Patents by Inventor Joe Fox
Joe Fox 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).
-
Patent number: 12347610Abstract: An inductive coupler system comprising an annular groove formed in the shoulder of a drill pipe. The annular groove housing an annular block comprising an inductive coupler assembly molded therein comprising a magnetically conductive electrically insulating (MCEI) ferrite ring forming an annular interior channel and a conductive wire with one or more turns running along the annular interior channel. The annular block comprising a polymer comprising a volume of micron (m?) and submicron (nm) size MCEI elements. The MCEI elements comprising Fe and Mn. The annular block comprising a planar top surface, bottom surface, and the respective surfaces being joined by inside and outside peripheral side surfaces. The outside peripheral side surface comprising a protruding bumper comprising a dimple molded therein. The annular block further comprising a gasket comprising an axial pathway through which a portion of the conductive wire passes as the conductive wire exits the annular block.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: July 1, 2025Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12334240Abstract: An electromagnetic core assembly for power and data transmission in a tool string for downhole construction and production comprising an annular mesh housing defining an annular open channel. A magnetically conductive electrically insulating, MCEI, core is disposed within the annular open channel. An annular electrical conductor is imbedded within the MCEI core, the electrical conductor being connected to ground and to a cable running through a downhole tool. The mesh housing may be at least partially electrically insulating and at least partially electrically conducting. The mesh housing may comprise a metal or a nonmetal or a fabric. The mesh housing may comprise MCEI elements. The mesh size of the housing may be sufficient to at least partially contain an electromagnetic field or flux emanating from the electrical conductor. The MCEI core may comprise a depression in its planar top surface above the electrical conductor. The core may comprise reinforcements.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12291927Abstract: A coupler comprising a hub comprising a longitudinal hub axis and a chamber disposed therein. A shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis, a first end, and a second end, wherein the second end of the shaft is pivotally coupled to the hub. A positioning assembly disposed in the chamber of the hub that engages the second end of the shaft. The positioning assembly being configured to allow the longitudinal shaft axis to become laterally offset from the longitudinal hub axis. A lower coil plate assembly positioned adjacent to an end cap assembly. A floating coil assembly disposed in an open chamber having walls bounded by the coil plate assembly and the end cap assembly for electromagnetically communicating with an adjacent coil assembly of a tubular member connected to the hub. Seals between the floating coil assembly and walls of the chamber provide a sealed off portion of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12268918Abstract: A multi-use exercise equipment anchor system adapted for removably mounting in a tubular receptacle disposed in line with a vehicle's chassis or frame. The tubular receptacle may be disposed along the chassis' center line or offset parallel to the chassis' center line. The equipment anchor may comprise a tubular comprising a first end portion angularly joined to a second end portion. The first end portion being at least partially inserted into the tubular receptacle and the second end portion extending from the receptacle and diagonally descending away from the receptacle to a point adjacent the surface on which the vehicle resides. The second end portion may comprise openings and other means for attaching exercise equipment such as elastic bands, a battle rope, or a landmine to the equipment anchor. The anchor may comprise a tubular comprising a square cross section, a rectangular cross section, or a circular cross section.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2024Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Inventors: Francis E. Leany, Jessica N. Leany, Jordan T Leany, Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12224112Abstract: A reinforced MCEI transducer for drill pipe telemetry comprising an annular ferrite trough. The ferrite trough may be a single piece trough or it may be made up of ferrite trough segments arranged intimately end for end. The single piece trough may comprise one or more annular mechanical reinforcements such as a rod, a tube, or a mesh. Trough segments may comprise mechanical reinforcements that when the segments are arranged end for end, they thereby act like continuous annular reinforcements. The annular reinforcements may be embedded radially within the annular ferrite trough. The mechanical reinforcements may be nonelectrically conductive, or they may be electrically conductive. The reinforcements may comprise a metal or a nonmetal, or a polymer. An annular electrically conductive wire coil may be disposed within the ferrite trough. The ferrite trough may comprise one or more perforations. The ferrite trough may be housed within an annular polymeric block.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12203328Abstract: A transmission element for a downhole tool comprising an annular housing and an annular ferrite channel within the annular housing. An annular nonlinear coil may be disposed within the annular ferrite channel, and the nonlinear coil may be connected to a cable running within the downhole tool. The housing may be an annular groove or recess within the tool, an annular metal trough, or an annular polymeric block. The polymeric block may comprise a composite of a polymer and a volume of ferrite elements comprising Fe and Mn. The annular nonlinear coil may comprise a wave, a helix, a twisted pair of wires, a transformer comprising a coil and a metal core, or a combination thereof. The polymeric block may comprise and bumper on its periphery and a void opening within the block proximate the bumper. The ferrite channel and the coil may be molded within the polymeric block.