WEAVER RANDALL FERRAIN (US)
AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 22 September 2014 (22.09.2014) In the Claims What is claimed is: 1. A device for monitoring a seal assembly disposed in an annular space between a first fluid conduit and a housing rotatably disposed about the first fluid conduit, the device comprising: a body having a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a through-passage extending axially from the first end to the second end; a piston slidably disposed in the through-passage of the body; a biasing member axially disposed between the body and the piston, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the piston axially towards the first end of the body; and a signaling assembly coupled to the second end of the body, wherein the signaling assembly includes an indicator and a switch electrically coupled to the indicator, wherein the switch includes a battery and an electrical contact electrically coupled to the indicator; wherein the switch has a first position with the battery engaging the electrical contact and a second position with the battery disengaged from the electrical contact; wherein the indicator is in an activated state with the switch in the first position, and the indicator is in a deactivated state with the switch in the second position; wherein the piston is configured to translate axially in the through-passage to transition the switch between the first position and the second position; wherein the through-passage is exposed to a fluid pressure in the annular space between the first fluid conduit and the housing. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein a chamber extends axially from the first end of body to the piston; and wherein the piston is configured to move in the body in response to a force differential developed by the combination of a fluid pressure in the chamber acting on the piston in a first axial direction and a biasing force acting on the piston in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction. 3. (Cancelled). 4. (Cancelled). 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a light or is configured to provide an audible signal. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the through-passage of the body includes an internally threaded first passage segment extending axially through the first end, a second passage segment extending axially from the first passage segment, a third passage segment extending axially from second passage segment, and a fourth passage segment extending axially from third passage segment and through the second end; wherein the first passage segment has a first diameter, the second passage segment has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the third passage segment has a third diameter that is less than the second diameter, and the fourth passage segment has a fourth diameter that is less than the third diameter; and wherein the piston is at least partially disposed in the third passage segment and fourth passage segment. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the piston is biased toward the first position. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the through-passage is in fluid communication with the annular space between the first fluid conduit and the housing. 9. A drilling system, comprising: a first conduit; a rotatable conduit configured to rotate relative the first conduit; a wash pipe having a central axis, a first end coupled to the first conduit, and a second end coupled to the rotatable conduit with a gland assembly; wherein the gland assembly includes an annular housing rotatably disposed about the wash pipe, a first packing ring radially positioned between the wash pipe and the housing, a second packing ring radially positioned between the wash pipe and the housing and axially spaced from the first packing ring, and a fluid cavity radially positioned between the wash pipe and the housing and axially positioned between the first packing ring and the second packing ring; and a self-contained seal monitoring device coupled to the housing and exposed to the fluid pressure in the fluid cavity; 25 wherein the housing and the seal monitoring device are configured to rotate together relative to the first conduit and the wash pipe; wherein the seal monitoring device is configured to provide an indication in response to a predetermined fluid pressure in the fluid cavity. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the seal monitoring device is configured to provide the indication upon failure of the first packing ring. 1 1. The system of claim 9, wherein the self-contained seal monitoring device comprises: a body having a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a through-passage extending axially from the first end to the second end, wherein the through- passage is in fluid communication with the fluid cavity in the housing; a piston slidably disposed in the through-passage of the body; a biasing member axially disposed between the body and the piston, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the piston axially towards the first end of the body; and a signaling assembly coupled to the second end of the body, wherein the signaling assembly includes a battery and an indicator, wherein the battery is configured to selectively power the indicator upon engagement with an electrical contact electrically coupled to the indicator, and wherein the battery is biased axially towards the first end of the body and out of engagement with the electrical contact; wherein the piston is configured to translate in the through-passage to transition the battery into and out of engagement with the electrical contact. 12. The system of claim 1 1, wherein the indicator is a light or is configured to provide an audible signal. 13. The system of claim 1 1, wherein a chamber extends axially from the first end of body to the piston; and wherein the piston is configured to move in the body in response to a force differential developed by the combination of a fluid pressure in the chamber acting on the piston in a first axial direction and a biasing force acting on the piston in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction. 26 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the gland assembly includes a spacer ring axially positioned between the first packing ring and the second packing ring, and a set-ring threaded into the housing and configured to maintain the first packing ring, the second packing ring, and the spacer ring within the housing. 15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first conduit is stationary. 16. A method for identifying failure of a seal disposed between a first fluid conduit and a housing rotatably disposed about the first fluid conduit, the method comprising: (a) coupling a self-contained seal monitoring device to the housing for rotation with the housing; (b) providing communication for pressure transfer between the seal monitoring device and a fluid cavity positioned between the housing and the first fluid conduit; and (c) providing a visual or audible indication produced by the seal monitoring device at a predetermined fluid pressure within the fluid cavity. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein (c) comprises: (cl) flowing pressurized fluid from the fluid cavity into the seal monitoring device; (c2) moving a piston of the seal monitoring device with the pressurized fluid; (c3) overcoming a biasing force acting on the piston during (c2); (c4) moving a switch of the seal monitoring device with the piston during (c2). 18. The method of claim 17, wherein (c4) comprises: moving a battery of the seal monitoring device into engagement with an electrical contact. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein (c) comprises emitting a visible signal from the seal monitoring device. 20. The method of claim 16 further comprising: holding the first conduit stationary while rotating the housing and the seal monitoring device relative to the first fluid conduit. 27 |
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