Tube, Sleeve Or Ferrule Patents (Class 29/282)
  • Patent number: 6604403
    Abstract: A crimper tool for use in attaching lugs to the metallic sheath covering on fiber optic cables includes a pair of blocks, with a trough formed in each block to accommodate the cable when one block is placed on top of the other. Each block includes at least one slot for positioning a proper-sized die to perform the crimping action. The use of this block crimper tool is particularly advantageous when a hand-held crimper is too small to accommodate a large diameter fiber cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Hossein Eslambolchi, John Sinclair Huffman, James F. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 6560837
    Abstract: An assembly device for a shaft damper. The assembly device comprises a holding member for holding a damper. The holding member is releasably engaged with a pair of parallel elongate members. An actuator is connected to the elongate members and to a piston. A shaft damper is inserted into and temporarily held by the holding member. The holding member containing the shaft damper is inserted into a shaft a predetermined distance. The actuator then slidingly retracts the holding member while a pressing member at an end of the piston simultaneously holds the damper in the proper position in the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Yahya Hodjat, Lin Zhu, Leslie Cole
  • Patent number: 6554040
    Abstract: A device for placing a seal, such as a water seal, on a motor vehicle body. This device includes a jig which is placed in contact with the body of the motor vehicle, a carriage borne by the jig and able to move on the latter so as to ensure placement of the seal, and rails for guiding and orienting the carriage on the jig. A method for operating this device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: Process Conception Ingenierie S. A., Technorop Automation
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Cueff, Alain De Bentzmann, Jean-Paul Rousse
  • Patent number: 6544267
    Abstract: A tissue anchoring system includes a tissue anchor affixed to an end of a cable and supported for insertion on a delivery device, the manipulation of which permits placement of the anchor on a far side of the tissue. A tensioning, crimping and cutting tool designed for use along the cable's longitudinal axis, thus reducing the number of incisions required. A suture anchoring system is also described for introducing a loop of suture into a surgical site and anchoring it, for instance, across a tear in soft tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Orthodyne, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Dean Cole, Daniel F. Justin
  • Publication number: 20030056360
    Abstract: A stent crimper comprising a plurality of crimping members extending between a first support and a second support. The first and optionally the second supports has an opening therethrough sized to allow a stent therethrough. The first and second supports extend from a base. The crimping members are disposed about the circumference of a circle everywhere along the length of the members. Finally, the flexible members extend through a bore in a die. The die is movable in an axial direction along the flexible members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: TERRY V. BROWN, ANDREW J. DUSBABEK, LOUIS G. ELLIS, SCOTT M. HANSON, LEO M. KLISCH, CHRISTOPHER R. LARSON, LINDA R. LORENTZEN CORNELIUS, JUSTIN E. PLESSAL, LAWRENCE W. ULANOWSKI
  • Patent number: 6510722
    Abstract: A crimping device for crimping a stent onto the inflation balloon of a stent delivery catheter. The device forms a crimp which creates regions of high frictional resistence between the stent and the inflation balloon. In one form, the crimp comprises a plurality of spaced grooves running the longitudinal length of the stent. In another form, the crimp is composed of a plurality of radial indentations spaced along the body of the stent. The device including an inner hub housing a plurality of radially spaced crimping jaws and an outer hub enclosing the jaws. The outer hub being rotatably connected to the inner hub and including means for forcing the jaws to move radially inwardly to crimp a stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Denise Ching, Matthew J. Gillick
  • Patent number: 6487763
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a kit useful for the assembly of a decorative item, or art object, such as a decorative cover for a light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Associated Technology
    Inventor: Linda K. Reichert
  • Patent number: 6481262
    Abstract: A stent crimping device for crimping a stent onto a balloon delivery-catheter of the kind typically used in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures. The device comprises a pair of plates bearing mutually opposed parallel ribs. The ribbed plates move in a direction such that a stepped circular crimp may be rolled onto a stent thereby firmly fixing the stent to a catheter balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Denise Ching, Richard S. Stack
  • Patent number: 6473955
