Jon Jordan has a big idea but little money to fund it.
He has designed a device that uses the exhaust flow from an engine, such as a jet engine, to turn a crankshaft that generates electricity. He calls it a high-velocity low-pressure engine.
He has applied for a patent and built an early prototype in his garage. Jordan, who lives in Bel Aire, works for United Technologies as a carpenter.
To really develop his invention, he said, he needs some serious dollars. He has started with Rocket Hub, a crowd-funding site, in hopes that people will contribute to it. Donors don’t get any ownership of the company, but they do get token gifts or services for their contributions.
He said his goal is $300,000.
“I was trying to sell it as something that would make the planet a better place,” he said.
But crowd-funding is a fickle thing. For every success, there are plenty of failures. It helps to have a lot of family and friends willing to donate; a quirky, fun or inspirational product that people can identify with; some savviness about how to market the product through social media; and a lot of luck.
So far, he’s gotten less than $1,000, and he has fewer than 10 days left in the fundraising effort.
“I knew it would be kind of hit and miss,” Jordan said, sounding a little discouraged.
Kenneth Jack, a Wichita attorney who handles much of the patent work in the area, said he was impressed with Jordan’s device. It’s clearly something new.
“It’s very interesting, very patentable,” he said.
Seeking a patent is key for inventors who thinks a product is new, Jack said. It allows them to consult the experts needed to improve their designs without worrying about having their ideas stolen.
“It frees creative people to move forward,” Jack said.
To find more information on the engine, go to http://www.rockethub.com/projects/28731-energy-capture-fuel-saver-research-project
Trish Brasted, president of Wichita Technology Corp., said Jordan’s engine isn’t a good candidate for crowd-funding.
“Crowd-sourcing is really more for consumer products,” she said.
On the other hand, it sounds like a perfect fit for Wichita’s product-development ecosystem, she said.
The Latest Bing News on:
Engine invention
- "My newest invention is an amp capo. It's being manufactured as we speak" – Classic interview: Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnelon May 14, 2022 at 12:06 pm
"My newest invention is an amp capo. It's being manufactured as we ... The serial number is 93-427 and means a 427 cubic engine. "Now the joke about this guitar is that it has a flamed maple top, but ...
- 21st century inventionson May 11, 2022 at 3:27 pm
The world’s most popular email service that is now used by more than a billion people didn’t launch until 2004. Gmail was the first true landmark service to emerge from ...
- Engines of Our Ingenuity 2221: Jaywalkingon May 9, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Subscribe to Our Newsletters Today in Houston Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. This Week Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public ...
- The 12 Best Tech Inventions Of April 2022on May 5, 2022 at 11:43 am
Technology is advancing at ever-increasing rates. Here are the 12 most significant technological breakthroughs that happened in April.
- Google Doodle Honors Black Inventor Elijah McCoyon May 2, 2022 at 8:03 pm
McCoy’s inventions revolutionized train efficiency, and held 57 patents during his lifetime, the majority of which were related to locomotives and railways, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Anytime ...
- Google honors the Black inventor who likely inspired the phrase 'the real McCoy'on May 2, 2022 at 9:01 am
Elijah McCoy, the revolutionary Black inventor who was born 178 years ago today, came up with an idea for an automatic lubricator that kept engines oiled while they ran.
- Google Doodle Honors Inventor Elijah McCoy's Birthdayon May 2, 2022 at 6:50 am
Google is celebrating the birthday of Black Canadian-American engineer and inventor Elijah McCoy. The doodle honors McCoy, who boosted train efficiency with his locomotive and railway related ...
- Google honors engineer, inventor Elijah McCoy with a new Doodleon May 2, 2022 at 4:05 am
He later invented the oil-drip cup, which helped oil steadily flow around a train's engine without having to stop the train every few miles. McCoy then obtained his first patent titled Improvement in ...
- The Diesel Engine at 125 Years: Still Going Strong and Getting Even Cleaner [Video]on April 28, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum joined HDT’s Jim Park on Rudolph Diesel’s 164th birthday with a tribute to the engine’s inventor and look forward at ...
- InventHelp Inventor Develops Cleaning Machine for Oil Pans & Pickup Tubes (MTX-146)on April 22, 2022 at 8:35 am
"so I invented the ENGINE CLEANING MACHINE. My design eliminates the need t The invention provides an efficient way to clean an engine oil pan and oil pickup tube. In doing so, it offers an ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Engine invention
The Latest Bing News on:
Crowd funding
- European Banking Authority Posts Final Standards for Pan-European Crowdfunding Providerson May 13, 2022 at 8:36 am
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has posted the "final technical standards" pertaining to European crowdfunding platforms.
- Ortek Launches Equity Crowd-funding Campaign on StartEngineon May 11, 2022 at 7:38 am
Company is raising funds to support marketing for two breakthrough oral care products Early Ortek investors will receive bonuses ROSLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y., May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ortek ...
- Ortek Launches Equity Crowd-funding Campaign on StartEngineon May 11, 2022 at 7:37 am
Ortek Therapeutics, Inc. launches equity crowd-funding campaign on StartEngine. Ortek will use funds raised on StartEngine to turbocharge multi-media marketing programs for its two revolutionary ...
- Ortek Launches Equity Crowd-funding Campaign on StartEngineon May 11, 2022 at 7:34 am
ROSLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y., May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ortek Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in developing and commercializing novel oral care technologies, is now raising capital on StartEngine, the leading ...
- RI winery turns to crowdfunding for new tasting roomon May 10, 2022 at 10:45 am
Anchor & Hope has plans to open a tasting room and shift its business model from strictly wholesale to selling direct to the consumer in its own community space.
- GoFundMe as health insurance: Why so many Americans turn to crowdfunding for medical careon May 10, 2022 at 8:19 am
About a third of all GoFundMe campaigns are for medical bills, but just 12 per cent of them succeed. Nathan Place on why Americans are still turning to the site for help with their healthcare ...
- Childcare crowdfunding campaigns aim to keep mums on the academic trackon May 8, 2022 at 5:00 pm
The lack of affordable childcare threatens the retention of scientist parents, especially mothers and those of colour.
- How Crowdfunding Is Innovating In The Film And Web3 Sectoron May 6, 2022 at 9:47 am
Through Web3 the possibilities in the crowdfunding area have increased. What opportunities will the entertainment industry have to capitalize.