Electrical transmission apparatus through rotating tubular members
First Claim
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1. A drill string communication apparatus to transmit electromagnetic energy, comprising:
- a first tubular member providing a longitudinal axial bore there through, said first tubular member having a first end containing a first toroidal inductor and a second end containing a second toroidal inductor, and providing a conductor from said first inductor to said second inductor;
a second tubular member having a first end extending into the longitudinal axial bore of said first tubular member and rotatably supported therein;
said second tubular member further providing an enlarged second end providing a connection to a drill string member, said enlarged second end having a shoulder adjacent the second end of the first tubular member providing a third toroidal inductor therein and a second end having a fourth toroidal inductor contained therein, and a conductor connecting the third inductor to the fourth inductor;
said first tubular member and said second tubular member forming an axial gap between the second end of the first tubular member and the shoulder of said second tubular member; and
wherein an electromagnetic signal can be inductively transmitted from the first end of the first tubular member to the second end of the second tubular member.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for the communication of power or data signals across the rotating gap of two tubular members, such as the stator and rotor of a mud motor, and between said rotating members of a drill string through inductive couplers located axially along the drill string.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A drill string communication apparatus to transmit electromagnetic energy, comprising:
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a first tubular member providing a longitudinal axial bore there through, said first tubular member having a first end containing a first toroidal inductor and a second end containing a second toroidal inductor, and providing a conductor from said first inductor to said second inductor; a second tubular member having a first end extending into the longitudinal axial bore of said first tubular member and rotatably supported therein; said second tubular member further providing an enlarged second end providing a connection to a drill string member, said enlarged second end having a shoulder adjacent the second end of the first tubular member providing a third toroidal inductor therein and a second end having a fourth toroidal inductor contained therein, and a conductor connecting the third inductor to the fourth inductor; said first tubular member and said second tubular member forming an axial gap between the second end of the first tubular member and the shoulder of said second tubular member; and wherein an electromagnetic signal can be inductively transmitted from the first end of the first tubular member to the second end of the second tubular member. - 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 well tool to communicate across a gap, comprising:
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a mud motor comprising a stator having a first and second end, said first end containing a first inductor and a second end containing a second inductor, and providing a conductor from said first inductor to said second inductor and a rotor having a first end extending into the longitudinal axial bore of said stator and being rotatably supported therein; said rotor further providing a bit collar providing a connection to a drill bit, said bit collar having a shoulder adjacent the second end of the stator providing a third inductor therein and a second end having a fourth inductor contained therein, and a conductor connecting the third inductor to the fourth inductor; said stator and said rotor forming an axial gap between the second end of the stator and the shoulder of said bit collar; and wherein an electromagnetic signal can be inductively transmitted from the first end of the stator to the second end of the bit collar. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A drill string communication apparatus comprising:
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a first tubular member having a longitudinal bore, a first end providing a first inductor, and a second end providing a second inductor, said first tubular having a communication conduit between said first inductor and said second inductor; a second tubular member having a first end extending into the longitudinal axial bore of said first tubular member and rotatably supported therein; said second tubular member having an enlarged second end providing a connection to a drillstring, said enlarged second end having a shoulder adjacent the second end of the first tubular member providing a third inductor therein and a second end having a fourth inductor contained therein, and a conduit between the third inductor to the fourth inductor; and said first tubular member and said second tubular member forming an axial gap between the second end of the first tubular member and the shoulder of said second tubular member.
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Specification