Connector for providing electrical continuity across a threaded connection

An electrical connector for establishing electrical continuity between a plurality of conductors in a first threaded element and a corresponding plurality of conductors in a second threaded element, said first and second elements having mating threaded ends at which said first and second elements may be threadably joined, said first and second threaded elements defining a longitudinally extending central recess adapted for receiving fluid flow therethrough, said central recess defining a longitudinal axis, said connector comprising:

• a connector pin element and a connector box element, said pin and box elements each being adapted to be secured at a location radially within a corresponding one of the mating threaded ends of said first and second threaded elements;
• circuit bands affixed to one of said pin element and said box element, said circuit bands lying in planes perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and having a center of curvature on said longitudinal axis;
• circuit band contacts affixed to the other of said pin element and said box element, said circuit band contacts being configured and positioned so that in response to said first and second elements being threadably connected, each of said circuit band contacts is biased against a corresponding one of said circuit bands;
• said connector pin and box elements being configured to define an enclosed, sealed volume in response to said first and second threaded elements being threadably connected, said sealed volume being adapted to contain a dielectric fluid, the interface between said circuit bands and circuit band contacts being located within said enclosed, sealed volume;
• and,
• a dielectric fluid reservoir in said enclosed, sealed volume, said reservoir having a displaceable boundary, movement of said displaceable boundary relative to said connector pin and box elements serving to alter the volume of said sealed region.

A drill string and bit assembly adapted for passing electrical signals between at least one adjacent pair of threadably connectable elements of said assembly, comprising:

• a first element having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed first and second ends of said first element, and being adapted to permit fluid flow from one to the other of said first element ends;
• a second element having a longitudinal axis extending between opposed first and second ends of said second element, said second element defining a conduit adapted to permit fluid flow between said second element ends, said second element first end and said first element second end having mating threads and being adapted to be threadably connected one to the other such that said first element and second element longitudinal axes are maintained in fixed colinear relationship;
• a plurality of curvilinear, insulated circuit bands positioned at an interior location on one of said first and second elements and being at a spaced distance from said threads, each of said circuit bands having a center of curvature on said longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of circuit band contacts affixed to the other of said first and second elements, said circuit bands and circuit band contacts being configured and positioned such that in response to said first and second elements being fully threaded together, corresponding circuit bands and circuit band contacts are in biased contact establishing a plurality of electrically conductive interfaces;
• a first plurality of conductors attached to said one of said first and second elements, each one of said first plurality of conductors being in fixed electrical contact with a corresponding one of said circuit bands;
• a second plurality of conductors attached to said other of said first and second elements, each one of said second plurality of conductors being in fixed electrical contact with a corresponding one of said circuit band contacts;
• means for establishing a sealed region enclosing said circuit bands and circuit band contacts, said sealed region being adapted to contain a dielectric fluid and to resist intrusion of fluids flowing through said first and second elements;
• and,
• a connector first portion affixed within one of said first and second elements, said circuit band contacts being positioned within said connector first portion;
• a connector second portion affixed within the other of said first and second elements, said circuit bands being positioned within said connector second portion, said first and second connector portions defining a central conduit adapted for receiving the passage of fluids therethrough, said first and second connector portions being configured and positioned such that in response to said first and second elements being threaded together, said first and second connector portions come into contact with one another in sealing relationship to establish a plurality of sealed interfaces which define said sealed region.