Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David R. Yohannan
  • Patent number: 6691674
    Abstract: A method and rocker arm assembly for actuating an engine valve are disclosed. The rocker arm may include an integrated hydraulic circuit used to control a lost motion piston. A reset piston may be included in the rocker arm to selectively reset the position of the lost motion piston. A control piston may also be included in the rocker arm to selectively lock the reset piston into a reset position. The rocker arm assembly may be used to achieve compression-release or bleeder braking, main intake, main exhaust, brake gas recirculation, and/or exhaust gas recirculation valve events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. McCarthy, Samuel H. Pruden
  • Patent number: 6550433
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydraulic actuator for operating an engine valve, which includes a means for controlling the seating velocity of the valve. The design allows for free, unrestricted movement of the actuator piston during opening of the engine valve, and an unrestricted return of the piston and valve until the valve is within a predetermined distance of the valve seat. Once within this predetermined range, the return velocity of the actuator piston and engine valve are limited by the rate at which a fluid may escape through a restriction. The restriction is calibrated to provide the desired maximum valve seating velocity. The invention also provides for automatic lash adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vorih, Kevin J. Kinerson, Mark A. Israel, Richard E. Vanderpoel
  • Patent number: 6546716
    Abstract: A variable area exhaust nozzle with a variable thrust vector angle for a turbo-fan engine and mounted on the aft portion of the nacelle which wraps said engine. The nozzle may include a fixed structure having at least two lateral arms separating two radial cutouts. The cutouts are positioned one above the other, one being located above the engine axis, the other one below the engine axis. At least two shells close the fixed structure cutouts and are pivotally mounted on the fixed structure to form a portion of the exhaust nozzle of the engine. A sealing means ensures fluid tightness between the shells and the fixed structure for any angular position of said shells. Actuator means are provided for pivoting the shells either to a symmetrical configuration for changing of the value of the exhaust area of the nozzle or to an unsymmetrical configuration for changing the angle of the thrust vector of the exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Lair
  • Patent number: 6536703
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for winding strip material onto a drum is disclosed. Friction between the surface of the drum and the strip material wound there around, as well as friction between adjacent reels of strip material, may be selectively controlled by controlling the provision of a fluid bed between the strip material and the surface of the drum. Control over this friction allows the individual strips to slip to different degrees relative to the drum on which they are wound. The different amounts of slip permit the strips to be wound on the drum with uniform tension and at a uniform take up speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Coil Pro Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Gagnon
  • Patent number: 6517049
    Abstract: A gate valve for controlling fluid flow through a housing is disclosed. The gate valve includes a frusto-conical shaped internal cavity having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet formed in the wall thereof. Fluid flow through the cavity (from inlet to outlet) is transverse to the direction of the taper of the frusto-conical cavity. A gate including a frusto-conical portion is disposed within the housing. The frusto-conical portion of the gate may be moved transversely through the fluid flow passing from the internal cavity inlet to the outlet. The frusto-conical portion of the gate is adapted to seat against the frusto-conical shaped internal cavity to block fluid flow there through. The gate does not contact the seat until the point at which all fluid flow is shut off. This reduces wear on the gate and the seat and promotes laminar flow through the valve during the process of closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Los Angeles Pump and Valve Products
    Inventor: Andrew Lee Coppock
  • Patent number: 6510824
    Abstract: A lost motion engine valve actuation system and method of actuating an engine valve are disclosed. The system may comprise a valve train element, a pivoting lever, a control piston, and a hydraulic circuit. The pivoting lever may include a first end for contacting the control piston, a second end for transmitting motion to a valve stem and a means for contacting a valve train element. The amount of lost motion provided by the system may be selected by varying the position of the control piston relative to the pivoting lever. Variation of the control piston position may be carried out by placing the control piston in hydraulic communication with a control trigger valve and one or more accumulators. Actuation of the trigger valve releases hydraulic fluid allowing for adjustment of the control piston position. Means for limiting valve seating velocity, filling the hydraulic circuit upon engine start up, and mechanically locking the control piston/lever for a fixed level of valve actuation are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vorih, Jeffrey Mossberg, Richard Vanderpoel, Steven Ernest, Guy Paterson, John A. Schwoerer, Edward T. Leitkowski
  • Patent number: 6474277
