Patents by Inventor Stephen Daniel Ernst

Stephen Daniel Ernst 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: 20250360999
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust handling system for a marine vessel includes a cap connected to a top end portion of an exhaust stack of the marine vessel to form an enclosure at least partially surrounding an outlet of an exhaust pipe extending through the exhaust stack. In addition, the exhaust handling system includes a collection pipe in fluid communication with the cap such that the collection pipe is to receive exhaust from the enclosure, and a coupling connected to the collection pipe that is to connect to an exhaust cleaning assembly. The exhaust cleaning system includes a tank to receive the exhaust. The cap at least partially defines a first flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the atmosphere. The collection pipe at least partially defines a second flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the coupling via the collection pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2025
    Publication date: November 27, 2025
    Applicant: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 12384508
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust handling system for a marine vessel includes a cap connected to a top end portion of an exhaust stack of the marine vessel to form an enclosure at least partially surrounding an outlet of an exhaust pipe extending through the exhaust stack. In addition, the exhaust handling system includes a collection pipe in fluid communication with the cap such that the collection pipe is to receive exhaust from the enclosure, and a coupling connected to the collection pipe that is to connect to an exhaust cleaning assembly. The exhaust cleaning system includes a tank to receive the exhaust. The cap at least partially defines a first flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the atmosphere. The collection pipe at least partially defines a second flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the coupling via the collection pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson
  • Publication number: 20250110013
    Abstract: Methods and systems to monitor a pipeline for a leak or rupture. An embodiment of the system may include sensor assemblies. Each of the sensor assemblies may include an optical signal generator, an input, an output, and a transmission time circuitry configured to determine a transmission time of the optical signal. The transmission time circuitry may be configured to generate a transmission time data packet including the transmission time. Each of the sensor assemblies may include a fiber optic cable positionable about a circumference of the pipeline and connected to the output and the input. The system may include a controller connected to each of the sensor assemblies and configured to prompt each of the plurality of sensor assembly to generate the optical signal and determine whether the leak or the rupture has occurred based on the transmission time data packet from each of the plurality of sensor assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Jason S. Dalton, Stephen Daniel Ernst
  • Publication number: 20250100666
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust collection system for collecting exhaust from a marine vessel includes an exhaust cleaning assembly including a tank. In addition, the exhaust collection system includes a vent hood in fluid communication with the tank of the exhaust cleaning assembly. The vent hood includes a frame including one or more extendable frame members, and an outer covering that covers the frame to define an enclosure with an opening configured to receive an exhaust stack of the marine vessel therethrough, the one or more extendable frame members to extend and retract to adjust a size of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson, William Thomas MacKrell, Mark Howard Nielsen, Rounack Singh Bumrah
  • Patent number: 12195158
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust collection system for collecting exhaust from a marine vessel includes an exhaust cleaning assembly including a tank. In addition, the exhaust collection system includes a vent hood in fluid communication with the tank of the exhaust cleaning assembly. The vent hood includes a frame including one or more extendable frame members, and an outer covering that covers the frame to define an enclosure with an opening configured to receive an exhaust stack of the marine vessel therethrough, the one or more extendable frame members to extend and retract to adjust a size of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson, William Thomas MacKrell, Mark Howard Nielsen, Rounack Singh Bumrah
  • Publication number: 20240286726
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust handling system for a marine vessel includes a cap connected to a top end portion of an exhaust stack of the marine vessel to form an enclosure at least partially surrounding an outlet of an exhaust pipe extending through the exhaust stack. In addition, the exhaust handling system includes a collection pipe in fluid communication with the cap such that the collection pipe is to receive exhaust from the enclosure, and a coupling connected to the collection pipe that is to connect to an exhaust cleaning assembly. The exhaust cleaning system includes a tank to receive the exhaust. The cap at least partially defines a first flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the atmosphere. The collection pipe at least partially defines a second flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the coupling via the collection pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson
  • Publication number: 20240278894
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust collection system for collecting exhaust from a marine vessel includes an exhaust cleaning assembly including a tank. In addition, the exhaust collection system includes a vent hood in fluid communication with the tank of the exhaust cleaning assembly. The vent hood includes a frame including one or more extendable frame members, and an outer covering that covers the frame to define an enclosure with an opening configured to receive an exhaust stack of the marine vessel therethrough, the one or more extendable frame members to extend and retract to adjust a size of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson, William Thomas MacKrell, Mark Howard Nielsen, Rounack Singh Bumrah
  • Patent number: 12043361
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust handling system for a marine vessel includes a cap connected to a top end portion of an exhaust stack of the marine vessel to form an enclosure at least partially surrounding an outlet of an exhaust pipe extending through the exhaust stack. In addition, the exhaust handling system includes a collection pipe in fluid communication with the cap such that the collection pipe is to receive exhaust from the enclosure, and a coupling connected to the collection pipe that is to connect to an exhaust cleaning assembly. The exhaust cleaning system includes a tank to receive the exhaust. The cap at least partially defines a first flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the atmosphere. The collection pipe at least partially defines a second flow path for the exhaust that extends from the enclosure to the coupling via the collection pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 12006014
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust collection system for collecting exhaust from a marine vessel includes an exhaust cleaning assembly including a tank. In addition, the exhaust collection system includes a vent hood in fluid communication with the tank of the exhaust cleaning assembly. The vent hood includes a frame including one or more extendable frame members, and an outer covering that covers the frame to define an enclosure with an opening configured to receive an exhaust stack of the marine vessel therethrough, the one or more extendable frame members to extend and retract to adjust a size of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson, William Thomas MacKrell, Mark Howard Nielsen, Rounack Singh Bumrah