Patents by Inventor Chris Penwell
Chris Penwell 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).
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Patent number: 9124093Abstract: A surge protector for use with a two line signal path or control circuit. The surge protector has two terminals for connecting to both line signals as well as provisions for earth grounding. The surge protector has a surge protection stage and a short detection stage for detecting imbalances in the signal. The surge protector also includes a trigger stage which activates an electromechanical device to disconnect the two terminals from the rest of the surge protector when the short detection stage detects a short. The surge protector further includes visual indicators for indicating an operating status and a short detection.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Patent number: 8976500Abstract: A DC block RF device includes a housing defining a cavity having a central axis, an input conductor disposed in the cavity of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the cavity and an output conductor disposed in the cavity of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the cavity. The DC block RF device further includes a first capacitor connected to the input conductor and a second capacitor connected to the output conductor and the first capacitor. In addition, the DC block RF device includes a coil for grounding surge signals, the coil having an inner edge connected to the center conductor and an outer edge connected to the housing of the device. During a surge, the first capacitor is configured to arc the surge across the capacitor without damaging the capacitor so the surge can dissipate through coil to ground.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Penwell, Edward John Dickman
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Patent number: 8857459Abstract: An earthquake triggered and electronically controlled shutoff valve for allowing or preventing a flow of a fluid. The shutoff valve incorporates a weight positioned on a pedestal and disengaged from a surrounding moveable tube. Upon sufficient vibrational force, the weight moves from its resting position on the pedestal and engages with the moveable tube to block the flow of the fluid through the shutoff valve. In addition to vibrational forces, the shutoff valve may be electronically triggered via a connector electrically connected to one or more solenoids positioned within the shutoff valve. The solenoids may engage with the weight upon electrical stimulation or may engage with a moveable member coupled to the moveable tube. An energy storage unit provides power for the solenoids such that the solenoids may function in the absence of external power to the shutoff valve.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones
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Patent number: 8730640Abstract: A surge suppressor device includes a first housing defining a first cavity, input and output conductors disposed in the first cavity of the first housing, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge. The surge suppressor device further includes a second housing defining a second cavity and connected to the first housing, a feed-through connecting the first cavity to the second cavity, a non-linear protection device positioned in the second cavity of the second housing and a first electrical wire passing through the feed-through and connecting the outer edge of the first spiral inductor to the non-linear protection device.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Penwell, Karl C. Bartel
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Publication number: 20140085096Abstract: A surge protector for use with a two line signal path or control circuit. The surge protector has two terminals for connecting to both line signals as well as provisions for earth grounding. The surge protector has a surge protection stage and a short detection stage for detecting imbalances in the signal. The surge protector also includes a trigger stage which activates an electromechanical device to disconnect the two terminals from the rest of the surge protector when the short detection stage detects a short. The surge protector further includes visual indicators for indicating an operating status and a short detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Patent number: 8611062Abstract: The present invention may provide a surge current sensor and a surge protection system that deploys one or more surge current sensors. The surge current sensor may be placed on or near to a conduit, and it may be used for sensing the surge current conducted therein. The surge current sensor may include a current transformer and a processor. The current transformer may be used for receiving a magnetic flux generated by the surge current and transforming the received magnetic flux to a voltage. The processor may be coupled with the current transformer, such that it may be configured to generate a digital signal based on the voltage. Once the digital signal indicates that the magnitude of the surge current has exceeded a predefined threshold, the surge protection system may initiate a surge protection mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger Bishop, Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones
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Patent number: 8599528Abstract: A surge protection circuit to reduce capacitance inherent of standard diode packaging and to improve voltage clamping reaction speeds under high surge conditions. The surge protection circuit has a coil having a first end and a second end and a diode cell having a top layer, a center diode junction, and a bottom layer. The top layer is directly connected to the second end of the coil and the bottom layer is directly connected to a ground. The diode cell has no wire leads.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Karl C. Bartel, Chris Penwell
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Patent number: 8553386Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones, Bogdan B. Klobassa
