Apparatus for electromagnetically coupling power and data signals between a first unit and a second unit and in particular between well bore apparatus and the surface
First Claim
1. Apparatus adapted to be disposed in a wellbore for inductively coupling power and data signals between surface equipment and subsurface equipment, comprising:
- a first conductor adapted to be connected to the surface equipment;
a second conductor adapted to be connected to the subsurface equipment; and
coupling means interconnecting said first conductor to said second conductor for conducting said power and data signals between said surface equipment and said subsurface equipment, said coupling means including,a first coil connected to said first conductor,a second coil connected to said second conductor and coaxially disposed around said first coil, said second coil being inductively coupled with said first coil, andcore means for assisting in the inductive coupling of said first coil and said second coil, said core means including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the representative embodiment of the new and improved apparatus disclosed herein, the apparatus, including a core of a specific material, couples a first unit to a second unit. The first unit may, for example, be a downhole tool, the second unit being surface equipment. The first unit may also be a video recorder or television camera, the second unit being a television monitor. The downhole tool adapted to be coupled in a pipe string and positioned in a well bore is provided with one or more electrical devices cooperatively arranged to receive power from surface power sources or to transmit and/or receive control or data signals from surface equipment. Unique inner and outer coil assemblies arranged on cores of a specific material are arranged on the downhole tool and a suspension cable for electromagnetically coupling the electrical devices to the surface equipment so that power and/or data or control signals can be transmitted between the downhole and surface equipment. The specific material, which comprises the cores of the inner and outer coil assemblies, must have a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and, simultaneously, an electrical resistivity greater than that of solid iron. By way of example, one such specific material, used in association with the preferred embodiment, is a ferrite material.
418 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus adapted to be disposed in a wellbore for inductively coupling power and data signals between surface equipment and subsurface equipment, comprising:
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a first conductor adapted to be connected to the surface equipment; a second conductor adapted to be connected to the subsurface equipment; and coupling means interconnecting said first conductor to said second conductor for conducting said power and data signals between said surface equipment and said subsurface equipment, said coupling means including, a first coil connected to said first conductor, a second coil connected to said second conductor and coaxially disposed around said first coil, said second coil being inductively coupled with said first coil, and core means for assisting in the inductive coupling of said first coil and said second coil, said core means including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of communicating between a first unit and a second unit, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a signal along a conductor from said first unit to an apparatus, said apparatus including a primary coil, a secondary coil and a core disposed between said primary coil and said secondary coil, said core including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron; inducing a corresponding signal in said secondary coil of said apparatus; and transmitting said corresponding signal along another conductor from said secondary coil to said second unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus adapted for inductively coupling signals between a first unit and a second unit, comprising:
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a first coil adapted to be connected to said first unit; a second coil adapted to be connected to said second unit; and core means for assisting in an inductive coupling of said first coil to said second coil, said core means including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron, the material including a thin foil of an iron based magnetic alloy material laminated onto another thin foil of said iron based magnetic alloy material, and an insulator material interleaved between adjacent layers of the iron alloy foil. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus adapted for inductively coupling signals between a first unit and a second unit, comprising:
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a first coil adapted to be connected to said first unit; a second coil adapted to be connected to said second unit; and core means for assisting in an inductive coupling of said first coil to said second coil, said core means including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron, the material including a thin foil of an iron based magnetic alloy material wound into tape form, and an insulator interleaved between adjacent layers of the iron alloy foil.
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20. Apparatus adapted for inductively coupling signals between a television camera and a television monitor, comprising:
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a first coil adapted to be connected to said television camera; a second coil adapted to be connected to said television monitor; and core means for assisting in an inductive coupling of said first coil to said second coil, said core means including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron.
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21. Apparatus adapted for inductively coupling signals between a video recorder and a television monitor, comprising:
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a first coil adapted to be connected to said video recorder; a second coil adapted to be connected to said television monitor; and core means for assisting in an inductive coupling of said first coil to said second coil, said core means including a material having a magnetic permeability greater than that of air and an electrical resistivity greater than that of iron.
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Specification