Slipring assembly

Claim 1

In combination, first and second elongated hollow subs coupled end to end and adapted for incorporation in a drill string; first and second sealed capsules, the first capsule and second capsule being mounted within the first and second subs, respectively; said first and second capsules being longitudinally spaced apart; first and second end caps, each having a conduitreceiving aperture therethrough, the first end cap sealing one end of the first capsule and the second end cap sealing one end of the second capsule, said first and second end caps being in spaced-apart facing relationship, said first end cap having a cavity therein adapted to receive a slipring assembly; a first conduit extending between said end caps and terminating in the apertures thereof; a recording unit and associated circuitry arranged for rotation in the first capsule; transducer signals processing circuitry mounted in the second capsule; a slipring assembly including rotatable and stationary sub-assemblies mounted in the cavity in the first end cap; first electrical conductor means coupled to said recording unit and associated circuitry as well as to the rotatable subassembly of said slipring assembly; second electrical conductor means coupling said transducer signals processing circuitry and the stationary subassembly of said slipring assembly; said second electrical conductor means extending through the first conduit to effect the aforesaid coupling; the rotatable subassembly of said slipring assembly comprising a first body of dielectric material, a plurality of electrically conductive rings encompassing said first body and being affixed thereto in spaced-apart relationship in series, said first body having a plurality of conduits formed therein, a plurality of electrical conductors , each conductor being located in a different one of the last-mentioned conduits each of the last-mentioned conductors being connected with a different one of said conductive rings; the stationary sub assembly of said slipring assembly comprising a second body of dielectric material having a generally cylindrical space formed therein, said first body of said rotatable subassembly including the conductive rings on said first body being located in the cylindrical space of said second body, a plurality of first and second pairs of conductive wires mounted on said second body, one of said first and second pairs of wires of said plurality being in contact with one of said rings on said first body, said second body having a plurality of conduits therein, another plurality of electrical conductors, each conductor being located in a different one of the conduits in the second body and connected to a different first and second pair of wires of the pluraliTy of conductive wires; the second electrical conductor means passing through said first conduit from the transducer signals processing circuitry and connected with the electrical conductors on said second body; whereby said first body of said rotatable subassembly of said slipring assembly is rotatable together with the recording unit and associated circuitry with respect to the transducer signals processing circuitry.