Patents by Inventor John A. Steen

John A. Steen 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: 8056350
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling, comprising: a liquid pump for transport of fluid through a heating cycle, an external heat source for heating the fluid in the heating cycle, for example a solar heater directly connected to the heating cycle or connected through a heat exchanger, an expander with an expander inlet and an expander outlet, the expander inlet having a fluid connection to the external heat source for receiving fluid in the gas phase to drive the expander by expanding the fluid, a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, the compressor being driven by the expander for compressing working fluid from a low pressure compressor inlet gas to a high pressure compressor outlet gas, a first heat exchanger with a fluid connection to the compressor outlet and connected to the expander inlet for transfer of heat from the high pressure compressor outlet gas to the fluid in the heating cycle, a second heat exchanger with a condenser for condensing the working fluid from the expander by energy trans
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: AC-Sun ApS
    Inventors: Gunnar Minds, Søren Minds, John Steen Jensen
  • Publication number: 20090266096
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling, comprising: a liquid pump for transport of fluid through a heating cycle, an external heat source for heating the fluid in the heating cycle, for example a solar heater directly connected to the heating cycle or connected through a heat exchanger, an expander with an expander inlet and an expander outlet, the expander inlet having a fluid connection to the external heat source for receiving fluid in the gas phase to drive the expander by expanding the fluid, a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, the compressor being driven by the expander for compressing working fluid from a low pressure compressor inlet gas to a high pressure compressor outlet gas, a first heat exchanger with a fluid connection to the compressor outlet and connected to the expander inlet for transfer of heat from the high pressure compressor outlet gas to the fluid in the heating cycle, a second heat exchanger with a condenser for condensing the working fluid from the expander by energy trans
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Gunnar Minds, Soren Minds, John Steen Jensen
  • Patent number: 6652491
    Abstract: A medical device is provided that includes a catheter and a stylet positioned in the catheter. The stylet is configured to guide the catheter through a passage of a patient. The stylet is preferable tubular and made of a shape-memory material that changes shape when heated to bend or turn the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Catheter Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Walker, John A. Steen
  • Patent number: 6581450
    Abstract: Traditional mechanical fuel gauges do not provide an accurate measurement of a vehicle's fuel capacity. As a result, vehicle manufacturer's incur considerable losses when delivering cars with unused fuel. The present invention, therefore, provides a method and system for accurately determining an amount of fuel required to transport a vehicle a known distance. This is achieved by utilizing a fuel measurement device (FMD) which can be inserted into a vehicles fuel tank. Upon removing the FMD from the fuel tank, one can then determine the amount of fuel that is required to travel a particular distance at a particular fuel consumption rate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the FMD is held by a holding device. The purpose of the holding device is to minimize the size of the FMD such that the FMD can be disposed of with minimal waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: John Steen
  • Patent number: 6481601
    Abstract: An insert is positioned in an opening in a fluid container and between a closure member and the fluid container. The insert generally includes a funnel and an obstructive member disposed therewithin. The insert inhibits evaporative emissions from the fluid container by seating against a conical body portion of the funnel when the fluid container is in an upright or storage position. When the fluid container is in a tilted or use position, the obstructive member locates to an outlet end of the funnel to create a passage from an inlet end of the funnel to the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kevin John Steen
  • Publication number: 20020166879
    Abstract: An insert is positioned in an opening in a fluid container and between a closure member and the fluid container. The insert generally includes a funnel and an obstructive member disposed therewithin. The insert inhibits evaporative emissions from the fluid container by seating against a conical body portion of the funnel when the fluid container is in an upright or storage position. When the fluid container is in a tilted or use position, the obstructive member locates to an outlet end of the funnel to create a passage from an inlet end of the funnel to the outlet end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin John Steen
  • Patent number: 5531685
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible tubular member containing a shape-memory tube formed to include a lumen extending along the central axis of the tubular member. A liner sleeve extends through the lumen of the shape-memory tube and lies inside the tubular member. A control system selectively heats the shape-memory tube to its activated state causing the shape-memory tube to move toward a predetermined shape if it is different than its present configuration. Whether the shape-memory tube moves or not, it will increase significantly in stiffness, both axial and bending to help retain, hold, or wedge the apparatus in place in a selected body cavity while catheters or other objects are passed through a lumen in the liner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignees: Catheter Research, Inc., Schneider (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Chad G. Hemmer, John A. Steen, Michael R. Forman, Jonathan R. McGrath