APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A TUBULAR STRING AS IT IS LOWERED INTO A BOREHOLE AND METHOD

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring a profile of a tubular string and the components thereof as the tubular string is made up and run into a borehole. The apparatus includes a rotating assembly disposed within a housing, the rotating assembly including a plurality of upper legs, and plurality of lower legs and a plurality of rolling elements, each upper leg having a proximal end and a distal end coupled to an upper ring, each lower leg having a proximal end coupled to a lower ring and a distal end, and each rolling element rotatably coupled to the proximal end of an upper leg and a distal end of a lower leg. The apparatus further includes a sensor for detecting a position of the rolling elements as they engage an exterior surface of a tubular string being made up and run into a borehole from a rig. The apparatus receives the tubular string through aligned central passages in the upper ring, lower ring and the rotating assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a housing having an upper end, a lower end for connecting to a blow-out preventer, and a central passage through the housing that is alignable with a central passage through a blow-out preventer that is connected to the lower end of the housing; an annular table having a central passage coupled to and supported within the housing in a position to align the central passage of the annular table with the central passage of the housing; a lower ring rotatably supported on the annular table, the lower ring having a central passage aligned with the central passages of the annular table and the housing; a plurality of lower legs, each having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the lower ring and a distal end; a plurality of upper legs, each having a proximal end, pivotally coupled to the distal end of one of the plurality of lower legs, and a distal end; an upper ring having a central passage aligned with the central passage of the housing, the upper ring being pivotally coupled to the distal ends of the plurality of upper legs, the upper ring being axially movable within a limited range relative to the annular table; a plurality of rolling elements rotatably coupled to the proximal ends of the plurality of upper legs and rotatably coupled to the distal ends of the plurality of lower legs, each of the plurality of rolling elements having an axis of rotation that lies in a plane that is perpendicular to an axis of the aligned central passages; and a sensor coupled to detect the position of the plurality of rolling elements relative to the central passage and to generate a signal corresponding to the detected position of the plurality of rolling elements to a transmitter; wherein the weight of the upper ring biases the rolling elements into engagement with the tubular string received through the aligned central passages.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a spring element disposed intermediate the housing and the upper ring to bias the upper ring in a downwardly direction and to bias the plurality of rolling elements connected to the proximal ends of the plurality of upper legs radially inwardly to engage the tubular string.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid cylinder coupled intermediate the housing and the rotating assembly and activatable to retract the rotating assembly and move the plurality of rolling elements radially outwardly away from engagement with the tubular string.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid cylinder is one of pneumatic and hydraulic.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper ring biases the rolling elements of the rotating assembly into engagement with the tubular string.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor coupled intermediate the rotating assembly and the housing detect the position of the rolling elements and generates a signal corresponding to the detected position of the rolling elements to a transmitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmitter generates a wireless signal that can be detected using a receiver.