    Abstract: An improved pulling gun to provide a parallel and linear pulling force for pulling out screws of various sizes from bulged screw cartridges smoothly without reduced defects. The pulling gun includes a lever and a handle having respectively an upper section pivotally engaged with each other and a lower section bifurcated at a front and a rear position by a pivotal spring located in the handle. The lever has an upper pin mounted to the top end to pivotally engage with a guide sleeve which has two side walls formed respectively an upper flange and a lower flange bent inwards from the top and bottom ends thereof. The upper section of the handle engages with a pulling sleeve which has two side walls each having a guide slot in parallel with each other to allow the upper pin of the lever moving therein. The pulling sleeve is movable in the guide sleeve linearly and in parallel to generate a linear and parallel pulling force to remove screws without wobbling or generating defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Joker Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pan-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 6470560
    Abstract: The device consists of a tapered spline coupler for a drive shaft of a pull-type forage harvester. The first drive shaft and second drive shaft each have a set of tapered splines that are inserted into a tapered, internally splined coupler. A pair of retaining rings affixed to the drive shafts draws the shafts into the coupler. A retaining bolt may be tightened to force the shafts into the coupler. A method for manufacturing the spline coupling consists of a cutting a groove in the drive shafts for a retaining ring. Tapered splines are cut onto the drive shafts. A tapered bore in the coupler is cut on a lathe by a boring bar. Splines in the coupler are created by use of a broaching tool. After the retaining rings are placed on the drive shafts, a retaining bolt tightens the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Wanner, Robert A. Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 6463778
    Abstract: Apparatus for swaging a ferrule or ferrules onto an outer wall of a cylindrical member includes a hydraulic power section and an adapter tool. The hydraulic section is disposed within a housing, and the adapter tool is at least partly retained in the housing and also is fully removable from the housing without affecting the hydraulic power section of the apparatus. The hydraulic section includes a piston that is moved under force of hydraulic pressure applied thereto from a hydraulic pressure source. The adapter tool includes a driven swaging die that is moved from a retracted position to an extended position in response to movement of the piston. The sleeve and anvil are releasably secured together so that the adapter tool can be removed from the housing as a unitary assembly. Size changes can be accommodated by removing a first adapter tool of a given size and replacing it with a second adapter tool of a different size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventor: Lonnie E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6463655
    Abstract: A method of assembling end caps (14, 16) within a body (12) is provided. The body (12) is measured to obtain a body measurement and the end cap (14, 16) is sized based on the body measurement. The sized end cap (14, 16) is coupled to the body (12). An end cap size (10, 170) for sizing end caps (14, 16) to mate with a body (12) is also provided. The end cap size (10, 170) includes a device (23, 171) that is movable between a position to receive one of an end cap (14, 16) and a body (12) and another position to engage the one of the end cap (14, 16) and body (12). The end cap size (10, 170) also includes a control system (25, 173) configured to move the device (23, 171) to a body measurement position to obtain a body measurement of the body (12) and move the device (23, 171) to a position to size the end cap (14, 16) based on the body measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald S. Williams, Mick Wadsworth
  • Publication number: 20020138966
    Abstract: An apparatus for crimping a stent by segmental radial compression, comprising a stationary base member; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and a crimping head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub. The crimping head includes at least ten segments. The segments each have a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, the distal point being disposed on the centerline and the proximal point being disposed off the centerline, and the proximal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary base member and the distal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable hub member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Tom Motsenbocker
  • Patent number: 6450002
    Abstract: An apparatus for grooving a tube, comprising a stud, a partitioning ring around the central region of the stud, a mandrel, a plurality of concave jaws, an outer tapered sleeve, and a tightening mechanism. The mandrel is placed over far end of the stud, and the tube to be worked is placed on the end of the mandrel. Concave jaws with flanges are fitted into grooves around the mandrel, so that the flanges surround the tube. A tapered sleeve is placed over the near end of the stud, extending at least partially over the jaws. The tightening mechanism is then placed over the near end of the stud. Tightening of the mechanism draws the flanges on the jaws to the tube to be worked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Robert S. Smith
