Patents by Inventor Jeffrey S. Sterling

Jeffrey S. Sterling 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: 5685152
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage and conversion system that captures thermal energy from solar collectors, stores thermal energy in a first heated medium, converts a portion of stored thermal energy to mechanical energy by utilization of a heat engine, converts a second portion of stored thermal energy to a thermal energy sink by utilization of a refrigeration device, and stores a portion of thermal energy sink for use later. While the sun is shining, energy is collected and stored in first heated medium. Both during day and night, a portion of stored energy in first heated storage medium is transferred to first refrigerant that vaporizes and provides mechanical energy to heat engine. A second portion of stored thermal energy in first heated medium is transferred, as needed, to second refrigerant which vaporizes and removes from second fluid medium a quantity of heat including second fluid medium's heat of fusion, thereby freezing the second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Sterling