Downhole generator for horizontal directional drilling
First Claim
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1. A horizontal directional drilling machine, comprising:
- a drill string;
a fluid flow passage to direct fluid along the drill string; and
a generator assembly to generate an output power, the generator assembly comprising;
a generator housing supportable by the drill string, the generator housing defining a cavity;
an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing;
a turbine assembly supported in the cavity;
an electric generator driven by the turbine; and
a bypass assembly to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate through the inlet.
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Abstract
A generator assembly for generating power in the downhole end of a drill string used to form a borehole in horizontal directional drilling. The drill string provides a fluid passageway in which the downhole generator is receivingly disposed, at least in part, to subject a rotatable turbine to a pressurized fluid flowing in the fluid passageway, thereby imparting a mechanical rotation to the turbine. The turbine is coupled to a generator so that the mechanical rotation of the turbine is transferred to a power output of the generator.
153 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A horizontal directional drilling machine, comprising:
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a drill string;
a fluid flow passage to direct fluid along the drill string; and
a generator assembly to generate an output power, the generator assembly comprising;
a generator housing supportable by the drill string, the generator housing defining a cavity;
an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing;
a turbine assembly supported in the cavity;
an electric generator driven by the turbine; and
a bypass assembly to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate through the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A generator assembly for powering an electric component used with a horizontal directional drilling system, the generator assembly comprising:
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a generator housing supportable by the drill string, the generator housing defining a cavity;
an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing;
a fluid driven turbine assembly supported in the cavity;
an electric generator driven by the turbine; and
a bypass assembly to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate through the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
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a drill string;
a fluid flow passage to direct drilling fluid along the drill string;
a generator assembly supported in the drill string and adapted to generate output power, the generator assembly comprising a turbine assembly magnetically coupled to an electric generator;
a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the generator assembly; and
a dipole magnetic field transmitter electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
a generator housing defining a cavity;
an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing; and
wherein the turbine assembly is supported in the generator housing so that the inlet is positioned to cause the drilling fluid to impinge the turbine assembly substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the turbine assembly.
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24. The horizontal directional drilling machine of claim 22 wherein the generator assembly further comprises:
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a generator housing supported by the drill string, the generator housing defining a cavity;
an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing to direct drilling fluid across the turbine assembly; and
a bypass assembly to maintain a substantially constant drilling fluid flow rate through the inlet.
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25. The horizontal directional drilling machine of claim 24 wherein the turbine assembly is supported within the generator housing so that that the inlet is positioned to cause the drilling fluid to impinge the turbine assembly substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the turbine assembly.
Specification