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Patent number: 8456791Abstract: An apparatus for protecting hardware devices is disclosed. A DC pass RF surge suppressor includes a housing defining a chamber having a central axis, the housing having an opening to the chamber, an input conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, an output conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, a non-linear protection device positioned in the opening of the housing for diverting surge energy to a ground, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device, and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Publication number: 20120175538Abstract: An earthquake triggered and electronically controlled shutoff valve for allowing or preventing a flow of a fluid. The shutoff valve incorporates a weight positioned on a pedestal and disengaged from a surrounding moveable tube. Upon sufficient vibrational force, the weight moves from its resting position on the pedestal and engages with the moveable tube to block the flow of the fluid through the shutoff valve. In addition to vibrational forces, the shutoff valve may be electronically triggered via a connector electrically connected to one or more solenoids positioned within the shutoff valve. The solenoids may engage with the weight upon electrical stimulation or may engage with a moveable member coupled to the moveable tube. An energy storage unit provides power for the solenoids such that the solenoids may function in the absence of external power to the shutoff valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones
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Patent number: 8179656Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Publication number: 20120008247Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones, Bogdan B. Klobassa
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Publication number: 20110292557Abstract: A DC block RF device includes a housing defining a cavity having a central axis, an input conductor disposed in the cavity of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the cavity and an output conductor disposed in the cavity of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the cavity. The DC block RF device further includes a first capacitor connected to the input conductor and a second capacitor connected to the output conductor and the first capacitor. In addition, the DC block RF device includes a coil for grounding surge signals, the coil having an inner edge connected to the center conductor and an outer edge connected to the housing of the device. During a surge, the first capacitor is configured to arc the surge across the capacitor without damaging the capacitor so the surge can dissipate through coil to ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Chris Penwell, Edward John Dickman
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Publication number: 20110279942Abstract: The present invention may provide a surge current sensor and a surge protection system that deploys one or more surge current sensors. The surge current sensor may be placed on or near to a conduit, and it may be used for sensing the surge current conducted therein. The surge current sensor may include a current transformer and a processor. The current transformer may be used for receiving a magnetic flux generated by the surge current and transforming the received magnetic flux to a voltage. The processor may be coupled with the current transformer, such that it may be configured to generate a digital signal based on the voltage. Once the digital signal indicates that the magnitude of the surge current has exceeded a predefined threshold, the surge protection system may initiate a surge protection mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: Roger Bishop, Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones
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Publication number: 20110279943Abstract: A surge suppressor device includes a first housing defining a first cavity, input and output conductors disposed in the first cavity of the first housing, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge. The surge suppressor device further includes a second housing defining a second cavity and connected to the first housing, a feed-through connecting the first cavity to the second cavity, a non-linear protection device positioned in the second cavity of the second housing and a first electrical wire passing through the feed-through and connecting the outer edge of the first spiral inductor to the non-linear protection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Penwell, Karl C. Bartel
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Patent number: 8027136Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Chris Penwell, Jonathan L. Jones, Bogdan B. Klobassa
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Publication number: 20110141646Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Patent number: 7944670Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Transtector Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Publication number: 20110080683Abstract: An apparatus for protecting hardware devices is disclosed. A DC pass RF surge suppressor includes a housing defining a chamber having a central axis, the housing having an opening to the chamber, an input conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, an output conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, a non-linear protection device positioned in the opening of the housing for diverting surge energy to a ground, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device, and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Jonathan L. Jones, Chris Penwell
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Publication number: 20090284888Abstract: A surge protection circuit to reduce capacitance inherent of standard diode packaging and to improve voltage clamping reaction speeds under high surge conditions. The surge protection circuit has a coil having a first end and a second end and a diode cell having a top layer, a center diode junction, and a bottom layer. The top layer is directly connected to the second end of the coil and the bottom layer is directly connected to a ground. The diode cell has no wire leads.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: POLYPHASER CORPORATIONInventors: Karl C. Bartel, Chris Penwell