Electrical connector and method

Claim 2

Apparatus for making an electrical connection in a tubular member, comprising: a first body disposed in said tubular member; a second body mounted on a flexible line for movement in said tubular member to establish a connection with said first body, said second body having an electrical contact therewith; electrical contact means mounted with said first body for engaging said electrical contact on said second body, said electrical contact means including a piston assembly mounted with said first body for movement with respect thereto and having a first body electric contact mounted therewith; and actuator means operable by manipulating said flexible line for actuating said piston assembly to move said flexible line for actuating said piston assembly to move said first electrical contact into engagement with said electrical contact on said second body to provide an electrical connection.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: an electric power source located at the surface of an oil well; said tubular member being well pipe extending downhole in an oil well; said second body being suspended from said flexible line for movement down said well pipe to a position adjacent said first body; said electric contact on said second body being electrically connected to said electric power source; a downhole electric device; and said first body electric contact being electrically connected to said downhole electric device.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: sealing means mounted with said second body for sealing off said electrical connection between said second electrical contact and said first electrical contact.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first body electric contact having an annular configuration; and said electric contact for said second body having an annular configuration.

Claim 6

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said second body having a chamber therein and means for sealing said second body chamber against fluid entry; and said electric contact for said second body being positioned in said chamber.

Claim 7

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said piston assembly means includes: a first shaft member mounted with said first body for movement with respect thereto; said first body electric contact being mounted for movement with said first shaft member; and said first shaft member being movable to an extended position in which said first body electric contact electrically engages said electric contact for said second body.

Claim 8

The structure set forth in claim 6, including: said first shaft member being mounted in a first, sealed chamber in said first body; and means for introducing fluid under pressure into said first, sealed chamber for moving said first shaft member to said extended position.

Claim 9

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said piston assembly includes: a first piston member having said first body electrical contact mounted therewith; a second piston member mounted in said first body for movement with respect thereto; and means mounting said first piston member for movement with respect to said second piston member.

Claim 10

The structure set forth in claim 8, wherein said actuator means includes: connector means mounted on said second body for connecting said second piston for movement with said second body; and fluid means for moving said first piston and first shaft to said extended position in response to movement of said second piston member with said second body.

Claim 11

The structure set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuator means includes: grip means attached to said second body for gripping said second piston member for movement with said second body.

Claim 12

The structure set forth in claim 10, including: fluid means for moving said first piston member to an extended position in response to movement of said second piston member with said second body for making electrical contact between said first body electrical contact and said electrical contact for said second body.

Claim 13

The structure set forth in claim 10, wherein said grip means includes: a flexible finger extending from said movable body for engaging said second piston member.

Claim 14

The structure set forth in claim 10, including: release means for releasing said grip means from attachment to said second body.

Claim 15

The structure set forth in claim 8, including: said second piston member having an inner, sealed chamber therein, said first piston member being mounted for slidable, sealable movement within said inner chamber; and said first body having an outer sealed chamber with said second piston member being mounted for slidable, sealed movement therein.

Claim 16

The structure set forth in claim 14, including: said inner and outer chambers being in fluid communication with each other and having fluid therein; and said actuator means and electrical contact means including means for transferring fluid from said outer chamber to said inner chamber in response to movement of said second piston member whereby said first piston member moves with respect to said second piston member.

Claim 17

Apparatus for making a remote electrical connection, comprising: a first body having attached therewith a first electric contact means which is electrically attached to an electrically driven device; a second movable body having attached therewith a second electrical contact means which is electrically connected to an electric power source, said second body being movable to a remote position adjacent to said first body; said first electrical contact means including a spear member having an electrical contact mounted thereon; actuator means mounting said spear member for movement outwardly of said first body and into said second body for engaging said second electrical contact means in response to a pulling force being exerted on said actuator means; and said second movable body including a gripper means for gripping said actuator means whereby pulling force exerted on said actuator means causes said spear member to move outwardly of said first body and into said second body for making electrical contact.

Claim 18

Apparatus for making a remote electrical connection, comprising: a first body having attached therewith a first electric contact means which is electrically attached to an electrically driven device; a second movable body having attached therewith a second electrical contact means which is electrically connected to an electric power source, said second body being movable to a remote position adjacent to said first body; said first electrical contact means including a spear member having an electrical contact mounted thereon; actuator means mounting said spear member for movement outwardly of said first body and into said second body for engaging said second electrical contact means in response to a pulling force being exerted on said actuator means; and said second movable body including a gripper means for gripping said actuator means whereby pulling force exerted on said actuator means causes said spear member to move outwardly of said first body and into said second body for making electrical contact.

Claim 19

Apparatus for making an electrical connection in a well pipe, comprising: a first body disposed in said well pipe; a second body mounted on a flexible line for movement in said well pipe to establish a downhole electrical connection with said first body, said second body having an electric contact mounted therewith; electrical contact means mounted with said first body in spaced relationship to said electrical contact on said second body and adapted to be moved longitudinally for making electrical contact with said electrical contact on said second body; and actuator means operable by pulling upwardly on said flexible line for causing fluid pressure to move said electrical contact means into engagement with said electrical contact on said second body to provide an electrical connection downhole in the well pipe between said electrical contact and said electrical contact means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for making an electrical connection in a well pipe, comprising: a first body disposed in said well pipe; a second body mounted on a flexible line for movement in said well pipe to establish a downhole electrical connection with said first body, said second body having an electric contact mounted therewith; electrical contact means mounted with said first body in spaced relationship to said electrical contact on said second body and adapted to be moved longitudinally for making electrical contact with said electrical contact on said second body; and actuator means operable by pulling upwardly on said flexible line for causing fluid pressure to move said electrical contact means into engagement with said electrical contact on said second body to provide an electrical connection downhole in the well pipe between said electrical contact and said electrical contact means.

Claim 23

The method set forth in claim 18, wherein: the fluid pressure is well pressure in the well pipe.

Claim 24

The method set forth in claim 18, wherein: the fluid pressure is at least in part from fluid separate from the well fluid.