Downhole tool with multi-contact component connector and method of using same

Abstract

A component connector is positioned in downhole tool. The downhole component includes a bulkhead and a receiver positioned in a housing. The component connector includes a contact member positioned in the bulkhead and a connector member in a receiver of the downhole tool. The contact member has an elongate body with a coupling end and a contact end. The connector member has another elongate body having a coupler end and a receptacle end. The connector member has an engager positioned about an outer surface of the connector member to provide selective engagement with the receiver. The coupling end of the contact member and the coupler end of the connector member are connected to electronics in the housing and wherein the receptacle end of the contact member is shaped to electrically receive the contact end of the contact member whereby electronics in adjacent components of the downhole tool are electrically coupled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component connector for a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole tool comprising a bulkhead and a receiver positioned in a housing, the component connector comprising:
 a contact member positionable in the bulkhead of the downhole tool, the contact member comprising an elongate body with a coupling end and a contact end; and   a connector member positionable in the receiver of the downhole tool, the connector member having another elongate body having a coupler end and a receptacle end, the connector member having an engager positioned about an outer surface of the connector member to provide selective engagement of the connector member with the receiver;   wherein the coupling end of the contact member and the coupler end of the connector member are connected to electronics in the housing and wherein the receptacle end of the contact member is shaped to electrically receive the contact end of the contact member whereby electronics in adjacent components of the downhole tool are electrically coupled.   
     
     
         2 . The component connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector member is a plunger connector member and wherein the engager comprises a plunger spring to provide movable engagement of the plunger connector member about the receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The component connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector member is a tube connector member and wherein the engager comprises a raised gripper to provide fixed engagement of the tube connector member in the receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The component connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection spring positioned about the contact end of the contact member. 
     
     
         5 . The component connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector member further comprises at least one of an insulated layer, a non-insulated layer, and combinations thereof disposed about the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The component connector of  claim 1 , wherein the contact member has a non-conductive contact coating disposed about an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The component connector of  claim 1 , wherein the contact end has connector contacts extending from the contact end, the connector contacts receivable in the coupler end of the connector member. 
     
     
         8 . The component connector of  claim 7 , wherein the connector contacts comprise dual connector contacts. 
     
     
         9 . The component connector of  claim 7 , wherein the connector contacts comprise triple connector contacts. 
     
     
         10 . The component connector of  claim 7 , wherein the connector contacts comprise quadruple connector contacts. 
     
     
         11 . A downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole tool comprising:
 adjacent components, each of the adjacent components comprising a bulkhead and a receiver positioned in a housing, the housing having a pin end and a box end at each end thereof, the pin end of a first of the adjacent components connectable to the box end of a second of the adjacent components; and   a component connector positioned in each of the adjacent components, each of the component connectors comprising:
 a contact member positionable in the bulkhead, the contact member comprising an elongate body with a coupling end and a contact end; and 
 a connector member positionable in the receiver, the connector member having another elongate body having a coupler end and a receptacle end, the connector member having an engager positioned about an outer surface of the connector member to provide selective engagement of the connector member with the receiver; 
 wherein the coupling end of the contact member and the coupler end of the connector member are connected to electronics in the housing and wherein the receptacle end of the contact member is shaped to electrically receive the contact end of the contact member whereby electronics in the adjacent components of the downhole tool are electrically coupled. 
   
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein each of the adjacent components comprises one of a setting tool, a top sub, a release tool, a perforating gun, and a collar locator. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein each of the adjacent components comprises the bulkhead at the pin end and the receiver at the box end of the housing with the electronics extending therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the adjacent components is electrically connected to the surface by a conveyance. 
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a downhole tool, the method comprising:
 providing a downhole component comprising a bulkhead and a receiver positioned in a housing;   positioning a contact member in the bulkhead;   positioning a connector member in the receiver such that an engager along an outer surface of the connector member is in engagement with the receiver; and   electrically connecting a coupling end of the contact member and a coupler end of the connector member to electronics in the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising connecting the downhole component to another downhole component by threadedly connecting a pin end of the housing of the downhole component to a box end of the another downhole component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising electrically connecting the downhole component to another downhole component by receiving a contact end of the contact member of the downhole component in a receptacle end of the connector member in an another receiver of the another downhole component. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electrically connecting the coupling end of the contact member and the coupler end of the connector member comprises fixedly positioning the coupling end of the contact member into the coupler end of the connector member in the another receiver of the another downhole component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electrically connecting the coupling end of the contact member and the coupler end of the connector member comprises movably positioning the coupling end of the contact member into the coupler end of the connector member in the another receiver of the another downhole component.