Auto-extending/retracting electrically isolated conductors in a segmented drill string

In a system for at least partial underground use including a drill string having a length which is configured for extension and/or retraction, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time in a way which aligns the innermost passages of attached ones of the pipe sections, a method comprising the steps of:

• installing a first one of a pair of adapters in a first end of the innermost passage of each one of said pipe sections and a second one of the pair of adapters in a second end of the innermost passage of each one of the pipe sections, said first adapter defining a first electrical contact area and said second adapter defining a second electrical contact area, said first and second adapters being configured for resiliently biasing the first and second contact areas against one another between attached ones of the pipe sections to establish an electrical connection between the pair of adapters;
• and
• configuring an electrically conductive arrangement for location in the innermost passage of each pipe section and extending between and electrically connected to each one of said pair of adapters so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the pair of adapters in electrical isolation from each pipe section and cooperating with the adapters to form an electrically isolated path through the drill string.

In a system including a drill string for at least partial underground use having a length which is configured for extension and/or retraction, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time in a way which aligns the innermost passages of attached ones of the pipe sections, an assembly for use with each one of the pipe sections, a method comprising the steps of:

• configuring a pair of first and second adapters to include a first electrical contact area and a second electrical contact area for installation in a first end and a second end of the innermost passage of each pipe section, respectively, such that, when so installed, the first and second adapters cooperate to resiliently bias the first and second electrical contact areas against one another between attached ones of the pipe sections to establish an electrical connection between the pair of adapters and further configuring the first and second adapters for electrical connection with an electrically conductive arrangement positionable in the innermost passage of each pipe section and extending between and electrically connected to each one of said pair of adapters so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the pair of adapters in electrical isolation from each pipe section and cooperating with the adapters to form an electrically isolated path through the drill string.

In a system in which a drill head is movable underground in a region, said system including a drill rig selectively connectable with a drill string having a length which is established between said drill head and said drill rig, when so connected, and is configured for extension and/or retraction from said drill rig such that, when said drill string is extended, the drill head moves away from the drill rig and, when the drill string is retracted, the drill head moves in a reverse direction approaching the drill rig, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time in a way which aligns the innermost passage of attached ones of the pipe sections, an assembly for use with each one of the pipe sections, said assembly comprising:

• a) a pair of adapters for installation of a first one of the adapters in a first end of the innermost passage of each one of said pipe sections and installation of a second one of the adapters in a second end of the innermost passage of each one of the pipe sections, said first adapter defining a first electrical contact area and said second adapter defining a second electrical contact area, said first and second adapters being configured for resiliently biasing the first and second contact areas against one another between attached ones of the pipe sections to establish an electrical connection between the pair of adapters;
• and
• b) an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and extending between and electrically connected to each one of said pair of adapters so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the pair of adapters in electrical isolation from each pipe section and cooperating with the adapters to form an electrically isolated path through the drill string between the drill rig and the drill head.

A drill string for underground use, said drill string comprising:

• a plurality of pipe sections making up a length of the drill string, each pipe section having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time in a way which aligns the innermost passages of attached ones of the pipe sections;
• a pair of adapters for installation of a first one of the adapters in a first end of the innermost passage of each one of said pipe sections and installation of a second one of the adapters in a second end of the innermost passage of each one of the pipe sections, said first adapter defining a first electrical contact area and said second adapter defining a second electrical contact area, said first and second adapters being configured for resiliently biasing the first and second contact areas against one another between attached ones of the pipe sections to establish an electrical connection between the pair of adapters;
• and
• an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and extending between and electrically connected to each one of said pair of adapters so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the pair of adapters in electrical isolation from each pipe section and cooperating with the adapters to form an electrically isolated path through the drill string.

In a system for at least partial underground use in a drill string, a pipe section comprising:

• a section length defining an innermost passage between opposing first and second ends of the pipe section that are removably connectable with other, identical ones of the pipe section to form a length of the drill string in a way which aligns the innermost passages of all of the pipe sections;
• a pair of adapters having a first one of the adapters installed in the first end of the innermost passage of said pipe section and a second one of the adapters installed in the second end of the innermost passage of the pipe section, said first adapter defining a first electrical contact area and said second adapter defining a second electrical contact area;
• and
• an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of the pipe section and extending between and electrically connected to each one of said pair of adapters so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the pair of adapters in electrical isolation from the pipe section such that an attachment of the pipe section with an identically configured pipe section causes the first and second adapters at the attachment to resiliently bias the first and second contact areas against one another to establish an electrical connection whereby a plurality of said pipe sections attached to one another form an electrically isolated path through the drill string.

In a system in which a boring tool is moved underground in a region, said system including a drill rig and a drill string having a length which is connected between said drill head and said drill rig and is configured for extension and/or retraction from said drill rig such that, when said drill string is extended, the drill head moves away from the drill rig and, when the drill string is retracted, the drill head moves in a reverse direction approaching the drill rig, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time in a way which aligns the innermost passages of attached ones of the pipe sections, a method comprising the steps of:

• installing a first one of a pair of adapters in a first end of the innermost passage of each one of said pipe sections and a second one of the pair of adapters in a second end of the innermost passage of each one of the pipe sections, said first adapter defining a first electrical contact area and said second adapter defining a second electrical contact area, said first and second adapters being configured for resiliently biasing the first and second contact areas against one another between attached ones of the pipe sections to establish an electrical connection between the pair of adapters;
• and
• configuring an electrically conductive arrangement for location in the innermost passage of each pipe section and extending between and electrically connected to each one of said pair of adapters so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the pair of adapters in electrical isolation from each pipe section and cooperating with the adapters to form an electrically isolated path through the drill string between the drill rig and the boring tool.