US2334931A - Gun perforator and firing device therefor - Google Patents

Description

J. JOHNSON Nov. 23, 1943.

GUN PERFORATOR AND FIRING DEVICE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1941 i 5 y mm 4 5 M 9. E x ,P ,a .u M U y n# 5 JJ g3g@ M n @Ming y, o Q n 8 1.2: A0//7/ u.. Lmm l i il j il 2Q y ,w :f m a?, y ZZ g2g ngi M ggg@ ATTORNE Nov. 23, 1943. .1 JOHNSQN 2,334,931

' GUN PERFORATOR AND FIRING DEVICE 'pHEnEFoR Filed Marcy 17,' 1941 '2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNE Patented Nov. 23, 1943 GUN PERFORATOR AND FIRING DEVICE THEREFOR Jack Johnson,

Compton,

Calif., assig-nor to Methox Well Cleaning Corp., Long Beach, i Calif., a corporation of California Application March 17, 1941, Serial No. 383,727

20 Claims.

My invention relates to explosive operated tools for use 'in oil wells and also to a firing mechanism therefor and has particular` reference to an explosive operated casing perforator and a firing device for controlling the operation of the same.

Certain of the tools used in the oil producing industry in connection with the drilling of deep wells and the production of oil and gas therefrom are arranged to be operated by the energy developed through the firing of an explosive charge. Such tools include gun perforators for perforating casing in the event it is desired to produce oil and gas from a previously sealed off productive zone, torpedoes such as are used for cleaning screens and for the jarring of the formation for the purpose of expediting the flow of oil and gas therefrom, and certain packer setting devices such as are used for the setting of packers in connection with oil well cementing operations and the setting of ow tubing. Most of these tools are equipped with firing devices, and two well known types of firing devices are in general commercial use. One such type of firing device is connected to certain control mechanism at the ground surface by means of one or more electric'al conductors built into the supporting cable which is used to lower the tool into the well bore.

This type of` cable is very expensive anddue to the reeling and unreeling of the cable and the passing of the cable over relatively short radius blocks vand pulleys, is subject to the breaking of one or more of the electrical conductors. The breaking of the conductors renders the ring device inoperative and necessitates the expenditure of considerable time and money in determining the location of the break and in the sub` sequent repairing of the break. Furthermore, this type of cableis extremely heavy so that special equipment must be employed for its handling, and cables of this type require special and careful handling in order to avoid injury to the electrical conductors included therein.

The other commonly employed type of ring device comprises a trigger mechanism so arranged that a weight or go-devil surrounding the cable used Lto lower the tool into the oil well may be dropped from the ground surface after the tool and the go-devil may be arrested in its fall before it reaches the device due to the bearing of the supporting cable against the sides of the well bore. Furthermore, the travel of the go-devil down the supportingcable subjects the cable to undue wear and abrasion, with the occasional result that the cable will break while the tool is lowered into the well bore, with the result that thetool and a portion of the cable are lost in the bore, necessitating an expensive fishing operation in order to retrieve the lost equipment.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a firing device for explosive operated oil well tools which overcomes the above noted disadvantages by including a means operable from the ground surface to actuate the explosive operated tool without the use of lgo-devils or electrcal conductors extending tothe ground surface.

It is also an object of my invention to pro-4 vide a firing device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph in which an inertia device, responsive to abrupt vertical movement,

is employed forigniting an explosive charge.

`It is an additional object of my invention to provide a firing device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs in which a timing Y means is employed for rendering the inertia device inoperative until after the elapse of a predetermined time.

. It is a still further object of my invention to' provide a iiring device of the character set forth has been positioned as desired in the well, the

,cable serving to guide the go-devil in its fall through the well bore and the impact of the go devil with the trigger' serving to actuate the` firing mechanism.

This type of firing device is unsatisfactory for the reason that the' well bores are never straight hereinbefore in which an electrically operated igniter is connected in series with an inertia switch actuatable to complete a firing circuit by an abrupt vertical movement of the device and in which a timing means is employed for maintaining the firing circuit open irrespective of actuation of said inertia switch until after the elapse of a predetermined time.

