Patents by Inventor Michael D. McKenna

Michael D. McKenna 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: 6305664
    Abstract: A proportional variable bleed solenoid valve that includes magnetic force adjustments to provide magnetic calibration. The control valve includes a housing defining a chamber, where an electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin and is coaxially mounted within the housing. A movable armature is coaxially positioned within the bobbin in the chamber and has an armature poppet valve extending form a bottom end of the armature. An armature spring is in contact with an upper end of the armature and a top wall of the bobbin, where the spring positions the armature in an initial position when the coil is not energized and where the armature moves to a second position in conjunction with the bias of the armature spring when the coil is energized. A pole piece is mounted to the housing and is positioned adjacent to the lower end of the armature to define an air gap between the pole piece and the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett R. Holmes, Michael D. McKenna
  • Patent number: 6068237
    Abstract: A proportional variable bleed solenoid valve that includes magnetic force adjustments to provide magnetic calibration. The control valve includes a housing defining a chamber, where an electromagnetic coil is wound on a bobbin and is coaxially mounted within the housing. A movable armature is coaxially positioned within the bobbin in the chamber and has an armature poppet valve extending form a bottom end of the armature. An armature spring is in contact with an upper end of the armature and a top wall of the bobbin, where the spring positions the armature in an initial position when the coil is not energized and where the armature moves to a second position in conjunction with the bias of the armature spring when the coil is energized. A pole piece is mounted to the housing and is positioned adjacent to the lower end of the armature to define an air gap between the pole piece and the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett R. Holmes, Michael D. McKenna