Integrated Pressure Bulkhead with Selective Electronic Switch Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure bulkhead structures in perforating guns lack reliable protection against vibrations and environmental conditions, leading to potential misfires and damage to internal components, and require specific retention constructions that can expose circuitry to harmful conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pressure bulkhead structure with an integrated selective electronic switch circuitry, sealed within a pressure-isolating enclosure, providing protection from wellbore temperatures, fluids, and physical shocks, and allowing for easy placement in various gun module designs without specific retention constructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pressure bulkhead structures are used with simple electrical or mechanical switches, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to exposure to vibrations, shock impact, and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressure bulkhead structure with the electronic switch circuitry into an integrated assembly. The circuit board with electronic switches is mounted directly within the pressure bulkhead housing, combining the pressure isolation function with the electrical switching function in a single integrated unit. This integration protects the electronics from environmental hazards while maintaining system reliability without requiring additional separate retention constructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic switch circuitry is nested within the pressure bulkhead structure. The circuit board is positioned inside the pressure-isolating housing, with electrical connectors extending through sealed openings. This nesting arrangement allows the electronics to benefit from the pressure bulkhead's protective enclosure while maintaining electrical connectivity to external components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If specific retention constructions are used to protect circuitry, then protection from environmental hazards is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to required specific constructions
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure bulkhead housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides pressure isolation, protects the electronic circuitry from environmental hazards, and serves as the mounting structure for the circuit board. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate retention constructions, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining comprehensive protection of the electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective enclosure and mounting structure are merged into a single pressure bulkhead housing. The housing is designed to both seal against environmental hazards and provide mounting surfaces for the circuit board, eliminating the need for additional retention components and simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If electronic switch circuitry is integrated within pressure bulkhead, then reliability is improved through protection, but device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure bulkhead and electronic switch circuitry are merged into a single integrated assembly. The circuit board is mounted within the pressure bulkhead housing, with electrical connectors integrated into the housing structure. This merging provides inherent protection to the electronics while maintaining a compact, integrated design that does not significantly increase overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Pressure-isolating bulkhead structures with integrated selective electronic switches circuitry are provided. The pressure-isolating bulkhead structure may be a single unit having the integrated electronic switch circuitry, as well as an electrical connector that includes at least one of a wire and a pin contact. Such integrated selective electronic switch circuitry may be fashioned within a self-contained, inner pressure-isolating enclosure body. Such inner pressure-isolating enclosure body may be produced about the selective electronic switch circuitry such that the inner pressure-isolating enclosure body and switch circuitry are produced as a unit, which can be easily placed within a variety of bulkhead structures, and subsequently within a perforating gun.