It is additionally an object of my invention to provide a ring device of the character set forth in the foregoing in which a second timing means is employed for also preventing actuation of said inertia switch until after the elapse of a predetermined time.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a firing device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs which includes a timing mechanism for preventing actuation of the tiring device if 'the device is not actuated within apredetermined time period.

Among the various explosive operated oil well tools above referred to is included the class of tors.' During the drilling of an oil well it frequently happens that a potential oil producing zoneis passed up and sealed oir for the purpose of extending the well bore into a deep oil bearing stratum. Subsequent conditions, such as the exhausting of thelower strata, make it desirable to start production from the previously sealed off strata. Casing perforators are employed for punching a number of holes through the casing at the location of the sealed oi zone, and for this purpose gun or explosive operated perforators have been found to be particularly advantageous. G un perforators of the character at present employed do, however, include the disadvantage o1 the lack of adjustability as regards the diameter of casing which they are adapted toperforate;

cludes a plurality of removable gun barrel units whereby units of various lengths may be installed,

depending upon the diameter of the casing to be perforated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a gun perforator of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph in'which a novel construction is employed -for resisting the expulsion of the bullet until considerable pressure is built up in the ring chamber and for also preventing the ingress of water and the like to the explosive material.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a study oi the following specifications, read in connection with` the accompanying drawings; wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating the firing device of my invention as being arranged to actuate a gun perforator, the ring device and gun/perforator being illustrated as having been lowered to a desired position in a well bore;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section illustrating the details of construction of .the ring devic'e shown l in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa perspective view illustrating the appearance and construction of a part of a timing means employed in the ring device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a, fragmentary sectional View illustrating the manner in which an electrical connection is obtained to the case or negative terminal of a battery used in the iring device;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section illustrating the details of construction of the gun perforator Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the construction and appearance of a removable gun barrel unit incorporated in the perforator of Fig. 5; Fig. 'I is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the manner in which a longer gun barrel unit may be substituted for the purpose of adapting the perforator for use with large diameter casings; and A Flg. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 7 but illustrating a modined form of my invention employing a unitaryl cartridge and projectile assembly adapted to simultaneouslyv perforate opposite sides of a well casing.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated' in Fig. 1 a section of a well bore I as being lined potentially productive zone 3.

The firing 'device is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 as comprising an outer tubular housing or shell I tted at its upper end with a suitable adapter or cable socket II for attaching the supporting cable 1 thereto. The lower end of the housing I0 is preferably provided with male threads I2 adapted to be received within corresponding female threads I3 formed on the uppery end of a collar or connector I4, which connector is provided at its lower end with a pin I permitting threaded attachment of the ring device 5 to the perforator 6 or other explosive operated oil well tool.

The connection afforded by the threads I2 and vI3 provides for the removal of the adapter I4 which in turn permits the insertion into or removal from the housing I0 of a support I6. The support I6 is preferably formed from a section of tubing having an outside diameterY adjusted to be closely received Within the inside of the housing I0, the tube being cut away as indicated at I 1 and I8 to permit ready access to various instrumentalities carried by the support I6 when the, support is removed from the housing I0. When installed within the housing I 0, the support I6 is urged downwardly as by means of a compression spring 'I 9 into engagement with a shoul der formed on the interior of the connector I4.

Upon the support I6 I mount an inertia responsive mechanism 2| adapted to be actuated in response to a sudden vertical movement of the housing IIJ and close an electrical switch 22, the closing of which is controlled by means of an interlocking lever 23. The electrical switch 22 is included in a series circuit comprising the switch 22, one or more dry'cells or batteries 24, and an igniter 25 so that closing of the switch 22 will energize the igniter 25 and explode a small quantityof explosive 26 disposed in contact with the igniter.

The igniter 25 may conveniently comprise a spark plug 0f substantially standard construction, between the electrodes of which is connected a piece of small wire 21 adapted to be lheated to incandescence when the aforementioned electrical circuit is closed. 'Ihe igniter 25 is preferably secured into a bore 28 formed in the connector I4 as by means of screw threads 29 and the bore 28 preferably extends completely through v'the connector I4 in an axial direction. The bore 28 is preferably constricted as indicated at 30 to provide a seat for a ball check valve 3l normally urged against the seat by means of a compression spring 32 which is conned between the ball 3| and a bushing 33 threaded into the lower end of the bore 28.

