Patents Examined by Jaime Corrigan
  • Patent number: 7131963
    Abstract: A catheter device and method, in which a first lumen coupled to a balloon, a second lumen coupled to the first lumen, the second lumen having a distal opening to dispense an oxygenated infusate, and a third lumen coupled to the second lumen and coupled to a second balloon. The second balloon restricts the flow of the oxygenated infusate, and the oxygenated infusate provides oxygen to tissue at a distal end of said catheter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Matthew Hyde
  • Patent number: 7100552
    Abstract: A method of controlling a variable valve actuation system is provided. A cam assembly is operated to move an intake valve between a first position where the intake valve blocks a flow of fluid and a second position where the intake valve allows a flow of fluid. At least one operating parameter of the engine is sensed. A valve actuation period is determined based on the at least one operating parameter. A valve actuator is engaged with the intake valve to prevent the intake valve from returning to the first position in response to operation of the cam assembly. The valve actuator is released to allow the intake valve to return to the first position at the end of the determined valve actuation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Kenneth Bloms, James J. Faletti, Scott Alan Leman, David Andrew Pierpont, James Richard Weber
  • Patent number: 7097632
    Abstract: A valve system is provided that includes a valve connector that has a portion of a first passageway. The valve connector includes a suction port and an introduction port that are spaced apart and in substantially parallel alignment. The suction port and the introduction port are manipulable to establish fluid communication between the portion of the first passageway and the suction port or the introduction port. The valve connector may have a rotatable outer cap that includes the suction port and the introduction port. The cap being configured to facilitate manipulation of the suction port and the introduction port for establishing fluid communication with the portion of the first passageway. The introduction port may include a normally closed valve. The valve connector may be attached to a dual lumen nasogastric tube. In an alternate embodiment, the valve connector further includes a portion of a second passageway that includes a relief port. The relief port can include a one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
    Inventors: Benedict Shia, James Christopher Bailey
  • Patent number: 7094226
    Abstract: An ophthalmic drug delivery device having a first end and a second end, an injection port, a reservoir, and a sleeve is disclosed. The injection port is for sealingly engaging a needle of a syringe, which is for providing a fluid comprising a pharmaceutically active agent. The reservoir is disposed within the device, is fluidly coupled to the injection port, and has an opening for communicating the fluid to an outer surface of a sclera of an eye. The sleeve is for engaging the device proximate overlapping portions of the first end and the second end for forming a generally ring-shaped three-dimensional geometry upon implantation of the device on the outer surface of the sclera. The device is useful for the treatment of a disease of the posterior segment of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoseph Yaacobi
  • Patent number: 7093572
    Abstract: A roller finger follower rocker arm assembly for deactivating an engine valve. A follower body pivots on a hydraulic lash adjuster, and engages a valve stem or lifter. The body receives a reciprocating member having a first and second rollers outboard of the body for following eccentrics of a cam lobe that straddles the body, the body having elongate openings on either side of the reciprocating member. A locking pin selectively locks and unlocks the body to the reciprocating member. The reciprocating member does not make contact with the cam lobe and functions only as a link between the latching mechanism and the rollers. The pin engages the reciprocating member by a latching spring and is disengaged by pressurized oil supplied through the hydraulic lash adjuster. Means is provided for limiting axial growth of the HLA during deactivation mode of the rocker arm assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Hendriksma, Timothy W. Kunz
  • Patent number: 7086361
    Abstract: A valve system lifter for combustion engines includes a hard metal face pad connected to a lower-grade metal lifter body. The connecting material is one or more materials that are different from both the lifter body and the face pad. Preferably, the connecting material is a silver- and copper-containing material, that may take the form of a wafer with silver or silver alloy layered over a copper alloy core. The preferred body includes one or more ferrous compounds, and the preferred face includes tungsten carbide. The resulting lifter is resistant to the cracking, breakage, and wear that plague conventional lifters, due to the harsh temperature and impact environment of the lifter. The resulting lifter may be used to reduce the need for change-out and down-time in many engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Clyde G. Ritter
  • Patent number: 7021257