8. A method of measuring a tubular string as it is being one of run into and withdrawn from a borehole, the method comprising: providing a first rolling element having a first rotation sensor to track the number of rotations of the first rolling element as a tubular string is one of run into and withdrawn from a borehole, the first rolling element being proximal to a passage through which the tubular string passes; providing a first rolling element displacement sensor to track the magnitude of displacement of the first rolling element from the passage resulting from engagement of the first rolling element with the tubular string moving through the passage; providing a second rolling element having a second rotation sensor to track the number of rotations of the second rolling element as the tubular string is one of run into and withdrawn from a borehole, the second rolling element being proximal to the passage and angularly spaced about the passage from the first rolling element; providing a second rolling element displacement sensor to track the magnitude of displacement of the second rolling element from the passage resulting from engagement of the first rolling element with the tubular string moving through the passage; providing a processor to receive a first signal from the first rotation sensor corresponding to the detected rotations of the first rolling element, to receive a second signal from the second rotation sensor corresponding to the detected rotations of the second rolling element, to receive a third signal from the first rolling element displacement sensor and to receive a fourth signal from the second rolling element displacement sensor; using the processor to compare the first signal to the second signal which of the first signal and the second signal indicates a more positive engagement between one of the first rolling element and second rolling element with the tubular string; using the processor to record the number of rotations of the one of the first rolling element and the second rolling element determined to be the rolling element with the more positive engagement with the tubular string occurring within a given interval; using the processor to record the displacement of the one of the first rolling element and the second rolling element determined to be the rolling element most positively engaged with the tubular string within the given interval; using the processor to iteratively repeat the steps of comparing the first signal to the second signal to determine which of the first signal and the second signal indicates a more positive engagement between one of the first rolling element and second rolling element with the tubular string, recording the number of rotations of the one of the first rolling element and the second rolling element determined to be the rolling element with the more positive engagement with the tubular string occurring within a given interval, recording the displacement of the one of the first rolling element and the second rolling element determined to be the rolling element most positively engaged with the tubular string within the given interval for additional intervals of the tubular string moving through the passage; using the recorded number of rotations and the recorded displacement of the first rolling element and the second rolling element determined for each interval of the tubular string to be the most positively engaged with the tubular string to construct a profile of the tubular string including the length of tubular joints that make up the tubular string and the location of tubular collars used to couple tubular joints to adjacent tubular joints; and using the constructed profile to strategically move the tubular string within the borehole.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a first rolling element having a first rotation sensor to track the number of rotations of the first rolling element comprises providing a first rolling element having a first pair of rotation sensors to track the number of rotations of the first rolling element, wherein the first pair of rotation sensors are staggered one relative to the other; wherein providing a second rolling element having a second rotation sensor to track the number of rotations of the second rolling element comprises providing a second rolling element having a second pair of rotation sensors to track the number of rotations of the second rolling element, wherein the second pair of rotation sensors are staggered one relative to the other; wherein providing a processor to receive a first signal from the first rotation sensor corresponding to the detected rotations of the first rolling element and to receive a second signal from the second rotation sensor corresponding to the detected rotations of the second rolling element comprises providing a processor to receive a pair of first signals from the staggered pair of first rotation sensors and to receive a pair of second signals from the staggered pair of second rotation sensors; and further comprising using the processor to compare one of the pair of first signals from the staggered pair of first rotation sensors to determine a direction of rotation of the first rolling element during an interval and using the processor to compare one of the pair of second signals from the staggered pair of second rotation sensors to determine a direction of rotation of the second rolling element during the interval; and recording the direction of rotation of at least one of the first rolling element and the second rolling element with the number of rotations occurring during the interval.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing a rotatable assembly for rotation about the tubular string received through the passage to support the first rolling element, the second rolling element, the first rotation sensor, the second rotation sensor, the first rolling element displacement sensor and the second rolling element displacement sensor thereon; and rotatably supporting the rotatable assembly intermediate an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flange and lower flange for connecting the rotatable assembly to one or more blow out preventers on a rig, the blow out preventers having passages therethrough to receive the tubular string.

11. An apparatus, comprising: a housing having a central passage; a table having a central passage aligned with the central passage of the housing; a lower ring rotatably supported on the table, the lower ring having a central passage aligned with the central passage of the table; an upper ring having a central passage aligned with the central passage of the table; a plurality of lower legs, each having a proximal end coupled to the lower ring and a distal end; a plurality of upper legs, each having a distal end coupled to the upper ring and a proximal end; a plurality of rolling elements, each coupled to a distal end of one of the plurality of lower legs and to a proximal end of one of the plurality of upper legs; and a plurality of rolling element sensors, each rolling element sensor disposed to detect rotations of one of the plurality of rolling elements and to generate a signal corresponding to the rotations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a displacement sensor disposed to detect the displacement of the upper ring relative to the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a processor for receiving signals generated by the plurality of rolling element sensors.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a processor for receiving signals generated by the plurality of rolling element sensors.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a set of brushes coupled to the housing, each brush biased to engage a conductive trace on a rotating assembly of the apparatus to enable signals generated by sensors on the rotating assembly of the apparatus to be conducted to the brushes for being conducted further to a processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of angle sensors, each disposed proximal to one of the plurality of lower legs to detect the angle of the lower leg and to generate a signal corresponding to the detected angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention with a tubular string extending therethrough.

