Patent ID: 7565936

Claim:
A coupling system for electrically coupling multiple sections of drill pipe in a wellbore comprising: a first drill pipe section having a longitudinal passage therethrough and a first transmission wire attached to an inside surface of the longitudinal passage, the first drill pipe section including a pin end; a conical pin end cap, the end cap comprising a cap ring positioned at one end of the end cap, a cap plate positioned at another end of the end cap, and a cap wire electrically connecting the cap ring and the cap plate, the first transmission wire contacting the cap plate when the end cap and the first drill pipe section are coupled; a second drill pipe section having a longitudinal passage there through and a second transmission wire attached to an inside surface of the longitudinal passage, the second drill pipe section including a box end; a conical box end insert, the end insert comprising an insert ring positioned at one end of the end insert, an insert plate positioned at another end of the end insert, and an insert wire connecting the insert ring and the insert plate, the insert plate contacting the second transmission wire when the end insert and the second drill pipe section are coupled; and the cap ring being positioned sufficiently close in proximity to the insert ring to transmit a signal through inductive coupling when the end cap and the end insert are coupled.