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12196044Abstract: A magnetically conductive electrically insulating (MCEI) trough for an inductive coupler in a drill pipe, drill string, and other downhole tools. The MCEI trough may be a ring or two or more ring segments. The trough may comprise interior side and bottom walls forming an open channel. The interior walls may comprise one or more axial flutes. An exterior wall may be spaced apart from the interior walls. The spaced apart interior and exterior walls may form a top surface. The exterior wall may comprise one or more flutes. The flutes may protrude from the respective wall surfaces, or the flutes may protrude into the wall surfaces. A wire coil may be laid within the open channel. The wire coil may comprise axial corrugations. The axial corrugations may couple with the axial flutes of the interior side walls. The wire coil may comprise wire strands laid within the trough.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12173564Abstract: A telemetry tool joint may comprise a tool joint body adapted for connection to a downhole tubular as part of a tool string. The tubular may be a drill pipe or a downhole tool such as a drill bit or component of a bottom hole assembly. The tool joint body may comprise an axial bore comprising a bore wall having an interior wall surface and a tapered outer wall surface. The tapered outer bore wall surface may comprise a first continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a first thread start and a first thread end and a second continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a second thread start and a second thread end. The respective thread forms may be separated by a gap along the tapered outer bore wall surface. The gap may comprise one or more annular recesses adapted for housing a radially oriented inductive coupler.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12142419Abstract: An inductive transmission element comprising a magnetically conductive electrically insulating, MCEI, annular core. The core comprises an outer wall and an inner wall apart from the outer wall. The respective walls are joined by a planar top surface. The inner wall and the outer wall form an annular trough opening adjacent the top surface. The open annular trough comprises opposed diagonal walls that intersect the top surface and a circular region at the distal end of the opposed diagonal walls. The annular trough opening may be wider or narrower than the planar top surface between the diagonal walls and outer surface. The annular core may be disposed within an annular housing comprising a polymeric block. The diagonal walls may intersect the top surface at an angle greater than 93°. The diagonal walls may intersect the circular region at an angle greater than 93°. The top surface may be polished.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2022Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12106890Abstract: An annular block of polymer comprising an inductive coupler assembly configured to fit within a groove in the shoulder of a drill pipe joint. The assembly comprises a ferrite channel arranged around the interior of the block. At least one turn of a conductive wire is deposed within the channel. The block comprises a bumper comprising jutting from the block. The block comprises internal void openings adjacent its vertical side surfaces. A void opening is disposed proximate the bumper. The block further comprises an internal gasket partially extending from the bottom surface of the block. The external portion of the gasket being formed to fit within a gasket seat in the bottom of the groove. The wire passes through the gasket as it exits the block. When the block is installed into the groove, the gasket seals the wire and the block's components from the downhole environment.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12084921Abstract: A resilient electrical conductor for an inductive coupler assembly comprising a loop comprising first and second ends. The first and second ends being harder than the loop. The loop is located within an annular recess in the top wall of a cylindrical housing. A magnetically conductive electrically insulating, MCEI, channel surrounding the loop provides a transmission element for the electromagnetic field produced by the loop when energized. The first end is configured for connection to a transmission line and the second end is configured for attachment to ground. The wire loop comprises one or more helical segments between the first end and the second end, each segment comprising a plurality of turns. The annular recess may comprise a step in the side wall of the cylinder joining the side wall with the top wall. The segments may comprise vertical coils attached in series or in parallel to the loop.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12084922Abstract: A telemetry tool assembly for exploiting subsurface fluids and minerals through well construction and production. The assembly comprises a tube comprising a bore and a bore wall and first end and a second end. The respective ends each comprise internal and external upset portions welded to a pin end tool joint or box end tool joint, respectively. The upset portions comprise an internal and external conical transition section intermediate the respective tool joints and the tube. The internal conical transition section comprises at least one socket comprising a removeable cover and side and bottom surfaces within the internal conical transition section. The socket and cover comprise a seal between the cover and socket side walls. A sensor module comprising electrical equipment is disposed within the one or more sockets and the assembly comprises a wired drill pipe (WDP). The socket surfaces comprise a hardness greater than the internal transition section.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2023Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12049789Abstract: A bipartite transmission coupler assembly comprising a downhole tool such as a drill pipe having an axial bore comprising a bore wall. The bore wall comprising a first annular groove open to the bore. The coupler may comprise a cylinder comprising an outside wall and an inside wall separated by top and bottom walls. The top wall comprising an annular recess configured to house a transmission assembly. The outside wall comprising a second annular groove configured to align with the first annular groove when the cylinder is installed into the axial bore. An annular spring ring may be housed within the second annular groove such that when the grooves are aligned within the axial bore, the spring ring radially expands at least partially into the first annular groove, securing the elongate cylinder within the axial bore. The cylinder may be divided into a first part and a second part.