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Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Pitch
Sanderson Engine sees opportunity in efficient engine design
By Lynette F. Cornell
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Sanderson Engine Development LLC
Headquarters: Littleton
Phone: 508-451-0548
Email: degilmore1@verizon.net
URL: www.sandersonengine.com
Year founded: 1998
Employees: 7
In the company’s own words:
“Sanderson Engine Development (SED) envisions itself as a technology development and licensing company. We own a unique patented technology called the Sanderson Rocker Arm Mechanism (S-RAM). The S-RAM is a revolutionary kinematic design that transforms the linear motion of an engine’s power stroke into rotational motion, as in a drive shaft. The mechanism operates with a lower friction and higher efficiency, which enables it to replace any crankshaft or swash plate mechanism to provide improved operating performance. Further, the S-RAM can operate as a fluid drive motor and is fully reversible to function equally well as a pump for regeneration.”
People behind the company:
David Sanderson, president; Robert Sanderson, vice president of engineering; Glenn Wattley, vice president of business development; Terry Daniels, vice president of product development; and Dan Gilmore, vice president of marketing.
The technology:
The company is in the process of building and testing two S-RAM prototypes. One of the prototypes is an S-RAM reversible hydraulic motor pump designed to demonstrate the mechanism’s fluid drive capability with hydraulic regeneration. The other prototype is an S-RAM natural gas internal combustion engine designed for the combined heat and power cogeneration market. Because the mechanism creates less friction than a traditional engine design, said Gilmore, it will have greater durability and reduced maintenance needs. The mechanism’s design eliminates the crankshaft and its peripheral components, including connecting rods, bearings and housings. This significantly reduces its size, weight and manufacturing cost versus most conventional pumps and engines, said Gilmore.
The plan:
After the two S-RAM prototypes have been built and their functionality has been established, the company expects to obtain licensing agreements in a variety of industry segments and to partner with original equipment manufacturers. The company plans to design and build industry-specific S-RAM prototypes and then license the technology in exchange for future royalties. Once the company manufactures its initial prototypes, said Gilmore, it will need additional financing for more development, testing and on-going business operations.
The pitch:
The company is seeking $2 million for vendor contracts, and for hiring technical industry specialists and consultants, buying test equipment, maintaining the company’s IP portfolio and funding miscellaneous activities such as legal and administrative operations. The company is also seeking government funding, emphasizing its ability to contribute to environmentally responsible technologies including cogeneration, hydrokinetic and wind power applications. The company is not yet profitable, said Gilmore, and the company does not expect profitability until after its prototypes have been successfully tested by highly respected, third party laboratories. It is currently funded by private investors.
The competition:
Gilmore said the company is not aware of any companies using comparable technology.
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