Market Applicability

The broad market applicability of S-RAM technology is virtually unprecedented. S-RAM technology can be substituted for existing mechanisms (such as crankshafts, bent axes, swash plates, and wobble plates) used in various types and sizes of engines, pumps, compressors, generators, and related equipment. Thus, the possible permutations of S-RAM enabled devices can include internal combustion engines, hydraulic motors and pumps, continuously variable transmissions, air and refrigeration compressors, wind and wave powered generators, hydrokinetic systems, and many others.  Following are major market segments where S-RAM technology has significant application potential.

Agricultural and Construction Equipment

Automotive

An S-RAM automobile engine can be fueled by conventional or alternative fuels and can be designed in compact 3, 5, 7, or 9 cylinder barrel configurations.  This engine would offer many fundamental improvements over conventional crankshaft engines, including ability to enable new power-train packaging.  Because the S-RAM engine is small and barrel shaped (outwardly similar to a turbine or rotary engine), its profile is less than half the size and weight of a conventional crankshaft engine.  This enables positioning the front wheels at the front of the vehicle, a look that presently can only be successfully achieved with rear wheel drive vehicles.  The significant reduction in size and mass of the engine, combined with front wheels forward, will also improve front-to-rear weight distribution for enhanced handling. 

Compressed Air

Air compressor manufacturers also represent an attractive potential market for S-RAM technology with opportunities ranging from 5 through 50 horsepower designs and larger.  SED has designed both a 5 horsepower and a 15HP compressor. SED designers believe S-RAM technology has the potential to achieve significant efficiency improvements in this market.

Hybrid Hydraulic Engines

The S-RAM mechanism is so fundamentally simple that it can be used to design simple, robust, lightweight internal combustion engines as well as reversible hydraulic pump/motors. Engineers believe a Sanderson powered hydraulic drive vehicle would be projected to achieve better than 100 mpg, even under city driving conditions. 

Hydraulic Equipment

The Hydraulics industry has evolved into an extremely promising market because the S-RAM mechanism solves a very profound problem: low efficiency. Equipment using hydrostatic transmissions, including farm equipment, lawn & garden equipment, and construction equipment, all represent potential licensees.

Industrial/Commercial Pressure Washing

Our integral hybrid engine-pump represents a significant opportunity for equipment manufacturers in this segment to significantly improve their manufacturing costs and equipment efficiencies. 

Marine

The marine engine industry is entering a new era characterized by ever-more-stringent emissions controls, lower noise targets, and calls for better fuel consumption. Just a few short years ago these considerations had no real impact on the marine engine market. Today, however, they are prime motivators and can be applied to virtually all marine engines, from very small to very large displacement models. S-RAM technology provides the capability to develop a comprehensive family of marine propulsion systems that deliver superior acceleration, speed and durability while occupying less space and consuming less fuel. Potential sizes range from 25 to several hundred horsepower.

Oil Industry

Oil field production involves pumping large quantities of difficult fluids such as slurries and recovery chemicals used in injection, transfer and process applications. S-RAM technology offers significant opportunities for efficiency improvements in this market segment

Power Generation

S-RAM technology can be used as an ideal power source for various types and sizes of generators, ranging from innovative linear generators to large-scale packaged systems capable of operating on the electric power grid. S-RAM offers a number of desirable features including a small number of moving parts, compact size, light weight, low emissions, high efficiency, low heat buildup, quiet operation, low vibration, and an ability to utilize a wide range of fuels ranging from diesel to natural gas. Application potential exists for powering generators in the range of 5 to 800+ kW, with both grid-independent and grid-parallel operation possible. Another advantage of S-RAM-powered generation systems is that they can operate with a choice of fuels, including Natural Gas, Diesel Oil, Methane, and others.  

Hydrokinetic

S-RAM technology enables the hydrokinetic designer to “think outside the box.” By placing a S-RAM variable stroke pump behind a rotor in a moving stream, and by coupling the pump’s output to an on-shore hydraulic motor connected to an electric generator, no electrical components are placed under water. Further, multiple turbine/pumps can be connected to a single larger hydraulic motor and a correspondingly larger generator. The pumps operate at slow speed and are therefore low in maintenance. The electric generator can be placed in a secure, sheltered building. Rivers, canals, dam discharge streams, and even sewage outflow pipes are potential candidates for this distributed pump schema.

Windmills

Similar to the hydrokinetic application described above, S-RAM technology enables the generator portion of a windmill to be relocated from the top of the tower to the base. This reduces weight at the top of the tower and permits easier long-term maintenance.  Further, because of variable stroke capability, S-RAM offers the ability to operate efficiently at both lower and higher wind speeds than presently available methods.