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US 4,302,826 AGranted
Resonant acoustic transducer system for a well drilling string
AssigneeSperry Corporation
InventorsWilliam H. Kent, Peter G. Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
For use in transmitting acoustic waves propagated along a well drilling string, a piezoelectric transducer is provided operating in the relatively low loss acoustic propagation range of the well drilling string. The efficiently coupled transmitting transducer incorporates a mass-spring-piezoelectric transmitter combination permitting resonant operation in the desired low frequency range.
Claims5
A transducer for coupling acoustic signals to a bore-hole drilling string primarily during drilling operations comprising:
- piezoelectric means having an electrical capacity C, a first mechanical axis, and adapted for compression and elongation along said first mechanical axis when excited by a variable electric field disposed thereacross,
- inductor means having inductance L and coupled in series relation with said piezoelectric means in an electrical circuit having an electrical resonant frequency substantially determined by C and L,
- fastener means for affixing said piezoelectric means against a surface of said bore-hole drilling string and for holding said piezoelectric means in substantially fixed compression,
- spring means having mass m, spring constant k, and a compression axis collinear with said first axis, extending from and coupled integrally with said fastener means, and
- elongate cylindrical mass means having mass M, a cylinder axis collinear with said first axis, and extending from and coupled integrally with said spring means to form a mechanical vibrating circuit having a mechanical resonant frequency that is substantially determined by m, k, and M to be substantially equal to said electrical resonant frequency.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.