Patents by Inventor Stephen Crow

Stephen Crow 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: 20250180248
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heater module comprising: a heat exchanger including: a first volume comprising a nano-fluid; and a second volume surrounding the first volume and in thermal communication with the first volume for a secondary fluid to circulate within, wherein the second volume comprises a secondary fluid inlet and a secondary fluid outlet; the heating module further comprising an electric heating element located within the first volume; wherein in use the electric heating element is configured to heat the nano-fluid within the first volume, and wherein the heated nano-fluid is configured to heat the secondary fluid circulating within the second volume by conduction and/or convection. The invention further includes a boiler comprising a plurality of heater modules, and a method for controlling the heating output of the boiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Lee Cottingham, Stephen Crow, Jack Woods, Kevin Cook
  • Patent number: 11885489
    Abstract: The present disclosure seeks to provide a metallic burner tile for use in industrial processes such as cracking. The tile is substantially metallic (e.g. more than 80%) with the balance being ceramic coating on surfaces exposed to high temperature. The tile is lighter and more durable than the current ceramic burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Eric Clavelle, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Vasily Simanzhenkov, Lucas MacNeil Harding
  • Publication number: 20220154927
    Abstract: The present disclosure seeks to provide a metallic burner tile for use in industrial processes such as cracking. The tile is substantially metallic (e.g. more than 80%) with the balance being ceramic coating on surfaces exposed to high temperature. The tile is lighter and more durable than the current ceramic burners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Eric Clavelle, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Vasily Simanzhenkov, Lucas MacNeil Harding
  • Patent number: 11255537
    Abstract: The present disclosure seeks to provide a metallic burner tile for use in industrial processes such as cracking. The tile is substantially metallic (e.g. more than 80%) with the balance being ceramic coating on surfaces exposed to high temperature. The tile is lighter and more durable than the current ceramic burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Eric Clavelle, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Vasily Simanzhenkov, Lucas MacNeil Harding
  • Patent number: 10808181
    Abstract: A substantially linear ceramic or metallic radiant of ellipsoidal or polygonal cross section is placed proximate furnace tubes or coils in the radiant section of a fired heater to increase the radiant heat directed to the surface of the tubes or coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Grazyna Petela, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Seyed Majid Hoseini
  • Publication number: 20190234612
    Abstract: The present disclosure seeks to provide a metallic burner tile for use in industrial processes such as cracking. The tile is substantially metallic (e.g. more than 80%) with the balance being ceramic coating on surfaces exposed to high temperature. The tile is lighter and more durable than the current ceramic burners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Eric Clavelle, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Vasily Simanzhenkov, Lucas MacNeil Harding
  • Patent number: 10167431
    Abstract: Furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons that in an embodiment have a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from about 2 to about 4.8 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from about 0.1% to about 10% of the tube external cross section area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e., they are typically not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from about 4:1 to about 2:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Mark Andrew Taylor
  • Patent number: 10000707
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons having a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from 0.5-1.3 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from 0.1%-10% of the tube external surface area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e. they are not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from 1.5:1 to 0.5:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Mark Andrew Taylor
  • Publication number: 20170343301
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for thick fins on the surface of coils or tubes in a steam cracking furnace. The fins have a thickness at their base from ¼ to ¾ of the radius of the furnace tube. The fins have grooves or protuberances on not less than about 10% of a major surface. The fins help increase the radiant heat taken up by the tube from the walls and combustion gases in the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Grazyna Petela, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Evan Geevouy Mah, Jeffrey Thomas Kluthe, Jeffrey Stephen Crowe
  • Publication number: 20170137722
    Abstract: A substantially linear ceramic or metallic radiant of ellipsoidal or polygonal cross section is placed proximate furnace tubes or coils in the radiant section of a fired heater to increase the radiant heat directed to the surface of the tubes or coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Grazyna Petela, Leslie Wilfred Benum, Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Seyed Majid Hoseini
  • Publication number: 20170107429
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons having a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from 0.5-1.3 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from 0.1%-10% of the tube external surface area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e. they are not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from 1.5:1 to 0.5:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Mark Andrew Taylor
  • Patent number: 9540570
