Initiator head assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11549343-B2
Application number	US-202117358101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2021
Priority date	May 5, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

An initiator head assembly may include a body and an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body. The body may include a head extending from a base, and a platform extending from the head, and the body may be injection molded as a unitary component. The electrical contact component may include a line-in portion positioned proximal to the platform and a ground portion positioned proximal to the head. The electrical contact component may be formed integrally with the body such that it is anchored in a fixed position in the body. An initiator for a perforating gun assembly may include the initiator head assembly and a shell coupled to the initiator head assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An initiator head assembly comprising:
a body comprising a first surface, a second surface, and an insulating portion extending between the first surface and the second surface; and
an electrical contact component comprising an electrically contactable line-in portion positioned proximal to the first surface, and an electrically contactable line-out portion positioned proximal to the second surface, wherein
the initiator head assembly is configured to complete a wireless electrical connection by being electrically contactably received within a perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, and
the initiator head assembly is configured for detonating one or more downstream components of the perforating gun assembly.

2. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact component further comprises:
an electrically contactable ground portion positioned proximal to the second surface, wherein the insulating portion electrically insulates the line-in portion and the ground portion.

3. The initiator head assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrical contact component is at least partially embedded in the body.

4. The initiator head assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrical contact component further comprises:
a line-in contact extending from the line-in portion;
line-out contact extending from the line-out portion; and
a ground contact extending from the ground portion.

5. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the initiator head assembly is a sealed unit, such that a differential pressure is maintained between an outer surface of the initiator head assembly and an inner surface of the initiator head assembly.

6. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a head extending from a base, wherein the base extends from the second surface.

7. The initiator head assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the second surface includes a recessed portion formed around the base; and
a ground portion is positioned at least partially within the recessed portion.

8. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a platform extending from the first surface in a direction away from the second surface.

9. The initiator head assembly of claim 8 , wherein the line-in portion substantially covers a top surface of the platform.

10. A wirelessly connectable initiator head assembly, comprising:
a body including a head extending from a base, wherein the head includes a platform extending from a first surface of the head away from the base, and the base extends from a second surface of the head; and
an electrical contact component at least partially embedded within the body, the electrical contact component comprising:
an electrically contactable line-in portion positioned adjacent a top surface of the platform;
a line-in contact extending from the line-in portion through the head and the base;
an electrically contactable ground portion positioned adjacent the second surface of the head; and
a ground contact extending from the ground portion through the base, wherein
the electrical contact component is held in a fixed position relative to the body,
the initiator head assembly is configured to complete a wireless electrical connection by being electrically contactably received within a perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, and
the initiator head assembly is configured for detonating one or more downstream components of the perforating gun assembly.

11. The initiator head assembly of claim 10 , wherein the initiator head assembly is a sealed unit, such that a differential pressure is maintained between an outer surface of the initiator head assembly and an inner surface of the initiator head assembly.

12. The initiator head assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
the line-in portion and the line-in contact are integrally formed; and
the ground portion and the ground contact are integrally formed.

13. The initiator head assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the line-in contact and the ground contact extend through a second end of the base.

14. An initiator head assembly, comprising:
a body, comprising a head extending from a base, wherein the head includes a first surface, a second surface, an insulating portion extending therebetween, and a platform extending from the first surface away from the base, and wherein the base extends from the second surface of the head; and
an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body, the electrical contact component comprising an electrically contactable line-in portion positioned proximal to the platform, and an electrically contactable ground portion positioned proximal to the second surface, wherein the insulating portion electrically insulates the line-in portion and the ground portion.

15. The initiator head assembly of claim 14 , wherein:
each of the head and the base comprise an injection-molded material; and
the head and the base are formed integrally as a unitary component.

16. The initiator head assembly of claim 14 , wherein the electrical contact component is at least partially embedded in the body.

17. The initiator head assembly of claim 14 , wherein the line-in portion substantially covers a top surface of the platform.

18. The initiator head assembly of claim 14 , wherein the electrical contact component further comprises:
a line-in contact extending from the line-in portion; and
a ground contact extending from the ground portion,
wherein each of the line-in contact and the ground contact extend within an interior of the base, and the base electrically insulates each of the line-in contact and the ground contact.

19. The initiator head assembly of claim 18 , wherein:
the line-in contact is formed integrally with the line-in portion; and
the ground contact is formed integrally with the ground portion.

20. The initiator head assembly of claim 18 , wherein the line-in contact comprises:
a retaining member formed in the line-in contact, wherein
the retaining member is positioned in the insulating portion of the head, and
the retaining member comprises one of a bend, a straight member having a flattened portion, and a portion having a width wider than the width of the line-in contact extending from the retaining member.

Assignees

• DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH

Inventors

• Eitschberger Christian

Classifications

• F42B3/26

  Arrangements for mounting initiators; Accessories therefor, e.g. tools · CPC title

• E21B43/1185 Primary

  Ignition systems · CPC title

• F42D1/041

  Tools for adapting cartridges for the mounting of detonators (cartridges specially adapted for the mounting of detonators F42B3/26) · CPC title

• F42B3/103

  Mounting initiator heads in initiators; Sealing-plugs · CPC title

• F42C19/06

  Electric contact parts specially adapted for use with electric fuzes {(switches operated by change of speed H01H35/06; switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. shock or vibration, inertia switches H01H35/14; fluid-pressure-operated switches H01H35/24)} · CPC title