May 26, 2026

US12638276 - Arming tandem and locking collar for perforating gun systems

An arming tandem for a perforating gun is provided. The arming tandem includes an internal arming pin that is biased in a retracted position. Detonating the last perforating gun in a gun string forces the arming pin in the immediately adjacent tandem into contact with a grounding plate in the next perforating gun, thereby arming the next perforating gun. The arming pin is biased in the retracted position by a helical compression spring that is contained within a counterbored opening in the arming tandem. An adjacent bulkhead includes a grounding plate that surrounds a contact pin. The grounding plate provides a flat surface for contacting the arming pin and creating a secure connection to ground.

Assignee: Harrison Jet Guns II, L.P.
Inventors: James F. Shelton
Filing date: 2023-10-24

perforatinggunexplosivemilitary

The patent describes an arming tandem for perforating gun systems that utilizes a biased arming pin and a grounding plate to ensure safe and effective operation between adjacent guns in a string. This design enhances the reliability of arming the next perforating gun upon detonation of the previous one, incorporating features such as a threaded outer body and an electrically conductive pass-through element.

Claim 1

1 . A perforating gun assembly comprising: a perforating gun including an outer gun barrel, an internal shaped charge positioning tube, and a bulkhead joined to an end portion of the shaped charge positioning tube, the bulkhead including a contact pin and a grounding plate; and an arming tandem that is joined to the perforating gun, the arming tandem including: a threaded outer body including a central through-bore interconnecting first and second female openings of the threaded outer body, a pass-through element within the central through-bore of the threaded outer body, the pass-through element being electrically conductive and being surrounded by an insulating sleeve, and an arming pin that is laterally offset from the pass-through element, the arming pin being biased away from the grounding plate by a compression spring. a perforating gun including an outer gun barrel, an internal shaped charge positioning tube, and a bulkhead joined to an end portion of the shaped charge positioning tube, the bulkhead including a contact pin and a grounding plate; and an arming tandem that is joined to the perforating gun, the arming tandem including: a threaded outer body including a central through-bore interconnecting first and second female openings of the threaded outer body, a pass-through element within the central through-bore of the threaded outer body, the pass-through element being electrically conductive and being surrounded by an insulating sleeve, and an arming pin that is laterally offset from the pass-through element, the arming pin being biased away from the grounding plate by a compression spring. a threaded outer body including a central through-bore interconnecting first and second female openings of the threaded outer body, a pass-through element within the central through-bore of the threaded outer body, the pass-through element being electrically conductive and being surrounded by an insulating sleeve, and an arming pin that is laterally offset from the pass-through element, the arming pin being biased away from the grounding plate by a compression spring.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12638276

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12638276