Patent ID: 7204325

Claim:
A downhole steering tool comprising: a steering tool body having an outer surface; at least one blade deployed in a recess on the outer surface of the tool body, the blade configured to displace between radially opposed retracted and extended positions; at least one hairpin sprung member disposed to elastically spring bias the blade radially inward towards the retracted position, the hairpin sprung member including first and second leg portions located on opposing sides of a sprung hairpin portion, the first leg portion engaged with the blade, the second leg portion engaged with the tool body; and at least one actuation module disposed, upon actuation, to extend the blade radially outward from the tool body towards the extended position, said actuation disposed to open the hairpin sprung member against its elastic spring bias, the elastic spring bias disposed to close the hairpin sprung member and thereby retract the blade radially inward towards the retracted position upon deactuation of the actuation module.