[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 illustrating the positions of one of the plurality of rolling elements and the lower leg and upper leg pivotally coupled to the rolling element.

[0024] FIG. 3 is the sectional elevation view of FIG. 2 taken along the dotted line indicated by 3-3 as the portion of the tubular string having a diameter indicated by the double-headed arrow is engaged by the rolling element.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of a rolling element rollably engaging a tubular string moving in a vertical plane relative to the rolling element.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the shaped periphery of an embodiment of a rolling element adapted for non-slip engagement with the tubular string (not shown).

[0027] FIG. 6 is an interior view of a portion of the rotating assembly illustrating how a plurality of parallel vertical conductive traces can be used to conduct signals from a plurality of sensors (not shown) on the rotating assembly to circumferential and parallel conductive exterior traces (shown in dotted lines).

[0028] FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a plurality of spring-loaded brush elements disposed on a non-rotating portion of the apparatus to conductively engage the parallel exterior traces illustrated in FIG. 6 to conduct signals from the parallel exterior traces to a processor (not shown).

[0029] FIG. 8 is an illustration of the interaction between the spring-loaded brush pick-ups of FIG. 7, a processor, and a data storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 of the present invention with a tubular string 90 having an interior diameter 92 extending therethrough. The apparatus 10 comprises a housing 11 having an upper flange 12 and a lower flange 13, and in interior chamber 14 therebetween. The housing 11 includes an annular support 18 having a central passage 19. A lower ring 20 is rotatably supported on the annular support 18 and includes a central passage 21 that is aligned with the central passage 19 of the annular support 18. An upper ring 54 also includes a central passage 55 that is aligned with the central passages 19 and 21 of the annular support 18 and the lower ring 20, respectively. The apparatus 10 further comprises a plurality of angularly distributed rolling elements 50.

[0031] The lower ring 20 is pivotally coupled to a plurality of angularly distributed lower legs 30 at a first end 31 of each of the plurality of lower legs 30, and the upper ring 54 is pivotally coupled to a second end 42 of each of the plurality of upper legs 40. Each of the second ends 32 (not shown in FIG. 1see FIG. 3) of the plurality of lower legs 30 and each of the first ends 41 (not shown in FIG. 1see FIG. 3) of the plurality of upper legs 40 are pivotally coupled to an axle 51 of one of the plurality of rolling elements 50. The lower ring 20, the upper ring 54, the plurality of lower legs 30, the plurality of upper legs 40, the plurality of axles 51 and the corresponding plurality of rolling elements 50 together form a rotating assembly 59 that rotates within the interior chamber 14 of the housing 11. The rotating assembly 59 is rotatably supported on the annular support 18.

[0032] The tubular string 90 is receivable through the aligned central passages 19, 21 and 55 of the annular support 18, the lower ring 20 and the upper ring 54. The tubular string 90 also passes intermediate the plurality of angularly distributed rolling elements 50 and the plurality of rolling elements 50 are brought to engage an exterior surface 91 of the tubular string 90 at a periphery 52 of each of the plurality of rolling elements 50.

[0033] The upper ring 54 is coupled to a displacement sensor 60 by a rod 61. The displacement sensor 60 generates a signal to a transmitter 68 that transmits a signal corresponding to the sensed position of the upper ring 54 to a processor (not shown in FIG. 1) disposed on the rig from which the tubular string 90 is being run. It will be understood that the plurality of rolling elements 50 that engage the exterior surface 91 of the tubular string 90 will be positioned within the housing 11 according to the diameter of a portion of the tubular string 90 that is disposed intermediate the plurality of rolling elements 50, and the position of the upper ring 54 of the rotating assembly 59 within the housing 11 provides an indicator of the diameter of the portion of the tubular string 90 engaged by the periphery 52 of each of the plurality of rolling elements 50. The displacement sensor 60 senses the diameter of the tubular string 90 by sensing the position of the upper ring 54 relative to the housing 11.

