CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR A DRILLING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A connector assembly for use with a drilling apparatus, the connector assembly comprising:
- an input connector unit including a top carrier plate and an input shaft which is connected to the top carrier plate, the input shaft having an open upper end and an open lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends, the upper end having a connector formation which is connectable to a power output of a drill motor of the drilling apparatus;
an output connector unit including a bottom carrier plate and an output shaft which is connected to the bottom carrier plate, the output shaft having an open upper end and an open lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends, the lower end having a connector formation which is connectable to a drill pipe segment of a drill pipe;
at least one resiliently deformable shock absorption element which is mounted between the top and bottom carrier plates so as to absorb axial shocks transmitted between the drill motor and the drill pipe; and
the input and output shafts defining a common longitudinal axis, with the internal passages of the input and output shafts being in flow communication with one another and an internal passage of the drill pipe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly (10) for use with a drilling apparatus, comprises an input connector unit (12) which is connectable to a drill motor, an output connector unit (14) which is connectable to a drill pipe string and a number of shock absorption elements (16). The input and output connector units (14), (16) include top and bottom carrier plates (26) and (31), respectively. The shock absorption elements (16) are arranged adjacent one another between the carrier plates providing for absorption of both axial and rotational shock forces transmitted between the drill motor and the drill string. The connector assembly includes elongate link elements (70) extending between the top and bottom carrier plates which prevent separation of the carrier plates beyond a predetermined separation spacing limit.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A connector assembly for use with a drilling apparatus, the connector assembly comprising:
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an input connector unit including a top carrier plate and an input shaft which is connected to the top carrier plate, the input shaft having an open upper end and an open lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends, the upper end having a connector formation which is connectable to a power output of a drill motor of the drilling apparatus; an output connector unit including a bottom carrier plate and an output shaft which is connected to the bottom carrier plate, the output shaft having an open upper end and an open lower end and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower ends, the lower end having a connector formation which is connectable to a drill pipe segment of a drill pipe; at least one resiliently deformable shock absorption element which is mounted between the top and bottom carrier plates so as to absorb axial shocks transmitted between the drill motor and the drill pipe; and the input and output shafts defining a common longitudinal axis, with the internal passages of the input and output shafts being in flow communication with one another and an internal passage of the drill pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification