2382results about "Blasting cartridges" patented technology

One embodiment of the present invention provides a making a polymeric ammunition having wicking texturing about the projectile end.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a polymeric ammunition cartridge and methods of making and using the same. The cartridge includes a substantially cylindrical insert connected to a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body. The substantially cylindrical insert includes a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash hole positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface. The substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body includes a substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end and a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end connected by a powder chamber, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end extends over the substantially cylindrical coupling element and covers a circumferential surface of the primer flash hole.

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a centerfire rifle cartridge with a case having a head having a rim, a body extending from the head to a tapered shoulder, and a neck extending from the shoulder and defining a mouth receiving a bullet. The body has a straight external surface free of a protruding belt, and has a maximum diameter sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action of magnum width. The cartridge has an overall length sized to closely fit for operation within a standard action such as a short action or a long action.

A detonator assembly is provided for use in oilfield operations to detonate an explosive downhole including a capacitor discharge unit and initiator electrically connected together to form a single unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

User interfaces, methods, systems, and computer-readable media for activating and / or displaying text input systems on display devices may include: (a) displaying a text input system activation target at a user changeable location on a display device; (b) receiving user input directed to the activation target; and (c) activating a text input system in response to the user input. Such user interfaces, methods, and systems further may include (d) displaying a pre-interaction condition of the activation target; (e) receiving user input directed to the activation target in this pre-interaction condition; and (f) changing an appearance of the activation target from the pre-interaction condition to a larger size and / or a different visual appearance in response to this user input. Additional aspects of this invention relate to computer-readable media for providing user interfaces, systems, and methods as described above.

PCT No. PCT / GB96 / 02987 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 10, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 10, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 4, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 21067 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 12, 1997An electronic explosives initiating device which includes a firing element which has a designed no-fire voltage and an operating circuit which operates at any voltage in a range of voltages which straddles the designed no-fire voltage.

A blasting system facilitates the actuation of a plurality of programmable detonators according to a desired blasting pattern, to cause the discharge of a plurality of associated charges, by downloading to the detonators blasting information that can be automatically determined by a portable handheld unit that incorporates a positional detecting device, such as a GPS device. The blasting information for any given detonator can be determined by the handheld unit as a function of the distance and the direction of the movement of the unit to the detonator, and / or by the actual GPS location while at the site of the detonator. This automatic determination of blasting information, and particularly the delay times, based on the movement of the unit to the detonator, eliminates error prone human calculations of the delay times needed for multiple detonators at a blasting site. This simplifies the operations and procedures needed for achieving a desired blasting pattern, without sacrificing safety or quality.

A method and apparatus for expelling a projection from an air gun by striking a primer cap filled with a shock-sensitive explosive compound, causing the cap to explode, which in turn rapidly compresses a volume of air located between the projectile and the cap, causing the projectile to exit from the barrel of the air gun at a high rate of speed.

A chemical reaction between molten aluminum and an oxygen carrier such as water to do useful work is disclosed, and in particular two chemical methods to obtain aluminum in its molten state. One is to detonate a HE / Al mixture with surplus Al in stoichiometry, and the other is to use an oxidizer / Al mixture with surplus Al in stoichiometry. Additionally, there is a physical method of shocking and heating Al using high temperature reaction products. The produced Al in its liquid form is forced to react with an oxygen carrying liquid (e.g. water), giving off heat and releasing hydrogen gas or other gaseous material. A water solution of some oxygen-rich chemicals (e.g. ammonium nitrate) can be advantageously used in place of water. A shaped charge is also disclosed having a liner that contains aluminum, propelled by a high explosive such as RDX or its mixture with aluminum powder. Some aluminum in its molten state is projected into the perforation and forced to react with water that also enters the perforation, creating another explosion, fracturing the crushed zone of the perforation and initializing cracks. Another shaped charge is shown having a liner of energetic material such as a mixture of aluminum powder and a metal oxide. Upon detonation, the collapsed liner carries kinetic and thermal energy. Also shown are methods to build and to detonate or fire explosive devices in an oxygen carrying liquid (e.g. water) to perforate and stimulate a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

A wellbore perforating system and method with reliable and safer connections in a perforating gun assembly is disclosed. The system / method includes a gun string assembly (GSA) deployed in a wellbore with multiple perforating guns attached to plural switch subs. The perforating guns are pre-wired with a cable having multi conductors; the multi conductors are connected to electrical ring contacts on either end of the perforating guns. The switch subs are configured with electrical contacts that are attached to the electrical contacts of the perforating guns without the need for manual electrical connections and assembly in the field of operations. The system further includes detonating with a detonator that is positioned upstream of the perforating gun. The detonator is wired to a switch that is positioned downstream of the perforating gun.