'I'he explosive charge 26 is conned between the checkvalve 3| and the igniter 25. Thus, when the charge 26 is flred by energization of the igniter 25, burning gases, the products of the combustion o1' the explosive 26, are projected past the valve 3| and downwardly through the bore 28 so as to set nre. ignite or explode the explosive material carried by the explosive operated tool a value substantially equal to the 4support I6 as by means extending arm portion or case of the dry 6 to which the ming device 5 is attached. Whenever the pressure developed by therexplosion of the explosive contained within the tool 6 rises to pressure developed by the ignition of the charge 26, the check valve 3| will close and so prevent the full force and effect of the resulting explosion from being impressed upon the igniter 25. This serves to avoid the risk of the igniter being loosened or dislodged from its attachment to Vthe connector I4.

\ The inertia actuated device 2|` above referred to preferably includes a laterally extending supporting member 34 which may be secured to the of screws which rises an upwardly extending tubular stem 36. The tubular stem V36 31 which is secured at its upper end to a weight or cap 38 which is in turn provided with a cylindrical recess 39 adapted to receive the upstanding end of the tubular guide pin 31 are thus slidably supported by the stem 36 for vertical movement relative to the housing preferablyA lli. The weight of these members is normally supported .by means of a compression spring 40 interposed between the laterally extending support 34 and the lower end of the weight-38. The weight 38 will, therefore, normally remain stationary relative to the housing I but will be responsive to acceleration or deceleration of the housing, at whichy time the weight 36 will be urged either upwardly or downwardly.

Undesired upward movement of the weight 38 is preferably arrested as by means of an inwardly turned iiange 4| formed on the upper end of the'support i6 the weight 38 may means of an adjusting screw 42.

The lower end of the pin as indicated at 43 to slidably receive an actuator 44 which is in turn formed with a foot 45 ybearing upon a substantially laterally extending arm 46 ofa bell crank 41'. A small compression spring 48 is preferably interposed between thel foot 45 and the lower end ofthe pin 31 so that when the weight=33 is moved downwardly as a result of an upward jerk on the cable 6, a downward forceisexerted on the arm 46 through the compression spring 48, the spring 48 serving as a cushion to prevent unduly abrupt application of force to the bell crank 41.

The bell crank 4 1 is preferably urged to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 2 by means of a ltension spring 49 interconnecting the arm 46 withthe laterally bell crank 41 is preferably drivably connected to the switch member 22, this lattermember comprising a bell 4crank having a horizontally extend.- l

ing 'arm 50 which lis interconnected with the. arm 46 of the bell crank 41 as by means of a link I. The bell crank 41 is supported for pivotal movement as by means of a pivot pin 52 carried by a supporting bracket 53 which is in turn secured to the supportl I6 and a similar construction is employed for mounting. the switch member 22 for pivotal movement.

The switch member 22'carries on a downwardly 54 thereof an electrical contact 55 which ispreferably insulated from the arm 54 and connectedl as by means oi an electrical conductor 56 to the negative terminal battery 24. This connection may be Vaccomplished by means of a construction such as that illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein an insu- 35 and from slidably guides a pin-` 36. Theweight 36 andV and downward movement ofv be limited and adjusted as by 31 is preferably boredextending support 34. The' lating supporting ring 51 is illustrated as being secured as by means of screws 53 to the sides of the support, The ring 51 supports a metal plate 5 6 carrying a Abinding post 60 to whichthe conductor 56 is attached. `'I'heundei side of the plate 59 supports a compression springiilv which may be secured thereto as by spot welding, soldering or other suitable means, the compression spring 6l being adapted to engage the bottom or case of the dry batteries 24.

The ring 51 -and plate 59 are preferably dis- 'posed in such location that the center pole or positive terminal 62 of the lbattery 24 will rest upon the upper end or contact terminal 63 of the igniter 25 when the mechanismis assembled in the manner illustratedin Fig.v2.,

Since one electrode of the igniter 25 is grounded to the housing Illthrough Ithe connector I4, it will .be seen that anl electrical circuit will be completed through the ignition member 2 1 whenever the electrical contact member 55 is connected to ground orto a metallic member which is in turn connected to the casing l0. Since the casing I0 might be subjected to jerks and jars suicient to actuate the inertia device 2l during the lowering of the tool to the desired `location in the well bore, it is considered necessary to provide some means for preventing the completion of the aforementioned electrical circuit until after the elapse of a definite time interval. For this purpose I employ a timing device 64 which may conveniently comprise an'inexpe'ns'ive spring driven time keeping mechanism, such as' aninexpensive watch or a device suchA as is illustrated in Fig. 2 35 f of the Phipps Patent N o. 2,156,228, the timing mechanism 64 being suitably secured'to'and supported by the support-,16.

