Patent ID: 6572152
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
In a subassembly electrical isolation connector for interconnecting sections of a tubular drill rod, said subassembly having an electrically insulated connector for and between spaced-apart connector sections to transmit drilling forces therethrough,the use of a flexible sealing membrane for sealing an insulated spacing in said electrically insulated connector to prevent ingress of pressurized drilling mud into said connector and shorting out said spaced-apart sections of said connector, said flexible sealing membrane overlapping said connector sections as a sealing sleeve and having at least its sleeve ends sealed to respective portions of said connector sections to thereby energize said flexible sealing membrane, and said sealing sleeve is slid over said drill rod sections, the ends of said sleeve are secured to respective sections by clamps at each end, wherein said clamps comprise wire wraps to energize said sealing membrane an outer composite coating for protecting said flexible sealing membrane, said coating being disposed about said wire wraps and said sleeve.