    Abstract: A method for compensating for variable cam timing of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes: a) providing a periodical crank pulse signal; b) providing a periodical cam pulse signal; c) determining a segment, wherein the internal combustion engine speed induces a volatile change upon Zphase values; d) dividing the segment into sub-segments; and e) calculating Zphase values of a plurality of points within the sub-segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl Ekdahl, Danny R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7004128
    Abstract: A control unit employed in a variable valve timing apparatus vibrates a control signal for controlling an oil-pressure control valve. If the vibration center of the duty value of the control signal for driving the oil-pressure control valve lies in a dead band, the vibration takes the duty value to the outside of the dead center temporarily. Thus, even if the center value of the control signal lies in the dead band, the valve timing of the oil-pressure control valve changes with variations in control signal. As a result, the width of the dead band appears small or to have a value of zero. Accordingly, the response characteristic of variations in valve timing to the variations in control signal is improved. The vibration of the control signal is also effective for detection of a width of the dead band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Majima, Jun Hasegawa, Hisashi Iida, Masaomi Inoue, Hideyuki Maeji, Haruyuki Urushihata, Noriaki Iwase
  • Patent number: 6997146
    Abstract: In method and apparatus for controlling starting of a solenoid-operated valve for an internal combustion engine, when a request for a start of the solenoid-operated valve is generated, a provisional target position to which an armature is likely to be moved is determined, and the armature is moved to the determined provisional target position. If the provisional target position is difference from a predetermined target position, the armature is moved to the target position after being moved from the neutral position to the provisional target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Yoeda, Shigeo Kikori, Tomohiro Oda, Hitoshi Akimoto
  • Patent number: 6990936
    Abstract: A system and method control intake air of an internal combustion engine. The engine has at least one combustion chamber provided with intake valves together with an intake manifold provided with a throttle valve. The opening and closure timings of the intake valves are adjustable entirely independently by electromagnetic drivers from the crankshaft position to control the amount of intake air supplied to the combustion chamber. The system and method provide a response adjustment to variable valve timing control of the intake valves for unthrottled intake air control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Hatsuo Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 6988473
    Abstract: A variable valve actuation mechanism includes a control shaft assembly and a body. The control shaft assembly is pivotable relative to a pivot axis. The body is pivotally disposed on the control shaft assembly, and includes an input cam follower and at least one output cam surface. The input cam follower engages an input cam lobe, and the output cam surface engages a corresponding output cam follower. A spring engages the body and biases the input cam follower into engagement with the input cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Rohe, Fuat Koro, David J. Trapasso, Thomas H. Fischer, Richard B. Roe
  • Patent number: 6981960
    Abstract: In a cosed-loop process, a controller uses a flow sensor to monitor the flow of a medicinal fluid being infused into a patient, to achieve a desired rate of flow. A relatively inexpensive peristaltic pump or electronically controlled valve can be used to vary the flow of the medicinal fluid through a fluid line. A Y site within the fluid line includes an integral flow sensor having an orifice. The flow sensor includes proximal and distal pressure sensors disposed on opposite sides of the orifice to monitor the distal and proximal pressure, producing a signal indicative of the rate of flow of the medicinal fluid through the fluid line. A signal produced by the controller is input to a motor driving the pump or to the valve to vary the rate of flow as required to achieve the desired infusion rate of the medicinal fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hospira, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve T. Cho, Gene E. Clark
  • Patent number: 6973905
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the valve lash of an internal combustion engine is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a probe is employed for verifying and/or setting valve lash settings in an automated manner. A further aspect of the present invention does not require determination of a zero lash position or reference datum prior to adjusting the valve lash adjusting screw for desired lash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Cinetic Automation Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Hathaway, Edwin E. Rice
  • Patent number: 6968814
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for converting a rotational displacement into a displacement back and forth. Said device comprises at least one control cam region, provided with a driven cam element, having an eccentric control surface, and a cam follower element that can be displaced or pivoted by the cam element. The cam element is rotatably mounted in a flexible encircling element which is displaceably connected to the cam follower element on a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the cam element. The encircling length of the flexible encircling element and the peripheral length of the control cam region are configured to correspond and can be modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Stefan Battlogg