The shaft of the watch 64 which normally drives the minute hand of the watch is connected to a contact plate 65 land may be constructed along the lines illustrated in- Fig. 3. The plate 65 consists of a circular disk 66 of metal or other electrically conductive material, upon thejupper 45 surface of which is secured 'a 'relatively thick disk 61 of insulating .material. The disk 61 is preferably provided with a notch 66 of a width substantially equal to thewidth of the cont/act member 55 so that the contact member 55 cannot be engaged with t 'e plate 65 until the disk 66 has been rotated'to a position aligning the notch 68 with the contact member 55. Thus, in-

advertent operations of the inertia-device 2i will serve only to bring the contact member 55 into engagement Withthe insulated disk 61 and will thus fail to complete the electrical circuit which is necessary for the actuation of the igniter 25.

Upon assembling the device preparatory to lowering it into a well bore.- the disk65 is positioned so as to require. the; elapse of a predetermined time period before the firing circuit can be completed. The device with the tool attached is then lowered into the well bore to the desired location and as soon as'the time'period has elapsed, the cable 1 is given a jerk, whereupon theinertia device serves to cause the vcontact member 55 to penetrate the notch 68 and complete the electrical circuit, with the result that the explosive 26 is ignited and the explosive operated tool 6 is thus operated.

It may be `desirable to provide a mechanical inter-lock for additionally ,protecting the equipment againstinadvertent operation.` This may be accomplished by providing a second timing 75 mechanism 69 identical inconstruction with the timing mechanism 84 previously described and carrying an inter-locking disk 18. identical in construction with the disk .88 previously described. L

'I'he bell crank I1 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 1| adapted to arrest plvotal movement of the bell crank 81 before the switch arm 22 is moved to circuit closing position by engagement of the arm 1| with the surface of the insulating material 81. `It will thus be seen that in order for a Jerk on the cable l to energize the igniter, it is necessary for the notches 88 in each of the disks 18 and 88 to be, respectively, aligned with and the contact member 55. This mechanism, therefore, serves to insure that the device will not be actuated by inadvertent Jerks or accelerations or decelerations of the cable during the time the tool is being lowered into the well bore.

Attention is furthermore directed to the fact vthat if, for any reason, the tool fails to ire at the intended time. the tool may be hoisted to the ground surface in complete safety since once the notches 88 have moved past their respective bell crank' arms, the tiring circuit cannot be com'- pleted by subsequent actuation of the inertia device 2|. y

I have illustrated in Fig. 5 a preferred form of construction of a casing perforator which is particularly adapted for use with a firing device above described. The perforator 8 comprises a long` cylindrical piece of metal which is recessed and threaded at its upper end to provide a boss 1| a permitting threaded attachment of the perforator 8. to the pin end |5 of the iiring device 8.

From the lower center of the boss 1|a a powder or firing channel 12 is extended vertically for substantially the full length of the perforator, the channel 12 being packed with powder or other suitable explosive material 18 and the channel J2 being intersected at suitably frequent intervals by gun barrel receiving bores 1d. These bores are each threaded as indicated at 15 and counter-bored at their outer ends as indicated at 18 to permit the insertion into the bore 14 of a gun barrel unit 11, the unit 11 being threaded externally so as to engage the threads 15 and being preferably also headed as indicated at 18 to permit the clamping of a sealing ring or washer of gasket material 18 between the head 18 and the bottom of the counterbore 18.