[0034] The rotating assembly 59 is, as described above, rotatable within the housing 11 of the apparatus 10. The frictional engagement between the periphery 52 of the rolling elements 50 and the exterior surface 92 of the tubular string 90 provides a sufficient rotating moment to the rotating assembly 59 to rotate the rotating assembly 59 at the speed of rotation of the tubular string 90. The mass of the upper ring 54 may contribute to the frictional engagement between the rolling elements 50 and the tubular string 90 by urging the rolling elements 50 radially inwardly into engagement with the exterior surface 92 of the tubular string 90. It will be understood that the upper ring 54 may be weighted and/or sized to promote positive engagement between the rolling elements 50 and the tubular string 90.

[0035] Alternately, in some embodiments of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, the upper ring 54 may be spring-biased downwardly to bias the rolling elements 50 into positive rolling engagement with the tubular string 90. In one embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, a spring-biased upper ring 54 may be adjustably spring-biased so that the force of engagement between the rolling elements 50 and the tubular string 90 can be adjusted for optimal performance.

[0036] It will be understood that it may also be advantageous to provide a means of disengaging the rolling elements 50 from the tubular string 90 when, for example, the apparatus 10 of the present invention is being installed, removed or serviced. In one embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, a fluid cylinder, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, can be energized with pressurized fluid to oppose and overcome the mass of the upper ring 54 and/or the force applied by springs that may bias the rolling elements 50 into engagement with the tubular string 90. The fluid cylinders may be used to retract the rolling elements 50 to a withdrawn positon by, for example, applying an upwardly displacing force to the upper ring 54.

[0037] One embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention includes both a spring element disposed intermediate the housing 11 and the upper ring 54 to bias the rolling elements 50 into engagement with the tubular string 90 and also a fluid cylinder to oppose and, if sufficiently energized, to overcome the force applied by the spring element. It will be understood that in one mode, the fluid cylinders may advantageously be energized to oppose, but to not overcome the force applied by the spring element to the upper ring 54. In this manner, the spring element and the fluid cylinder may be together used to provide a selectable amount of force urging the rolling elements 50 into engagement with the exterior surface 91 of the tubular string 90.

[0038] FIG. 2 is an enlarged and sectioned view of a portion of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 illustrating the positions of one of the plurality of angularly distributed rolling elements 50 having a diameter indicated by the double-headed arrow 64, one of the plurality of lower legs 30 pivotally coupled to the rolling element 50 and a corresponding one of the plurality of upper legs 40 pivotally coupled to the rolling element 50. The periphery 52 of the rolling element 50 of FIG. 2 is engaged in positive rolling engagement with the exterior surface 91 of the tubular string 90 received through the apparatus 10. The rolling element 50 is engaged with a portion of the tubular string 90 having an exterior diameter indicated by the double-headed arrow 93. The rolling element 50 is provided access to the tubular string 90 through a window 57 within an interior barrier 58 within the housing 11 of the apparatus 10. It will be understood that determining the number of rotations and the position of the plurality of rolling elements 50 as the tubular string 90 is run through the apparatus 10 will provide an accurate measurement of the length and profile of the tubular string 90 given the known diameter of the rolling elements 50 and the position of the rolling elements 50 at locations along the tubular string 90.

[0039] The exterior diameter of the tubular string 90 at the double-headed arrow 93 causes the rolling element 50 to be disposed in the position shown, which disposes the lower leg 30 and the upper leg 40 of the rotating assembly 59 at the positions illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be understood that the position of the rotating assembly 59, including the position of the upper ring 54 to which the upper leg 40 is pivotally coupled and the separation distance, indicated by double-headed arrow 56, between the upper ring 54 and an adjacent stop 67 disposed within the housing 11, results from the position of the rolling element 50 that engages the exterior surface 91 of the tubular string 90. The position of the upper ring 54 is detected by the displacement sensor 60 through reciprocatable sensor rod 62. The displacement sensor 60 generates a signal corresponding to the sensed diameter indicated by the double-headed arrow 93 to a transmitter 68 which transmits the signal or a corresponding signal to a processor (not shown) disposed on the rig from which the tubular string 90 is being run.

