Safe-handling arming apparatus for perforating guns

Claim 2

A well bore perforator comprising: an enclosed carrier having an access port on one side thereof; a port cover adapted for blocking said access port; explosive means in said carrier and including at least one shaped explosive charge, a receptor detonating explosive cooperatively arranged and adapted for detonating said shaped explosive charge, and a selectively-intiatible donor detonating explosive adapted for detonating said receptor explosive; charge-arming means in said carrier operable by way of said access port and cooperatively arranged for selectively supporting said detonating explosive either in a predetermined perforator-arming operating position within relative detonating proximity of one another or in a predetermined perforator-disarming operating position out of relative detonating proximity of one another; and indicating means operable only when said port cover is blocking said access port and including an indicating plunger movably mounted in said port cover and adapted to be uniquely positioned by one of said detonating explosives only when said detonating explosives are in one of their two said operating positions so that the relationship of an exposed portion of said indicating plunger relative to said port cover will visually signify when said detonating explosives are in their said one operating position.

Claim 3

The perforating apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exposed portion of said indicating plunger has a distinctive surface which is exposed only when said detonating explosives are in their said one operating position and is obscured only when said detonating explosives are in the other of their said operating positions.

Claim 4

A well bore perforator comprising: an enclosed carrier having an access port on one side thereof; a port cover adapted for blocking said access port; explosive means in said carrier and including at least one shaped explosive charge, a receptor detonating explosive cooperatively arranged ad adapted for detonating said shaped explosive charge, and a selectively-initiatible donor detonating explosive adapted for detonating said receptor explosive; charge-arming means in said carrier cooperatively retaining said detonating explosives in detonating proximity of one another and including a detonation-attenuating barrier cooperatively arranged within reach of said access port either for selective installation between said detonating explosives to prevent detonation of said receptor explosive upon initiation of said donor explosive or for selective removal from therebetween to effect detonation of said receptor explosive upon initiation of said donor explosive; and indicating means operable only when said port cover is blocking said access port and including an indicating plunger movably mounted in said port cover and adapted to be uniquely positioned by said barrier only when it is installed between said detonating explosives so that the relationship of an exposed portion of said indicating plunger relative to said port cover will visually signify whether or not said barrier member is installed.

Claim 5

A well bore perforator comprising: an enclosed carrier having an access port on one side thereof; a port cover adapted for blocking said access port; explosive means in said carrier and including at least one shaped explosive charge, a receptor detonating explosive cooperatively arranged ad adapted for detonating said shaped explosive charge, and a selectively-initiatible donor detonating explosive adapted for detonating said receptor explosive; charge-arming means in said carrier cooperatively retaining said detonating explosives in detonating proximity of one another and including a detonation-attenuating barrier cooperatively arranged within reach of said access port either for selective installation between said detonating explosives to prevent detonation of said receptor explosive upon initiation of said donor explosive or for selective removal from therebetween to effect detonation of said receptor explosive upon initiation of said donor explosive; and indicating means operable only when said port cover is blocking said access port and including an indicating plunger movably mounted in said port cover and adapted to be uniquely positioned by said barrier only when it is installed between said detonating explosives so that the relationship of an exposed portion of said indicating plunger relative to said port cover will visually signify whether or not said barrier member is installed.

Claim 6

The perforating apparatus of claim 3 wherein said exposed portion of said indicating plunger has a distinctive surface which is exposed only when the barrier is installed between said detonating explosives and is obscured only when said barrier is not installed between said detonating explosives.

Claim 7

Apparatus comprising: a hollow body having an access opening cooperatively arranged therein; explosive means including a charge-detonating explosive train in said body and having a receptor explosive and a selectively-initiatible donor explosive adapted for detonating said receptor explosive; explosive-arming means in said body and selectively operable when said access opening is uncovered for alternatively establishing said charge-detonating train either in an armed operating status where initiation of said donor explosive will be effectual for detonating said receptor explosive or in a disarmed operating status where initiation of said donor explosive will be ineffectual for detonating said receptor explosive; and status-indicating means operable when said access opening is covered for providing a visual indication exterior of said body representative of at least one operating status of said charge-detonating explosives.

