Patent ID: 6929493

Claim:
An electrical contact system for transmitting information across tool joints in a drill string, the electrical contact system comprising: a first electrical contact comprising: a first annular resilient material; a first annular conductor embedded within the first annular resilient material, the first annular conductor having a surface exposed from the first annular resilient material; a first housing to accommodate the first resilient material and the first conductor; the first housing disposed within a recess adjacent an end of the tool joint and having an angled surface interacting with a corresponding angled surface in the recess to exert a force urging the first contact outward from the recess; a second electrical contact having a second annular resilient material and a second annular conductor embedded within the second annular resilient material, and a second housing to accommodate the second resilient material; the second contact mounted adjacent an end of a mating tool joint; wherein, upon assembly of the tool joints, the first and second contacts connect and are held engaged by the force.