series large hydraulic excavators 345C L, 365C L and 385C L. The C-series replaces the equivalent
B-series excavators and provides increased productivity, better performance and greater operator comfort thought several new product
features:

New cab with superior sight lines to the work area and improved operator comfort
ACERT® technology engines for long life durability and compliance with European Union regulations
Multiple auxiliary hydraulics available to enhance versatility
Extended service intervals for reduced machine service time and increased availability
Enhanced operator station for optimal comfort
The C-series excavators feature a new cab that provides greater viewing area and superior sight lines to the work area. The redesigned
cab is quiet and features ergonomic control placement and convenient adjustments that allow the operator to fit the machine
comfortably. Low lever and pedal effort, ergonomic seat design and highly efficient ventilation help reduce operator fatigue and improve
operator efficiency throughout the shift. A heated air suspension seat enhances operator comfort even further. The consoles have
adjustable armrests for comfortable operation of the ergonomically designed joystick controls. The right console includes a radio
ready mounting for a 24-volt AM/FM radio in addition to the 12 volt ready mounting at the back of the cab.

ACERT technology engine for maximum performance
The 345C L, 365C L and 385C L incorporate the new Cat engines designed with ACERT Technology. Caterpillar is leading the industry
with this innovative solution to reduce exhaust gas emissions. Cat engines with ACERT Technology will meet all Stage IIIA standards
for off-road diesel engines.

The 345C L features a Cat C13 engine that boosts power 7.5 percent when compared to the 345B Series II. The displacement of 12.8
liters is 21 percent more than the 3176C engine in the 345B Series II. The C13 produces 257 kW at 1,800 rpm.

The 365C L features Cat C15 engine with displacement of 15.2 liters and produces 301 kW at 1,800 rpm. The engine comes equipped
with the new Caterpillar high efficiency oil filters for superior contamination control resulting in longer intervals between overhauls. The
new side-by-side radiator and oil cooler with a separately mounted air conditioning condenser compliments the C15 for a complete
cooling package. The arrangement allows easy access for cleaning and boosts high ambient temperature capabilities. The 365C L
has a larger fuel tank that enables the excavator to work 13 hours at 85 percent load factor.

The Cat C18 engine in the 385C L has displacement of 18.1 liters. The engine produces 383 kW at 1,800 rpm and comes, like the
C15, equipped with Caterpillar high-efficiency oil filters.
   Caterpillar ACERT Engines    Caterpillar ACERT Engines  CAT® Press release

Cat® Engines With ACERT® Technology Taking Lead in Niche Transportation Markets Construction machinery 

Release Number: T09PR04 - For North American Release

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

Caterpillar is approaching market leadership in several niche transportation sectors—including recreational vehicles (RV), school buses, emergency response vehicles, fire trucks, transit buses and motor coaches—by focusing on the unique needs of these markets and their customers.

"Several major manufacturers within the RV, school bus, fire truck and transit bus markets have designated Cat as their primary engine supplier," said Bill Fulton, specialty markets manager for Caterpillar On-Highway Engines. "Cat engines with ACERT Technology provide a better overall value that is critical within these unique sectors of the on-highway industry."

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

School Bus
Caterpillar's percent of industry sales within the school bus market has increased from less than ten percent to 35 percent in just two years. Several major school bus manufacturers are purchasing more and more Cat engines with ACERT Technology, including Blue Bird, who recently chose Cat as their standard engine.

As part of a California Air Resources Board (CARB) project, Cat also will deliver up to 200 school buses powered by Cat C7 engines with a diesel particulate filter for use with ultra low sulfur fuel.construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

Recreational Vehicles (RV)
Today, Caterpillar represents 42 percent of RV engine sales—up from less than ten percent two years ago. Two major manufacturers—Monaco for two models and Fleetwood Enterprises for all models—have committed to Cat as their sole engine supplier.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

Fire Trucks and Emergency Response Vehicles
Caterpillar now represents ten percent of this business. Seagrave Fire Apparatus—the leading manufacturer of custom fire trucks—has designated Cat as their standard engine.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

Transit Buses and Motor Coaches
Cat has been named the engine of choice for two major transit companies: King County Metro in Seattle, Wash. and Westchester County in New York. These achievements, as well as groundbreaking sales to New Jersey Transit, have boosted Cat engine sales in this market substantially. These projects represent a significant environmental initiative in which Cat C9 330 hp engines with ACERT® Technology were matched with hybrid electric Allison transmissions.

For more than 75 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in partnership with Cat dealers, is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2003 sales and revenues of $22.76 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company is a technology leader in construction, transportation, mining, forestry, energy, logistics, financing and electric power generation. 
construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

Caterpillar® ACERT® Technology Gaining Wide Acceptance
Release Number: T04PR04 - For North American Release  construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

In an industry that traditionally has been reluctant to embrace technical innovation, acceptance of Cat® engines with ACERT® Technology may just be the exception, said Steve Brown, director of marketing for Caterpillar's On-Highway engines. Since Caterpillar commenced production of its full line of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified and compliant engines late in 2003, demand for engines equipped with ACERT has continued to grow

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

The full line of five Cat engine models provides a wide range of horsepower ratings to suit the entire scope of on-highway applications—as well as market-leading reliability, durability and fuel economy. All five models—C7, C9, C11, C13 and C15—have been in full production since 2003.