A perforating gun having a charge case with a boss element partially circumscribing Optionally the pair of bosses may be included that are substantially symmetric about the axis of the charge case. Forming a shaped charge with such a charge case allows for gun strips to be formed with increased web material between adjacent shape charges in the gun strips. The increased web material provides for a more structurally sound gun tube, especially when dealing with high density charges. Notches may be provided in the gun tube on the outer radius of the holes formed to receive the shape charges, the notches are to be aligned with the bosses on the outer periphery of the shaped charge case. This also may orient the charge cases so they are pre-aligned for ready connection to an associated detonation cord.

A solid object having controlled frangibility, such as a bullet or a container for explosives, is made by combining two different metals in proportions calculated to achieve a desired density, without using lead. A wetting material is deposited on the base constituent which is made of a relative dense, hard material. The wetting material enhances the wettability of the base constituent with the binder constituent, which is lighter and softer than the base constituent.

A shaped charge includes a charge case; a liner; an explosive retained between the charge case and the liner; and a primer core disposed in a hole in the charge case and in contact with the explosive, wherein at least one of the case, the liner, the primer core, and the explosive comprising a material soluble in a selected fluid. A perforation system includes a perforation gun, comprising a gun housing that includes a safety valve or a firing valve, wherein the safety valve or the firing valve comprises a material soluble in a selected fluid.

An ordnance system of the present invention may include or feature any one or more of: a control unit, one or more effectors (detonators, initiators, shaped charges and the like), and a two-, three- or four-wire communication bus between the control unit and the effectors; an addressable system in which all the effectors can be connected to the same communication bus and the control unit can issue coded signals on the bus addressed to a specific effector; inductive coupling between the effectors and the communication bus; and a multi-voltage level communication system in which communication signals are carried at a first voltage and arming signals are provided at a second, higher voltage. Other features may include two-way communication between effectors and the control unit and the de-centralization of firing control so that the control unit does not have exclusive control over whether the effectors function. As a result, the individual effectors possess decision-making ability and, for purposes of this invention, may be referred to as "intelligent" effectors. To participate in the decision-making process, effectors of this invention may be equipped with sensors or other diagnostic circuitry whose condition is checked for satisfactory output before functioning is permitted to occur.

Ammunition having an integrally formed, polymeric casing is provided. Plastic casings for ammunition may be made using injection molding processes for combat ammunition, target ammunition and blanks. The casings, in one embodiment, include a hollow tubular member with an open end and a closed end having an aperture for a primer cap. The base of the casing includes a conical shape within the tube that narrows toward the base. An annular groove and an annular rim are disposed about an outer periphery of the base. Plastic casings may be utilized for ammunition cartridges used in pistols, rifles and shotguns, and are lighter and less expensive to manufacture than traditional brass casings. Further, the polymeric casings may include any desired colorants to distinguish different calibers of ammunition by color, and the spent casings may be recyclable.

A reusable paint dispersing grenade of the type employed in paint ball games is constructed in such a manner as to avoid the use of any combustible materials, and also to avoid the requirement for access to a source of compressed air for operation. The paint grenade of the invention has a hollow, fluid-tight casing defining an enclosed cavity that is divided internally into a marking paint chamber, a first propellant component chamber, and a second propellant component chamber. The propellant component chambers are each filled separately with propellant components, but remain isolated from each other until the paint dispersing grenade is used. At that time the propellant components chemically react with each other in a noncombustible manner to produce a quantity of gas under pressure. The expanding gas produced by the chemical reaction builds to a pressure sufficient to break a paint seal in the casing or a gas seal initially separating the gas from the paint, whereupon the gas under pressure forces the paint out through one or more paint expulsion ports. The device may be recharged with marking paint and the chemically reactive propellant components any number of times.