  • Patent number: 6449824
    Abstract: A device that is manually manipulated to engage and or grip the inside of a tube sufficiently to transmit an upward pull on a tube to loosen it and remove it from its stuck condition. Its use includes a special METHOD of jarring the tube; a feature that causes high impact upward forces to be transmitted to a tube. This aids tremendously in removing it from severely stuck conditions. The tube referred to is in the pipe extending up from the underground gas tanks at gasoline service stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: John Splawn Page, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6450931
    Abstract: A device for removing eyelets, in particular stainless steel eyelets, from textile or plastics sheets is provided. Eyelets in textiles or plastics sheets, for example in lorry tarpaulins, wear through in the course of their use and thus have as a rule a significantly shorter service life than the textile or plastics sheet. Thus, it is usual and economically worthwhile to replace the worn-through eyelets with new ones, in order thus to be able to exploit the total service life of the textile or plastics sheet. The removal of eyelets previously has been effected as a rule by hand, which is time consuming and uneconomical. Thus, there is provided a device for removing eyelets, in particular stainless steel eyelets, from textile or plastics sheets, having a claw head for pressing a beading of the eyelet in the direction of the eyelet center point or in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Helmut Frey
  • Patent number: 6434808
    Abstract: Hydraulic assembly tool having a tool fixed portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The tool fixed portion includes a hydraulic cylinder having a fluid pressure port at the proximal end of the tool fixed portion. The fluid pressure port is for receiving a fluid having a controllable pressure. The tool fixed portion includes a fixed jaw. The tool also has a moveable portion including a moveable jaw and a piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder, the piston receiving a hydraulic force from the pressurized fluid. There is a compression spring engaging the tool fixed portion and the tool moveable portion, the compression spring urging the tool moveable portion including the moveable jaw in a direction opposite the direction of the hydraulic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Albert A. McKay
  • Patent number: 6430790
    Abstract: A boiler tube peeler tool useful in connection with the removal of boiler tube flared-end segments from retention within a power boiler drum wall is provided with a tool guide element that slidably co-operates with boiler tube flared-end segment, and with a tool peeler element that slidably co-operates with the guide element and that peels unwanted gap metal from the boiler tube flared-end segment by shearing and bending when manually forced throughout the length of the retained boiler tube flared-end segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Cutting Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Haycook
  • Patent number: 6427304
    Abstract: A device for removing formlockingly anchored dowels including an anchor rod and an expansion sleeve (31) displaceable along the anchor rod, the device including a sleeve-shaped support member (2) having, at one of its ends, a support shoulder, an indexing projection (4) extending beyond the support shoulder (3) and provided with a load application element (5) movable in a tensile operational engagement with the load application element (32) of the dowel sleeve (31); and a through-bore provided with an inner thread for receiving a shaft (7) having an outer thread (8) cooperating with the inner thread of the through-bore (6) to provide for a relative axial displacement of the shaft (7) with respect tot he support member upon rotation of the shaft (7), the shaft (7) having identical coupling elements (11) provided at its opposite longitudinal ends, and an adaptor (12) including an elongate section (13) having at its free end connection element (14) corresponding to the coupling element (11) of the shaft (7) and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Kaibach, Stefan Raber, Hans-Jürgen Negele
  • Patent number: 6421898
    Abstract: A device separates a needle from a syringe before subsequent separate handling of the needle and the rest of the syringe. The needles are accumulated in a container made of stainless steel which is then put into a smelting furnace, thereby preventing the worker from being pricked and thus infected by the used needles. The plastic portions of the syringes are accumulated in another container for further handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: David Tsai
  • Patent number: 6415490