Each of the barrel units 11 is preferabl; bored i as indicated at 88 to receive a'steel bullet or projectile 8|, the space behind the bullet 8| being lled or packed withpowder` or other suitable explosive material 82. The wall thickness of each of the barrel umts 11 is made sufhcient to withstand the bursting forces developed by'the ignition of the explosive 82. The, circumference of the unit 11 is preferably grooved as indicated at 83 in Fig. 6 'and a number of radially extending bores or ports 84 communicate between the groove 88 and the central bore 88so as to carry the burning of the powder 18 intothe chamber behind the bullet 8| and so re vthe explosive 82 carried thereby.

i The bore 88 is preferably internally recessed as indicated at 85 so as to permit a retaining ring 88 of relatively soft materialsuch as copper to be swaged into the recess. This -serves to prevent expulsion of the projectile 8| upon the ring ofthe explosive '82 until a considerable pressure has been developed by the explosive, at which time the ring 88 shears on the bellcrankarm'itand the projectilev is discharged with great force from the barrel- 88.

iired when the flame producing through which one side to the other Fluid leakage past the bullet 8| is preferably prevented by the insertion into the bore 88 of a rubber or cork plug 81. Ready removal of the gunbarrel unit 11 from the body member 8 may be permitted by providing a recess 88 adapted to receive a spanner permitting the unscrewing of the unit. 11 so as to disengage its threaded connection with the body member 8.

In case the perforator is to be used with casing having an interior diameter considerably larger than the exterior diameter of the unit 8 which is illustrated in Fig. 5, I prefer to remove the relatively short gun barrel umts 11 illustrated in Fig. 5 and Substitute therefor relatively long gun barrel umts 11a of the character `illustrated in Fig. '1 so as to provide a longer length of barrel the projectile 8| 81m perforator for each I have illustrated in 88 is positioned a tile assembly 88.

The assembly 88 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 8| adapted to be inserted into the bore 88. Opposite ends of the sleeve 8|,are closed by pro- . iectiles 82 and 83 each of which is formed near its rearward end with a horizontally extending groove 84 into which the end of the sleeve 8| is swaged or clampedas is illustrated at 85. This serves to secure the projectiles 82 and 83 to the sleeve 8| and at the same time close the ends thereof so The central portion of the sleeve 8| is deformed or exterior/ly machined to provide an externally circumferentially extending groove 81 disposed'in such location longitudinally of the sleeve 8| as to be positioned adjacent the firing channel 12a when the cartridge 88 is inserted within the bore 88 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. The groove 91 thus serves to provide a communication between-the firing channel 12a and the con.- tinuation 12b thereof. vThe sleeve 8| is provided with one or more perforations 88 positioned in the bottom of the recess 81 and providing a communication between the recess and the interior oi' the cartridge so that the charge 88 of gun powder contained within the cartridge may be material 18a with which the channel 12a is illled is ignited as previously described.

When .the charge 88 is red, the projectiles 82 and 88 are forcibly ejected-in opposite directions from the bore 88 so as to simultaneously perforate the casing on opposite sides of the perforator body.

From the foregoing havey shown and described a novel gun perforator it will be observed that I the ilring mechanism above described is so arranged as to require .the elapse of a predetermined time period before the same can be actuated and such that if the explosive in the tool is not fired during such predetermined time period, the same can be safely withdrawn from the well bore without danger of an inadvertent explosion. v

It will also be observed that the ring mechanism above described provides for the actuation of an explosive operated oil well tool without requiring the use of either electrical conductors extending from the ground surface or the use of go-devils adapted to be slid down the cable used to support such tools.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment -of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of con.. struction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim: y

l. In a firing device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing through a well bore to a desired location therein and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalities:

cause operation of said tool; inertia' means operable to operate said'igniter in response to accelerating movement of said housing'freely in said well bore; and timing means for preventing actuation of said igniter until the elapse of a predetermined time period of sulcient length to permit lowering of said housing to said desired location during said period.

2. In a nring device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing through a well bore to a desired location therein and having means on the erated oil well tool, said housing ,containing the following instrumentalitles: an igniteractuatable` to cause operation of said tool; a weight mounted an igniter actuatable to other end for attachment to an explosive opfor vertical movement relative to said housing;

a spring interposed between said weight and said housing for normally lsupporting said weight A while permitting vertical movement thereof relative to said housing in response to accelerating movement of said housing freely in said well bore;

control means connected to said weight and opl erable in response to movement thereof relative to said housing to actuate said igniter; and timing means for preventing operation of said c ontrol nieans-until the elapse of a'predetermined time period of sunlcient length to permit lowering of said housing to said desired -location during said period.

