Patents by Inventor Robert C. Steele
Robert C. Steele 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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Publication number: 20210292224Abstract: Both a hydraulic (wet) separation process and a dry separation process are used in combination to recover sand, bentonite clay and organics from foundry waste created during operation of a green sand foundry. These recovered ingredients are then recycled for reuse in making additional green sand molds.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2019Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventor: Robert C. STEELE
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Patent number: 8312725Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor. The trapped vortex combustor is configured for receiving a lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant stream, where the fuel includes hydrogen gas. The trapped vortex combustor is configured to receive the lean premixed fuel and oxidant stream at a velocity which significantly exceeds combustion flame speed in a selected lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture. The combustor is configured to operate at relatively high bulk fluid velocities while maintaining stable combustion, and low NOx emissions. The combustor is useful in gas turbines in a process of burning synfuels, as it offers the opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce combustion temperatures. The combustor also offers the possibility of avoiding the use of selected catalytic reaction units for removal of oxides of nitrogen from combustion gases exiting a gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Ramgen Power Systems, LLCInventors: Robert C. Steele, Ryan G. Edmonds, Joseph T. Williams, Stephen P. Baldwin
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Publication number: 20100170263Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor. The trapped vortex combustor is configured for receiving a lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant stream, where the fuel includes hydrogen gas. The trapped vortex combustor is configured to receive the lean premixed fuel and oxidant stream at a velocity which significantly exceeds combustion flame speed in a selected lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture. The combustor is configured to operate at relatively high bulk fluid velocities while maintaining stable combustion, and low NOx emissions. The combustor is useful in gas turbines in a process of burning synfuels, as it offers the opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce combustion temperatures. The combustor also offers the possibility of avoiding the use of selected catalytic reaction units for removal of oxides of nitrogen from combustion gases exiting a gas turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Ryan G. Edmonds, Joseph T. Williams, Stephen P. Baldwin
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Patent number: 7603841Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor. The trapped vortex combustor is configured for receiving a lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant stream, where the fuel includes hydrogen gas. The trapped vortex combustor is configured to receive the lean premixed fuel and oxidant stream at a velocity which significantly exceeds combustion flame speed in a selected lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture. The combustor is configured to operate at relatively high bulk fluid velocities while maintaining stable combustion, and low NOx emissions. The combustor is useful in gas turbines in a process of burning synfuels, as it offers the opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce combustion temperatures. The combustor also offers the possibility of avoiding the use of selected catalytic reaction units for removal of oxides of nitrogen from combustion gases exiting a gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Ramgen Power Systems, LLCInventors: Robert C. Steele, Ryan G. Edmonds, Joseph T. Williams, Stephen P. Baldwin
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Publication number: 20090113895Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor. The trapped vortex combustor is configured for receiving a lean premixed gaseous fuel and oxidant stream, where the fuel includes hydrogen gas. The trapped vortex combustor is configured to receive the lean premixed fuel and oxidant stream at a velocity which significantly exceeds combustion flame speed in a selected lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture. The combustor is configured to operate at relatively high bulk fluid velocities while maintaining stable combustion, and low NOx emissions. The combustor is useful in gas turbines in a process of burning synfuels, as it offers the opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce combustion temperatures. The combustor also offers the possibility of avoiding the use of selected catalytic reaction units for removal of oxides of nitrogen from combustion gases exiting a gas turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2006Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Ryan G. Edmonds, Joseph T. Williams, Stephen P. Baldwin
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Patent number: 7265663Abstract: A multimedia racing experience system is provided including a plurality of input devices, such as cameras, microphones, and telemetry sensors. All input devices communicate with an on-vehicle processing unit for multiplexing the input data into a data stream. The data stream is then transferred to a central location for display or recording on playback media.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2002Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Trivinci Systems, LLCInventor: Robert C. Steele
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Patent number: 7003961Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor for gas turbine engines. An annular combustor housing is provided having a plurality of inlet centerbodies disposed along a helical axis. The inlet centerbodies include a leading edge structure, opposing sidewalls, a pressurizable cavity, and a rear wall. Inlet centerbodies cooperate with adjacent structure and an aft bluff body to define a trapped vortex cavity combustion chamber for mixing an inlet fluid and burning fuel to form hot combustion gases. Mixing is enhanced by utilizing struts adjacent to the rear wall to create eddies in the fluid flow, and by injecting fuel and/or air in opposition to swirl created by the bulk fluid flow. Hot combustion gases are utilized in a turbine for extraction of kinetic energy, or in heat exchange equipment for recovery of thermal energy. High combustion efficiencies and less than 10 ppm emissions of oxides of nitrogen and of carbon monoxide are achieved.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Ramgen Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Donald Kendrick, Shawn P. Lawlor, Robert C. Steele
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Patent number: 6834706Abstract: Sand, bentonite clay and organics recovered as foundry waste from a green sand mold foundry are reclaimed for reuse in making new green sand molds and mold cores by a multi-step process involving both hydraulic and mechanical separation steps.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2003Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Foundry Advanced Clay Technologies, L.L.C.Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Allen James Huff
