Patents by Inventor W. Travis Horton

W. Travis Horton 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).

  • Organic rankine cycle with flooded expansion and internal regeneration
    Patent number: 8667797
    Abstract: A heat engine system configured to extract thermal energy from a heat source, convert a first portion of the thermal energy to work using an expansion device, and reject a second portion of the thermal energy to a heat sink. The system utilizes a second fluid to inhibit a temperature drop of the first fluid within the expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll, W. Travis Horton
  • ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE WITH FLOODED EXPANSION AND INTERNAL REGENERATION
    Publication number: 20120006022
    Abstract: A heat engine system configured to extract thermal energy from a heat source, convert a first portion of the thermal energy to work using an expansion device, and reject a second portion of the thermal energy to a heat sink. The system utilizes a second fluid to inhibit a temperature drop of the first fluid within the expansion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll, W. Travis Horton
  • Method and apparatus for reducing inrush current in a multi-stage compressor
    Patent number: 7028491
    Abstract: A compressor assembly having a first compression mechanism operatively coupled to a first motor and a second compression mechanism operatively coupled to a second motor. The first compression mechanism compresses the vapor from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure and the second compression mechanism compresses the vapor from the intermediate pressure to a discharge pressure. An electrical circuit supplies electrical current to the first and second motors during operation of the compressor assembly. The electrical circuit includes means for, during start-up of the compressor assembly, initiating the supply of electrical current to the first motor at a first time and initiating the supply of electrical current to the second motor at a second time wherein the first time precedes the second time by a time lapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: W. Travis Horton