    Abstract: A portable power tool for mounting via press fit a machine part, like a pulley (37) onto a shaft (16) by the application of an axial press force on the pulley (37), comprises a housing (17), a reaction spindle (23) with a threaded end portion (34) for engaging a threaded bore (35) in the shaft (16), a push-carrier (44) axially movable by a motion converting device (40,41) rotationally powered by a standard type power wrench (10) via a planetary gearing (24) including a planet wheel carrier (28) connected to the output spindle (15) of the power wrench (10), a sun gear (26) on the reaction spindle (23) and a ring gear (29) connected to the motion converting device (40,41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventors: James Caruso, Dennis Wells Szabo, Karl Gunnar Björkman
  • Patent number: 6412160
    Abstract: An assembly for retaining a work piece and fitting together for placement in a swage machine. The assembly includes a die and a collar to keep the work piece from moving during the swaging process. The collar includes two clamping sections that are connected together, such as by a hinge. The collar is placed about the work piece and then clamped in place by a retaining bolt at the opposing end of the clamping sections. The die includes a recess for holding the collar and a recess for the tube. The assembly includes an anti-rotation feature to minimize rotation of the collar within the recess. One example of an anti-rotation feature is the formation of the recess and the collar in corresponding hexagonal shapes. The die may also include a recess for retaining a fitting to be swaged to the work piece. The die and collar assembly eliminates the need for nylon inserts and eliminates work piece rotation and axial movement during the automated swaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Carl Glessner, Norman Stanton Baylis
  • Patent number: 6386103
    Abstract: A printing sleeve removal device includes a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm movable with respect to the second jaw arm, the first and second jaw arms having ends forming a jaw to engage a printing sleeve. Also disclosed is a method for removing a printing sleeve comprising engaging a printing sleeve on a printing cylinder with a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm and moving the printing sleeve via the first and second jaw arms so as to slide the printing sleeve axially with respect to the printing cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: William Albert Charette, Christian Heinz Miescher, David Crowell Emery, Charles Henry Dufour
  • Patent number: 6378187
    Abstract: A ferromagnetic spring transfer apparatus employs a movable magnet residing outside of an enclosed pathway, magnetically aligns and holds the ferromagnetic spring while pneumatic cylinders move the spring within the enclosed pathway to a position where another pneumatic cylinder ejects the spring from the enclosed pathway into an assembly location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Commercial Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren T. Walker
  • Publication number: 20020035774
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a medical device is formed of at least three coupled movable blades which are disposed about a reference circle to form an aperture whose size may be varied. The aperture capable of being sized to contain a medical device. Each blade is in communication with an actuation device which is capable of moving the blade to alter the size of the aperture. Each blade includes a single radial point which a) lies on the circumference of the reference circle prior to movement of the blade, and b) may be moved only along a radius of the reference circle on movement of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Austin
  • Patent number: 6345426
    Abstract: A cylinder liner removal tool (11) is shown having a gripping portion (12) capable of expanding against the inner surface of the cylinder liner (14). The gripping portion (12) has a rod (26). Concentrically disposed about the rod (26) in trailing order is a stop (32), a plate (36), a cylindrical mandrel (38), a shoulder (42), a bearing (44), and a nut (40). The mandrel (38) is hollow having a recess (52). The shoulder (42) has a plug member (66) disposed within the recess (52). Torquing down upon the nut (40) compresses the mandrel (38) between a radially extending shelf member (62) of the shoulder (42) and the plate (36). The mandrel (38) thereby expands radially outward to frictionally grip the cylinder liner (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Reef Collier
  • Publication number: 20010045008
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that crimps an electrical wire having a water-proof plug onto a connector terminal in a given positional relationship and can be applied to an automatic assembling operation. In the vicinity of upper crimping members and lower crimping members of the apparatus which crimp an electrical wire having a water-proof plug onto the connector terminal, there are provided a water-proof plug positioning member which has a positioning protuberance used for placing a water-proof plug in a given position with respect to the front end of the connector terminal and a terminal positioning member which is vertically movable and engages with a positioning groove of the connector terminal. The front end face of a water-proof sealing section is brought into contact with the rear surface of a positioning protuberance, thereby placing the water-proof plug in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Fukase