3. In a nring device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil Awell tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalities: an igniter actuatable to cause operation of said tool; a weight mounted for vertical movement relativeto said housing; a spring interposed between weight and said housing for supporting said weight; control means connected to said weight and operable in response to movement, thereof to actuate said igniter; timing means for preventing operation of said control means until the elapse of a predetermined times; and another timing n means for preventing actuation of said igniter switch means in'said circuit closable to energize said igniter in response to an abrupt movement of said housing.

5'. In a firing device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentallties: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool; a battery for energizing said igniter connected in circuit therewith: normally open switch means in said circuit including a. member movable to a position completing said circuit and energizing said igniter; inertia means movable relative to said housing in response to an abrupt movement of said housing; and means interconnecting said switch means and said inertia means for moving said member to circuit closing position in response to movement of said inertia means.

6. In a ring device, a housing having means s said housing in response to an abrupt movement I of said housing; means interconnecting' said switch means and-said inertia means for moving said memberto circuit closing position in response to movement of said inertia means; a

movable stop normally disposed in a position to arrest movement of said inertia means before said member is moved to circuit closing'position; and timing means for moving said stop to a position permitting free movement of said inertia means upon the elapse of a predetermined time. 7. In a iiring device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a wellbore and having means on the other end for attachment to anw explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following linstruir'ientalities: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool;

-a battery for energizing said igniter connected in circuit therewith; normally open switch means in said circuit including a member movable to a position completing said circuit and energizing saidigniter; inertia means movablerelative to said'housing in response to an abrupt movement of said housing; means interconnecting said switch means and said inertia means for moving said member to circuit closing position in response to movement of said inertia means; a

period.

movable stop normally disposed in the path of movement of said member for engaging and arresting said member before it is moved to circuit closing position; and timing means for moving lsaid stop out of the path of movement of said member upon the elapse of a predetermined time. 8. In a firing device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having meansv on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool.. said housing containing the following instrumentalities: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool: a battery for energizing said igniter connected in cirspouse to movement of said inertia means; a y

movable stop normally disposed in a position to arrest movement of said inertia means before said member is moved to circuit closing position; timing means for moving said stop to a position permitting free movement of said inertia means upon the elapse of a predetermined time: a second movable stop normally disposed in the path of movement of said member for engaging and arresting said member before it is moved to circuit closing position; and a second timing means for'moving said second stop out ofthe path of movement of said member upon the elapse of said predetermined time.

9. In a/iiring device, c, housing having means on one end vfor attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well'tool, said housing containing the followinginstnimentalities: an igniter actuatable to cause operation of said tool;` inertia means operable to actuate said igniter in response to an abrupt movement oi said housing; and timing means for permitting actuation oi' said igniter only during a predetermined time 10. In a firing device,`a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalities: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool; a battery for energizing said igniter connected in circuit therewith; normally open switch means in said circuit including a member movable to a position completing said circuit and energizing said igniter; inertia means movable relative to said housing in response to an abrupt, movement of said housing; means interconnecting said switch means and said inertia means for moving said'member to circuit closing position in response to movement oi.' said inertia means: a movable stop normally disposed in a position to arrest movement of said inertia means before said member is moved to circuit closing position; and timing means for moving said stop to a position permitting free movement of said inertia means upon the elapse of apredetermined time and `for moving said stop to said normal position upon the lelapseof another predetermined time.

11. In a gun perforator, the combination of:

an elongated body lmember adapted to be lowered into a well bore and having a longitudinally extending firing channel for receiving a material capable oi' burning with great rapidity; a plurality -of gun barrel umts carried by said body member, each defining a transversely extending projectile guiding bore, each oi said units including a chamber for receiving an explosive and a plurality of ports extending transversely of and intersecting said projectile guiding bore and communicating with said channel; and means detachably securing each oi said units in said body member, whereby said units may be re-.

moved and other units of diii'erent length substituted therefor to adapt the perforator for the perforation of a diiierent size of oil well casing.

12. A gun'barrel unit for use with a gun perforator including a body member adapted to be lowered into a well bore and having a longitudinally extending ring chamber for receiving a material capable of burning with great rapidity and having a plurality of laterally extending gun barrel receiving recesses intersecting said channel, said unit comprising: a thick walled barrel member insertable in said recess and defining a projectile guiding bore, said bore being intersected by a plurality of transversely extending ports disposed .in a position to also intersect said channel when said member is inserted in said recess.