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Patent number: 6694743Abstract: A rotary ramjet engine. A rotary ramjet engine is provided operating with a very low axial flow component. The engine has a closely housed rotor and shaft mounted for rotary motion with respect to an engine case. A plurality of ramjet combustors are provided at the periphery of the rotor, and a set of spaced apart helical strakes are provided extending outward from the surface portion of the rotor toward the interior wall of the engine case, less a running clearance therefrom. A centerbody is provided for each ramjet inlet. The centerbody is disposed along a helical axis parallel to the strakes, and includes a leading edge structure, opposing sidewalls, and a shaped cavity, and a rear end wall. Each set of strakes cooperate to define, rearward of the rear end wall of each inlet centerbody, a combustion chamber for mixing therewithin and inlet fluid and burning fuel therein to form hot combustion gases therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Ramgen Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Shawn P. Lawlor, Robert C. Steele, Donald Kendrick
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Publication number: 20040025509Abstract: A rotary ramjet engine generator set. An exemplary embodiment of a rotary ramjet engine is provided operating with a very low axial flow component. The engine has a closely housed rotor and shaft mounted for rotary motion with respect to an engine case. A plurality of ramjet combustors are provided at the periphery of the rotor, and a pair of spaced apart helical strakes are provided extending outward from the surface portion of the rotor toward the interior wall of the engine case, less a running clearance therefrom. An inlet centerbody is provided for each ramjet. The centerbody is disposed along a helical axis parallel to the strakes, and includes a leading edge structure, a pair of sidewalls defining therebetween a shaped cavity, and a rear end wall. Each pair of strakes cooperate to define, rearward of the rear end wall of each inlet centerbody, a combustion chamber for mixing therewithin and inlet fluid and burning fuel therein to form hot combustion gases therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2002Publication date: February 12, 2004Applicant: RAMGEN POWER SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Shawn P. Lawlor, Robert C. Steele
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Publication number: 20040020211Abstract: A trapped vortex combustor for gas turbine engines. An annular combustor housing is provided having a plurality of inlet centerbodies disposed along a helical axis. The inlet centerbodies include a leading edge structure, opposing sidewalls, a pressurizable cavity, and a rear wall. Inlet centerbodies cooperate with adjacent structure and an aft bluff body to define a trapped vortex cavity combustion chamber for mixing an inlet fluid and burning fuel to form hot combustion gases. Mixing is enhanced by utilizing struts adjacent to the rear wall to create eddies in the fluid flow, and by injecting fuel and/or air in opposition to swirl created by the bulk fluid flow. Hot combustion gases are utilized in a turbine for extraction of kinetic energy, or in heat exchange equipment for recovery of thermal energy. High combustion efficiencies and less than 10 ppm emissions of oxides of nitrogen and of carbon monoxide are achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: RAMGEN POWER SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Donald Kendrick, Shawn P. Lawlor, Robert C. Steele
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Publication number: 20040016235Abstract: A rotary ramjet engine. A rotary ramjet engine is provided operating with a very low axial flow component. The engine has a closely housed rotor and shaft mounted for rotary motion with respect to an engine case. A plurality of ramjet combustors are provided at the periphery of the rotor, and a set of spaced apart helical strakes are provided extending outward from the surface portion of the rotor toward the interior wall of the engine case, less a running clearance therefrom. A centerbody is provided for each ramjet inlet. The centerbody is disposed along a helical axis parallel to the strakes, and includes a leading edge structure, opposing sidewalls, and a shaped cavity, and a rear end wall. Each set of strakes cooperate to define, rearward of the rear end wall of each inlet centerbody, a combustion chamber for mixing therewithin and inlet fluid and burning fuel therein to form hot combustion gases therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2002Publication date: January 29, 2004Applicant: RAMGEN POWER SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Shawn P. Lawlor, Robert C. Steele, Donald Kendrick
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Publication number: 20030145972Abstract: Sand, bentonite clay and organics recovered as foundry waste from a green sand mold foundry are reclaimed for reuse in making new green sand molds and mold cores by a multi-step process involving both hydraulic and mechanical separation steps.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Allen James Huff
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Publication number: 20030130822Abstract: A multimedia racing experience system is provided including a plurality of input devices, such as cameras, microphones, and telemetry sensors. All input devices communicate with an on-vehicle processing unit for multiplexing the input data into a data stream. The data stream is then transferred to a central location for display or recording on playback media.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventor: Robert C. Steele
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Publication number: 20030105558Abstract: A methodology and user interface for viewing a racing experience presentation are provided. A method is provided for viewing driving performance data obtained as a driver travels a driving course. A method is also provided for comparing driving performance data from separate traversals of a driving course. Additionally, a user interface is provided to facilitate review of driving performance data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2002Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventor: Robert C. Steele
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Patent number: 6554049Abstract: Sand, bentonite clay and organics recovered as foundry waste from a green sand mold foundry are reclaimed for reuse in making new green sand molds and mold cores by a multi-step process involving both hydraulic and mechanical separation steps.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Foundry Advanced Clay Technologies, L.L.C.Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Allen James Huff
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Publication number: 20030029592Abstract: Sand, bentonite clay and organics recovered as foundry waste from a green sand mold foundry are reclaimed for reuse in making new green sand molds and mold cores by a multi-step process involving both hydraulic and mechanical separation steps.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2001Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventors: Robert C. Steele, Allen J. Huff