  • Patent number: 6308402
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are for use in the manufacture of self-sealing reinforcement tie rods for reinforcing HVAC ducts, of the type including an elongated threaded rod having fastened inwardly of each end thereof an abutment structure comprising an elongated hollow tubular body having a bore therethrough for coaxially receiving the rod, the tubular body having a longitudinally inwardly located tubular crown portion for attachment to the rod, and a longitudinally outwardly located, radial outwardly protruding annular flange portion for abutting and bracing a duct wall. The apparatus includes a work plate having in the upper surface thereof a slot having a lower wall which slopes downwardly and radially inwardly towards the center of the work plate, on which are positioned a single file line of abutment structures, flange down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Stanley J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6286197
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an apparatus and method for removing a drive coupling component from an oil burner unit housing. A drive coupling comprises a first drive coupling end fitting disposed on an oil pump shaft, a second drive coupling end fitting disposed on a motor shaft and a drive coupling connector which connects the first and second drive coupling end fittings. The apparatus comprises a handle having a proximal and a distal end, a front wall contiguous with the distal end of said handle and including a proximal exterior surface and a distal interior surface. A receiver for receiving at least one drive coupling component is contiguous with the interior surface of the front wall. An engagement member, which engages a distal end of a second drive coupling end fitting, is contiguous with the distal end of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventors: Nikolay Polkhovskiy, Alan Greenwood
  • Patent number: 6247217
    Abstract: A puller jaw positioning cam regulates the relative inclination of puller jaws on a puller assembly, typical to slide hammers. The cam has a first end and a second end. Extending through the cam from the first end to the second end is an attachment means for operating the cam about the shaft of a puller assembly. The first end of the cam provides a series of guide elements which communicate with the puller jaws. Rotation of the cam causes the inclination of the puller jaws to change relative to the shaft and each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Gary Hartman Kilgore
  • Patent number: 6240626
    Abstract: A pressing device for joining workpieces has a pressing tool and a motorized drive for actuation of the pressing tool over a pressing distance, as well as a control device which has a drive control device for influencing the drive. The drive control device has a malfunction detection device which has an actual value sensor which is suitable for detecting, as the actual value, a physical magnitude which is correlated with the pressing resistance. At least one limit value profile for the actual value is retained in the malfunction detection device, and it has a comparison device which, during a pressing, checks whether the particular actual value lies on the permissible or impermissible side of the pertinent limit value profile. The malfunction detection device comprises a signal device and/or a shutdown device for the drive, which are/is activated if the actual value lies on the impermissible side of the pertinent limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Novopress GmbH Pressen und Presswerkzauge & Co. KG
    Inventor: Xuan Luong Nghiem
  • Patent number: 6240630
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading deposit material, such as an embolic coil, into a shape memory polymer (SMP) gripping/release mechanism. The apparatus enables the application of uniform pressure to secure a grip by the SMP mechanism on the deposit material via differential pressure between, for example, vacuum within the SMP mechanism and hydrostatic water pressure on the exterior of the SMP mechanism. The SMP tubing material of the mechanism is heated to above the glass transformation temperature (Tg) while reshaping, and subsequently cooled to below Tg to freeze the shape. The heating and/or cooling may, for example, be provided by the same water applied for pressurization or the heating can be applied by optical fibers packaged to the SMP mechanism for directing a laser beam, for example, thereunto. At a point of use, the deposit material is released from the SMP mechanism by reheating the SMP material to above the temperature Tg whereby it returns to its initial shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Abraham P. Lee, William J. Benett, Daniel L. Schumann, Peter A. Krulevitch, Joseph P. Fitch
  • Publication number: 20010001890
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a medical device is formed of at least three coupled movable blades which are disposed about a reference circle to form an aperture whose size may be varied. The aperture capable of being sized to contain a medical device. Each blade is in communication with an actuation device which is capable of moving the blade to alter the size of the aperture. Each blade includes a single radial point which a) lies on the circumference of the reference circle prior to movement of the blade, and b) may be moved only along a radius of the reference circle on movement of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventor: MICHAEL AUSTIN