    Abstract: A system for controlling the seating of an engine valve is disclosed. The system is designed to bring a hydraulically actuated engine valve to a soft landing on its valve seat. The velocity of the engine valve is reduced as it approaches its seat by progressively throttling the escape of hydraulic fluid from a chamber. The chamber is pressurized as a result of the valve approaching its seat. Accordingly, as the valve approaches its seat, the pressure in the chamber increases, causing the force that opposes the closing motion of the engine valve to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Vanderpoel, John A. Schwoerer
  • Patent number: 6450144
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine may include a hydraulic linkage used to transfer motion from a valve train element, such as a cam, to an engine valve. Method and apparatus for selectively limiting the motion transferred by the hydraulic linkage from the valve train element to the engine valve are disclosed. The motion transferred by the hydraulic linkage may be limited by a means for resetting or clipping that is integrated into the rocker arm/shaft assembly provided in the valve train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Robb Janak, Stephen Lak, Michael Bergmann
  • Patent number: 6422186
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for operating at least one exhaust valve of an engine. The engine has at least two engine operating conditions. The system in accordance with the present invention includes an energy supply assembly for supplying energy to operate the at least one exhaust valve during one of the at least two engine operating conditions. The system may further include an energy transfer assembly for transferring the energy from the energy supply assembly to operate the at least one exhaust valve. A valve actuating assembly is also included for actuating the at least one exhaust valve in response to operation of the energy transfer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Vanderpoel
  • Patent number: 6415752
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an innovative, economical method or system disclosing a captive volume in a hydraulic circuit which can be selectively hydraulically or pneumatically locked, or vented in order to correspondingly maintain, or increase the total volume of the hydraulic circuit. The structural elements of an embodiment of the present invention may include an accumulator with or without a fixed solid stop, which limits its travel. The accumulator can either be a separate entity, or as an assembly within the master or slave pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: Robb Janak
  • Patent number: 6412457
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydraulic actuator for operating an engine valve, which includes a means for controlling the seating velocity of the valve. The design allows for free, unrestricted movement of the actuator piston during opening of the engine valve, and an unrestricted return of the piston and valve until the valve is within a predetermined distance of the valve seat. Once within this predetermined range, the return velocity of the actuator piston and engine valve are limited by the rate at which a fluid may escape through a restriction. The restriction is calibrated to provide the desired maximum valve seating velocity. The invention also provides for automatic lash adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vorih, Kevin J. Kinerson, Mark A. Israel
  • Patent number: 6381465
    Abstract: A monitoring and alert system includes a wireless device that sends a monitoring request to a remote server. When the conditions specified by the monitoring request are met, the server generates an SMS alert message. The server determines the maximum length in characters of the SMS message and whether there is sufficient space remaining for an advertisement. If sufficient space is available, the server generates an advertisement and appends it to the SMS alert message. The alert message with appended advertising is then sent to the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Leap Wireless International, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Chern, Kevin Thornton
  • Patent number: 6354254
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for operating at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve in an engine cylinder. The apparatus includes an exhaust valve operating assembly for operating the at least one exhaust valve of the engine cylinder, wherein the exhaust valve operating assembly is capable of producing an exhaust gas recirculation event. The apparatus also includes an intake valve operating assembly for operating the at least one intake valve of the engine cylinder. The apparatus further includes an exhaust modifying assembly for modifying the operation of the exhaust valve operating assembly during a predetermined engine operating condition and an intake modifying assembly for modifying the operation of the intake valve operating assembly during a predetermined engine operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: James N. Usko
  • Patent number: 6325043
    Abstract: This invention is an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus such that exhaust gas recirculation master piston (12) is activated and acts to open exhaust valve (4) on the same cylinder (1) by driving a slave piston (14), thus recirculating exhaust gas into combustion chamber (2) from exhaust port (5) as a result of the pressure difference, thereby lowering the combustion temperature within combustion chamber (2) on the next power stroke and working to reduce NOx. Moreover, by selectively maintaining and releasing oil pressure in two types of passages (13) and (31), it can also be used as a compression pressure-release engine brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignees: Hino Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: Zdenek Meistrick, Yoshihide Maeda, Vincent Pitzi
