Detonator positioning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952872-B2
Application number	US-202217951606-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2022
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A detonator positioning device for use with a detonator in a perforating gun assembly is described. The detonator positioning device may be configured for electrically contactably forming an electrical connection within the perforating gun housing by contact. The detonator positioning device may include a body having a first end, a second end, and a central bore extending between the first and second ends. The central bore may be adapted for receiving one or more electrically contactable components of a detonator. The detonator positioning device can align at least one of the one or more electrically contactable components to form an electrical connection with a bulkhead assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detonator positioning device for positioning a detonator in a perforating gun assembly comprising a shaped charge, the detonator positioning device comprising:
a hollow body adapted for receiving the detonator;
at least one leg adapted to stabilize a first end of the hollow body in the perforating gun assembly;
a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the hollow body, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts are configured for electrical connection using a biasing element; and
a detonating cord passage provided in an end of the hollow body and configured to receive at least a portion of a detonating cord;
wherein the detonator positioning device is configured such that the detonator is movable relative to the shaped charge in an axial direction of the perforating gun assembly.

2. The detonator positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises a first electrical contact configured for making electrical contact with a first electrical connector of the perforating gun assembly and a second electrical contact, wherein the perforating gun assembly is a first perforating gun assembly, and wherein the second electrical contact is configured for making electrical contact with a second electrical connector of a second perforating gun assembly, wherein each of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is a biased electrical contact.

3. The detonator positioning device of claim 2 , wherein the first biased electrical contact and the second biased electrical contact are disposed at opposite ends of the hollow body.

4. The detonator positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg comprises one or more protrusions adapted to hold the hollow body in place within the perforating gun assembly.

5. The detonator positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg is configured to fit within an end plate which is disposed in the perforating gun assembly, and wherein the end plate comprises an inner cavity configured to receive the at least one leg.

6. The detonator positioning device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one leg comprises one or more protrusions configured to engage the end plate.

7. The detonator positioning device of claim 5 , wherein the hollow body further comprises a lip adapted to further assist in stabilizing the hollow body.

8. The detonator positioning device of claim 7 , wherein the lip is configured to abut the end plate.

9. The detonator positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the hollow body comprises at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is removably connected to the second part to form an assembled hollow body.

10. The detonator positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the hollow body is configured to retain the detonator so that the detonator is disposed adjacent and radially offset with the detonating cord in the perforating gun assembly.

11. The detonator positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts comprises a first electrical contact having a line-out connector biasing member and a second electrical contact having a ground connector biasing member.

12. A perforating gun assembly comprising:
a housing with a longitudinal bore;
at least one shaped charge disposed within the housing;
a detonating cord disposed within the housing;
an end plate disposed within the housing; and
a detonator positioning device provided within the housing, the detonator positioning device comprising:
a hollow body;
a detonator provided within the hollow body;
at least one leg adapted to stabilize a first end of the hollow body in the housing;
a biasing element; and
a detonating cord passage provided in an end of the hollow body and configured to receive at least a portion of the detonating cord;

wherein the end plate comprises an inner cavity configured to receive the detonator positioning device and comprises an exterior surface configured to contact the housing, and
the biasing element is configured to provide a biasing force that biases the detonator and the shaped charge away from each other.

13. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12 , wherein the detonator is disposed within the detonator positioning device, and the detonator positioning device further comprises at least two biased electrical contacts.

14. The perforating gun assembly of claim 13 , wherein the detonator positioning device is disposed at least partially within the housing, and the detonator is disposed entirely within the housing.

15. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one leg comprises one or more protrusions configured to engage the end plate.

16. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12 , wherein the hollow body further comprises a lip adapted to further assist in stabilizing the detonator positioning device, wherein the lip is configured to abut the end plate.

17. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12 , wherein the detonating cord is disposed in the housing and the detonator is disposed within the detonator positioning device, wherein the detonator is disposed side-by-side with the detonating cord in the housing.

18. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
the detonator positioning device further comprises a plurality of electrical contacts,
at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts are biased electrical contacts configured to form electrical connection by contact, without using a wired electrical connection, and
at least two of the biased electrical contacts are disposed at opposite ends of the hollow body.

19. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12 , wherein the housing is formed of a singular and monolithic material.

20. A detonator positioning assembly for use with a perforating gun assembly comprising a shaped charge, the detonator positioning assembly comprising:
a detonator;
a hollow body adapted for receiving the detonator;
at least one leg adapted to stabilize a first end of the hollow body in the perforating gun assembly;
a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the hollow body, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrical contacts are configured for electrical connection using a biasing element; and
a detonating cord passage provided in an end of the hollow body and configured to receive at least a portion of a detonating cord;
wherein the detonator positioning assembly is configured such that the detonator is movable relative to the shaped charge in an axial direction of the perforating gun assembly.

Assignees

• DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH

Inventors

• Eitschberger Christian
• Burmeister Gernot Uwe
• Bradfield Thomas Keller
• Preiss Frank Haron
• Scharf Thilo
• Mcnelis Liam

Classifications

• E21B43/1185 Primary

  Ignition systems · CPC title

• E21B43/117

  Shaped-charge perforators (E21B43/118 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B3/10

  Initiators therefor (percussion fuzes F42C7/00; percussion caps F42C19/10; electric primers F42C19/12) · CPC title

• F42B3/103

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

• F42B3/26

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