Patents by Inventor Kevin K. Sterr

Kevin K. Sterr 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: 7621227
    Abstract: A granular biomass burning furnace for use with any appropriate granular biomass, such as grains, cherry pits, etc. The furnace includes a three stage heat exchanger, a fuel injector, a fuel stirrer, an ash ejector, a wash down system, a three stage air inducer, a fuel igniter, and supporting components. The unit includes a computer controller which controls all aspects of the operation of the unit based on information from sensors located throughout the unit. The unit includes a smart logic thermal controller to adjust the output heat of the unit via a variable speed air inducer. The three stage heat exchanger system includes a spiral water jacket surrounding the burn pot, a plurality of heat exchanger baffles in the unit, and a fine finned heat exchanger at the top of the unit. The air inducer provides air to the burn pot from three directions to promote complete combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Kevin K. Sterr
  • Patent number: 4951311
    Abstract: A telephone includes a lamp pivotally mounted to the telephone housing. An inductive pick-up detects an incoming call on a telephone line and actuates a switching device to energize the lamp if the ambient light level adjacent the telephone is below a predetermined level as determined by a photosensor on the telephone housing. After disconnection of the call, a time delay circuit de-energizes the lamp after a predetermined time interval. The ambient light level at which the lamp will be illuminated and the time delay between call disconnection and lamp shut-off are programmable by a user. A manual override switch allows activation or deactivation of the lamp independently of detection of an incoming call or the ambient light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Kevin K. Sterr