  • Patent number: 6216326
    Abstract: A tube pulling apparatus has a body having a hydraulic fluid feeder tube extending to the body to pass oil under pressure therethrough. An inner shaft in the body has a hollow portion slidably mounted over the feeder tube and receives oil in an open area in the inner shaft. An inner piston is connected to the inner shaft and positioned to move the inner shaft responsive to oil pressure from a pair of oil lines. An outer shaft is slidably mounted over the inner shaft and has an outer piston connected thereto and positioned to move the outer shaft responsive to oil pressure from the oil lines. A spool valve is formed between the inner and outer shafts for activating the outer piston upon a predetermined movement of the inner shaft inside the outer shaft and a tube gripping mechanism is connected to both the inner and outer shafts for gripping and pulling a tube therewith by sliding the inner shaft to activate the gripping jaws and sliding the outer shaft to pull the gripped tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: Ronald A. Ritter, Michael R. Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 6202272
    Abstract: A device for enabling substantially uniform and tight crimping of an intravascular stent onto a balloon catheter assembly. The stent crimping device includes at least one compressible and resiliently expandable loop portion, that is expandable radially outwardly to enable supporting of the stent and catheter assembly thereon, and compressible radially inwardly to substantially uniformly and tightly crimp the stent onto the balloon catheter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6170145
    Abstract: A method of securing a termination element to an end portion of a wire rope, the termination element having an elongated, ductile tubular sleeve portion, including the steps of positioning the end portion of a wire rope within the tubular sleeve portion, positioning the sleeve portion between co-acting dies, the dies having an opening that is non-circular in cross-section, closing the dies a first time to deform the sleeve portion about the wire rope and into a non-circular external cross-section shape opening dies rotating the sleeve portion less than 180° closing the dies a second time to form the sleeve portion into a final external non-circular shape and opening the dies to remove the termination element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Crosby Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Lucas
  • Patent number: 6167605
    Abstract: A sterile tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is disclosed. The stent crimping tool includes two major components, a cylindrical body having external threads and a rotating collar with internal threads engaging the external threads. The collet end of the cylindrical body is split into segmented jaws that are biased to flare outward in an open state. A stent loaded onto a balloon catheter and situated inside the open segmented jaws can undergo a crimping operation when the collar is rotated and advances toward the flared open segmented jaws. When the collar engages the segmented jaws, the jaws are forced to converge and close onto the stent-catheter assembly thereby crimping the stent onto the balloon catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Morales
  • Patent number: 6161296
    Abstract: An alignment device for use in welding which includes a saddle style support which rests upon a first pipe. A second pipe is clamped to the saddle style support in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the first pipe upon which the saddle style support rests. The second pipe serves as a carrier member of a fitting, such as a weldolet. Cinch straps can be used with the saddle style support to facilitate welding on the underside of horizontal pipes or on vertical pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: John Leon Thomas Joseph Davio
  • Patent number: 6158099
    Abstract: An extraction tool for extracting a head rest retainer sleeve from a vehicle seat assembly comprising a tubular member seated within an opening in the vehicle seat assembly. The tubular member has a first end adjacent the opening and a second end disposed in the seat. A cylindrical, elongated retainer sleeve is received in the tubular member for slidably receiving a mounting post of a head rest. The retainer sleeve has a head portion covering the first end of the tubular member, a plurality of flexible locking wedges for engaging the second end of the tubular member to retain the sleeve in the tubular member and seat, and an inner wall defining an aperture extending between the head portion and the locking wedges for receiving the mounting post of the head rest. The extraction tool includes an cylindrical, elongated body member having upper and lower ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Atoma International Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Skrzypek
  • Patent number: 6141855