13. A gun barrel unit for use with a gun periorator including a body member adapted to be lowered into a well bore and having a longitudinally extending firing chamber for receiving a material capable of burning with great rapidity and having a plurality of laterally extending gun barrel receiving recesses intersecting said channel. saidunit comprising: a thick walled barrel member insertable in said recess and defining a projectile guiding bore, said bore being intersected by a plurality of transversely extending ports disposed in a position to also-intersect said channel when said member is inserted in said recess. said barrel member having a circumierentially extending groove formed in its exterior surface communicating with all of said ports to provide communication between said ports and said channel 'when said barrel member is inserted in said recess with said ports disposed out of alignment with said channel.

14. In a gun perforator, the combination of: an elongated body member adapted to be lowered into a well bore and having a projectile guiding bore extended transversely through said body member from one side to the other thereof in a position to intersect a firing channel formed in said body: a projectile in each of the outer ends of said bore'; and a cartridge extended between and secured to said projectiles, said cartridge being illled with an explosive material and having a port communicating between said tiring channel and the interior of said cartridge.

v15. For use with a, gun perforator having a projectile guiding bore extended transversely through the body thereof and intersecting a firing channel formed therein, a cartridge construction comprising a cylindrical sleeve insertable in said bore for holding a supply of explosive material, said sleeve having a circumferentially extending groove formed in the outer surof said sleeve; and a projectile tted into each end of said sleeve, each of said projectiles having a circumferentially extending groove formed therein and the corresponding end of said sleeve being clamped into said groove to secure said projectile to said sleeve.

16. In a firing device, a -housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalities: an igniter actuatable to cause operation of said tool; control means operable to actuate said igniter; timing means for preventing operation of said control means until the elapse of a predetermined time; and another timing means for preventing actuation of said igniter until the elapse of said predetermined time.

17. I n a ring device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing intoa well bore and having means on the other en d for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalities: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool; a battery for energizing said igniter connected in circuit therewith; normally open switch means in said circuit including a member movable to a position completing said circuit and energizing i position permitting free movement of said consaid igniter; control means movable relative to said housing; means interconnecting said switch means and said control means for moving said member to circuit closing position in response to movement of said control means; a movable stop normally disposed in a position to arrest movement of said control means before said member is moved to circuit closing position; and timing means for moving said stop to a position permitting free movement of said control means upon the elapse of a predetermined time.

18. In a firing device, a housing havingmeans on one end for attachment to a cable for low- Y ering said housing into a well 4bore and having means` on the other end for attachment to trol means upon the elapse of a predetermined time; a second movable stop normally disposed in the path of movement of said member for engaging and arresting said member before it is moved to circuit closing position; and a second timing means for moving said second stop out of the path of movement of said member upon the elapse of said predetermined time.

19. In a iiring device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having means on the other end for attachment to an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalities: an igniter actuatable to cause operation of said tool; control means operable to actuate said igniter in response to an abrupt movement of said housing; and timing means for permitting actuation of said igniter only duringa predetermined time period.

20. In a firing device, a housing having means on one end for attachment to a cable for lowering said housing into a well bore and having vmeans on the other end for attachment to an an explosive operated oil well tool, said housing Y containing the following instrumentallties: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool; a battery for energizing'said igniter connected in circuit therewith; normally open switch means in said circuit including a member movable to a position completing said circuit and energizing said igniter; control means movable relative to said housing: means interconnecting explosive operated oil well tool, said housing containing the following instrumentalites: an igniter energizable to cause operation of said tool; a

battery for energizing said igniter connected in circuit therewith; normally open switch means in said circuit including a member movable to a position completing said circuit and energizing said igniter; control means movable relative to said housing; means interconnecting said switch means and said control means for moving said member to circuit closing position in response to movement of said control means; a movable stop normally disposed in a position to arrest movement of said control means before said` member is moved to circuit closing position; and timing means for moving said stop to a position permitting free movement of said control means upon the elapse of a predetermined time and for moving said stop to said normal position upon the elapse of another predetermined time.

JACK JOHNSON.

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