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a tubular string 90 having a large diameter portion indicated by the double-headed arrow 94 adjacent to the small diameter portion indicated by the double-headed arrow 93. It will be understood that as the tubular string 90 is advanced in the direction of arrow 99, the large diameter portion of the tubular string 90 indicated by the double-headed arrow 94 will displace the plurality of angularly distributed rolling elements 50 and the rotating assembly 59 to a new position and, as a result, the upper ring 54 will be displaced upwardly to reduce the separation distance indicated by the double-headed arrow 56 between the upper ring 54 and an adjacent stop 67 disposed within the housing 11. This new position of the upper ring 54 will be detected by the displacement sensor 60. The displacement sensor 60 generates a new signal corresponding to the sensed diameter of the portion of the tubular string 90 at the double-headed arrow 94 to the transmitter 68 for transmission to the processor (not shown).

[0041] FIG. 3 is the sectional elevation view of FIG. 2 taken along the dotted line indicated by 3-3 as the portion of the tubular string 90 having a diameter indicated by the double-headed arrow 93 of FIG. 2 is engaged by the rolling element 50. FIG. 3 reveals the manner in which the second end 32 of each of the plurality of lower legs 30, the first end 41 of each of the plurality of upper legs 40 and one of the plurality of angularly distributed rolling elements 50 are pivotally and rotatably coupled using an axle 51. The second end 32 of the lower leg 30 includes a first prong 30A and a parallel and spaced-apart second prong 30B that together straddle the first end 41 of the corresponding upper leg 40 and the corresponding rolling element 50. The first prong 30A and the spaced-apart second prong 30B of the distal end 32 of the lower leg 30 include aligned apertures 72 to receive the axle 51.

[0042] Similarly, the first end 41 of the upper leg 40 includes a first prong 40A and a parallel second prong 40B that together straddle the rolling element 50. The first prong 40A and the second prong 40B of the first end 41 of the upper leg 40 also aligned apertures 72 to receive the axle 51. The axle 51 may receive fasteners 53 such as, for example, straight pins, cotter pins or E-clips, to secure the second end 32 of each lower leg 30, the corresponding first end 41 of each upper leg 40 and the corresponding rolling element 50 on an axle 51.

[0043] FIG. 3 also illustrates each of the plurality of lower legs 30 being connected at a first end 31 to the lower ring 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the lower ring 20 includes a pair of ears 21 that straddle the first end 31 of each of the plurality of lower legs 30. Each of the plurality of lower legs 30 are pivotally secured at the first end 31 to the pair of ears 21 of the lower ring 20 using a pin 25. Similarly, FIG. 3 illustrates each of the plurality of upper legs 40 being connected at a second end 42 to a pair of ears 65 on the upper ring 54 that straddle the second end 42 of the upper leg 40. The upper leg 40 is pivotally secured at the second end 42 to the upper ring 54 using a pin 25. The pin 51 pivotally secures the second end 32 of each of the plurality of lower legs 30 to the first end 41 of a corresponding upper leg 40.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of one of the plurality of rolling elements 50 of the apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1-3 rollably engaging an exterior surface 91 of a tubular string 90 moving in a vertical plane relative to the plurality of rolling elements 50. The rolling element 50 of FIG. 4 is supported an its axle 51 which is, in turn, movably supported by one of the plurality of lower legs 30 and a corresponding upper leg 40. FIG. 4 illustrates a rolling element sensor 63 disposed on the lower leg 30 at a position proximal to the circular path (not shown) that will be followed by a first electronically detectable marker 73 and a second electronically detectable marker 74 disposed on the rolling element 50 at angularly separated positions. It will be understood that the first electronically detectable marker 73 and a second electronically detectable marker 74 will follow a circular pathway bringing each of the first electronically detectable marker 73 and a second electronically detectable marker 74 proximal to the rolling element sensor 63 on the lower leg 30 as the rolling element 50 rotates about its axle 51. It will be understood that the angular separation between the first electronically detectable marker 73 and a second electronically detectable marker 74 makes the two markers angularly staggered with respect to the rolling element sensor 63 and that the signals detected by the rolling element sensor 63 upon passage of the first electronically detectable marker 73 and the second electronically detectable marker 74 will not be simultaneous. Instead, the signals generated by the first electronically detectable marker 73 and the second electronically detectable marker 74 coming into close proximity to the sensor 63 will be received one before the other, if the rolling element is rotating in a first direction and one after the other if the rolling element is rotating in a second direction. More specifically, if the tubular string 90 is moving in the direction of arrow 91A (upwardly in FIG. 4), the rolling element 50 will rotate in the direction of arrow 88A and the signal of the first electronically detectable marker 73 will be detected first and the signal of the second electronically detectable marker 74 will be detected second. The detection of these two signals, in that order, will then be followed by a prolonged pause as the first electronically detectable marker 73 moves around the axle 51 and finally returns on its circular path to a position proximal to the rolling element sensor 63. Alternately, if the tubular string 90 is moving in the direction of arrow 91B (downwardly in FIG. 4), the rolling element 50 will rotate in the direction of arrow 88B and the signal of the second electronically detectable marker 74 will be detected first and the signal of the first electronically detectable marker 73 will be detected second. The detection of these two signals, in that order, will then be followed by a prolonged pause as the second electronically detectable marker 74 moves around the axle 51 and finally returns on its circular path to a position proximal to the rolling element sensor 63. It will be understood that computer program product code can be written and implemented using a processor (not shown) to receive and interpret these patterns and to thereby determine not only the rate of rotation of the rolling element 50, and the corresponding rate of ascent or descent of the tubular string 90, but also the direction of rotation of the rolling element 50 based on the repeating pattern of signals generated by the rolling element sensor 63. The signals generated by the rolling element sensor 63 can be conveyed to a processor (not shown) through conductive wire 66 connected to the sensor 63. The conductive wire 66 is but one of the signal-carrying conductive wires that deliver signals to the processor (not shown).

