Patents by Inventor Austin P. Zeller
Austin P. Zeller 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).
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Patent number: 11740646Abstract: An energy management system includes an energy input sensor, an energy output sensor and a system controller. The energy input sensor is configured to generate at least one energy input signal indicating an energy flow to an energy storage medium of an energy storage device. The energy output sensor is configured to generate at least one energy output signal indicating an energy flow from the energy storage medium. The system controller is configured to estimate a charge level of the energy storage medium based on an initial charge level of the energy storage medium and a change in the charge level of the energy storage medium, which is based on the at least one energy input signal and the at least one energy output signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Steffes, LLCInventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter, Todd C. Mayer, Paul J. Steffes
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Patent number: 11306942Abstract: A heat pump water heater includes a tank, a first condenser, a second condenser, a heat pump, valving and a controller. The tank includes an interior cavity, an input port and an output port. The first condenser and second condenser each include an input port and an output port. The heat pump drives a fluid in a heated state through an output. A first setting of the valving fluidically couples the heat pump output to the input port of the first condenser, and fluidically disconnects the heat pump output from the input port of the second condenser. A second setting of the valving fluidically couples the heat pump output to the input port of the second condenser, and fluidically disconnects the heat pump output from the input port of the first condenser. The controller selectively directs the valving to the first or second setting.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Steffes CorporationInventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Paul J. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter
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Publication number: 20220083088Abstract: An energy management system includes an energy input sensor, an energy output sensor and a system controller. The energy input sensor is configured to generate at least one energy input signal indicating an energy flow to an energy storage medium of an energy storage device. The energy output sensor is configured to generate at least one energy output signal indicating an energy flow from the energy storage medium. The system controller is configured to estimate a charge level of the energy storage medium based on an initial charge level of the energy storage medium and a change in the charge level of the energy storage medium, which is based on the at least one energy input signal and the at least one energy output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter, Todd C. Mayer, Paul J. Steffes
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Patent number: 11209852Abstract: An energy management system includes an energy input sensor, an energy output sensor and a system controller. The energy input sensor is configured to generate at least one energy input signal indicating an energy flow to an energy storage medium of an energy storage device. The energy output sensor is configured to generate at least one energy output signal indicating an energy flow from the energy storage medium. The system controller is configured to estimate a charge level of the energy storage medium based on an initial charge level of the energy storage medium and a change in the charge level of the energy storage medium, which is based on the at least one energy input signal and the at least one energy output signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Steffes CorporationInventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter, Todd C. Mayer, Paul J. Steffes
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Publication number: 20210041142Abstract: A heat pump water heater includes a tank, a first condenser, a second condenser, a heat pump, valving and a controller. The tank includes an interior cavity, an input port and an output port. The first condenser and second condenser each include an input port and an output port. The heat pump drives a fluid in a heated state through an output. A first setting of the valving fluidically couples the heat pump output to the input port of the first condenser, and fluidically disconnects the heat pump output from the input port of the second condenser. A second setting of the valving fluidically couples the heat pump output to the input port of the second condenser, and fluidically disconnects the heat pump output from the input port of the first condenser. The controller selectively directs the valving to the first or second setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2019Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Paul J. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter
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Publication number: 20190294193Abstract: An energy management system includes an energy input sensor, an energy output sensor and a system controller. The energy input sensor is configured to generate at least one energy input signal indicating an energy flow to an energy storage medium of an energy storage device. The energy output sensor is configured to generate at least one energy output signal indicating an energy flow from the energy storage medium. The system controller is configured to estimate a charge level of the energy storage medium based on an initial charge level of the energy storage medium and a change in the charge level of the energy storage medium, which is based on the at least one energy input signal and the at least one energy output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joshua P. Vetter, Todd C. Mayer, Paul J. Steffes
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Patent number: 10186879Abstract: An energy storage device includes a device controller, an electrical energy converter, an energy storage medium and a power metering device. In a method of managing electrical power consumption by a group of the energy storage devices, a measured power level is output from the power metering device of each energy storage device. The power level represents a rate of electrical energy consumption by the electrical energy converter of the device. The measured power levels of each of the devices are communicated to a system controller using the device controllers. An aggregate power level is calculated based on the measured power levels, and is stored in memory using the system controller. In some embodiments, the aggregate power level is communicated to a remote location, such as an electrical power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Steffes CorporationInventors: Paul J. Steffes, Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller
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Patent number: 10101712Abstract: In a method of controlling energy consumption from an electrical power distribution system by energy storage devices, a first electrical load range for a first period in the future is communicated to the electrical power distribution system using a controller comprising a processor. A plurality of commands from the electrical power distribution system are received during the first period using the controller. A rate of electrical energy consumption by the group of energy storage devices is adjusted during the first period to a value within the first electrical load range responsive to each of the commands using the controller. A portion of the energy consumed by the group of energy storage devices is then stored in energy storage mediums of the devices during the first period.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Steffes CorporationInventors: Paul J. Steffes, Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joe E. Fude
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Patent number: 9732983Abstract: A system includes a cold water supply, a water heater, a mixing valve, and one or more water use fixtures. The water heater includes a tank, a first temperature sensor configured to output a first temperature signal indicative of a water temperature of water in the tank, a heating device, and a water heater controller configured to control the water heater based on the first temperature signal and an operating temperature setting. The mixing valve outputs a mixed water flow, which is a combination of a hot water flow and a cold water flow, to the water use fixtures. A second temperature sensor outputs a second temperature signal indicative of a water flow temperature of the mixed water flow or the hot water flow, and a system controller selectively deactivates the water heater based on the second temperature signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Steffes CorporationInventors: Austin P. Zeller, Thomas P. Steffes
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Publication number: 20160344204Abstract: An energy storage device includes a device controller, an electrical energy converter, an energy storage medium and a power metering device. In a method of managing electrical power consumption by a group of the energy storage devices, a measured power level is output from the power metering device of each energy storage device. The power level represents a rate of electrical energy consumption by the electrical energy converter of the device. The measured power levels of each of the devices are communicated a system controller using the device controllers. An aggregate power level is calculated based on the measured power levels, and is stored in memory using the system controller. In some embodiments, the aggregate power level is communicated to a remote location, such as an electrical power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Paul J. Steffes, Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller
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Publication number: 20150063793Abstract: A system includes a cold water supply, a water heater, a mixing valve, and one or more water use fixtures. The water heater includes a tank, a first temperature sensor configured to output a first temperature signal indicative of a water temperature of water in the tank, a heating device, and a water heater controller configured to control the water heater based on the first temperature signal and an operating temperature setting. The mixing valve outputs a mixed water flow, which is a combination of a hot water flow and a cold water flow, to the water use fixtures. A second temperature sensor outputs a second temperature signal indicative of a water flow temperature of the mixed water flow or the hot water flow, and a system controller selectively deactivates the water heater based on the second temperature signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Austin P. Zeller, Thomas P. Steffes
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Publication number: 20130096728Abstract: In a method of controlling energy consumption from an electrical power distribution system by energy storage devices, a first electrical load range for a first period in the future is communicated to the electrical power distribution system using a controller comprising a processor. A plurality of commands from the electrical power distribution system are received during the first period using the controller. A rate of electrical energy consumption by the group of energy storage devices is adjusted during the first period to a value within the first electrical load range responsive to each of the commands using the controller. A portion of the energy consumed by the group of energy storage devices is then stored in energy storage mediums of the devices during the first period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: STEFFES CORPORATIONInventors: Paul J. Steffes, Thomas P. Steffes, Austin P. Zeller, Joe E. Fude