Abstract: A snubber device for reducing shocks and vibrations in a downhole tool. The snubber includes a main body extending between upper and lower connector ends. The main body is defined by one or more cut-out portions. One or more elastomeric elements are held within the one or more cut-out portions. The cut-out portions provide flexibility to the main body. The elastomeric elements absorb shocks and vibrations and are conveniently replaceable when excessive wear reduces their shock and vibration absorbing capacity.

Abstract: A snubber device for reducing shocks and vibrations in a downhole tool. The snubber includes a main body extending between upper and lower connector ends. The main body is defined by one or more cut-out portions. One or more elastomeric elements are held within the one or more cut-out portions. The cut-out portions provide flexibility to the main body. The elastomeric elements absorb shocks and vibrations and are conveniently replaceable when excessive wear reduces their shock and vibration absorbing capacity.

Abstract: A valve is provided which is based on a stationary sleeve. The stationary sleeve includes at least one coil in communication with an electrical power source and one or more openings in the body of the stationary sleeve open to the hollow interior of the stationary sleeve. The valve has a microcontroller configured to control flow of electrical current independently to the coil and an inner sleeve configured to fit within the stationary sleeve. The inner sleeve has an internal or external magnetized portion and one or more ports open to the hollow interior of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is moveable within the stationary sleeve under power provided by a magnetic field generated by the electrical current passing through the coil to either align the ports with the openings to open the valve or to remove alignment of the ports with the openings to close the valve.

Abstract: A dampener device configured for incorporation into a downhole tool in a drilling system for absorbing axial, lateral and torsional shocks and vibrations to protect instrumentation during a drilling process includes a main sleeve having a main cavity containing a main spring and a first elastomeric ribbon interleaved between coils of the main spring. An adapter is connected to or formed monolithically relative to the main sleeve. The adapter is configured for connection to a first tool component. A plunger is configured to compress the main spring and a connector is configured for connection to a second tool component. The connector is attached to or formed monolithically relative to the plunger. A shaft extends between the adapter and the connector. The shaft is provided with an anti-rotation structure.

Abstract: A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections includes a male component having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and separate male insulating rings. Each of the male conducting rings is connectable to a corresponding male component electrical line. A female component has a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and separate female insulating rings. Each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring when the mating arrangement is made. Each of the female conducting rings is connectable to a corresponding female component electrical line. The male conducting rings and the female conducting rings, or separate conducting components associated therewith, have contact surfaces that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made.

Abstract: A dampener device configured for incorporation into a downhole tool in a drilling system for absorbing axial, lateral and torsional shocks and vibrations to protect instrumentation during a drilling process includes a main sleeve having a main cavity containing a main spring and a first elastomeric ribbon interleaved between coils of the main spring. An adapter is connected to or formed monolithically relative to the main sleeve. The adapter is configured for connection to a first tool component. A plunger is configured to compress the main spring and a connector is configured for connection to a second tool component. The connector is attached to or formed monolithically relative to the plunger. A shaft extends between the adapter and the connector. The shaft is provided with an anti-rotation structure.

Abstract: A dampener device is configured for incorporation into a downhole measurement tool in a drilling system, for absorbing axial, lateral and torsional shocks and vibrations to protect measurement instrumentation located above the device during drilling. The device includes: a main sleeve having a main cavity containing a main spring; an adapter connected to or formed monolithically relative to the main sleeve, the adapter configured for connection to a first tool component; a plunger configured to compress the main spring; a connector configured for connection to a second tool component, the connector attached to or formed monolithically relative to the plunger; a shaft extending between the adapter and the connector, the shaft provided with an anti-rotation structure; and one or more passages leading from the outside of the device into the main cavity. The passages are provided to allow drilling fluid to enter the main cavity to act as vibration dampening fluid.

Abstract: A valve is provided which is based on a stationary sleeve. The stationary sleeve includes at least one coil in communication with an electrical power source and one or more openings in the body of the stationary sleeve open to the hollow interior of the stationary sleeve. The valve has a microcontroller configured to control flow of electrical current independently to the coil and an inner sleeve configured to fit within the stationary sleeve. The inner sleeve has an internal or external magnetized portion and one or more ports open to the hollow interior of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is moveable within the stationary sleeve under power provided by a magnetic field generated by the electrical current passing through the coil to either align the ports with the openings to open the valve or to remove alignment of the ports with the openings to close the valve.

Abstract: A downhole valve includes a stationary sleeve for connection to a production string or a downhole tool, which includes one or more slots in the body of the stationary sleeve open to the interior of the stationary sleeve. A microcontroller is connected to a conducting cable and configured to control a flow of electrical power independently to a coil connected to an electrical power source at the surface. An inner sleeve is configured to fit within the stationary sleeve. The inner sleeve has an internal or external magnetized portion and one or more ports open to the interior of the inner sleeve. The sleeve is moveable within the stationary sleeve under power provided by a magnetic field generated by electrical current passing through the coil to align the ports with the slots to open the valve or to remove alignment of the ports with the slots to close the valve.