[0045] It will be understood that there may be additional electronically detectable markers disposed on the rolling element 50 to generate a signal each time the additional markers move near the rolling element sensor 63, and a variety of patterns of signals may be generated and interpreted using computer program product code run using a processor.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the shaped periphery 151 of an embodiment of a rolling element 50 adapted for non-slip engagement with the tubular string (not shown). The shaped periphery 151 includes a pair of sides 151, each forming an obtuse angle with a bottom 152 of the shaped periphery 151 of the rolling element 50. The rolling element 50 rotates about its axle 51 as the shaped periphery 151 engages the tubular string 90 (not shown) along both sides 151 thereby providing superior non-slip engagement between the rolling element 50 and the tubular string 90 (not shown) for improved accuracy of the apparatus.

[0047] Returning briefly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the rotating assembly 59 of the embodiment of the apparatus 10 includes a rotating sleeve 110 rotatably disposed proximal to a non-rotating support portion 120 adjacent to a lower flange 13. The rotating sleeve 110 may be used to conduct signals generated by sensors including, but not limited to, the sensors 73 and 74 on the rolling element 50 depicted in FIG. 3, and the displacement sensor 60 shown in FIG. 1, to a processor (not shown).

[0048] FIG. 6 is an interior view of a portion of the generally cylindrical rotating sleeve 110 of the rotating assembly 59 of the apparatus 10 illustrating how a plurality of parallel vertical conductive traces 111A, 112A and 113A can be used to conduct signals from a plurality of sensors (not shown in FIG. 6) on the rotating assembly 59 (not shown) to circumferential and parallel conductive exterior traces 111, 112 and 113 (shown on FIG. 6 in dotted lines). Conductive trace 111A terminates at a junction 111B which is a radial penetration that conducts signals from conductive trace 111A on the interior side 110A of the sleeve portion 110 to exterior trace 111. Similarly, conductive trace 112A terminates at a junction 112B which is a radial penetration that conducts signals from conductive trace 112A on the interior side 110A of the sleeve portion 110 of the rotating assembly 59 to exterior trace 112, and conductive trace 113A terminates at a junction 113B which is a radial penetration that conducts signals from conductive trace 113A on the interior side 110A of the sleeve portion 110 to exterior trace 113. It will be understood that although FIG. 6 illustrates a sleeve portion 110 of an embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention in which the sleeve portion 110 includes three vertical conductive traces 111A, 112A and 113A, three penetrating junctions 111B, 112B and 113B, and three corresponding conductive exterior traces 111, 112 and 113, other embodiments may include more vertical conductive traces and conductive exterior traces or fewer vertical conductive traces and conductive exterior traces. It will be further understood that by using electronically detectable markers that generate a distinctive signal that indicates and identifies the specific electronically detectable marker from which the signal originates, fewer conductive traces (vertical or exterior) will be required because the processor can determine the marker from which a received signal originates from the signal content. FIG. 6 merely illustrates an example of how such signals may be conductively delivered to a processor (not shown).