Claim 8

Apparatus comprising: a hollow body having an access opening cooperatively arranged therein; explosive means including a charge-detonating explosive train in said body and having a receptor explosive and a selectively-initiatible donor explosive adapted for detonating said receptor explosive; explosive-arming means in said body and selectively operable when said access opening is uncovered for alternatively establishing said charge-detonating train either in an armed operating status where initiation of said donor explosive will be effectual for detonating said receptor explosive or in a disarmed operating status where initiation of said donor explosive will be ineffectual for detonating said receptor explosive; and status-indicating means operable when said access opening is covered for providing a visual indication exterior of said body representative of at least one operating status of said charge-detonating explosives.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said status-indicating means include a movable indicator member cooperatively arranged for alternative displacement between one indicating position characteristically signifying said armed operating status and another indicating position characteristically signifying said disarmed operating status.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said explosive-arming means include explosive-positioning means situated in said body and manually operable by way of said access opening for selectively locating said charge-detonating explosive in one or the other of two predetermined positions respectively in and out of effectual detonating proximity of one another when said charge-detonating explosives are established in their said armed and disarmed operating states respectively; and said status-indicating means include a movable indicator member cooperable with at least one of said charge-detonating explosives for providing said visual indication at least when said charge-detonating explosives are located in a selected one of their said two predetermined positions.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said explosive-arming means include explosive-positioning means situated in said body and manually operable by way of said access opening for selectively locating said charge-detonating explosives in one or the other of two predetermined positions respectively in and out of effectual detonating proximity of one another when said charge-detonating explosives are established in their said armed and disarmed operating states respectively; and said status-indicating means include a movable indicator member cooperatively arranged to be engaged with one of said charge-detonating explosives only when said charge-detonating explosives are located in a selected one of their said two predetermined positions for providing a first characteristic visual indication and to be disengaged therefrom only when said charge-detonating explosives are located in the other of their said two predetermined positions for providing a second characteristic visual indication.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said explosive-arming means include a barrier member manually movable by way of said access opening between a detonation-blocking interposed position between said charge-detonating explosives and a detonation-enabling remote position away from said detonating-blocking position; and said status-indicating means include a movable indicator member cooperable with said barrier member for providing said visual indication at least when said barrier member is in a selected one of its said two positions.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said explosive-arming means include a barrier member manually movable by way of said access opening between a detonation-blocking interposed position between said charge-detonating explosives and a detonation-enabling remote position away from said charge-detonating explosives; and said status-indicating means include a movable indicator member cooperatively arranged to contact said barrier member only when said barrier member is in its said detonation-blocking position for providing a first characteristic visual indication and to be out of contact therewith only when said barrier member is in its said detonation-enabling position for providing a second characteristic visual indication.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said explosive means further include a shaped explosive charge operatively associated with said receptor explosive and adapted for detonation only in response to deontation of said receptor explosive.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said shaped charge is also in said body.

Claim 16

Apparatus comprising: an enclosed shaped charge carrier having an access opening therein; charge-arming means in said carrier manually operable by way of said access opening and, whenever charge-detonating explosive means are disposed in said carrier, adapted for alternatively situating such charge-detonating explosive means either in an armed operating condition or in a disarmed operating condition; a closure member adapted for closing said access opening; and indicator means including a member movably mounted on said closure member and operable when said closure member is closing said access opening for movement to one indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of said armed operating condition and for movement to another indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of said disarmed operating condition.

Claim 17

Apparatus comprising: an enclosed shaped charge carrier having an access opening therein; charge-arming means in said carrier manually operable by way of said access opening and, whenever charge-detonating explosive means are disposed in said carrier, adapted for alternatively situating such charge-detonating explosive means either in an armed operating condition or in a disarmed operating condition; a closure member adapted for closing said access opening; and indicator means including a member movably mounted on said closure member and operable when said closure member is closing said access opening for movement to one indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of said armed operating condition and for movement to another indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of said disarmed operating condition.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said movable member has a distinctive portion thereof which is alternatively obscured or exposed as said movable member respectively assumes its two said indicating positions.

Claim 19

Apparatus comprising: an enclosed shaped charge carrier having an access opening therein; charge-arming means in said carrier including a detonation-attenuating barrier alternatively positionable or removable by way of said access opening and, whenever charge-detonating explosive means are disposed in said carrier, adapted for respectively blocking or enabling the transmission of effectual charge-detonating explosive forces from such charge-detonating explosive means; a closure member adapted for closing said access opening; and indicator means including a member movably mounted on said closure member and operable when said closure member is closing said access opening for movement to one indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of the effectual positioning of said barrier within said carrier and for movement to another indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of the absence of said barrier from within said carrier.

Claim 20

Apparatus comprising: an enclosed shaped charge carrier having an access opening therein; charge-arming means in said carrier including a detonation-attenuating barrier alternatively positionable or removable by way of said access opening and, whenever charge-detonating explosive means are disposed in said carrier, adapted for respectively blocking or enabling the transmission of effectual charge-detonating explosive forces from such charge-detonating explosive means; a closure member adapted for closing said access opening; and indicator means including a member movably mounted on said closure member and operable when said closure member is closing said access opening for movement to one indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of the effectual positioning of said barrier within said carrier and for movement to another indicating position for providing a visual indication exterior of said carrier uniquely representative of the absence of said barrier from within said carrier.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said movable member has a distinctively-arranged surface thereof which is alternatively obscured or exposed as said movable member respectively assumes its two said indicating positions.