Patents by Inventor Grant Stepa

Grant Stepa 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: 20240337391
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Grant Stepa, Peter Kerr
  • Patent number: 12078363
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Grant Stepa, Peter Kerr
  • Patent number: 12025323
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Grant Stepa, Peter Kerr
  • Publication number: 20210356141
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Grant Stepa, Peter Kerr
  • Patent number: 10962237
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Rheem Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Grant Stepa, Peter Kerr
  • Publication number: 20200333045
    Abstract: An electric water heater tank adapted for connection to a controller, the tank including one or more electrical heating elements temperature sensing means mounted on the exterior of the tank wall and adapted to obtain a measurement of the temperature of the water in the tank, the temperature sensing means and each heating element being connected to an externally accessible connection means. The tank can include one or more heating element control means each connected to a corresponding one of the heating elements. The element control means can be connected to the externally accessible connection means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Lee KERNICH, Brendan BOURKE, Peter KERR, Quentin Arthur Carl ADAM, Grant STEPA
  • Publication number: 20190334350
    Abstract: A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Grant Stepa, Peter Kerr