Connector ring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111736-B2
Application number	US-201916600924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 14, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A connector ring comprising a body extending along a longitudinal axis and two sets of sensor connectors. The first set of sensor connectors comprises one or more transmitter sensor connectors coupled with the body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the one or more transmitter sensor connectors having a first end. The second set of sensor connectors comprises one or more receiver sensor connectors coupled with the body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the one or more receiver sensor connectors having a first end. The first end of the transmitter sensor connectors and the first end of the receiver sensor connectors are staggered along the longitudinal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector ring for coupling to an electronics carrier, the connector ring comprising:
a body extending along a longitudinal axis;
a transmitter sensor connector coupled with the body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the transmitter sensor connector having a first end; and
a receiver sensor connector coupled with the body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the receiver sensor connector having a first end, wherein the first end of the transmitter sensor connector and the first end of the receiver sensor connector are staggered along the longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of alignment connectors parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of alignment connectors being operable to couple with a corresponding plurality of alignment pins of the electronics carrier, wherein the plurality of alignment connectors are separate from the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector to facilitate coupling between the connector ring and the electronics carrier and to avoid damage of the transmitter sensor connector and receiver sensor connector during coupling of the connector ring and the electronics carrier, and wherein the connector ring comprises a connecting region including a high shoulder and a low shoulder, and wherein at least one alignment connector of the plurality of alignment connectors is disposed on the high shoulder of the connecting region and at least one alignment connector of the plurality of alignment connectors is disposed on the low shoulder of the connecting region.

2. The connector ring of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector are misaligned in the longitudinal direction.

3. The connector ring of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the transmitter sensor connector and the first end of the receiver sensor connector are staggered by a predetermined distance.

4. The connector ring of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the transmitter sensor connector is located further away from the body than the first end of the receiver sensor connector.

5. The connector ring of claim 1 , wherein the staggering of the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector reduces crosstalk.

6. The connector ring of claim 1 , wherein the connecting region includes a plurality of alignment connectors on the high shoulder and a plurality of alignment connectors on the low shoulder.

7. A system comprising:
a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore operable to make measurements of the wellbore, the downhole tool having a transmitter operable to transmit data from the downhole tool, and a receiver operable to receive data from a source external the downhole tool;
a connector ring coupled with the downhole tool, the connector ring comprising:
a connector ring body having a longitudinal axis,
a transmitter sensor connector coupled with the connector ring body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the transmitter sensor connector being coupled to a transmitter sensor, the transmitter sensor connector having a first end, and
a receiver sensor connector coupled with the connector ring body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the receiver sensor connector being coupled to a receiver sensor, the receiver sensor connector having a first end,
wherein the first end of the transmitter sensor connector and the first end of the receiver sensor connector are staggered along the longitudinal axis; and

an electronics carrier operable to be coupled with the connector ring, the electronics carrier including a carrier transmitter connector, and a carrier receiver connector, and a plurality of alignment pins separate from the carrier transmitter connector and carrier receiver connector, the carrier transmitter connector and the carrier receiver connector corresponding to the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector of the connector ring, wherein the electronics carrier comprises a connecting region including a high shoulder and a low shoulder, and wherein at least one alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins is disposed on the high shoulder of the connecting region and at least one alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins is disposed on the low shoulder of the connecting region; and
wherein the connector ring further comprises a plurality of alignment connectors parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of alignment connectors being operable to couple with the plurality of alignment pins of the electronics carrier, wherein the plurality of alignment connectors are separate from the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector to facilitate coupling between the connector ring and the electronics carrier and to avoid damage of the transmitter sensor connector and receiver sensor connector during coupling of the connector ring and the electronics carrier.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector are misaligned in the longitudinal direction.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first end of the transmitter sensor connector and the first end of the receiver sensor connector are staggered by a predetermined distance.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first end of the transmitter sensor connector is located further away from the connector ring body than the first end of the receiver sensor connector.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the staggering of the transmitter sensor connector and the receiver sensor connector reduces crosstalk.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins is made of a flexible material to allow for motion thereof during coupling of the connector ring and the electronics carrier.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins extends further in the longitudinal direction than at least one of the carrier transmitter connector or a carrier receiver connector, such that the carrier transmitter connector is aligned with the transmitter sensor connector and the carrier receiver connector is aligned with the receiver sensor connector before coupling of the connector ring and the electronics carrier.

14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the connecting connection region includes a plurality of alignment pins on the high shoulder and a plurality of alignment pins on the low shoulder.

15. The system of claim 7 , wherein a first alignment connector of the plurality of alignment connectors provides a tighter connection for a corresponding alignment pin than a second alignment connector of the plurality of alignment connectors, such that greater alignment precision is required to confirm alignment for the first alignment connector than the second alignment connector.

16. The system of claim 7 , wherein a first alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins differs in shape from a second alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins.

17. The system of claim 7 , wherein a first alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins differs in size from a second alignment pin of the plurality of alignment pins.

18. A method comprising:
disposing a connector ring in a downhole tool, the connector ring including:
a body extending along a longitudinal axis;
a transmitter sensor connector coupled with the body and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, the transmitter sensor connector having a first end; and
a receiver sensor connector coupled with the body and extending parallel to the longitudinal ax

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Prakash Anand
• Ng Heen Wei
• Nguyen Minh Dang
• Lim Chin Wee

Classifications

• H01R13/6461 Primary

  Means for preventing cross-talk · CPC title

• E21B47/26

  Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier · CPC title

• H01R2201/14

  seismic connectors · CPC title

• H01R2107/00

  Four or more poles · CPC title

• H01R13/631

  for engagement only · CPC title