"Based on customer reports, engines with ACERT are delivering the same reliability and durability that Cat engines provided prior to October 2002. We've been telling fleets to buy a few engines with ACERT Technology, put them to the test, compare them to engines already in their fleets and evaluate the results. We knew going in that fleets would find our new engines to be a better value; and, sure enough, that's what they're telling us. Test fleets put more than 23 million miles on these engines in our field evaluation tests prior to production in October of last year," Brown said. "The reliability is there."

The "buy and try" philosophy is working. Fleets are making repeat purchases in significant numbers; in fact, 15 of the 25 largest fleets have put engines equipped with ACERT Technology on the road. Caterpillar has shipped more than 50,000 of the five models of engines equipped with ACERT since production began in 2003.
   

Caterpillar Engine Sparks Patent Dispute

(enr.construction.com  - 11/01/04 issue) 
By Tudor Hampton
A high-stakes patent game between a retired government scientist and Caterpillar Inc. is threatening the company’s "ACERT" engine program, a costly research and development effort aimed at cleaning up diesel emissions on thousands of machines in the years ahead.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
Former Dept. of Health and Human Services chemist Clyde C. Bryant recently filed an inter partes re-examination that asks U.S. patent officials to take another look at patents awarded to Cat engineers in 2003 and 2004. Bryant, who is chairman of Entec Engine Corp., an Atlanta-based holding company, received a similar cold-air induction engine patent in 2001.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
Last month, a story on Bryant appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and apparently reached Caterpillar attorneys at the firm’s Peoria, Ill., headquarters. "Seven days later, we got a letter from Cat saying they would like to partner with us," Bryant told ENR. He has discussed technology licenses with the company since January 2000, he says, declining further comment.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
In a recent statement, Caterpillar officials say that ACERT is a "great advancement [and] it is not unexpected to receive challenges such as this."

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
Cat refers to Bryant in its patent appli-cations, but claims to have a unique "systems approach" to cleaner, in-cylinder diesel emissions. ACERT engines represent Cat’s all-time biggest research and development effort, costing at least $500 million and requiring 250 new patents. "We’ve invested heavily in blazing a new path in emissions reduction technology," says Gary Stroup, vice president of large power systems.
The ongoing review is a rare and expensive patent case. "People don’t file unless they feel that they have prior art that qualifies," says Brigid Quinn, a U.S. patent office spokeswoman. Such re-examinations cost $8,800 plus legal fees, she says.

nstruction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery

Caterpillar's Clean Diesel 2007 On-Highway Emissions Solution Demonstrated for President Bush

(Press Release Source: Caterpillar Inc. Monday May 16, 12:08 pm ET http://www.cat.com ) 
(Caterpillar's ACERT(R) Technology To Provide Emissions Reduction Without Sacrificing Fuel Economy)
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT - News) today gave President George W. Bush a first hand look at the clean diesel technology that it will use to meet stringent 2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards for on-highway truck and bus engines.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
Utilizing a Cat® C13 ACERT engine, the company displayed a 2007 emissions compliant truck at an event in West Point, Virginia where President Bush highlighted key elements of his energy policy.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
"Caterpillar applauds President Bush for his commitment and support of clean diesel initiatives," said Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar Group President with responsibility for the company's power systems business. "The on-highway standards for 2007 will help to provide cleaner air for our environment. While these standards present an enormous technological challenge, Caterpillar is fully prepared to provide its customers with a solution that preserves reliability, durability and fuel economy."

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
Caterpillar was the first engine manufacturer to offer clean diesel engines certified to meet EPA's tougher 2004 standards, which require more stringent testing to demonstrate lower emissions over longer periods of engine operation. Currently more than 200,000 on-highway engines featuring ACERT Technology are powering trucks, accumulating some 40 million miles a day while delivering the products, goods, and supplies that help keep America's economy running.

construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
In addition to meeting emissions requirements, Caterpillar customers have experienced superior fuel economy for their fleets using engines featuring ACERT Technology. "We are running more than 200 trucks with Cat engines using ACERT Technology, and that's a big part of why our fleet fuel mileage has improved from about 6.0 to 6.5 miles per gallon," said John Liberkowski, director of purchasing and fleet maintenance for New Century Transportation of Westhampton, New Jersey. "With fuel prices today, that's a huge difference because every tenth of a mile saves us $1.2 million in fuel costs."
construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
"Caterpillar has invested more than $1 billion in research and development for ACERT and other clean diesel projects to help our customers meet today's standards, and future regulations," Oberhelman said. "Caterpillar customers know they have a 2007 emissions solution using ACERT Technology which will work hand-in-hand with the Bush administration's upcoming low sulfur diesel fuel regulations," said Oberhelman.
construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
ACERT is a differentiated, breakthrough technology that reduces emissions at the point of combustion. The technology capitalizes on Caterpillar's proven leadership in engine electronics, fuel injection systems and combustion technology. All Caterpillar on-highway truck and bus engines now in production are equipped with ACERT Technology, which also provides a foundation to meet future emission regulations for the company's construction and mining machines and power generation units.
construction machinery  construction machinery construction machinery
For 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in partnership with its worldwide dealer network, is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2004 sales and revenues of $30.25 billion, Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. More information is available at http://www.cat.com  .

E-mail: constructionmachinery@eco-engine.ca
You can place your banner here

 

Construction machinery eco-engine Caterpillar

Maxim Gots P. Eng.