Patents by Inventor Kevin Plymale

Kevin Plymale 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).

  • Publication number: 20110017178
    Abstract: A purge control valve control system is provided for an internal combustion engine system, comprising: a voltage source having a positive potential and a negative potential; a purge control valve having a solenoid, such solenoid comprising an electrically inductive element, such inductive element having a first terminal coupled to the positive potential of the voltage source; a diode having an anode and a cathode. The control unit includes a transistor having: a control electrode fed by a train of pulses; a first electrode coupled to the negative potential of the voltage source; and a second electrode coupled to a second terminal of the inductive element and to the diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: William Keith McDonald, Keith Scott Koller, Eric A. Macke, Kevin Plymale, Niels Christopher Kragh, Scott Bohr, Eric David Bramson, Dennis Harrigan
  • Patent number: 7815164
    Abstract: A low noise valve assembly (24) mitigates noise induced by near sonic gas flow encountering stagnant flow in the region of the valve (24). An inlet tube (10) terminates in an annular chamber (12). An outlet tube (17) has a generally annular valve seat (14) disposed within the chamber (12). The valve (24) moves toward and away from a closed condition in direct contact with the valve seat (14). The valve (24) includes an insert body (26) that is spatially segregated from direct contact with the outlet tube (17) while partially filling the flow channel (16) of the outlet tube (17) when the valve (24) is in its closed condition. The insert body (26) has a generally circular base with a diameter that is larger than the throat diameter (T), which is the internal diameter of the flow channel (16) adjacent the valve (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Dong, Kevin Plymale, Mohammad Usman
  • Publication number: 20090188573
    Abstract: A low noise valve assembly (24) mitigates noise induced by near sonic gas flow encountering stagnant flow in the region of the valve (24). An inlet tube (10) terminates in an annular chamber (12). An outlet tube (17) has a generally annular valve seat (14) disposed within the chamber (12). The valve (24) moves toward and away from a closed condition in direct contact with the valve seat (14). The valve (24) includes an insert body (26) that is spatially segregated from direct contact with the outlet tube (17) while partially filling the flow channel (16) of the outlet tube (17) when the valve (24) is in its closed condition. The insert body (26) has a generally circular base with a diameter that is larger than the throat diameter (T), which is the internal diameter of the flow channel (16) adjacent the valve (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mike Dong, Kevin Plymale, Mohammad Usman