# US 12,224,112 B2 · Reinforced MCEI transducer for downhole communication

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- Number: US 12,224,112 B2
- Document ID: US12224112B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/713,948
- Filed: 2022-04-05
- Published: 2022-07-21
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-04-05
- Applicants: Joe Fox
- Inventors: Joe Fox
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224112B2

## CPC

- H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings
- E21B 17/028: {Electrical or electro-magnetic connections}
- E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
- H01F 27/24: Magnetic cores
- H01F 27/2823: {Wires (H01F27/2866 takes precedence)}
- H01F 27/327: {Encapsulating or impregnating (encapsulating coil and core H01F27/022)}
- E21B 47/12: Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A reinforced MCEI transducer for drill pipe telemetry comprising an annular ferrite trough. The ferrite trough may be a single piece trough or it may be made up of ferrite trough segments arranged intimately end for end. The single piece trough may comprise one or more annular mechanical reinforcements such as a rod, a tube, or a mesh. Trough segments may comprise mechanical reinforcements that when the segments are arranged end for end, they thereby act like continuous annular reinforcements. The annular reinforcements may be embedded radially within the annular ferrite trough. The mechanical reinforcements may be nonelectrically conductive, or they may be electrically conductive. The reinforcements may comprise a metal or a nonmetal, or a polymer. An annular electrically conductive wire coil may be disposed within the ferrite trough. The ferrite trough may comprise one or more perforations. The ferrite trough may be housed within an annular polymeric block.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inductive coupler, comprising:
an annular magnetically conductive electrically insulating (MCEI) trough;
the MCEI trough comprising an annular mechanical reinforcement;
the annular mechanical reinforcement comprising an annular structure, wherein the annular structure is embedded within the annular MCEI trough.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure is radially embedded within the annular MCEI trough.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular rod.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular bar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular slit tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular wire.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular mesh.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular glass fabric.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular structure comprises an annular polymeric fabric.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular MCEI trough comprises a single piece annular trough.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular MCEI trough comprises two or more trough segments.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular MCEI trough comprises two or more trough segments each trough segment comprising at least a portion of the annular structure embedded therein.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular MCEI trough comprises non-MCEI trough fibers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular MCEI trough comprises MCEI trough fibers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the annular MCEI trough comprises one or more perforations.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein an electrically conducting wire coil is disposed within the annular MCEI trough.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the MCEI trough is molded within an annular polymeric block.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the MCEI trough is molded within an annular polymeric block and disposed within an annular groove within a drill string tool.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The inductive coupler of claim 1, wherein the MCEI trough is molded within an annular polymeric block comprising the annular structure.