  • Patent number: 6302370
    Abstract: A system for decelerating a linearly displaceable valve undergoing a closing motion is disclosed. The system includes a housing, a first hydraulic fluid chamber provided in said housing, and a slave piston for displacing the valve in response to the supply of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber. Deceleration of the valve may be accomplished by selectively throttling the release of hydraulic fluid in the first chamber to a second chamber. The hydraulic pressure in the second chamber opposes the closing motion of the valve, thereby slowing it gently for a valve seating event. Progressive throttling is used to maintain nearly constant hydraulic pressure in the second chamber during the seating event. The progressive throttling may be accomplished by selection of an appropriate throttling orifice size and shape, as well as an appropriate throttling profile for the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Schwoerer, Edward T. Leitkowski
  • Patent number: 6293237
    Abstract: A lost motion engine valve actuation system and method of actuating an engine valve are disclosed. The system may comprise a valve train element, pivoting bridge, an adjustable tappet, and a valve stem. The pivoting bridge may include a first end for contacting the adjustable tappet, a second end for contacting the valve stem and a pivot point between the first and second ends for contacting the valve train element. The amount of lost motion provided by the system may be selected by varying the position of the adjustable tappet relative to the pivoting bridge. Variation of the adjustable tappet position may be carried out by placing the adjustable tappet in hydraulic communication with a control trigger valve. Actuation of the trigger valve releases hydraulic fluid allowing for adjustment of the adjustable tappet position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Vorih
  • Patent number: 6278237
    Abstract: An organic light emitting device for a multicolor image display. The elements of the device are arranged laterally along the substrate surface in a pillar and channel arrangement, rather than the traditional method of vertical stacking. The invention's pillar and channel architecture provides a rugged structure which can be efficiently encapsulated. The lateral arrangement of the various elements along the substrate reduces sheet resistance and increases external efficiency by allowing the typical transparent conductor layer to be replaced with a conventional metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: eMagin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Campos
  • Patent number: 6267098
    Abstract: A valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes two hydraulic plungers (master pistons) that are selectively hydraulically coupled to a slave piston. The hydraulic motion from one of the hydraulic plungers may provide a valve opening motion to the slave piston and the hydraulic motion from the other hydraulic plunger may provide a valve closing motion. The net hydraulic motion of both hydraulic plungers may be zero, so that when both plungers have hydraulic communication with the slave piston, no slave piston motion occurs. The system may provide full authority over all engine valve actuations, such as main intake, main exhaust, compression release, and exhaust gas recirculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Vanderpoel
  • Patent number: 6255771
    Abstract: A field emitter device including an insulator structure provided on an upper gate line layer of the device. The insulator structure may surround groups of emitters arranged on adjacent gate lines, groups of emitters arranged on the same gate lines, and/or entire regions of a larger array of field emitters. The insulator structure may reduce the occurrence of flashovers to and from the gate lines and emitters when the field emitter device is used in a display. The insulator structure may also enhance the focus of electrons emitted by the field emitter device on the display screen. Focus may be further enhanced by the addition of a resistive coating on the insulator structure. Methods of making the insulator structure and resistive coating are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: eMagin Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Jones, Steven M. Zimmerman, Webster E. Howard, Stewart Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6244257
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has electrically controlled hydraulic linkages between engine cams and engine cylinder valves. If it is desired to skip a cam lobe or to modify the response of an engine cylinder valve to a cam lobe, hydraulic fluid is selectively released from the associated hydraulic linkage to permit lost motion between the cam and the engine cylinder valve. Electrically controlled hydraulic fluid valves are used to produce the selective release of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic linkages. The mode of operation of the engine can be changed (e.g., from positive power mode to compression release engine braking mode or vice versa), or more subtle changes can be made to modify the timing and/or extent of engine cylinder valve openings to optimize engine performance for various engine or vehicle operating conditions (e.g., different engine or vehicle speeds). The valves can be controlled to produce an exhaust gas recirculation event during various operating modes of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Diesel Engine Retarders, Inc.
    Inventor: Haoran Hu