US 12,000,265 B2
Sonde with integral pressure sensor and method
Albert W. Chau, Woodinville, WA (US); Dmitry Feldman, Seattle, WA (US); and Benjamin John Medeiros, Orting, WA (US)
Assigned to Merlin Technology, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Merlin Technology, Inc., Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Mar. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/117,967.
Application 18/117,967 is a continuation of application No. 17/749,138, filed on May 20, 2022, granted, now 11,598,200.
Application 17/749,138 is a continuation of application No. 17/011,194, filed on Sep. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,339,645, issued on May 24, 2022.
Application 17/011,194 is a continuation of application No. 16/404,393, filed on May 6, 2019, granted, now 10,767,468, issued on Sep. 8, 2020.
Application 16/404,393 is a continuation of application No. 15/256,535, filed on Sep. 3, 2016, granted, now 10,323,506, issued on Jun. 18, 2019.
Application 15/256,535 is a continuation of application No. 14/174,024, filed on Feb. 6, 2014, granted, now 9,435,193, issued on Sep. 6, 2016.
Application 14/174,024 is a continuation of application No. 13/071,302, filed on Mar. 24, 2011, granted, now 8,662,200, issued on Mar. 4, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0203939 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 47/01 (2012.01); E21B 47/06 (2012.01); E21B 47/017 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 47/06 (2013.01) [E21B 47/017 (2020.05); Y10T 29/49002 (2015.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sonde for use in an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation, said sonde comprising:
an elongated main body including one end and an additional, opposing sealed end;
an end cap that is receivable by said end of said elongated main body in pressure sealing engagement with the elongated main body such that the elongated main body with the end cap installed thereon is receivable in the inground tool cavity, and the end cap defines a pressure sensor aperture;
a pressure sensor having a pressure sensor body that is removably receivable in said pressure sensor aperture in pressure sealing engagement with the end cap such that the end cap closes said end of a sonde interior that is pressure sealed from the ambient pressure environment while the pressure sensor is supported to produce a pressure signal responsive to the ambient pressure environment;
a cover that is removably receivable on the end cap to capture the pressure sensor in the pressure sensor aperture such that the pressure sensor is replaceable without removing the end cap from the elongated main body; and
a sonde electronics package that is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive said pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.