초록 ▼

A coupling that makes electrical connections across a joint joining adjacent tubular members, such as drill pipe sections in a drill string. A male sleeve, made from an electrical insulating material, is attached to the male end of one pipe section. A number of axially spaced apart male contact memb

A coupling that makes electrical connections across a joint joining adjacent tubular members, such as drill pipe sections in a drill string. A male sleeve, made from an electrical insulating material, is attached to the male end of one pipe section. A number of axially spaced apart male contact members, such as ring segments or buttons, are formed on the outside surface of the male end. The male contact members are spring biased radially outward. Each of the male contact members is radially displaced from the axial centerline of the pipe section by a progressively increasing amount. A female sleeve, also made from an electrical insulating material, is attached to the female end of the other pipe section. A number of female contact members, such as ring segments or buttons, are formed on the inside surface of the female end. Each of the female contact members is radially displaced from the axial centerline of the pipe section by a progressively increasing amount. The axial spacing and radial displacements of the male and female contact members is such that when the pipe section are assembled by threading the male end into the female end, each male contact member makes electrical contact with its intended mating female contact member without ever having contacted any of the other female contact members. Deformable cleaning elements formed on one of the ends wipe clean the contact members formed on the other end as the joint is being assembled. The debris wiped clean is deposited in a groove located in front of the wiper.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A section of drill string for use in a drill string assembly for drilling a bore through a formation, comprising:a) a first drill pipe section comprising:(i) a male end defining an axial centerline thereof and forming an outside surface thereof;(ii) first and second contact

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A section of drill string for use in a drill string assembly for drilling a bore through a formation, comprising:a) a first drill pipe section comprising:(i) a male end defining an axial centerline thereof and forming an outside surface thereof;(ii) first and second contact members projecting radially outward from said outside surface of said male end, said first and second contact members being axially spaced apart, said first and second contact members radially displaced from said axial centerline by first and second distances, respectively, said second distance being greater than said first distance; and(iii) first and second electrical conductors, said first and second electrical conductors connected to said first and second contact members, respectively;b) a second drill pipe section comprising:(i) a female end forming an inside surface thereof;(ii) third and fourth contact members projecting radially inward from said inside surface of said female end, said third and fourth contact members axially spaced apart, said third and fourth contact members radially displaced from said axial centerline by third and fourth distances, respectively, said third distance being equal to or less than said first distance, said fourth distance being:(A) greater than said third distance,(B) greater than said first distance, and(C) equal to or less than said second distance;(iii) third and fourth electrical conductors, said third and fourth electrical conductors connected to said third and fourth contact members, respectively;c) means for mechanically coupling said first drill pipe section to said second drill pipe section by inserting said male end into said female end, whereby said mechanical coupling of said first and second drill pipe sections causes:(i) said first contact member to contact with said third contact member without having contacted said fourth contact member, thereby placing said first conductor in electrical communication with said third conductor, and(ii) said second contact member to contact with said fourth contact member without having contacted said third contact member, thereby placing said second conductor in electrical communication with said fourth conductor; andd) a deformable cleaning element disposed in said first drill pipe section male end for removing dirt and debris from at least one of said third and fourth contact members on said second drill pipe section female end, said cleaning element positioned on said male end so as to clean said at least one contact member when said first drill pipe section male end is inserted into said second drill pipe section female end.