Patents by Inventor Joshua A. Gilbrech

Joshua A. Gilbrech 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: 10718163
    Abstract: A downhole drilling system is disclosed. The downhole drilling system may include a pulse-generating circuit electrically coupled to a power source configured to provide an alternating current at a frequency and an input voltage, the pulse-generating circuit comprising an input stage circuit electrically coupled to the power source, the input stage circuit configured to control the alternating current in the pulse-generating circuit; a transformer circuit electrically coupled to the input stage circuit, the transformer circuit comprising an open-core transformer configured to generate an output voltage higher than the input voltage; and an output stage circuit electrically coupled to the transformer circuit, the output stage circuit configured to store energy for an electric pulse; and a drill bit including a first electrode and a second electrode electrically coupled to the output stage circuit to receive the electric pulse from the pulse-generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., SDG LLC
    Inventor: Joshua A. Gilbrech
  • Patent number: 10472894
    Abstract: A downhole drilling system is disclosed. The downhole drilling system may include a pulse-generating circuit electrically coupled to a power source to provide power at a frequency, the pulse-generating circuit comprising an input stage tank circuit electrically coupled to the power source, the input stage tank circuit configured to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the frequency; a series tank circuit electromagnetically coupled to the input stage tank circuit, the series tank circuit configured to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the frequency; and an output stage tank circuit electromagnetically coupled to the series tank circuit, the output stage tank circuit configured to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the frequency; and a drill bit including a first electrode and a second electrode electrically coupled to the output stage tank circuit to receive an electric pulse from the pulse-generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., SDG LLC
    Inventor: Joshua A. Gilbrech
  • Publication number: 20180313158
    Abstract: A downhole drilling system is disclosed. The downhole drilling system may include a pulse-generating circuit electrically coupled to a power source configured to provide an alternating current at a frequency and an input voltage, the pulse-generating circuit comprising an input stage circuit electrically coupled to the power source, the input stage circuit configured to control the alternating current in the pulse-generating circuit; a transformer circuit electrically coupled to the input stage circuit, the transformer circuit comprising an open-core transformer configured to generate an output voltage higher than the input voltage; and an output stage circuit electrically coupled to the transformer circuit, the output stage circuit configured to store energy for an electric pulse; and a drill bit including a first electrode and a second electrode electrically coupled to the output stage circuit to receive the electric pulse from the pulse-generating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Joshua A. Gilbrech
  • Publication number: 20180209216
    Abstract: A downhole drilling system is disclosed. The downhole drilling system may include a pulse-generating circuit electrically coupled to a power source to provide power at a frequency, the pulse-generating circuit comprising an input stage tank circuit electrically coupled to the power source, the input stage tank circuit configured to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the frequency; a series tank circuit electromagnetically coupled to the input stage tank circuit, the series tank circuit configured to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the frequency; and an output stage tank circuit electromagnetically coupled to the series tank circuit, the output stage tank circuit configured to have a resonant frequency approximately equal to the frequency; and a drill bit including a first electrode and a second electrode electrically coupled to the output stage tank circuit to receive an electric pulse from the pulse-generating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Joshua A. Gilbrech
  • Patent number: 8578831
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively or additionally, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the explosive device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Energetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J Adler, Joshua A. Gilbrech, Darell W. New, Daniel T. Geyer
  • Publication number: 20120073426
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively or additionally, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the explosive device is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Richard J. Adler, Joshua A. Gilbrech, Darell W. New, Daniel T. Geyer