Downhole generator for horizontal directional drilling
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsMatthew L. Dock, Brent G. Stephenson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A generator assembly for generating power in the downhole end of a drill string used to form a borehole in horizontal directional drilling. The drill string provides a fluid passageway in which the downhole generator is receivingly disposed, at least in part, to subject a rotatable turbine to a pressurized fluid flowing in the fluid passageway, thereby imparting a mechanical rotation to the turbine. The turbine is coupled to a generator so that the mechanical rotation of the turbine is transferred to a power output of the generator.
Claims25
A horizontal directional drilling machine, comprising:
- a drill string;
- a fluid flow passage to direct fluid along the drill string;
- and
- a generator assembly to generate an output power, the generator assembly comprising:
- a generator housing supportable by the drill string, the generator housing defining a cavity;
- an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing;
- a turbine assembly supported in the cavity;
- an electric generator driven by the turbine;
- and
- a bypass assembly to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate through the inlet.
A generator assembly for powering an electric component used with a horizontal directional drilling system, the generator assembly comprising:
- a generator housing supportable by the drill string, the generator housing defining a cavity;
- an inlet and an outlet in the generator housing;
- a fluid driven turbine assembly supported in the cavity;
- an electric generator driven by the turbine;
- and
- a bypass assembly to maintain a substantially constant fluid flow rate through the inlet.
A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
- a drill string;
- a fluid flow passage to direct drilling fluid along the drill string;
- a generator assembly supported in the drill string and adapted to generate output power, the generator assembly comprising a turbine assembly magnetically coupled to an electric generator;
- a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the generator assembly;
- and
- a dipole magnetic field transmitter electrically connected to the rechargeable battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.