Ammunition having an integrally formed, polymeric casing is provided. Plastic casings for ammunition may be made using injection molding processes for combat ammunition, target ammunition and blanks. The casings, in one embodiment, include a hollow tubular member with an open end and a closed end having an aperture for a primer cap. The base of the casing includes a conical shape within the tube that narrows toward the base. An annular groove and an annular rim are disposed about an outer periphery of the base. Plastic casings may be utilized for ammunition cartridges used in pistols, rifles and shotguns, and are lighter and less expensive to manufacture than traditional brass casings. Further, the polymeric casings may include any desired colorants to distinguish different calibers of ammunition by color, and the spent casings may be recyclable.

An ordnance firing system is disclosed that includes a reusable electronics module and an ordnance module, each enclosed in a separate, sealed housing. The electronics module housing encloses firing electronics for electrically triggering initiation of a detonator in the ordnance module. The electronics module detachably connects to the ordnance modules via a connector which extends away from the electronics module housing. The housing of the ordnance module is constructed to be blast-resistant to prevent detonation of the detonator from rendering the electronics module inoperable.

The present invention comprises apparatus and methods employing a gas produced from a tetrazine-based energetic material such as that known as “BTATz” containing 3;6-BtS(1H-1,2,3,4-Tetrazol-5-ylamino)1-,2,4,5-tetrazine 3;6-BtS(1H-1,2,3,4-Tetrazol-5-ylamino)1-,2,4,5-tetrazine or salts thereof. The tetrazinebased energetic material is ignited through the use of a percussion cap, a piezoelectric crystal or a battery-supplied electric spark or by encapsulating it in a container that is then exposed to a burning flame. The gas produced upon ignition is employed a propellant such as to inflate life rafts, life vests, emergency evacuation slides, tires, air bags and other inflatable devices. The gas produced upon ignition is alternatively employed to power an engine and many other applications such as a fire suppressant.

An end plate for securing and orienting a charge tube within a downhole-perforating gun. The end plate includes apertures for receiving locating tabs on the end of the charge tube to ensure the end plate is affixed to the charge tube in a specific orientation. The end plate includes an alignment tab that mates with a corresponding alignment groove in the perforating gun barrel for ensuring insertion of the charge tube into the perforating gun barrel in correct orientation to ensure the perforating charges exit through pre-designed scallops in the perforating gun barrel. A series of apertures may be present within the end plate to allow usage with one of a variety of sizes of charge tube. The end plate may include manipulation spaces along the circumference of the end plate to allow the end plate to be properly positioned or retrieved. The end plate may include an attachment system for attachment of an initiating device.

Disclosed herein are boosters that include components sufficient for wireless communications with an associated blasting machine. In selected aspects, there are disclosed wireless electronic boosters that are self-contained and robust. Such boosters are especially suited for underground mining operations, optionally employing automated placement of boosters at a blast site.

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.

The present invention provides systems, methods and devices for selectively firing a gun train formed of a plurality of guns. Conventionally, the guns each include a detonator assembly that detonates upon receiving a firing signal transmitted by a surface source. In one embodiment of the present invention, an operator provided in the gun train selectively couples one or more of the guns to the signal transmission medium. The operator has an safe state wherein the operator isolates the gun from the firing signal and an armed state wherein the operator enable the transmission of the firing signal to the gun. A control signal is used to move operator between the safe state and the armed state. In some embodiments, two or more guns are each provided with a separate operator. In other embodiments, one operator can selectively engage two or more guns.

A pyrotechnic actuator and a method of actuating the same are described. The actuator comprises a pressure chamber and a piston having such an outer diameter that it is snugly fitted into the pressure chamber. A gas generating ignition and output charge generates gas that pressurizes the pressure chamber and the piston when ignited. The piston is designed such that at least part of its outer diameter expands under the pressure in the pressure chamber such that at least a part of the external piston surface is forced into a press fit against the internal wall of the pressure chamber and therefore seals the pressure chamber. This prevents exhaust gas and flames from escaping from the device in an uncontrolled manner.

Shaped charge assembly for use as part of a perforating gun, particularly, channel finder gun. The shaped charge assembly includes a charge is configured to produce a jet which is substantially non-circular in cross section (in relation to the axial direction of travel of the jet) in which the assembly includes a base that is relatively rigid with respect to the liner of the assembly.