Ribbon Drive technology enables greater efficiency and quieter marine propulsion. There are multiple applications for the pumping industry. This application of fluid dynamics is partly derived from the decreasing frequency of the coils in the vane. Novel hull design and interior changes in space allocation within the hull of ships is enabled, as well.
A senior project for a Villanova University engineering class was evaluation of 4 or 5 different configurations of coil design for the helical vane. Very intriguing and much appeciated.
A short history:
CLICK to enlarge; entry for scrubbing/pumping/propulsion.
CHRONOLOGY
1999-2002—patent applications submitted to USPTO and PCT; operating models constructed and tested in indoor tank and outdoor pool.
February 2001—3 international PCT patent applications published for Ribbon Drive.
Fall 2001—Marketing analysis for Ribbon Drive Propulsion as term project for graduate student course in LeBow School of Business and Management, Drexel University, Philadelphia. They compared existing technology of different companies, versus Ribbon Drive Propulsion. The most promising fields of use were delineated, and several potential manufacturing partners from the United States and Canada were recommended as the “best fit”.
2002—U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved and published patents for Propulsion and Pumping.
November 2002—lecture/presentation of Ribbon Drive Propulsion System to Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, State College, PA.
January 2003—meetings with scientific and economic counsellors of 5 embassies in Washington, D.C., including India and China.
June 2003--stainless steel operating proof-of-concept prototype completed.
July 2003--brought stainless steel prototype to Penn State Applied Research Laboratory for discussion.
2002-2003--discussions with various government agencies.
2004-2005--PowerPoint and other materials. Invited to Diamond State Ventures workshop and subsequent "pitch". Business plans revised for 3 products. Ongoing assistance with R&D firm's plans for an undersea cargo vessel.
Invited to observe industry demonstrations at Quantico Marine Base testing grounds.
Received patent #7.018,170 on March 28, 2006 from the USPTO for the pumping apparatus with added fluid; it included mixing of supplemental liquids as well. This 4th patent for Ribbon Drive Pumping Apparatus provides further versatility to a unique pump, including use as an industrial scrubber of noxious, corrosive, or toxic gaseous exhausts.
professor of entrepreneurship, LeBow School of Business and Management, Drexel University
professor of mechanical engineering, Villanova University
professor of structural and electrical engineering, Villanova University
professor of mechanical engineering, Cooper Union University
Sponsorship and/or advice from:
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeast Pennsylvania
Diamond State Ventures, Wilmington, DE
Venture Association of New Jersey
MidAtlantic Diamond Ventures and Temple University Fox School of Business
Inquiries are welcome involving licensing, manufacturing, joint venture, and investment opportunities. We have 5 domestic and 4 international patents, with multiple fields-of-use.
You may contact us directly, or through our patent attorneys--The Marbury Law Group, LLC; 11800 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 1500; Reston, VA 20191 [tel. 703-391-2900]--att: Jon L. Roberts, Ph.D., Esq.