Abstract: A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections includes a male component having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and separate male insulating rings. Each of the male conducting rings is connectable to a corresponding male component electrical line. A female component has a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and separate female insulating rings. Each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring when the mating arrangement is made. Each of the female conducting rings is connectable to a corresponding female component electrical line. The male conducting rings and the female conducting rings, or separate conducting components associated therewith, have contact surfaces that engage each other in a latching mechanism when the mating arrangement is made.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections includes construction of a male connector component and a female conductor component. The male connector component is constructed by providing a male underlying body having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed therein for holding male conducting wires. Alternating separate male conducting rings and separate male insulating rings are placed on the underlying body with each separate conducting wire occupying a separate channel. The female conductor component is constructed by providing a female body with a central bore having at least one groove formed therein for holding female conducting wires. Separate alternating female conducting rings and separate female insulating rings are installed on a rod and transferred to the central bore of the female body with the female conducting wires occupying the groove.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections includes construction of a male connector component and a female conductor component. The male connector component is constructed by providing a male underlying body having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed therein for holding male conducting wires. Alternating separate male conducting rings and separate male insulating rings are placed on the underlying body with each separate conducting wire occupying a separate channel. The female conductor component is constructed by providing a female body with a central bore having at least one groove formed therein for holding female conducting wires. Separate alternating female conducting rings and separate female insulating rings are installed on a rod and transferred to the central bore of the female body with the female conducting wires occupying the groove.

Abstract: A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components includes a male component with a large diameter end part transitioning to a slope-stepped part having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and male insulating rings and a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and insulating rings. Each of the male conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line and each of the female conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line. Each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made.

Abstract: An actuator for a mud pulse telemetry tool. The actuator includes a solenoid-based servo valve with a coil shaft responsive to data transmitted by a data processor. The coil shaft is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Movement of the coil shaft to the extended position moves a poppet to close a servo orifice thereby preventing mud flow to a main mud pulse valve of the mud pulse telemetry tool. Movement of the coil shaft to the retracted position moves the poppet to open the servo orifice thereby allowing mud flow to actuate the main mud pulse valve. The poppet is connected to a poppet shaft and the poppet shaft cooperates with the coil shaft in a slide hammer mechanism to amplify force provided by the coil shaft against the poppet shaft with linear movement of the coil shaft to the extended position and to the retracted position.

Abstract: A dampener device is configured for incorporation into a downhole measurement tool in a drilling system, for absorbing axial, lateral and torsional shocks and vibrations to protect measurement instrumentation located above the device during drilling. The device includes: a main sleeve having a main cavity containing a main spring; an adapter connected to or formed monolithically relative to the main sleeve, the adapter configured for connection to a first tool component; a plunger configured to compress the main spring; a connector configured for connection to a second tool component, the connector attached to or formed monolithically relative to the plunger; a shaft extending between the adapter and the connector, the shaft provided with an anti-rotation structure; and one or more passages leading from the outside of the device into the main cavity. The passages are provided to allow drilling fluid to enter the main cavity to act as vibration dampening fluid.

Abstract: An actuator for a mud pulse telemetry tool. The actuator includes a solenoid-based servo valve with a coil shaft responsive to data transmitted by a data processor. The coil shaft is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Movement of the coil shaft to the extended position moves a poppet to close a servo orifice thereby preventing mud flow to a main mud pulse valve of the mud pulse telemetry tool. Movement of the coil shaft to the retracted position moves the poppet to open the servo orifice thereby allowing mud flow to actuate the main mud pulse valve. The poppet is connected to a poppet shaft and the poppet shaft cooperates with the coil shaft in a slide hammer mechanism to amplify force provided by the coil shaft against the poppet shaft with linear movement of the coil shaft to the extended position and to the retracted position.

Abstract: A downhole valve includes a stationary sleeve for connection to a production string or a downhole tool, which includes one or more slots in the body of the stationary sleeve open to the interior of the stationary sleeve. A microcontroller is connected to a conducting cable and configured to control a flow of electrical power independently to a coil connected to an electrical power source at the surface. An inner sleeve is configured to fit within the stationary sleeve. The inner sleeve has an internal or external magnetized portion and one or more ports open to the interior of the inner sleeve. The sleeve is moveable within the stationary sleeve under power provided by a magnetic field generated by electrical current passing through the coil to align the ports with the slots to open the valve or to remove alignment of the ports with the slots to close the valve.

Abstract: A rotary connector device for making a plurality of electrical connections in a mating arrangement between two components includes a male component with a large diameter end part transitioning to a slope-stepped part having a surface defined by outer sidewalls of alternating male conducting rings and male insulating rings and a female component having a central bore configured to retain a series of alternating female conductor rings and insulating rings. Each of the male conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line and each of the female conducting rings is connectable to an electrical line. Each of the female conducting rings makes direct or indirect conductive contact with a corresponding male conducting ring of the male conducting rings when the mating arrangement is made.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to multi-trace electrical connectors for harsh environments. More particularly, the present invention relates to bayonet rotary electrical connectors which maintain electrical connection dynamically, and which may have replaceable connector components. This type of connector is used, for example, in drilling operations where the connector must be rotated, for example during assembly, disassembly, or operation of bottom hole equipment or sensor or communications packages, and where the electrical connection may be maintained.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to multi-trace electrical connectors for harsh environments. More particularly, the present invention relates to bayonet rotary electrical connectors which maintain electrical connection dynamically, and which may have replaceable connector components. This type of connector is used, for example, in drilling operations where the connector must be rotated, for example during assembly, disassembly, or operation of bottom hole equipment or sensor or communications packages, and where the electrical connection may be maintained.