# US 2016/0356136 A1 · Hydrocarbon resource recovery apparatus including rf transmission line and associated methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0356136 A1 - Document ID: US20160356136A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/733,431 - Filed: 2015-06-08 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-08 - Assignees: Harris Corporation - Applicants: Harris Corporation - Inventors: Ryan M. WHITNEY; Keith NUGENT; Ronald E. JACKSON, JR.; Richard I. HARLESS; Stephen J. KOLVEK; Arthur H. WHITE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160356136A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity} - H01P 1/045: {Coaxial joints} - H01P 5/02: with invariable factor of coupling (H01P5/12 takes precedence {choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06}) - H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract An apparatus for hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation includes a radio frequency (RF) source, an RF antenna to be positioned within the subterranean formation to deliver RF power to the hydrocarbon resource within the subterranean formation, and an RF transmission line extending between the RF source and the RF antenna. The RF transmission line may include RF transmission line sections coupled together in end-to-end relation. Each section may include an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and an outer load-carrying tubular member surrounding the outer conductor. A respective coupling assembly joins ends of adjacent sections together. Each coupling assembly may include an electrical coupler being fixedly connected to first ends of corresponding inner and outer conductors and being slidably connected to opposing second ends of adjacent inner and outer conductors, and a mechanical coupler connecting ends of adjacent load-bearing tubular members together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation comprising: a radio frequency (RF) source; an RF antenna to be positioned within the subterranean formation to deliver RF power to the hydrocarbon resource within the subterranean formation; an RF transmission line extending between said RF source and said RF antenna; said RF transmission line comprising a plurality of RF transmission line sections coupled together in end-to-end relation; each RF transmission line section comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and an outer load-carrying tubular member surrounding said outer conductor; a respective coupling assembly joining opposing ends of adjacent RF transmission line sections together, each coupling assembly comprising an electrical coupler being fixedly connected to first ends of corresponding inner and outer conductors and being slidably connected to opposing second ends of adjacent inner and outer conductors, and a mechanical coupler connecting opposing ends of adjacent load-bearing tubular members together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electrical coupler comprises: an outer sleeve having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding outer conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent outer conductor; an inner contact having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding inner conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent inner conductor; and a dielectric inner spacer received within said outer sleeve and supporting said inner contact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a contact ring within the second end of said outer sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said contact ring comprises a watchband conductive spring contact and an expansion spring carried thereby. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a fluid seal within the second end of said outer sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical coupler captures a corresponding electrical coupler at a first end of the corresponding load-bearing tubular member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 said coupling assembly further comprises an outer spacer flange received within said outer load-carrying tubular member and carrying said electrical coupler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outer load-bearing tubular member comprises steel; and wherein said inner and outer conductors each comprises copper. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner conductor has an open interior defining a fluid passageway; and further comprising a cooling fluid source connected to the fluid passageway of said inner conductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising at least one outer spacer carried by an interior of said outer load-bearing tubular member and supporting said outer conductor; and wherein said at least one outer spacer has a plurality of passageways therethrough connected to said cooling fluid source. ### Claim 11 A radio frequency (RF) transmission line to be coupled between an RF source and an RF antenna within a subterranean formation to deliver RF power to a hydrocarbon resource within the subterranean formation, the RF transmission line comprising: a plurality of RF transmission line sections coupled together in end-to-end relation within the subterranean formation; each RF transmission line section comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and an outer load-carrying tubular member surrounding said outer conductor; a respective coupling assembly joining opposing ends of adjacent RF transmission line sections together, each coupling assembly comprising an electrical coupler being fixedly connected to first ends of corresponding inner and outer conductors and being slidably connected to opposing second ends of adjacent inner and outer conductors, and a mechanical coupler connecting opposing ends of adjacent load-bearing tubular members together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The RF transmission line according to claim 11 wherein said electrical coupler comprises: an outer sleeve having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding outer conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent outer conductor; an inner contact having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding inner conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent inner conductor; and a dielectric inner spacer received within said outer sleeve and supporting said inner contact. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The RF transmission line according to claim 12 further comprising a contact ring within the second end of said outer sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The RF transmission line according to claim 13 wherein said contact ring comprises a watchband conductive spring contact and an expansion spring carried thereby. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The RF transmission line according to claim 12 further comprising a fluid seal within the second end of said outer sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The RF transmission line according to claim 11 wherein said mechanical coupler captures a corresponding electrical coupler at a first end of the corresponding load-bearing tubular member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The RF transmission line according to claim 11 said coupling assembly further comprises an outer spacer flange received within said outer load-carrying tubular member and carrying said electrical coupler. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The RF transmission line according to claim 11 wherein said outer load-bearing tubular member comprises steel; and wherein said inner and outer conductors each comprises copper. ### Claim 19 A radio frequency (RF) transmission line to be coupled between an RF source and an RF antenna, the RF transmission line comprising: a plurality of RF transmission line sections coupled together in end-to-end relation; each RF transmission line section comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and an outer load-carrying tubular member surrounding said outer conductor; a respective coupling assembly joining opposing ends of adjacent RF transmission line sections together, each coupling assembly comprising an electrical coupler being fixedly connected to first ends of corresponding inner and outer conductors and being slidably connected to opposing second ends of adjacent inner and outer conductors, and a mechanical coupler connecting opposing ends of adjacent load-bearing tubular members together. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The RF transmission line according to claim 19 wherein said electrical coupler comprises: an outer sleeve having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding outer conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent outer conductor; an inner contact having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding inner conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent inner conductor; and a dielectric inner spacer received within said outer sleeve and supporting said inner contact. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The RF transmission line according to claim 20 further comprising a contact ring within the second end of said outer sleeve. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The RF transmission line according to claim 21 wherein said contact ring comprises a watchband conductive spring contact and an expansion spring carried thereby. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The RF transmission line according to claim 20 further comprising a fluid seal within the second end of said outer sleeve. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The RF transmission line according to claim 19 wherein said mechanical coupler captures a corresponding electrical coupler at a first end of the corresponding load-bearing tubular member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The RF transmission line according to claim 19 said coupling assembly further comprises an outer spacer flange received within said outer load-carrying tubular member and carrying said electrical coupler. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The RF transmission line according to claim 19 wherein said outer load-bearing tubular member comprises steel; and wherein said inner and outer conductors each comprises copper. ### Claim 27 A method for making a radio frequency (RF) transmission line to be coupled between an RF source and an RF antenna within a subterranean formation to deliver RF power to a hydrocarbon resource within the subterranean formation, the method comprising: providing a plurality of RF transmission line sections to be coupled together in end-to-end relation with each RF transmission line section comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and an outer load-carrying tubular member surrounding the outer conductor; using a respective coupling assembly to join opposing ends of adjacent RF transmission line sections together, each coupling assembly comprising an electrical coupler being fixedly connected to first ends of corresponding inner and outer conductors and being slidably connected to opposing second ends of adjacent inner and outer conductors, and a mechanical coupler connecting opposing ends of adjacent load-bearing tubular members together. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27 wherein the electrical coupler comprises: an outer sleeve having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding outer conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent outer conductor; an inner contact having a first end fixedly connected to the first end of the corresponding inner conductor and a second end slidably connected to the opposing second end of the adjacent inner conductor; and a dielectric inner spacer received within the outer sleeve and supporting the inner contact. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28 further comprising positioning a contact ring within the second end of the outer sleeve. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28 further comprising positioning a fluid seal within the second end of the outer sleeve. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27 wherein the mechanical coupler captures a corresponding electrical coupler at a first end of the corresponding load-bearing tubular member.