Conical Inductive Coupler
In one aspect of the present invention, an inductive coupling comprises a pin section and a box section. The pin section comprises an inner electrical conductor supported in an exterior tapered surface of the pin section. The box section comprises an outer electrical conductor supported in an interior tapered surface of the box section. The exterior and interior tapered surfaces are configured to align each other such that the interior and exterior tapered surfaces are coaxial with each other when fully engaged.
1 . An inductive coupling, comprising;
a pin section comprising an inner electrical conductor supported in an exterior tapered surface of the pin section;
a box section comprising an outer electrical conductor supported in an interior tapered surface of the box section; and
the exterior and interior tapered surfaces are configured to align each other such that the interior and exterior tapered surfaces are coaxial with each other when fully engaged.
2 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein when the interior and exterior tapered surfaces are fully engaged the inner and outer electrical conductors are proximate each other such that the inner and outer electrical conductors are in magnetic communication with each other.
3 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the interior tapered surface is configured to contact the exterior tapered surface.
4 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the interior tapered surface is configured to force the exterior tapered surface toward concentricity with the interior tapered surface.
5 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the exterior tapered surface is configured to slide along the interior tapered surface.
6 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the outer electrical conductor is flush with the interior tapered surface.
7 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the inner electrical conductor is flush with the exterior tapered surface.
8 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the pin section and the box section are configured to remain in magnetic communication with each other while they rotate relative to each other.
9 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the inner electrical conductor supported by the exterior tapered surface is in electrical contact with surface equipment.
10 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the outer electrical conductor supported by the interior tapered surface is in electrical contact with downhole equipment.
11 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the pin and box sections comprise an electrically insulating, magnetically conducting material configured to direct a magnetic field formed from the inner and/or outer electrical conductor toward an adjacent conductor.
12 . The coupling of claim 11 , wherein the electrically insulating, magnetically conducting material is generally U-shaped.
13 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the box section is in mechanical communication with a mechanical member that is configured to translate along a drill string and expand and/or contract an expandable tool.
14 . The coupling of claim 13 , wherein the box section is attached to the mechanical member, the box section comprises a spring attached to a rearward end of the box section configured to push the box section onto the pin section to maintain the full engagement of the box and pin sections when the mechanical member is translating.
15 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the exterior tapered surface complements the interior tapered surface.
16 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the box section comprises an outer diameter, a portion of the outer diameter is a smaller diameter; the smaller diameter is configured to bend the box section to fully engage the pin section when the pin section contacts the box section at an angle.
17 . The coupling of claim 16 , wherein the smaller diameter is configured to axially re-center the box and pin sections to adjacent tool components after fully engaging the box and pin sections.
18 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the pin section comprises a protruding guide attached to a distal end of the pin section, a first end of the extremity attaches to a distal end of the pin section and a second end that is tapered configured to help align the pin section to the box section and help fully engage the pin and box sections.
19 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the outer electrical conductor is configured to enter the box section and secure a direct electrical contact with the inner electrical conductor when the pin and box sections are fully engaged.
20 . The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface comprises an angle, measured from an axis of the box section, which matches an angle of the exterior surface, measured from an axis of the pin section.