[0049] FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a plurality of a spring-loaded brush assembly 140 disposed on a non-rotating portion 120 of the apparatus 10 to conductively engage the parallel exterior traces 111, 112 and 113 on the exterior 110B of the rotating sleeve 110 of the rotating assembly 59 of FIG. 1 and to conduct signals from the exterior traces 111, 112 and 113 to a processor (not shown). Each brush element 130 is spring-biased to conductively engage one of the adjacent exterior traces 111, 112 and 113 on the rotating sleeve 110 and to conduct signals from the engaged exterior traces 111, 112 and 113 through the plurality of brush elements 130 to signal pickups 131, 132 and 133 that deliver the signals to a conductive wires 134, 135 or 136, respectively. The biasing of the springs 127 maintains positive conductive engagement between the plurality of brush elements 130 and the respective engaged exterior traces 111, 112 and 113. It will be understood that although FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention having a spring-loaded brush assembly 140 that includes three brush elements 130, other embodiments may include more brush elements 130 or fewer brush elements 130. It will be further understood that by using electronically detectable markers that generate a distinctive signal that indicates and identifies the specific electronically detectable marker from which the signal originates, fewer brush elements 130 will be required because the processor can determine the marker from which the signal originates from the signal content.

[0050] It will be understood that the rolling element sensor 63 in FIG. 4 may generate and deliver a signal to conductive wire 66 connected thereto, and the signal may be transmitted through conductive wire 66 to conductive trace 111A in FIG. 6. The signal may be conducted by conductive trace 111A to junction 111B and on to exterior trace 111 shown in FIG. 7. The signal may, for example, but not by way of limitation, be conducted from exterior trace 111 through brush element 130 to signal pickup 133 in FIG. 7 and from signal pick-up 131 to conductive wire 136, which conducts the signal to the processor 150 (not shown in FIG. 7see FIG. 8). Similarly, displacement sensor 60 in FIG. 1 may generate and deliver a signal to a conductive wire (not shown) connected thereto, and the signal may be transmitted through the conductive wire to conductive trace 112A in FIG. 6. The signal may be conducted by conductive trace 112A to junction 112B and on to exterior trace 112. The signal may be conducted from exterior trace 112 through a brush element 130 to signal pickup 132 in FIG. 7 and from signal pick-up 132 to conductive wire 135, which conducts the signal to the processor 150 (see FIG. 8). It will be understood that other additional sensors such as, for example, other rolling element sensors disposed on other rolling elements may also be disposed on the rotating assembly 59 to generate and deliver signals to the processor 150 in the same manner. It will be further understood that the apparatus 10 may include more sensors than the three signals indicated by FIGS. 6 and 7, and that the drawings appended hereto are for illustration purposes, not to limit the number of signal-generating sensors on the rotating assembly 59.

[0051] FIG. 8 is an illustration of the interaction between the conducive wires 134, 135 and 136 of FIG. 7, a processor 150, and a data storage device 152 and an optional display device 155. The conductive wires 134, 135 and 136 of FIG. 7 carry signals from the brush pick-ups and/or the displacement sensor 60. It will be understood that the purpose of the drawings appended hereto is to illustrate the components of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, not to limit the number of conductive traces, data signal pick-ups, spring-loaded brush elements, etc. The processor 150 can be used to store data received via the conductive wires 134, 135 and 136 by generating a signal 151 delivered to the storage device 152 and, optionally, to display a map or image reflecting the measurements indicated by the signals stored on the storage device 152 and received by the processor 150.

[0052] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The terms preferably, preferred, prefer, optionally, may, and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.

[0053] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.