Non-magnetic transmitter housing

• US 20100219835A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLC (Charles Machine Works Incorporated The)
• Original Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLC (Charles Machine Works Incorporated The)
• Inventors: Wentworth, Steven W.
• Application Number:
  US12/653,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/346
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling

Abstract

A sonde assembly of the invention includes: a sonde housing in the form of a non-magnetic tube having windows therein for permitting a radio signal to be transmitted out the tube from the inside;

means such as a device enclosing a front end of the tube; a sonde slidingly disposed inside the non-magnetic tube and closely fitting in a sonde cavity thereof in engagement with a front end stop of the tube. The sonde comprises a sensor and a radio transmitter connected to the sensor to transmit a directional signal based on sensor input, which sensor and transmitter are disposed inside a non-magnetic cylinder.

Claims

1. A sonde assembly, comprising:

a sonde housing in the form of a non-magnetic tube having windows therein for permitting a radio signal to be transmitted out the tube from the inside;

means for enclosing a front end of the tube;

a sonde slidingly disposed inside the non-magnetic tube and closely fitting in a sonde cavity thereof in engagement with a front end stop of the tube, the sonde comprising a sensor and a radio transmitter connected to the sensor to transmit a directional signal based on sensor input, which sensor and transmitter are disposed inside a non-magnetic cylinder;

a rear end cap securable in a fixed position in a rear end opening of the non-magnetic tube; and

a connector rigidly connecting a rear end portion of the cylinder to a front end portion of the rear end cap, whereby upon securing of the rear end cap in a rear end opening of the sonde housing, the sonde is secured in a fixed position relative to the sonde housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses the magnetic field of the earth.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a forwardly extending extension of the rear cap.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosing means comprises front cap securable in a fixed position in a front end opening of the non-magnetic tube.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic tube consists essentially of a non-magnetic stainless steel.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a frontwardly extending extension of the rear cap having a lesser diameter than a threaded rear portion of the rear cap, which threaded rear portion engages threads on the inner periphery of the nonmagnetic tube.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frontwardly extending extension of the rear cap further comprises a front end flange having holes therethrough, the sonde cylinder has rearwardly opening holes therein alignable with the holes in the flange of the rear cap, and bolts are used to secure the rear cap to the sonde cylinder.