  • Patent number: 6959675
    Abstract: A valve system for an internal combustion engine in which accumulating means can be provided without deteriorating the ease of assembly is provided. A variable valve control mechanism provides control to selectively open and close intake valves and exhaust valves. Pressurized oil supplied to the variable valve control mechanism is accumulated in an accumulator. The body of the accumulator is inserted into and fixed in a hole of a cylinder head. The length of a gap formed between the upper part of the body of the accumulator and a flat plate is set to be shorter than the length of a screw part of the body of the accumulator. Therefore, the accumulator can be replaced and maintained easily, and can be prevented from falling off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Nagano, Toshihiko Oka, Koichi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 6959673
    Abstract: A valve actuator assembly for an engine includes a movable engine valve, a movable first spool valve, and a movable second spool valve. The valve actuator assembly also includes an intermediate channel interconnecting the first spool valve and the second spool valve, and a driving channel, a first feedback channel, and a second feedback channel interconnecting the second spool valve and the engine valve. The valve actuator assembly includes an actuator operatively cooperating with the first spool valve to position the first spool valve to prevent and allow high pressure fluid flow to the second spool valve and the driving channel to position the engine valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Zongxuan Sun
  • Patent number: 6959674
    Abstract: A valve gear mechanism for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft in a separate cylinder head for controlling the stroke of a gas shuttle valve by means of an interposed rocker arm, which is mounted in the cylinder head of a piston that performs a lifting motion of a hydraulic valve-play compensation element. The aim of the invention is to achieve a play-free surface liaison of mechanical origin between the actuating elements of the gas shuttle valve. To achieve this, the piston of the hydraulic compensation element has a device that acts on an instrument for mechanically actuating a lifting stroke in order to achieve a play-free surface liaison of the contract surfaces of the rocker arm and an additional valve gear element, while the valve-play compensation element is maintained hydraulically without pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventor: Adolf Fischer
  • Patent number: 6957635
    Abstract: An engine for a marine drive has a combustion chamber. An engine body of the engine defines intake and exhaust ports communicating with the combustion chamber. An air induction system communicates with the combustion chamber through intake ports. An exhaust system communicates with the combustion chamber through the exhaust ports. Intake valves move between an opening position and a closing position of the intake ports. Exhaust valves move between an opening position and a closing position of the exhaust ports. Camshafts actuate the intake and the exhaust valves. A hydraulic VVT mechanism changes an actuating timing of the camshaft at which the camshaft actuates the intake valves or the exhaust valves. An ECU controls the VVT mechanism based upon a control characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Goichi Katayama
  • Patent number: 6953014
    Abstract: A thermal compensating desmodromic valve actuation system for opening and closing at least one valve of an engine having a cam assemblage and a driving mechanism for reciprocal movement operably connected to said cam assemblage. The cam assemblage includes a cam mechanism for rotational movement and the driving mechanism also being operably connected to the at least one valve of the engine to move the at least one valve between a valve closed position and a valve open position and between the open position and the closed position in a manner directly related to the rotational movement of the cam mechanism. In addition, mechanisms are provided for adjustably controlling the movement of the at least one valve in order to provide a variable amount of opening of the at least one valve in the open position, and for compensating for the thermal conditions of the engine causes valve stem elongation and contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: Frank A. Folino
  • Patent number: 6951196
    Abstract: The reciprocating engine comprises a rocker valve gear, pistons which are fastened to a connecting rod and connected by crankshaft journals to a crankshaft, a balancer, and a camshaft which is driven by the crankshaft and in turn actuates rockers, the mentioned elements being arranged in a crankcase having a cylinder head and cylinder head cover. The cylinder head is provided with integrally cast or screwed-on receivers serving for the attachment of the hollow camshaft without requiring separately fastened bearing blocks. Correspondingly, the cylinder-head comprises further integrally cast or screwed-on receivers which serve for the attachment of the hollow rockers without requiring separately fastened bearing blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Wenko AG Burgdorf
    Inventors: Urs Wenger, Hans-Rudolf Jenni