Connector including isolated conductive paths

Abstract

An apparatus includes a pair of connectors, two or more conductive paths formed in each connector in the pair of connectors, and a shroud encompassing at least a portion of the pair of connectors. The pair of connectors includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector is substantially more flexible than the second connector, and each connector in the pair of connectors includes a bulkhead. Each of the two or more conductive paths in each connector in the pair of connectors is electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the pair of connectors. The shroud is located between the bulkheads and disposed about the pair of connectors when the pair of connectors are coupled together electrically.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of connectors includes a first connector and a second connector, the first connector is substantially more flexible than the second connector, each connector in the pair of connectors includes a bulkhead;    two or more conductive paths formed in each connector in the pair of connectors, each of the two or more conductive paths in each connector in the pair of connectors is electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the pair of connectors; and    a shroud encompassing at least a portion of the pair of connectors located between the bulkheads and disposed about the pair of connectors when the pair of connectors are coupled together electrically.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead has a high-temperature rating and a high-pressure rating.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead includes an O-ring.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the O-ring comprises any elastomer.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead comprises an external thread.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead includes a torque member.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the torque member comprises an insulative material.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the insulative material comprises polyetherether-ketone.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the conductive paths of the first connector includes a conductive path having a flexible member located between two substantially rigid members.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially flexible member is crimped to at least one of the substantially rigid members.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the conductive paths of the first connector includes a flexible member located between two substantially rigid members.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially flexible member includes a braided conductive element.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the braided conductive element is soldered to the two substantially rigid members.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the bulkhead includes a groove in which to solder the braided conductive element.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a flexible sleeve formed along the braided conductive element and encompassing the braided conductive element.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible sleeve encompasses at least the portion of the first connector that houses the flexible conductor paths.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud comprises a substantially flexible material.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the shroud comprises an elastomer.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the shroud is coupled to the first connector at a nub and to the second connector at a nub.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the shroud is bonded to the first connector and is coupled to the second connector at a nub.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a downhole tool includes a first electronic module and a second electronic module; and    a pair of connectors includes a first connector and a second connector, the first connector is substantially more flexible than the second connector, each connector in the pair of connectors includes a bulkhead;    two or more conductive paths formed in each connector in the pair of connectors, each of the two or more conductive paths in each connector in the pair of connectors is electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the pair of connectors; and    a shroud encompassing at least a portion of the pair of connectors located between the bulkheads and disposed about the pair of connectors when the pair of connectors are coupled together electrically, wherein the pair of connectors electrically couple the first electronic module to the second electronic module.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first electronic module tool comprises a module to measure acoustics, resistivity, density, pressure, gamma ray, magnetic resonance, temperature, torque, weight on bit, acceleration or a magnetic field.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the second electronic module comprises a module to measure acoustics, resistivity, density, pressure, gamma ray, magnetic resonance, temperature, torque, weight on bit, acceleration or a magnetic field.  
     
     
         24 . A method comprising: 
 forming a bulkhead assembly including two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths;    forming a non-bulkhead assembly including two-or-more isolated non-bulkhead conductive paths; and    forming a flexible coupling between each of the two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths and each of the two-or-more isolated non-bulkhead conductive paths to form a flexible connector.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming the bulkhead assembly including the two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths comprises: 
 forming a first assembly including one of the two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths, the one of the two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths is an inner path;    forming a second assembly including one of the two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths, the one of the two-or-more isolated bulkhead conductive paths is an outer path; and    assembling the first and second assembly.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein forming the first assembly comprises: 
 injection molding an insulative material around the inner conductive path to form an inner conductive path assembly;    injection molding an insulative material around the outer conductive path to form an outer conductive path assembly;    machining the inner conductive path assembly and the outer conductive path assembly to form a machined inner path assembly and a machined outer path assembly; and    assembling the machined inner path assembly and the machined outer path assembly including an O-ring to provide seal between the inner path assembly and the outer path assembly.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming the non-bulkhead assembly including the two or more isolated non-bulkhead conductive paths comprises: 
 assembling a conductive flexible member and an inner conductive socket; and    injection molding insulative material to provide insulation between the inner conductive socket and an outer socket.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming the flexible coupling between each of the two or more isolated bulkhead conductive paths and each of the two or more isolated non-bulkhead conductive paths to form the flexible connector comprises: 
 coupling the conductive flexible member to the substantially rigid inner conductor of the bulkhead assembly to form a bulkhead and non-bulkhead assembly;    forming a flexible material around the inner conductive path;    assembling conductive braid over the flexible material; and    forming flexible sleeve outside the conductive braid.    
     
     
         29 . A method comprising: 
 assembling, at least partially, a connector having a groove;    securing a flexible member in a groove;    placing solder in contact with the flexible member;    placing a heatsink in contact with the flexible member near the groove; and    heating the flexible member to cause solder to flow into the flexible member in the groove.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein securing the flexible member in the groove comprises: 
 wrapping a wire in the groove to secure the flexible member between the wire and the groove.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein placing solder in contact with the flexible member comprises: 
 wrapping solder adjacent to the groove.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein placing the heatsink in contact with the flexible member near the groove comprises: 
 placing the heatsink adjacent to the solder.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein heating the flexible member to cause solder to flow into the flexible member in the groove comprises: 
 heating the flexible member by resistive heating.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein heating the flexible member by resistive heating comprises: 
 generating a current in the flexible member.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein heating the flexible member to cause solder to flow into the flexible member in the groove comprises: 
 heating the flexible member using a heat source.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the heatsink is positioned to control the solder wicking into the flexible member.