    Abstract: A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter. The stent crimping tool is constructed by curving and overlapping the ends of a flexible Mylar sheet and inserting the end portions through a thin slot of a rigid panel. The uncrimped stent and catheter assembly are placed within a cylindrical space formed by the curved and overlapping flexible sheet. A force is applied to the overlapping end portions to pull the flexible sheet through the slot thereby collapsing the cylindrical space and crimping the stent, held therein, onto the balloon. In another embodiment, the crimping tool is constructed from a mount having a grooved top with steeply sloped sides. The uncrimped catheter-stent assembly is placed on the mount and rests within the groove. A flexible sheet of Mylar is draped over the catheter-stent assembly and a downward force is applied to the end portions of the flexible sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Morales
  • Patent number: 6125523
    Abstract: A hand held tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon of a catheter is disclosed. The stent crimping tool is operated in one hand by squeezing two plates together while simultaneously displacing the plates linearly to crimp and roll the stent held between the plates. Specifically, the crimping tool includes a base plate with two bosses through which respective pins pass linking the base plate to a compression plate. The compression plate has elongated diameter openings at opposite sides thereof to receive the pins. With the elongated diameter openings, the compression plate can pivot at the pins and translate linearly relative to those pins thus enabling the rolling action during the crimping process. A compression profile pad and a tapered profile pad are attached to the crimping areas of the plates to grip and together apply pressure to the uncrimped stent held therebetween. The pads may include specific contours in order to impart a desired profile to the crimped stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brown, Stephen A. Morales
  • Patent number: 6108886
    Abstract: A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is constructed from a crimping section holding the stent and the balloon catheter therein, wherein the crimping is actuated by a shaft having an input end and an output end, engaging the crimping section at the output end. The shaft has a detent formed into the input end. A gripping member has an internal cavity to receive the input end, and includes a hole proximate to the shaft, wherein a ball bearing and a compression spring are located within the hole to bias the ball bearing toward the shaft and to engage the detent. When a torque is applied to the gripping member, it is transmitted through the ball bearing to the shaft; if the torque exceeds a predetermined magnitude, it overcomes the force of the spring on the ball bearing causing the bearing to slide out of the detent thereby disconnecting the applied torque from the shaft. The crimping section can be a rubber tube having a lumen holding the stent and catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventors: Richard M. Kimes, Michael S. Mirizzi
  • Patent number: 6098261
    Abstract: A tool kit for working wheel bearings, comprising at least a first punch for removing bearing cups from a wheel hub of a vehicle. The first punch comprises an elongated handle and a first punch head having a first effective width. The structure of the first punch head is such that when the first effective width thereof is selected to correspond to an inside diameter of first and second spaced-apart similar bearing cups in a wheel hub of a vehicle, the first punch head is usable for insertion through one of the bearing cups and for working one bearing cup at the time out of the wheel hub. In another aspect of the present invention, the tool kit comprises a second punch having a bearing retainer mounted thereon. The bearing retainer has a pair of spaced-apart fingers each having a tab extending outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Roland Goguen
  • Patent number: 6092273
    Abstract: A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is constructed from a stationary plate and a sliding platform connected to the stationary plate and slidable linearly relative thereto. A closing plate is hinged to the sliding platform so that it at least partially overlies the stationary plate in a down position, and swings away from the stationary plate to an up position, whereby the stent already having been hand crimped onto the balloon catheter is placed on the stationary plate from a lateral position, and the closing plate is moved to the down position to hold the stent between the closing plate and the stationary plate so that an external force on the closing plate as well as translational motion of the closing plate together crimp the stent onto the balloon catheter. The surfaces engaging the stent may be covered by elastomeric pads having ridges corresponding in location to respective rings or cylindrical elements of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Plaridel K. Villareal
  • Patent number: 6088898
