Patents by Inventor Kevin Mills

Kevin Mills 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: 10041450
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a tank of a vehicle is disclosed. A valve body is adapted to be attached to the tank. A seat is disposed inside the valve body and defines an outlet for venting the tank. A float is disposed inside the valve body and is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the valve body in response to a liquid fluid level inside the tank. A support is coupled to the float and is movable with the float between the first and second positions. A sealing member is attached to the support and has an engagement portion supported by a base to define a space between the engagement portion and the support to allow movement of the engagement portion between an initial position when in the first position and a displaced position when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Walkowski, Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Patent number: 9900945
    Abstract: A lighting device includes a first group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are in series with each other and that emit a first light having a first correlated color temperature (CCT). The lighting device further includes a second group of LEDs that are in series with each other and that emit a second light having a second CCT. The lighting device also includes an active electrical component in series with the second group of LEDs. The lighting device further includes a switch coupled in series with the second group of LEDs and the electrical component. The first group of LEDs is in a parallel configuration with the switch, the second group of LEDs, and the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Raymond Janik, Ninglian Wang, Russell Scott Trask, Kevin Mills
  • Publication number: 20170328311
    Abstract: An evaporative emissions control system includes a first vent valve configured to selectively open and close a first vent, a second vent valve configured to selectively open and close a second vent, a fuel level sensor configured to sense a fuel level in the fuel tank, a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure in the fuel tank, an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle, and a controller configured to regulate operation of the first and second vent valves to provide pressure relief for the fuel tank. The controller is programmed to determine if a refueling event is occurring based one signals indicating the fuel level is increasing, the pressure in the fuel tank is increasing, and the vehicle is not moving, and open at least one of the first and second vent valves based on determining the refueling event is occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Max Russell Franklin, Nikhil Nahar, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Mark Beaupre, Sudeep Motilal Solanki, Matthew Memmer, Steven L. Ambrose, Robert P. Benjey, Kenneth Brauning, Santosh Balasaheb Patil, Atish Dinkar Gawale, Santosh Kumar Sharma, Hrushikesh Arun Barve, Pritam Bhurke
  • Patent number: 9796262
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a tank of a vehicle and a method of creating a vacuum are disclosed. A valve body defines a cavity and an outlet in fluid communication with the cavity for venting the tank. The assembly includes a seat disposed in the cavity of the valve body. The seat separates the cavity into first and second cavity portions. The seat defines an aperture to provide fluid communication between the first and second cavity portions. The assembly includes a cover device disposed between the seat and the outlet. The cover device defines at least one hole therethrough. The cover device is movable between a rest position engaging the seat to minimize fluid communication between the aperture and the hole and an actuated position spaced from the seat to increase fluid communication between the aperture and the hole when a vacuum is created in the first cavity portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Publication number: 20170253116
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a seat separating a cavity of a valve body into a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion. The assembly includes a cover device separating the first cavity portion into a first pocket and a second pocket. The cover device defines at least one hole to provide fluid communication between an aperture of the seat and an outlet of the valve body via the hole. The cover device is movable between a rest position to restrict fluid communication between the aperture and the hole, and an actuated position to increase fluid communication between the aperture and the hole when a vacuum is created in the first cavity portion. The aperture is in direct fluid communication with the first pocket when in the actuated position. The outlet is in direct fluid communication with the second pocket when in the rest and actuated positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Publication number: 20170226388
    Abstract: A hot-melt adhesive composition is disclosed. The hot melt adhesive comprises a) 25 to 95 wt %, preferably 50 to 85 wt % of at least one polyolefin-based polymer; b) 1 to 75 wt %, preferably 1 to 40 wt % of at least one tackifying resin; c) 0 to 15 wt % of at least one plasticizer; and d) 0 to 30 wt % of at least one additive and/or adjuvant selected from among stabilizers, adhesion promoters, fillers or pigments, waxes, and/or other polymers or combinations thereof, characterized in that the at least one polyolefin-based polymer is a mixture of: a1) at least one first polyolefin-based polymer with a molecular weight Mn of <10,000 g/mol in a quantity of 20 to 80 wt % with respect to the total quantity of polyolefin-based polymer, and a2) at least one second polyolefin-based polymer with a molecular weight Mn of >10,000 g/mol in a quantity of 20 to 80 wt % with respect to the total quantity of polyolefin-based polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Bernhard Herlfterkamp, Eckhard Puerkner, Andy Swain, Wolfgang Klingberg, Marcel Huebenthal, Mario Eckers, Stefan Strenger, Julia Thomas, Oliver Klewe, Kevin Mills, Alexander Caspers, Michael Schroettle, George Easdown
  • Patent number: 9139084
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fuel tank for a small engine includes a housing. A membrane is supported by the housing such that the membrane covers a housing opening. The membrane allows the passage of vapor through the membrane and into the housing cavity and prevents the passage of liquid through the membrane. A pressure relief valve is supported by the housing to control flow of a vapor through the housing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Lorenz Erdmann, Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Publication number: 20150144204
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a tank of a vehicle is disclosed. A valve body is adapted to be attached to the tank. A seat is disposed inside the valve body and defines an outlet for venting the tank. A float is disposed inside the valve body and is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the valve body in response to a liquid fluid level inside the tank. A support is coupled to the float and is movable with the float between the first and second positions. A sealing member is attached to the support and has an engagement portion supported by a base to define a space between the engagement portion and the support to allow movement of the engagement portion between an initial position when in the first position and a displaced position when in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Walkowski, Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Publication number: 20150096625
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a tank of a vehicle and a method of creating a vacuum are disclosed. A valve body defines a cavity and an outlet in fluid communication with the cavity for venting the tank. The assembly includes a seat disposed in the cavity of the valve body. The seat separates the cavity into first and second cavity portions. The seat defines an aperture to provide fluid communication between the first and second cavity portions. The assembly includes a cover device disposed between the seat and the outlet. The cover device defines at least one hole therethrough. The cover device is movable between a rest position engaging the seat to minimize fluid communication between the aperture and the hole and an actuated position spaced from the seat to increase fluid communication between the aperture and the hole when a vacuum is created in the first cavity portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Publication number: 20140290628
    Abstract: A system for containing liquid and venting vapor includes a liquid containment tank having an interior space. A first conduit is external to and operatively connected with the tank. The first conduit has a first internal passage fluidly communicable with the interior space. A second conduit is external to the tank, and has a second internal passage. A liquid vapor discriminating (LVD) valve is external to the tank and has a housing defining an inlet connected to the first conduit, an outlet connected to the second conduit, and an internal housing cavity. The valve includes a membrane filter positioned in the internal housing cavity between the inlet and the outlet. The membrane filter is configured to prevent the passage of liquid through the membrane and allow the passage of vapor through the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Vaughn Kevin Mills, Matthew Lorenz Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20130269804
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fuel tank for a small engine includes a housing. A membrane is supported by the housing such that the membrane covers a housing opening. The membrane allows the passage of vapor through the membrane and into the housing cavity and prevents the passage of liquid through the membrane. A pressure relief valve is supported by the housing to control flow of a vapor through the housing cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew Lorenz Erdmann, Vaughn Kevin Mills
  • Patent number: D706389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D706390
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D728746
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D728747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D731621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ryan Kirk Whitmore
  • Patent number: D747784
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D750746
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Bruce McLauchlan, Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton, Steven Lee Ambrose, Robert Dean Keller, Daniel Lee Pifer
  • Patent number: D764026
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ronald Earl Sexton
  • Patent number: D764629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Vaughn Kevin Mills, Ryan Kirk Whitmore