Patents by Inventor Preston N. Weintraub
Preston N. Weintraub 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: 9044627Abstract: An automatic self-contained fire suppression system and method are provided herein. Stovetop fires are a well known residential and commercial hazard. The fire suppression system described mounts on a back wall or back splash above the stove mount. By mounting on the back wall, the system is free from interconnections with apparatus mounted above the stovetop, such as hoods, microwave ovens, lights, fans, and vents. Using a hopper containing fire suppressing matter, a power spring, drive shaft, and a bladed spinner, fires suppressing powder is distributed over the stovetop surface. The fire suppression action is triggered automatically via failure of a heat sensitive frangible link.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2009Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: WilliamsRDM, Inc.Inventors: Brent W. Williams, Michael R. Stevens, Preston N. Weintraub, Donald W. Murray
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Patent number: 8622147Abstract: Stovetop fires are among the more prevalent of resident fire hazards and smoke detectors are among the most prevalent and economical forms of residential fire alarms. Automatic stovetop fire extinguishers can prevent property damage and even personal injury; however, these stovetop fire extinguishers may also limit smoke emissions and the subsequent detection of smoke. While an initial fire may be efficiently subdued by an automatic stovetop fire extinguisher, it is often desirable to alert present and future occupants of a fire hazardous condition. A sound based fire alarm system and method are described herein, which detects a sound burst emitted upon deployment of an automatic stovetop fire extinguisher and triggers a continuous fire alarm to alert occupants of a potentially fire hazardous condition. Alarm signals can be audible, visual, or both. The system may be a stand alone system and use battery power for affordability and ease of installation.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: WilliamsRDM, Inc.Inventors: Brent W. Williams, Andrew W. Stell, Preston N. Weintraub
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Patent number: 7934564Abstract: A stovetop fire suppression system is provided which senses the stovetop environment, assesses a fire condition, and limits a fuel or electricity heat source upon determination of a stovetop fire condition. Either, or both of, sound or heat may be monitored for the presence of a fire. Sensed day can be processed for spectral density or rate of rise for subsequent comparison to thresholds or predetermined density values. Upon determination of a stovetop fire condition a fire suppression module triggers, for example, a valve or switch to extinguish the stovetop heat source.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Williams-Pyro, Inc.Inventors: Andrew W. Stell, Preston N. Weintraub
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Patent number: 7610966Abstract: A fire extinguisher includes a bracket, a housing, extinguisher containers and a directing member such as a ramp. The fire extinguisher is designed to be located above a stove and beneath structure, such as microwave oven and vent. Such structure typically has low clearance relative to the stovetop and the burners thereon. The housing and containers are suspended from the bracket. Each container has a fire extinguishing powder and an initiator for breaching a container wall. One of the containers is directly positioned over a burner on the stovetop. The other container is offset laterally from another burner on the stovetop. The ramp is used to direct the fire extinguishing powder of this container onto the burner. The ramp is maintained in a stowed position by a fusible link, which gives way when a fire is present on the second burner causing the ramp to fall to a deployed position before the respective container discharges its powder.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2007Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Williams-Pyro, Inc.Inventors: Preston N. Weintraub, Don Murray, Michael R. Stevens
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Patent number: 7472758Abstract: A fire extinguisher has a container filled with a fire extinguisher material. One wall of the container has tear-open segments that breach the container when opened and allow the fire extinguisher material to exit the container. An initiator forces open the tear-open segments. The initiator has a cup that is coupled to the container wall. The cup contains combustible material and is closed by a cap. The cap is bonded to the cup to form a strong initiator housing. A fuse exits the initiator to the outside of the container wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Williams-Pyro, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Stevens, Preston N. Weintraub
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Patent number: 7395879Abstract: An apparatus including a drill collar having an outer surface, an assembly for interaction with an earth formation coupled to the drill collar, the assembly including a first member to extend beyond the drill collar outer surface and a second member to extend beyond the first member and toward the earth formation to receive formation fluids. An apparatus including an MWD tool having an outer surface, a formation testing assembly coupled to the MWD tool, the formation testing assembly recessed beneath the outer surface in a first position and including a piston to extend beyond the outer surface to a second position and an inner sampling member to extend beyond the piston to a third position.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Pedro Segura, Mark A. Sitka, Gregory N. Gilbert, Preston N. Weintraub, Tony T. Vu, John R. Hardin, Jr., Kristopher V. Sherrill, David M. Welshans, James E. Stone
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Patent number: 7204309Abstract: A formation testing tool is described herein, including a formation probe assembly having an extendable sampling probe surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve is configured to engage a metal skirt having an elastomeric seal pad coupled thereto. The skirt and seal are configured to be field replaceable. The elastomeric pad has a non-planar outer surface which engages a borehole wall in preparation for formation testing. The seal pad may be donut-shaped, having an aperture through the middle of the seal pad. The seal pad and its surface may include numerous different embodiments, including having a curved profile. The seal pad may also include numerous different embodiments of means for coupling the seal pad to the metal skirt. The formation testing tool also includes formation probe assembly anti-rotation means, a deviated non-circular flowbore, and at least one closed hydraulic fluid chamber for balancing fluid pressures.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Pedro R. Segura, Mark A. Sitka, Gregory N. Gilbert, Preston N. Weintraub, Tony T. Vu, John R. Hardin, Jr., Kristopher V. Sherrill, David M. Welshans, James E. Stone
