Patents by Inventor Dale C. Killins

Dale C. Killins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7350616
    Abstract: A power steering pump comprises a housing that includes a bore, a fluid discharge port that supplies pumped fluid into the bore, and a fluid bypass port for recycling excess fluid to the pumping elements. The pump outlet is at one end of the bore. A flow control valve is slideably received in the bore and regulate the size of the inlet to the fluid bypass port. The pump includes a solenoid assembly that has a plunger that is operatively connected to the flow control valve through the second end of the bore opposite the pump outlet. By adjusting the magnitude of the current to the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid assembly, the position of the flow control valve is varied to increase or decrease fluid flow to the fluid bypass port and thereby regulate the output from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Youngpeter, Dale C. Killins, Stephen T. Hung, Timothy M. Staton, Scott L. Radabaugh
  • Patent number: 6899528
    Abstract: A power steering pump comprises, as main elements, a cam plate, a discharge cover plate and a suction cover plate that cooperate to define a cam chamber, a fluid discharge passage and fluid suction passage for the pump. The cam chamber is formed in the cam plate. The discharge cover plate includes a face that abuts a first face of the cam plate and includes a recess that cooperates with first cam plate face to define a fluid discharge passage. A suction cover plate includes a suction cover face that abuts a second face of the cam plate and comprises a recess that cooperates with the second cam plate face to define a suction passage. The power steering pump further comprises a rotor within the cam chamber and comprising slideable vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Youngpeter, Dale C. Killins, Stephen T. Hung, Timothy M. Staton, Scott L. Radabaugh
  • Patent number: 6845309
    Abstract: A power steering system includes at least one motor to assist the operator of a vehicle in turning the wheels and steering the vehicle and at least one computer or microprocessor controller. One of the processors adjusts the motor assist torque to reduce the driver effort based on specified requirements defined by boost curves. A second microprocessor controller uses an algorithm to calculate the output of the power steering motor, and compare the relationship between the driver torque and the power assist torque. If the relationship between the two is out of specified bounds, then the power steering assist is deemed inappropriate and the power system may go to a power-off state to assure that the motor does not generate an undesirable torque that has not been requested by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrel A. Recker, Dale C. Killins, Ashraf A. Zeid, Robert A. Stopper, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040040595
    Abstract: A power steering pump for an automotive power steering system or the like comprises a housing defining a bore and a fluid discharge port and a fluid bypass port communicating with the bore. A flow control assembly is received in the bore and comprises a cartridge that includes a first opening for admitting fluid from the fluid discharge port and a second opening communicating with the fluid bypass port. A flow control valve slides to open and close the fluid bypass port. The flow control valve is biased in the closed position by a coil spring and a retainer. During assembly of the flow control valve, the coil spring and the retainer within the cartridge, the spring compression force may be measured, and the position of the retainer adjusted, to obtain a predetermined opening force for the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Youngpeter, Dale C. Killins, Stephen T. Hung, Timothy M. Staton, Scott L. Radabaugh
  • Publication number: 20040042913
    Abstract: A power steering pump comprises, as main elements, a cam plate, a discharge cover plate and a suction cover plate that cooperate to define a cam chamber, a fluid discharge passage and fluid suction passage for the pump. The cam chamber is formed in the cam plate. The discharge cover plate includes a face that abuts a first face of the cam plate and includes a recess that cooperates with first cam plate face to define a fluid discharge passage. A suction cover plate includes a suction cover face that abuts a second face of the cam plate and comprises a recess that cooperates with the second cam plate face to define a suction passage. The power steering pump further comprises a rotor within the cam chamber and comprising slideable vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Youngpeter, Dale C. Killins, Stephen T. Hung, Timothy M. Staton, Scott L. Radabaugh
  • Publication number: 20040042912
    Abstract: A power steering pump comprises a housing that includes a bore, a fluid discharge port that supplies pumped fluid into the bore, and a fluid bypass port for recycling excess fluid to the pumping elements. The pump outlet is at one end of the bore. A flow control valve is slideably received in the bore and regulate the size of the inlet to the fluid bypass port. The pump includes a solenoid assembly that has a plunger that is operatively connected to the flow control valve through the second end of the bore opposite the pump outlet. By adjusting the magnitude of the current to the electromagnetic coil of the solenoid assembly, the position of the flow control valve is varied to increase or decrease fluid flow to the fluid bypass port and thereby regulate the output from the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Youngpeter, Dale C. Killins, Stephen T. Hung, Timothy M. Staton, Scott L. Radabaugh
  • Publication number: 20030144780
    Abstract: A power steering system includes at least one motor to assist the operator of a vehicle in turning the wheels and steering the vehicle and at least one computer or microprocessor controller. One of the processors adjusts the motor assist torque to reduce the driver effort based on specified requirements defined by boost curves. A second microprocessor controller uses an algorithm to calculate the output of the power steering motor, and compare the relationship between the driver torque and the power assist torque. If the relationship between the two is out of specified bounds, then the power steering assist is deemed inappropriate and the power system may go to a power-off state to assure that the motor does not generate an undesirable torque that has not been requested by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrel A. Recker, Dale C. Killins, Ashraf A. Zeid, Robert A. Stopper