Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
In an acoustic signal modulation and transmission system in well drilling equipment, the combination of: a drill string pipe adapted to the propagation of acoustic waves along its length through the substance of said Pipe, a tubular member, having a longitudinal passage, connected into and functioning mechanically and acoustically as a segment of said drill string pipe, a modulating means in juxtaposition to said tubular member adapted to couple to said tubular member in a manner to cause said member to experience an acoustic reaction force in reaction to acoustic waves propagating within the substance of said drill string pipe, and said modulating means being responsive to a modulating signal applied thereto to vary the magnitude of said coupling and thereby said acoustic reaction force, whereby to generate within the substance of said tubular member modulated acoustic waves derived from acoustic waves already propagating along the length of said drill string pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
In an acoustic signal modulation and transmission system in well drilling equipment, the combination of: a drill string pipe adapted to the propagation of acoustic waves along its length through the substance of said Pipe, a tubular member, having a longitudinal passage, connected into and functioning mechanically and acoustically as a segment of said drill string pipe, a modulating means in juxtaposition to said tubular member adapted to couple to said tubular member in a manner to cause said member to experience an acoustic reaction force in reaction to acoustic waves propagating within the substance of said drill string pipe, and said modulating means being responsive to a modulating signal applied thereto to vary the magnitude of said coupling and thereby said acoustic reaction force, whereby to generate within the substance of said tubular member modulated acoustic waves derived from acoustic waves already propagating along the length of said drill string pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1, including means causing said modulated acoustic waves to travel along said drill string pipe in the same direction as the direction of travel of said acoustic waves already propagating along the length of said pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1, including means causing said modulated acoustic waves to travel along said drill string pipe in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of said acoustic waves already propagating along the length of said pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1, including means causing said modulated acoustic waves to travel along said drill string pipe in both the same direction as, and the opposite direction to, the direction of travel of said acoustic waves already propagating along the length of said pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waves propagated along said drill pipe are torsional waves, and wherein said modulating means is adapted to couple to said tubular member in such a manner that the reaction force experienced by said tubular member is a torque about the longitudinal axis of said tubular member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said juxtaposed modulating means embodies an inertial reaction mass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The subject matter of claim 5, wherein said juxtaposed modulation means embodies an inertial reaction mass rotatable relatively to said tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The subject matter of claim 6, wherein said modulating means includes an electromagnetic clutch controlled by said modulating signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
The system of claim 1, including: an electroacoustic transducer with means affording a bias field linked to said tubular member, said tubular member comprising a part of said transducer and being composed at least in part of a material that experiences a change in mechanical strain in the presence of a change in electromagnetic field, and conversely, produces a change in electromagnetic field in the presence of a change in mechanical strain, said juxtaposed modulating means comprising a field means affording a field linked to said tubular member, and an electrical modulating circuit connected to said field means to control said reaction force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the acoustic waves propagated along said drill pipe are torsional waves, and wherein said field means produces a field crossed with said bias field, whereby the reaction force experienced by said tubular member is applied as a torque.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system of claim 1, including: an electroacoustic transducer with means affording a magnetic bias field linked to said tubular member, said tubular member comprising a part of said transducer and being composed at least in part of a material that experiences a change in mechanical strain in the presence of a change in magnetic field, and conversely, produces a change in magnetic field in the presence of a change in mechanical strain, said juxtaposed modulating means comprising a field winding disposed in inductively coupled relation to said tubular member, and an electrical modulating circuit connected to said winding to control said reaction force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the acoustic waves propagated along said drill pipe are torsional waves, and wherein said field winding produces a magnetic field crossed with said magnetic bias field, whereby the reaction force experienced by said tubular member is applied as a toque.