AN INTERNAL COAXIAL CABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR USE IN DOWNHOLE TOOLS

• US 20050095827A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntelliServ, LLC (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intelliserv, Inc. (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sneddon, Cameron, Hall, David R., Fox, Joe, Dahlgren, Scott, Hall, H. Tracy Jr., Pixton, David S., Briscoe, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 438/578
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0283 characterised by the coupling being contactless, e.g. inductive
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/42 comprising impedance matching means or electrical components, e.g. filters or switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/532 Conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53213 Assembled to wire-type conductor

Abstract

A coaxial cable electrical connector more specifically an internal coaxial cable connector placed within a coaxial cable and its constituent components. A coaxial cable connector is in electrical communication with an inductive transformer and a coaxial cable. The connector is in electrical communication with the outer housing of the inductive transformer. A generally coaxial center conductor, a portion of which could be the coil in the inductive transformer, passes through the connector, is electrically insulated from the connector, and is in electrical communication with the conductive core of the coaxial cable. A plurality of bulbous pliant tabs on the coaxial cable connector mechanically engage the inside diameter of the coaxial cable thus grounding the transformer to the coaxial cable. The coaxial cable and inductive transformer are disposed within downhole tools to transmit electrical signals between downhole tools within a drill string. The internal coaxial cable connector can be used in a plurality of downhole tools, such as sections of pipe in a drill string, drill collars, heavy weight drill pipe, and jars.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for electrically connecting an inductive transformer with a coaxial cable in a downhole tool, the connector comprising:

a tube and a generally coaxial center conductor, the tube comprising a first end and a second end, a head on the first end, the head in electrical communication with the inductive transformer, the second end in electrical communication with an internal diameter of a conductive tube of the coaxial cable;

the coaxial center conductor passing through the tube, electrically insulated from the tube, and in electrical communication with a coil in the inductive transformer and a conductive core of the coaxial cable.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the head is diametrically larger than the tube.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the second end forms a plurality of bulbous pliant tabs extending from the tube.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3 wherein an outer diameter of the bulbous pliant tabs is larger than the internal diameter of the conductive tube.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the head forms a saddle, the saddle shaped to conform to an outer housing of the inductive transformer.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 5 wherein the saddle is welded to the outer housing of the inductive transformer.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the head has an outer flat sidewall.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7 wherein a terminal end of the coil in the inductive transformer is welded to the outer flat sidewall.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the head has an open ended protuberance, a portion of the open ended protuberance cut away, the coaxial center conductor passing through the cut away portion of the open ended protuberance.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the tube has grooves adapted to house a sealing mechanism.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 10 wherein the sealing mechanism comprises o-rings.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is made of a metal.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 12 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chrome, nickel, aluminum, iron, copper, tin, and lead.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13 wherein the metal is steel is selected from the group consisting of viscount 44, D2, stainless steel, tool steel, and 4100 series steels.

15. A downhole tool comprising:

a coaxial cable connector for electrically connecting an inductive transformer with a coaxial cable, the connector comprising a tube and a generally coaxial center conductor, the tube comprising a first end and a second end, a head on the first end, the head in electrical communication with the inductive transformer, the second end in electrical communication with an internal diameter of a conductive tube of the coaxial cable, the inductive transformer and the coaxial cable disposed within the downhole tool;

the coaxial center conductor passing through the tube, electrically insulated from the tube, and in electrical communication with a coil in the inductive transformer and a conductive core of the coaxial cable.

16. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein ther head is diametrically larger than the tube.

17. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein the second end of the coaxial cable connector forms a plurality of bulbous pliant tabs extending from the tube.

18. The downhole tool of claim 17 wherein ane outer diameter of the bulbous pliant tabs is larger than the internal diameter of the coaxial cable into which the terminal end is inserted.

19. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein the coaxial cable connector head forms a saddle, the saddle shaped to conform to an outer housing of the inductive transformer.

20. The downhole tool of claim 19 wherein the saddle is welded to the outer housing of the inductive transformer.

21. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein the coaxial cable connector head has an outer flat sidewall.

22. The downhole tool of claim 21 wherein a terminal end of the coil in the inductive transformer is welded to the coaxial cable connector outer flat sidewall.

23. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein the coaxial cable connector head has an open ended protuberance, a portion of the open ended protuberance cut away, the coaxial center conductor passing through the cut away portion of the open ended protuberance.

24. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein the coaxial cable connector tube has grooves adapted to house a sealing mechanism.

25. The downhole tool of claim 24 wherein the sealing mechanism comprises o-rings.

26. The downhole tool of claim 15 wherein the coaxial cable connector is made of a metal.

27. The downhole tool of claim 26 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, chrome, nickel, aluminum, iron, copper, tin, and lead.

28. The downhole tool of claim 27 wherein the metal is steel is selected from the group consisting of viscount 44, D2, stainless steel, tool steel, and 4100 series steels.