    Abstract: A puller tool is comprised of a finger guide member having a central through bore and containing one or more fingers arranged for radial movement therein, an elongated actuating member having a rearward end and a forward end which passes through the central through bore. The finger guide member is positioned between the forward and rearward end, and an engagement head is mounted to the forward end of the elongated actuating member and is operatively arranged to contact the one or more fingers and cause the radial movement when the engagement head is moved toward the finger guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: James D. Lundsten
  • Patent number: 6074192
    Abstract: A lenticular pattern forming roll, used for forming a lenticular screen, includes a chill roll and a lenticular sleeve positioned on the chill roll. The lenticular sleeve has a lenticular pattern formed on an outer surface for forming a corresponding lenticular pattern in a plastic sheet. The sleeve may be readily manufactured and transported to a desired location to be installed on the chill roll. The lenticular pattern forming roll may be readily used in combination with an extruder for extruding a hot plastic sheet to form the lenticular screen. The sleeve may also be removed from the chill roll and transported for resurfacing and without requiring transporting of the chill roll. The lenticular sleeve may preferably comprise a nickel-phosphorous composition defining at least a radially outermost portion of the sleeve in which the lenticular pattern is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Oystein Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 6073329
    Abstract: A fixture for use in assembling a first element and a second element is provided. The first element is substantially in shaft type and the second element includes a sleeve defining an axial channel. The first element is received within the axial channel in a non-engagement condition before assembly. The assembly fixture includes a lower mold device and an upper mold device. The lower mold device is used to place the first element and the second element in a non-engagement condition before assembly. The upper mold device includes a rotatable concentricity alignment device. As the upper mode device and lower mold device are operated under a mold-press condition, the concentricity alignment device automatically performs concentricity alignment procedure of first element with regard to the sleeve of the second element and accomplishes the press fit process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Tung-Lung Lin
  • Patent number: 6070314
    Abstract: A device for coaxially connecting a coupler to a reinforcement bar including a threaded joint tool for the attachment of the coupler by the threaded portion of the coupler, a hollow double action jack body, and an extrusion tool. The extrusion tool is translatable along the axis of the coupler so as to allow for regular deformation of the material of the coupler in order to induce the connection on a reinforcement bar. A counter-pressure device is provided on the coupler so as to exert a force on the coupler in an opposite direction to that which is applied by the extrusion tool. The counter-pressure device serves to induce the connection of the coupler on the reinforcement bar by automatically controlling the elongation of the material of the coupler induced by the force of the extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Dextra Europe
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Pithon
  • Patent number: 6071110
    Abstract: A polishing roll, used for forming a smooth plastic sheet, includes a chill roll and a polishing sleeve positioned on the chill roll. The polishing sleeve has a polished outer surface for forming a corresponding smooth surface in a plastic sheet. The sleeve may be readily manufactured and transported to a desired location to be installed on the chill roll. The polishing roll may be readily used in combination with an extruder for extruding a hot plastic sheet to form the smooth plastic sheet. The sleeve may also be removed from the chill roll and transported for resurfacing and without requiring transporting of the chill roll. The sleeve may preferably comprise a nickel-phosphorous composition defining at least a radially outermost portion of the sleeve in which the polished surface is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Oystein Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 6018857
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mounting a stent onto the balloon of a balloon catheter. In one embodiment, a kit is provided that includes two instruments, a first being a loader tool and a second being a profiler tool. The loader tool can be a handheld device that includes a handle at one end of the tool. A tube extends outwardly from the handle, and a wire extends is axially through the tube and projects outwardly from the tube. A balloon catheter can slide along the central wire until the balloon is delivered into the interior of the tube. A stent that is disposed about the periphery of the tube can be mounted onto the balloon by grasping the handle of the loader tool and pulling the handle and tube away from the catheter and stent whine the catheter and stent are maintained in a fixed relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: AVE Connaught
    Inventors: James Duffy, Geraldine Standish