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12031387Abstract: A cylindrical tool string assembly for downhole data transmission comprises a cylinder comprising a transmission element such as an inductive coupler installed within a groove in its top surface connected to a transmission line housed within its exterior wall. The assembly includes a split spring ring housed within a groove formed in a bore wall of a tool string component such as a drill pipe or a downhole tool within the bottom hole assembly. The spring ring may be compressed and released when positioned within the groove. The spring ring provides a platform on which cylinder may be mounted. The split provides a passageway for the transmission line to exit the cylinder. The cylinder includes a recess in its top surface housing an extractor to facilitate removal of the cylinder. An anti-rotation lock between the cylinder and bore of the tool string component may prevent movement of the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Publication number: 20240216749Abstract: A multi-use exercise equipment anchor system adapted for removably mounting in a tubular receptacle disposed in line with a vehicle's chassis or frame. The tubular receptacle may be disposed along the chassis' center line or offset parallel to the chassis' center line. The equipment anchor may comprise a tubular comprising a first end portion angularly joined to a second end portion. The first end portion being at least partially inserted into the tubular receptacle and the second end portion extending from the receptacle and diagonally descending away from the receptacle to a point adjacent the surface on which the vehicle resides. The second end portion may comprise openings and other means for attaching exercise equipment such as elastic bands, a battle rope, or a landmine to the equipment anchor. The anchor may comprise a tubular comprising a square cross section, a rectangular cross section, or a circular cross section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2024Publication date: July 4, 2024Inventors: Francis E. Leany, Jessica N. Leany, Jordan T Leany, Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 12000270Abstract: A tool string electrical transmission line connector comprising a cylinder adapted for mounting within a bore adjacent to a shoulder within the bore of a downhole tool. The cylinder comprising an inside axial side wall spaced apart from an outside axial side wall joining top and bottom surfaces. The connector further comprises an axial channel open to the outside axial side wall intersecting the bottom surface and a housing open to the outside axial side wall. The housing being open to the top surface. An electrical transmission line connector is disposed within the housing. An electrical transmission line is disposed within the axial channel and connected within the housing to an adjacent electrical transmission device. The axial channel further comprises one or more tab closures. The tab closures may comprise a clamp. When fitted into the bore, the tabs close around a cable residing within the channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 11952841Abstract: A tool string composite transmission element comprising a composite polymeric carrier comprising an electrical conductor embedded therein. The conductor may be connected to ground and to a cable and may be suitable for producing an electromagnetic field within the carrier when energized. The conductor may comprise a tab that may align with a slot within the carrier to prevent rotation of individual carrier fragments or segments strung along the conductor. The carrier may comprise a volume of MCEI particles sufficient to allow the carrier to transmit the electromagnet field to an adjacent carrier. The transmitted field may be used to convey data and power. The carrier may comprise an annular or linear configuration. Also, the carrier may comprise a bumper for securing the carrier within a groove within a tool within the tool string. The carrier may comprise a depression in its outer top surface above the electrical conductor.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Publication number: 20240071675Abstract: An electromagnetic core assembly for power and data transmission in a tool string for downhole construction and production comprising an annular mesh housing defining an annular open channel. A magnetically conductive electrically insulating, MCEI, core is disposed within the annular open channel. An annular electrical conductor is imbedded within the MCEI core, the electrical conductor being connected to ground and to a cable running through a downhole tool. The mesh housing may be at least partially electrically insulating and at least partially electrically conducting. The mesh housing may comprise a metal or a nonmetal or a fabric. The mesh housing may comprise MCEI elements. The mesh size of the housing may be sufficient to at least partially contain an electromagnetic field or flux emanating from the electrical conductor. The MCEI core may comprise a depression in its planar top surface above the electrical conductor. The core may comprise reinforcements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 11905763Abstract: A system for transmitting data and power downhole includes an annular groove in a downhole tool such as a drill pipe shoulder or other tool body. A housing for an inductive coupler being disposed within the annular groove. The housing may be a metal ring or a polymeric ring suitable for downhole conditions. An annular MCEI trough may be located within the housing. The MCEI trough may comprise segments. One of the segments may comprise one or more perforations. An electrically conductive coil may be placed in the MCEI trough. The coil may comprise a transmission end and a groundable end. The groundable end may be connected to the tool body by a ground post through the perforations in the MCEI segments and the housing. The transmission end may be connected to a cable within the downhole tool through the other perforation in the MCEI trough and housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox
-
Patent number: 11885183Abstract: An inductive coupler and method for a downhole tool such as a drill pipe comprising an electrically conductive ingot cast into a magnetically conducting electrically insulating (MCEI) annular mold. The MCEI mold may comprise an annular channel comprising a first perforation and one or more second perforations. The ingot may comprise first and seconds with sockets proximate the respective ends. The first perforation may comprise an electrical connection to a ground pin in the downhole tool. The one or more second perforations may comprise electrical connections to a similarly configured ingot within the downhole tool and to electrical equipment within the drill pipe. The ingot may further comprise cleats and flutes. The ingot may comprise an annular passageway around the interior of the ingot. The ingot may be sealed within the channel and each of the perforation may comprise a seal insolating the electrical connections from the downhole environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Inventor: Joe Fox