Sonde with integral pressure sensor and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10323506-B2
Application number	US-201615256535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2011
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sonde for use in an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation, said sonde comprising:
an elongated housing defining at least one end opening;
an end cap that is receivable in the end opening of said elongated housing in pressure sealing engagement therewith such that the elongated housing with the end cap installed thereon is receivable in the inground tool cavity and the end cap defines a pressure sensor aperture;
a pressure sensor having a pressure sensor body that is receivable in said pressure sensor aperture in pressure sealing engagement with the end cap such that the end cap cooperates with the elongated housing to pressure seal the end opening from the ambient pressure environment while the pressure sensor is supported by the end cap to produce a pressure reading responsive to the ambient pressure environment; and
a sonde electronics package that is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive said pressure reading and transfer the pressure reading from the sonde.

2. The sonde of claim 1 wherein said elongated body defines an inner surface and said end cap is configured with an exterior surface for engaging said inner surface.

3. The sonde of claim 2 wherein said exterior surface of said end cap is configured with an o-ring groove for receiving an o-ring that is captured between the end cap and the elongated body to at least partially pressure seal the end cap against the inner surface.

4. The sonde of claim 1 wherein said end cap is configured for receiving a cover that retains the pressure sensor within the sensor aperture.

5. The sonde of claim 4 wherein the pressure sensor includes a pressure diaphragm and wherein said cover defines at least one non-line-of-sight circuitous path to provide pressure communication to the pressure diaphragm from outside the end cap and the sensor aperture is configured such that the pressure diaphragm faces an inner surface of the cover when captured in the sensor aperture by the cover.

6. The sonde of claim 4 wherein said cover is removably engagable with the end cap.

7. The sonde of claim 6 wherein said end cap is configured for receiving at least a threaded fastener to hold the cover in removable engagement with the end cap.

8. The sonde of claim 4 wherein said cover defines at least one pressure passage that leads to the pressure sensor from outside the cover when removably engaged with the end cap.

9. The sonde of claim 8 wherein the pressure passage defines a non-line-of-sight circuitous path leading to the pressure sensor from outside the cover.

10. The sonde of claim 8 including a filter member that is received with the pressure passage.

11. The sonde of claim 10 wherein the filter member is a filter disc.

12. The sonde of claim 1 wherein said end cap defines said sensor aperture for removably receiving the sensor such that the pressure sensor is accessible and replaceable only with the end cap removed from said elongated housing.

13. The sonde of claim 12 wherein the pressure sensor includes a pressure diaphragm and the sensor aperture is configured such that the pressure sensor is receivable against a floor of the sensor aperture and the pressure diaphragm confronts said floor and at least one pressure conducting passage is defined passing through the floor to provide pressure communication with the ambient pressure environment.

14. The sonde of claim 12 wherein said end cap is integrally formed and defines at least one pressure passage that leads to the pressure sensor from outside the first end cap.

15. The sonde of claim 14 wherein the pressure passage defines a non-line-of-sight circuitous path leading to the pressure sensor from outside the end cap.

Assignees

• Merlin Technology Inc

Inventors

• Chau Albert W
• Feldman Dmitry
• Medeiros Benjamin John

Classifications

• E21B47/01 Primary

  Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like · CPC title

• E21B47/06 Primary

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• E21B47/011

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B47/017

  Protecting measuring instruments · CPC title