Auto-extending/retracting electrically isolated conductors in a segmented drill string

摘要

A system includes a drill string for at least partial use in the ground made up of a plurality of connectable pipe sections to align the innermost passages of attached ones of the sections. An assembly is provided including a pair of adapters for installation of a first one of the adapters in a first end of the innermost passage each pipe section and installation of a second one of the adapters in a second end of each section. The first adapter defines a first electrical contact area and the second adapter defines a second electrical contact area. The adapters are configured for resiliently biasing the first and second contact areas against one another between attached ones of the pipe sections to establish an electrical connection between the pair of adapters to complete an electrically conductive, isolated path extending through the drill string.