Method and apparatus for generating fluid pressure pulses

An apparatus for generating fluid pressure pulses, comprising:

• a chamber having an upstream opening, wherein the chamber can collect fluid via the opening,
• a vent in the chamber, wherein the collected fluid can exit the chamber through the vent,
• an upstream ported disc coupled to a downstream end of the chamber, wherein the upstream ported disc includes an upstream eccentric port, and
• a downstream ported disc coupled to a downstream end of the upstream ported disc such that the downstream ported disc may rotate about a central axis through its width and wherein the downstream ported disc includes a downstream eccentric port that may align with the upstream eccentric port to form a passageway for fluid to exit from the chamber, through the upstream port, and through the downstream eccentric port to outside of the apparatus, at some time in a rotation cycle of the downstream ported disc.

An apparatus for generating fluid pressure pulses, comprising:

• a fluid source,
• a shaft coupled to the fluid source, wherein the shaft rotates,
• a case, wherein the case encloses the shaft,
• a chamber located within the shaft, wherein the chamber can collect fluid from the fluid source,
• a vent located in the chamber;
• wherein the collected fluid can exit the chamber through the vent,
• an upstream ported disc located downstream of the chamber relative to the fluid source, wherein the upstream ported disc is coupled to the shaft such that the upstream ported disc may rotate about a central axis through its width as the shaft rotates,
• an upstream eccentric port located on the upstream ported disc, wherein the upstream eccentric port rotates the central axis of the upstream ported disc as the upstream ported disc rotates,
• a downstream ported disc located downstream of the upstream ported disc relative to the fluid source, wherein the downstream ported disc is coupled to the upstream ported disc such that the downstream ported disc remains substantially rotationally fixed relative to the upstream ported disc,
• a downstream eccentric port located on the downstream ported disc, wherein the downstream eccentric port may align with the upstream eccentric port to form a passageway for fluid exiting from the chamber through the upstream eccentric port at some point in the rotation of the upstream ported disc, and
• a cap coupled to the case, wherein the cap includes at least one exit port that allows fluid to pass from the downstream eccentric port through the cap to outside of the apparatus.