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Patent number: 6983803Abstract: A dirty fluid valve for sealing high differential fluid pressures in a drilling environment and methods for using such a valve is disclosed. One embodiment of the valve includes a seal cartridge having several openings for directing a fluid path through the cartridge, a spring connected at one end of the seal cartridge and extending through the fluid path, and a seal member connected to the other end of the spring. The seal is actuatable between an open position and a closed position so that it covers one of the openings in the seal cartridge when it is in the closed position, thereby sealing off the fluid flow through the seal cartridge fluid path. The spring provides a pre-loading force to the seal member so that the seal member always has sufficient contact with the surfaces surrounding the opening that the seal covers.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Richard R. Watson, Preston N. Weintraub
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Patent number: 6932167Abstract: A compression scheme for reducing the amount of data that must be transmitted uplink from a formation test while drilling apparatus. Periodic samples are taken within the formation test apparatus and prior to transmitting data uplink, the samples are analyzed to generate curve fit parameters that define a curve that most closely fits the sampled data. A minimal set a data points, time variables, and curve fit parameters are transmitted to the surface where the transmitted data is used to reconstruct the formation pressure test curve. A quality of fit value is also transmitted with the minimal data set as an indication of the quality of the fit between the reconstructed data and the actually sampled data points.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Proett, Preston N. Weintraub, Christopher A. Golla, Svetozar D. Simeonov
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Patent number: 6843118Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for using a formation tester to perform a pretest, in a formation having low permeability, by intermittently collecting a portion of fluid at a constant drawdown rate. The drawdown pressure is monitored until a maximum differential pressure is reached between the formation and the tester. Then the piston is stopped until the differential pressure increases to a set value, at which time the piston is restarted. The controlled intermittent operation of the piston continues until a set pretest volume is reached. The modulated drawdown allows for an accurate collection of pressure versus time data that is then used to calculate the formation pressure and permeability. The present invention also finds applicability in logging-while-drilling and measurement-while drilling applications where power conservation is critical.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Preston N. Weintraub, Pedro R. Segura, Mark A. Proett
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Publication number: 20040000762Abstract: A dirty fluid valve for sealing high differential fluid pressures in a drilling environment and methods for using such a valve is disclosed. One embodiment of the valve includes a seal cartridge having several openings for directing a fluid path through the cartridge, a spring connected at one end of the seal cartridge and extending through the fluid path, and a seal member connected to the other end of the spring. The seal is actuatable between an open position and a closed position so that it covers one of the openings in the seal cartridge when it is in the closed position, thereby sealing off the fluid flow through the seal cartridge fluid path. The spring provides a pre-loading force to the seal member so that the seal member always has sufficient contact with the surfaces surrounding the opening that the seal covers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Richard R. Watson, Preston N. Weintraub
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Publication number: 20030214879Abstract: A compression scheme for reducing the amount of data that must be transmitted uplink from a formation test while drilling apparatus. Periodic samples are taken within the formation test apparatus and prior to transmitting data uplink, the samples are analyzed to generate curve fit parameters that define a curve that most closely fits the sampled data. A minimal set a data points, time variables, and curve fit parameters are transmitted to the surface where the transmitted data is used to reconstruct the formation pressure test curve. A quality of fit value is also transmitted with the minimal data set as an indication of the quality of the fit between the reconstructed data and the actually sampled data points.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Proett, Preston N. Weintraub, Christopher A. Golla, Svetozar D. Simeonov
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Publication number: 20030167834Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for using a formation tester to perform a pretest, in a formation having low permeability, by intermittently collecting a portion of fluid at a constant drawdown rate. The drawdown pressure is monitored until a maximum differential pressure is reached between the formation and the tester. Then the piston is stopped until the differential pressure increases to a set value, at which time the piston is restarted. The controlled intermittent operation of the piston continues until a set pretest volume is reached. The modulated drawdown allows for an accurate collection of pressure versus time data that is then used to calculate the formation pressure and permeability. The present invention also finds applicability in logging-while-drilling and measurement-while drilling applications where power conservation is critical.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventors: Preston N. Weintraub, Pedro R. Segura, Mark A. Proett