The Ensign-Bickford Company

Dyno Nobel as

Thomas C Tseka

James E Fritz

Daniel P Sutula, Jr

Paul Neil Marshall

Brendan M Walsh

Daniel A Toro

Steven L Renfro

Ernest L Gladden

Thomas F Lilley, Jr

David W Ewick

Ronald M Dufrane

Kenneth A Rode

Scot P Riley

Charles A Dieman, Jr

Jeffrey H Burton

A shock-resistant electronic circuit assembly (,) is provided in which an electronic circuit is encased in an encapsulation (,) that engages a surrounding enclosure (,) in shock-dispersing contact therewith. The encapsulation may have a plurality of edges (,), fins (,) or bosses (,) that bear against the enclosure. The encapsulation may include a shock-absorbing material (,) disposed against the enclosure to protect the circuit against vibrations and a structural support material such as a casing (,) to protect the circuit against stress. The circuit assembly (,) may be part of a sheathed initiator assembly (,) that includes a transfer member (,) for converting shock wave energy into electrical energy for the electronic circuit, and the released energy may be converted into a detonation initiation signal. Assembly (,) may be part of a detonator (,) that receives a non-electric initiation signal and detonates following the delay determined by the electronic circuit. The detonator housing (,) or an optional sleeve (,) provides an enclosure for the assembly (,). The circuit encapsulation may include one or more bushings such as O-rings (,&prime;) disposed about the circuit casing (,).

Shock-resistant electronic circuit assembly

A perforating gun (,) is provided for retaining a plurality of explosive charges (,&prime;) in an angular phased array with the discharge ends (,&prime;) of each succeeding explosive charge (,&prime;) disposed at a selected angular orientation relative to the other explosive charges (,&prime;) as determined by the configuration of an undulating path defined by support wires (,&prime;) or wire pairs (,). The perforating gun (,) comprises a plurality of support wires (,&prime;) disposed about a common longitudinal axis (L&mdash;L) and extending in an undulating path so as to define a wire carrier or cage in which the explosive charges (,&prime;) are retained by securing the discharge ends (,), or the initiation ends (,), or both, to support wires (,). The undulating path of the support wires (,&prime;) disposes the explosive charges (,&prime;) in the angular orientation selected by selecting the pitch of the spiral-twisted support wires (,) of the retainer cage.

Wire carrier perforating gun

A shock-resistant electronic circuit assembly (10) is provided in which an electronic circuit is encased in an encapsulation (14) that engages a surrounding enclosure (18, 22) in shock-dispersing contact therewith. The encapsulation may have a plurality of edges (16, 16a, 16b), fins (24) or bosses (70) that bear against the enclosure. The encapsulation may include a shock-absorbing material (14f) disposed against the enclosure to protect the circuit against vibrations and a structural support material (14e) to protect the circuit against stress. The circuit assembly (10) may contain a capacitor (34) for storing an electrical signal and timing circuitry for releasing the stored energy after a predetermined delay. The circuit assembly (10) may be part of a transducer-circuit assembly (55) that includes a transducer module (58) for converting shock wave energy into electrical energy for the electronic circuit, and the released energy may be converted into a detonation initiation signal. Assembly (55) may be part of a detonator (100) that receives a non-electric initiation signal and detonates following the delay determined by the electronic circuit. The detonator housing (112) or an optional sleeve (22) provides an enclosure for the assembly (55).

An electronic delay circuit (10) for use in a detonator (100) has a switching circuit (20) and a timer circuit (22). Switching circuit (20) controls the flow of a stored charge of electrical energy from a storage capacitor (12) to a bridge initiation element such as a semiconductor bridge (18) or a tungsten bridge. The timing of the release of this energy is controlled by timer circuit (22). Switching circuit (20) is an integrated, dielectrically isolated, bipolar CMOS (DI BiCMOS) circuit, whereas timer circuit (22) is a conventional CMOS circuit. The use of a DI BiCMOS switching circuit allows for greater efficiency of energy transfer from the storage capacitor (12) to the semiconductor bridge (18) than has previously been attained.

Hybrid electronic detonator delay circuit assembly

A connector block (10) for connecting signal transmission lines in a blast initiation system includes a body member (12) having a channel (18) formed therein for receiving and retaining a detonator (20). A locking member (28) is mounted on the body member (12) in a first position aligned with, but displaced from, its locking position. The detonator (20) is inserted into the channel (18) of the connector block (10) and, if axially misaligned, is properly seated therein by moving the locking member (28) through a passageway (36) to both axially shift the detonator (20) to its seated position and engage the locking member (28) and the detonator with each other to secure both within the channel (18). A method of assembling a detonator (20) within the connector block (10) to provide a combination of detonator (20) and connector block (10) is also provided.

Connector block having detonator-positioning locking means

A method and apparatus for transferring non-electric blasting initiation signals from detonating cord signal donor lines to signal transmission tube acceptor lines involves disposing the acceptor line in enhanced signal transfer configuration with the donor line. The acceptor line (30) may constitute the input lead (29a) of a detonator (10a). Enhanced signal transfer configuration between the input lead (29a) and the detonating cord (60) can be established by disposing input line (30) in at least partial wrap-around contact with the detonating cord (60) or in multiple abutting contact with the detonating cord (60). Enhanced signal transfer configuration can also be achieved for a detonator having at least two input lines in abutting contact with the detonating cord. A slider (44) is designed to extend contact between a detonator input lead and a detonating cord. The slider (44) provides a detonator retainer (48) for holding a detonator (10a) and a base fixture (74') that includes a pass-through aperture (58a) for a detonating cord (62). Input lead-retaining means (52) on the base fixture (74') disposes the input lead (29a) in position for enhanced signal transfer configuration with a detonating cord that may extend through the pass-through aperture (58a).

Method and apparatus for transfer of initiation signals

A connector block (10) includes a clip member (30) which cooperates with the signal transmission end (12a) of body member (12) to define therebetween an arcuate line-retaining slot (32) within which one or more signal transmission lines (40) are received in explosive signal communication with the output end (16a) of a detonator (16). Clip member (30) is of decreasing thickness as sensed moving from the proximal end (30b) thereof towards at least its mid-point and is preferably of undiminished width from the proximal end (30b) thereof to the open end (32b) of the line-retaining slot (32). These features and the configuration of the entryway (34) cooperate to facilitate lateral insertion of signal transmission lines (40) into the line-retaining slot (32) and their retention therein over a broad temperature range of use, and provide excellent shrapnel shielding.

Connector block for blast initiation systems

A well pipe perforating gun (10) is improved by the utilization of a pulverable support structure (14) to hold the explosive shaped charges (18a, 18b, etc.) and the fireset (20). When the gun (10) is fired, the support structure (14) disintegrates substantially into fragments too small to obstruct the flow of oil or natural gas from a surrounding earth formation into or through the well pipe (12) within which the gun is disposed. Optionally, the support structure (14) is assembled from a number of segments (14a, 14b, etc.) linked together in sequential fashion.

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West Suffield, CT, United States of America

Thomas C Tseka