Safety waveguide segments

Abstract

A safety waveguide apparatus includes a waveguide segment body sealed by a respective dielectric plug on each end of the waveguide body. The waveguide segment body, or at least one of the dielectric plugs, are configured to divert an oil flow from within the waveguide segment body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety waveguide apparatus comprising:
 a waveguide segment body configured to internally propagate a signal and sealed by a plurality of dielectric plugs, each dielectric plug coupled to a respective end of the waveguide segment body, wherein the waveguide segment body or at least one of the dielectric plugs are configured to divert an oil flow from within the waveguide segment body.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide segment body is insertable into a recess in a second waveguide segment such that the at least one of the dielectric plugs is disposed in the recess, the at least one dielectric plug is configured to be broken by a first pressure and the waveguide segment body is moveable from the recess by a second pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vent hole through the waveguide segment body; and   an internal dielectric plug disposed inside the waveguide segment body substantially adjacent to the vent hole such that the vent hole is sealed from an ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of claim.  3 , wherein the internal dielectric plug comprises a thickness and/or a material that is transparent to the internally propagated signal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the waveguide segment body comprises a metal or is internally coated by metal and the internal dielectric plug is coated with metal. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the internal dielectric plug comprises a frangible material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum or gas in the waveguide segment body, wherein the waveguide segment body is coupleable to a second waveguide segment, containing vacuum or gas, by the at least one dielectric plug, wherein the at least one dielectric plug is moveable or breakable by a pressure in the second waveguide segment. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the waveguide segment body comprises a plurality of pieces, wherein the plurality of pieces are held together by a pressure differential between a first pressure acting externally on the body and a second pressure sealed within the body. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pieces are additionally held together by a glue that breaks in response to the oil flow within the waveguide segment body. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of lips coupled to the waveguide segment body, wherein each lip of the plurality of lips is coupled to an opposing side of a cut that separates the plurality of pieces such that a gap between the plurality of lips is open to a vacuum in the waveguide segment body. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric plugs are transparent to frequency of the signal. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 constructing a waveguide by coupling a plurality of waveguide segments together; and   coupling at least one safety waveguide segment into the waveguide, wherein the at least one safety waveguide segment is configured to divert, out of the waveguide, oil flowing through the waveguide.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein coupling the at least one safety waveguide segment into the waveguide comprises coupling the safety waveguide segment such that a dielectric plug is shared between adjacent waveguide segments. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a first end of the waveguide is configured to be located at a surface controller and a second end of the waveguide is configured to be located at a bottom hole assembly and further comprising the waveguide propagating a signal between the controller and the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a waveguide configured to propagate radiation at a frequency between a surface controller and a downhole tool; and   a safety waveguide segment disposed in the waveguide, the safety waveguide segment configured to propagate the radiation at the frequency and divert oil out of the waveguide.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the waveguide comprises a plurality of waveguide segments and a plurality of the waveguide segments comprise the safety waveguide segment. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of waveguide segments comprise a cylindrical waveguide segment body sealed on each end by a respective dielectric plug such that an inner chamber of the waveguide segment comprises a vacuum or a partial vacuum. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the safety waveguide segment comprises a material, lined with a metal, that is configured to break in response to the oil in the safety waveguide segment. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each waveguide segment comprises a chamber sealed from ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the waveguide is disposed in a drill string.