Bore hole navigator

Patent · Tue Sep 29 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6054522

Hoffman, G J

A bore hole navigator is described comprising a two axis platform for lowering down a bore hole on a cable with its longitudinal axis parallel to the local bore hole direction. The two axis platform has an outer gimbal, bearing supported on the outer gimbal axis for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the platform, and an inner gimbal axis orthogonal the the outer gimbal axis. The inner gimbal axis has multiple axis segments spaced along the longitudinal axis of the platform and each bearing supported on the outer gimbal. The inner gimbal axis segment has a two axis gyro mounted thereon with its spin axis orthogonal to the respective inner gimbal axis segment, a first gyro sensitive axis parallel to the respective inner gimbal axis segment and a second gyro sensitive axis orthogonal to the spin axis. The second inner gimbal axis segment has a pitch torquer thereon operative to provide a controllable torque about the respective inner gimbal axis segment. The third inner gimbal axis segment has a pitch resolver thereon operative to measure rotation of the respective inner gimbal axis segment with respect to the outer gimbal. The first, second and third inner gimbal axis segments are coupled to rotate together. The outer gimbal has a yaw torquer thereon to provide a controllable torque about the outer gimbal axis, and a yaw resolver thereon to measure rotation of the outer gimbal about the outer gimbal axis. The outer gimbal also has a single axis accelerometer therein having its sensitive axis orthogonal to the outer gimbal axis and the inner gimbal axis segments.

• Assignee: Condor Pacific Industries, Inc., Canoga Park, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4696112
• OSTI ID: 6054522
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ACCELEROMETERS
BEARINGS
BOREHOLES
CABLES
CAVITIES
CONTROL
DESIGN
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
EQUIPMENT
GYROSCOPES
MATERIALS HANDLING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MOTION
MWD SYSTEMS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OPERATION
ORIENTATION
ROTARY DRILLS
ROTATION
SENSITIVITY
SUPPORTS
TORQUE
WELL DRILLING
WELLS