Wired pipe coupler connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303464-B2
Application number	US-201313850539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2013
Priority date	Mar 26, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A wired pipe coupler includes a coupler carrier having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, first and second metal plates carried by the first side and one or more antennas supported by the second side. The coupler also includes one or more electrical connectors electrically coupling the metal plates to one or more of the one or more antennas, a grounding plate formed of a conductive material and a layer of insulating material disposed between the metal plates and the grounding plate. The first metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a first capacitor and the second metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a second capacitor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wired pipe coupler comprising:
a coupler carrier having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
first and second metal plates carried by the first side;
one or more antennas supported by the second side;
one or more electrical connectors electrically coupling the metal plates to one or more of the one or more antennas;
a grounding plate formed of a conductive material; and
a layer of insulating material disposed between the metal plates and the grounding plate;
wherein the first metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a first capacitor and the second metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a second capacitor.

2. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , further comprising:
an insulating layer disposed between the coupler carrier and the one or more antennas.

3. The wired pipe coupler of claim 2 , wherein the insulating layer is formed of a ceramic foil.

4. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mold material that surrounds the coupler carrier, the grounding plate and the one or more antennas.

5. The wired pipe coupler of claim 4 , wherein the mold material is formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

6. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connectors pass through the coupler carrier.

7. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , wherein the coupler carrier is formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

8. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first metal plate is disposed in a recess formed in the first side.

9. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , wherein the coupler carrier and the grounding plate have a circular cross-section of substantially the same size.

10. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , in combination with:
a pipe segment having a body extending from a box end to a pin end;
wherein the wired pipe coupler is located in one of the box end and the pin end.

11. The wired pipe coupler of claim 10 , wherein the pipe segment includes a transmission line extending away from the coupler towards the other of the box and pin end and in electrical communication with the one or more antennas.

12. The wired pipe coupler of claim 1 , further comprising:
an antenna plate supported by the second side; and
an antenna dielectric layer disposed between the antenna plate and the one or more antennas.

13. A method of forming a wired pipe coupler, the method comprising:
providing a coupler carrier having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
coupling first and second metal plates to the first side;
coupling one or more antennas to the second side;
electrically coupling the first and second metal plates to one or more of the one or more antennas;
providing a grounding plate formed of a conductive material; and
disposing a layer of insulating material between the metal plate and the grounding plate;
wherein the first metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a first capacitor and the second metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a second capacitor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
disposing an insulating layer between the carrier and the one or more antennas.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
encasing the carrier, the grounding plate and the one or more antennas in a mold material.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mold material is formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling the metal plates to the first side includes disposing the first metal plate in a recess formed in the first side.

18. A wired pipe system comprising:
a wired pipe segment having a first end and a second end; and
a first coupler in the first end, the first coupler comprising:
a coupler carrier having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
first and second metal plates carried by the first side;
one or more antennas supported by the second side;
one or more electrical connectors electrically coupling the metal plates to one or more of the one or more antennas;
a grounding plate formed of a conductive material; and
a layer of insulating material disposed between the metal plates and the grounding plate;
wherein the first metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a first capacitor and the second metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a second capacitor.

19. The wired pipe system of claim 18 , further comprising:
a second coupler in the second end.

20. The wired pipe system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a transmission line electrically connecting the first coupler to the second coupler.

Assignees

• Peters Volker
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Peters Volker

Classifications

• E21B17/0285 Primary

  characterised by electrically insulating elements · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• E21B17/028 Primary

  Electrical or electro-magnetic connections · CPC title