Annular electrical connectors for drill string
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Electrical communication apparatus suitable for use in a section of well conduit, comprising:
- a generally annular male electrical coupler assembly comprising a first base structure for rigid connection to a first end of said section of said well conduit and first annular electrical contact means carried by said first base structure;
first mounting means associated with said male coupler assembly for releasably mounting said first base structure of said male coupler assembly generally coaxially in said first end of said section of said well conduit;
a generally annualar female electrical coupler assembly comprising a second base structure for rigid connection to a second end of said section of said well conduit and second annular electrical contact means carried by said second base structure;
second mounting means associated with said female coupler assembly for releasably mounting said base structure of said female coupler assembly generally coaxially in said second end of said section of said well conduit;
the contact means of at least one of said coupler assemblies being mounted for limited lateral and circumferential play with respect to its base structure; and
electrical transfer means interconnecting said male and female coupler assemblies, said transfer means comprising an electrical cable electrically connected to each of said coupler assemblies for conducting electric current therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention pertains to an electrical communication system for a well conduit. The system includes annular male and female electrical coupler assemblies, holders for releasably mounting the coupler assemblies generally coaxially in opposite ends of a section of well conduit, and a cable assembly connected to the coupler assemblies for conducting electric current therebetween.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. Electrical communication apparatus suitable for use in a section of well conduit, comprising:
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a generally annular male electrical coupler assembly comprising a first base structure for rigid connection to a first end of said section of said well conduit and first annular electrical contact means carried by said first base structure; first mounting means associated with said male coupler assembly for releasably mounting said first base structure of said male coupler assembly generally coaxially in said first end of said section of said well conduit; a generally annualar female electrical coupler assembly comprising a second base structure for rigid connection to a second end of said section of said well conduit and second annular electrical contact means carried by said second base structure; second mounting means associated with said female coupler assembly for releasably mounting said base structure of said female coupler assembly generally coaxially in said second end of said section of said well conduit; the contact means of at least one of said coupler assemblies being mounted for limited lateral and circumferential play with respect to its base structure; and electrical transfer means interconnecting said male and female coupler assemblies, said transfer means comprising an electrical cable electrically connected to each of said coupler assemblies for conducting electric current therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A male electrical coupler assembly comprising:
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a base structure; a male contact carried by said base structure and extending generally longitudinally therefrom, said male contact having an engagement end for abutment with and direct electrical connection to a female contact; and resilient seal means comprising a split bellows cooperating with said male contact, said bellows including inner and outer halves comprised of elastomeric materials of differing compressive strengths, said seal means connected to said base structure and enveloping said engagement end of said male contact, said seal means having a split end seal separable to sealingly engage the sides of said male contact while retracting longitudinally from said engagement end as said engagement end passes through said split end seal, said seal means being resiliently biased longitudinally outwardly to tend to return to a position enveloping said engagement end of said male contact. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A female electrical coupler assembly comprising:
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a base structure; an annular female contact having an engagement portion for abutment with and direct electrical connection to a male contact; guard means connected to said base structure and extending along the sides of said engagement portion of said female contact; and elastomeric seal means comprising a pair of concentric elastomeric bodies radially abutting each other, said seal means adjoining said guard means and defining an access opening generally longitudinally aligned with said engagement portion of said female contact, said access opening being an annular opening located at the abutment interface of said bodies and being normally closed by self abutment of said elastomeric seal means in overlying relation to said engagement portion of said female contact, and said elastomeric seal means being compressible to open said access opening and permit access of a male contact to said female contact while sealingly engaging the sides of said male contact. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. Electrical coupler apparatus for making electrical connections on a tubular conduit comprising:
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(a) a first electrical coupler assembly including, a first base structure for structural connection to said tubular conduit; male contact means carried by and insulated from said first base structure; and (b) a second electrical coupler assembly including, a second base structure for structural connection to said tubular conduit; female contact means carried by and insulated from said second base structure, wherein the contact means of one of said coupler assemblies is mounted for limited lateral and circumferential play with respect to its respective base structure. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. Electrical coupler apparatus for making electrical connections on a tubular conduit comprising:
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(a) a first electrical coupler assembly including, a generally annular first base structure for structural connection to said tubular conduit; annular male contact means carried by said first base structure, generally coaxial with said first base structure, extending generally longitudinally from said first base structure and insulated from said first base structure; wherein said male contact means comprises a generally rigid contact ring having an uninsulated annular contact area on its radially outer surface interposed longitudinally between two insulated annular areas on said outer surface; and (b) a second electrical coupler assembly including, a generally annular second base structure for structural connection to said tubular conduit; annular female contact means carried by said second base structure, generally coaxial with said second base structure, extending generally longitudinally from said second base structure, and insulated from said second base structure; wherein said female contact means comprises a generally rigid contact ring having an uninsulated annular contact area on its radially inner surface interposed longitudinally between two insulated annular areas on said inner surface and positioned to be generally concentric with and abutting said contact area of said male contact means when said contact means are so matingly engaged, said female contact means further comprising a conductive annulus mounted on said rigid contact ring in electrical communication therewith and defining said contact area of said female contact means, said conductive annulus being radially resiliently yieldable for permitting passage of said male contact means thereinto and for firmly engaging said male contact means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. Electrical coupler apparatus for making electrical connections on a tubular conduit comprising:
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(a) a first electrical coupler assembly including, a first base structure for structural connection to said tubular conduit; male contact means carried by and insulated from said first base structure; and (b) a second electrical coupler assembly including, a second base structure for structural connection to said tubular conduit; female contact means carried by and insulated from said second base structure, wherein said female contact means has an engagement portion for abutment with and direct electrical connection to said male contact means, said second coupler assembly further comprising guard means extending along the radially inner and outer sides of said egagement portion of said female contact means, a pair of elastomeric bodies adjoining said guard means, said elastomeric bodies being concentric and radially abutting each other along a locus generally longitudinally aligned with said engagement portion of said female contact means to seal said engagement portion from the exterior of said guard means when said contact means are not matingly engaged, said elastomeric bodies further sealing against respective opposite sides of said male contact means when said contact means are matingly engaged. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification