Bulkhead assembly having a pivotable electric contact component and integrated ground apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016273902-A1
Application number	US-201615068786-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Mar 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to an aspect a bulkhead assembly is provided having particular application with a downhole tool, in particular for oil well drilling applications. The bulkhead assembly includes a bulkhead body and an electrical contact component disposed within the bulkhead body, wherein at least a portion of the electrical contact component is configured to pivot about its own axis, without compromising its ability to provide a pressure and fluid barrier. In an embodiment, a ground apparatus is provided to provide an electrical connection for at least one ground wire. The ground apparatus may be positionable on the bulkhead body of the bulkhead assembly. In an aspect, a downhole tool including the bulkhead assembly and ground apparatus is also generally described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bulkhead assembly, comprising:
a bulkhead body having a first end portion and a second end portion and a bore extending therebetween, the bulkhead body configured for sealing components positioned downstream of the bulkhead assembly within a downhole tool and to withstand a pressure of at least about 20,000 psi (137.9 mPa); and an electrical contact component extending through the bore of the bulkhead body, such that at least a portion of the electrical contact component is configured to pivot about its own axis, wherein the electrical contact component is configured for electrical conductivity and feed-through of an electric signal.

2 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact component comprises a plurality of contact pins, wherein at least one of the contact pins is slidably positioned within the bore of the bulkhead body.

3 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrical contact component further comprises a central portion positioned within the bore of the bulkhead body, and a plurality of biasing members abutting the central portion, and further wherein each of said biasing members abutting at least one of the contact pins, and further wherein the plurality of biasing members comprise a first biasing member and a second biasing member, and further wherein the first biasing member is positioned within the bore of a first body portion of the bulkhead body, and the second biasing member is positioned within the bore of a second body portion of the bulkhead body.

4 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of contact pins comprise a first contact pin and a second contact pin, wherein the first contact pin abutting the first biasing member and the second contact pin abutting the second biasing member.

5 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first contact pin and the second contact pin is rigidly connected to the first biasing member and the second biasing member, respectively.

6 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first contact pin is configured for connecting to a wired electrical connection and the second contact pin is configured for wirelessly electrically contacting an electrical contact.

7 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bore comprises an end portion bore extending through each of the first body portion and the second body portion, wherein the end portion bore has a smaller radius than a mid-portion bore.

8 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of contact pins comprises a pin body and a pin head extending from the pin body, and an outer diameter of the pin head is sized to be slidably received within the mid-portion bore the bore of the bulkhead body.

9 . A ground apparatus configured to provide an electrical connection for at least one ground wire, comprising:
a plate comprising a grounding body, the grounding body having an upper surface, a lower surface and an aperture; and a contact arm integrally formed with and extending from the grounding body.

10 . The ground apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the aperture extends from a perimeter of the grounding body inwardly towards a central portion of the grounding body, thereby forming fingers on either side of the grounding body extending from a base of the grounding body.

11 . The ground apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the aperture is configured to be received by a receiving member in such a way that the grounding body is configured for pivoting about its own axis when positioned on the receiving member.

12 . The ground apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the aperture is formed by partially cutting or stamping out a section of the grounding body, and the contact arm is formed integrally with the grounding body by virtue of being formed from the partially cut or stamped-out section of the grounding body.

13 . The ground apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the contact arm is positioned away from the upper surface and projects away from the plate at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 170 degrees.

14 . The ground apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the aperture extends from a perimeter of the grounding body inwards towards a central portion of the grounding body, thereby forming fingers on either side of the grounding body extending from a base of the grounding body.

15 . A bulkhead assembly having an integrated ground apparatus, the bulkhead assembly comprising:
a bulkhead body having a first end portion, a second end portion and a bore extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; an electrical contact component extending through the bore of the bulkhead body, such that at least a portion of the electrical contact component is configured to pivot about its own axis, wherein the electrical contact component is configured for electrical conductivity and feed-through of an electric signal; and a ground apparatus positioned on the bulkhead body, the ground apparatus comprising: a plate comprising a grounding body, the grounding body having an upper surface, a lower surface and an aperture; and a contact arm integrally formed with and extending from the grounding body.

16 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 15 , wherein the contact arm is positioned away from the upper surface and projects away from the plate at an angle between about 90 degrees and about 170 degrees.

17 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 15 , wherein the aperture extends from a perimeter of the grounding body inwards towards a central portion of the grounding body, thereby forming fingers on either side of the grounding body extending from a base of the grounding body, the fingers being separated from each other by a distance.

18 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 15 , wherein the aperture is configured to be received by a receiving member in such a way that the grounding body is capable of pivoting about its own axis when positioned on the receiving member.

19 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 18 , wherein the grounding body is configured to be positioned on a groove formed in the receiving member of the bulkhead body and to affix the at least one ground wire to the electrical contact component.

20 . The bulkhead assembly of claim 18 , wherein the ground apparatus is configured to be removably positioned on the receiving member.

Assignees

• Dynaenergetics Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Eitschberger Christian

Classifications

• F42D1/05 Primary

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title

• E21B43/1185

  Ignition systems · CPC title

• F42D1/043

  Connectors for detonating cords and ignition tubes, e.g. Nonel tubes (mounting of detonators in blasting cartridges F42B3/26) · CPC title

• E21B43/119 Primary

  Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction · CPC title

• F42C19/00

  Details of fuzes (except F42C15/00) · CPC title