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons having a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from 0.5-1.3 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from 0.1%-10% of the tube external surface area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e. they are not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from 1.5:1 to 0.5:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Mark Andrew Taylor
  • Publication number: 20150240168
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons having a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from 0.5-1.3 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from 0.1%-10% of the tube external surface area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e. they are not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from 1.5:1 to 0.5:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: NOVA CHEMICALS (INTERNATIONAL) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Mark Andrew Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140374213
    Abstract: Furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons that in an embodiment have a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from about 2 to about 4.8 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from about 0.1% to about 10% of the tube external cross section area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e., they are typically not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from about 4:1 to about 2:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stephen Crowe, Mark Andrew Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140277931
    Abstract: Power systems and methods described herein can provide power system management and power delivery, among other functionality. The power systems and methods for a vehicle can employ a fuel cell, such as a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), as a power source in conjunction with another power sources, such as one or more vehicle batteries, capacitors, etc. The fuel cell can be conditionally used to provide power to the electrical system, thereby reducing the load on the vehicle batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: PACCAR Inc, Eaton Corporation, Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Stephen Crowe
  • Publication number: 20140046468
    Abstract: A tool is provided to allow a user to customize the components of a vehicle instrument panel from an Internet-enabled Web site. A user can navigate to a Web site and select a vehicle for configuration. From the Web site, input may be obtained regarding the components and appearance of an instrument panel such as selecting particular types of components (e.g., display panels, gauges, etc.) and arranging where the selected components are to be located. The input generated by a user is translated into a build specification for assembling the instrument panel at the manufacturer. Accordingly, the system and method serve as an interface between the Web site that obtains user configuration data and a manufacturer's system that manages assembly of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Christopher Tarte, Paul Stephen Crowe
  • Patent number: 8577487
    Abstract: A tool is provided to allow a user to customize the components of a vehicle instrument panel from an Internet-enabled Web site. A user can navigate to a Web site and select a vehicle for configuration. From the Web site, input may be obtained regarding the components and appearance of an instrument panel such as selecting particular types of components (e.g., display panels, gauges, etc.) and arranging where the selected components are to be located. The input generated by a user is translated into a build specification for assembling the instrument panel at the manufacturer. Accordingly, the system and method serve as an interface between the Web site that obtains user configuration data and a manufacturer's system that manages assembly of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Christopher Tarte, Paul Stephen Crowe
  • Patent number: 8390469
    Abstract: A method and system that controls the playing of different audio or video files by an electric device in a motor vehicle that includes a plurality of different audio or video files and an audio file player software program. The electronic device is coupled to at least one external sensor that measures one of the following: the motor vehicle's current location, the time of day, and/or the weather or temperature. The software program is configured to automatically play the audio file associated with an external condition when the external condition occurs. When the motor vehicle is operating, and the occupant is listening to the electronic device, the audio or video files are automatically played based on the occurrence of the linked external condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Stephen Crowe
  • Publication number: 20110285547
    Abstract: A method and system that controls the playing of different audio or video files by an electric device in a motor vehicle that includes a plurality of different audio or video files and an audio file player software program. The electronic device is coupled to at least one external sensor that measures one of the following: the motor vehicle's current location, the time of day, and/or the weather or temperature. The software program is configured to automatically play the audio file associated with an external condition when the external condition occurs. When the motor vehicle is operating, and the occupant is listening to the electronic device, the audio or video files are automatically played based on the occurrence of the linked external condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen Crowe
  • Patent number: 8049605
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed at allowing a vehicle to idle for a predetermined amount of time before shutdown. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that accepts input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown. When the input is received, a countdown is initiated that is regularly updated to reflect the passage of time. During the countdown, a vehicle ignition bus is maintained in an active state and a countdown value that reflects the time remaining before shutdown is presented on a graphical display. Then, in response to expiration of the countdown, the method allows the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Martin Jay Caspe-Detzer, Andrew Joseph Ressa, Phu Vi Tran, Ian David O'Connor, John William Espinosa, Paul Stephen Crowe