Initiator head assembly
An initiator head assembly having particular application with a perforating gun assembly. The initiator head assembly includes a body and an electrical contact component with the electrical contact component embedded therein. The initiator head assembly with the embedded electrical contact component is configured as a unitary component, and holds a pressure differential across the top and bottom parts of the initiator head assembly. A method of forming the initiator head assembly is also generally described.
1. An initiator head assembly, comprising:
a body comprising a head extending from a base, the head including a first surface, a second surface, and an insulating portion extending therebetween, and the base including a first end and a second end, wherein the body is composed of a thermoplastic material and the first end of the base extends from the second surface of the head; and
an electrical contact component comprising an electrically contactable line-in portion and an electrically contactable ground portion, wherein the electrical contact component is positioned proximal to the body,
wherein the electrically contactable line-in portion is positioned proximal to the first surface, and the ground portion is positioned proximal to the second surface.
2. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact component extends through the body and is embedded within the body.
3. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body is formed as an integral and unitary component around the electrical contact component.
4. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the head includes a recessed area, wherein the recessed area extends around an outer periphery of the line-in portion, and is positioned between a central portion of the first surface and an upper edge of the insulating portion.
5. The initiator head assembly of claim 4 , wherein the recessed area of the first surface of the body extends between the outer periphery of the line-in portion and the upper edge of the insulating portion.
6. The initiator head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact component further comprises an electrically contactable line-out portion.
7. The initiator head assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a line-in wire extending from the line-in portion;
a line-out wire extending from the line-out portion; and
a ground wire extending from the ground portion, wherein
each wire extends within an interior of the base, and
the ground portion in combination with the line-in portion and the line-out portion complete a wireless electrical connection by the electrical contact component merely by contact, without using a wired electrical connection.
8. The initiator head assembly of claim 7 , wherein the body is formed as an integral and unitary component around the line-in portion, the line-out portion, and the ground portion, such that the body forms the electrical insulation between the line-in portion, the line-out portion, and the ground portion.
9. The initiator head assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the line-in portion and line-out portion is formed of a flattened, semi-disc shaped electrically conductive material.
10. An initiator configured for being electrically contactably received within a perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, comprising:
a shell comprising a ground portion; and
a wirelessly-connectable selective initiator head assembly, comprising
a body including a head extending from a base, the head including a first surface, a second surface, and an insulating portion extending therebetween, and the base including a first end and a second end, wherein the body is composed of a thermoplastic material and the first end of the base extends from the second surface of the head, and
an electrical contact component comprising an electrically contactable line-in portion and an electrically contactable ground portion, the electrical contact component being positioned proximal to the body, wherein
the base is positioned in the shell.
11. The initiator of claim 10 , wherein the body is injection molded to form a sealed unit around the electrical contact component to seal the electrical contact component against pressure leakage across the body.
12. The initiator of claim 10 , wherein the electrical contact component is positioned proximal to the first surface, and the ground portion of the electrical contact component is positioned proximal to the second surface.
13. The initiator of claim 10 , wherein the electrical contact component further comprises an electrically contactable line-out portion.
14. The initiator of claim 13 , further comprising:
a line-in wire extending from the electrically contactable line-in portion;
a line-out wire extending from the electrically contactable line-out portion; and
a ground wire extending from the electrically contactable ground portion, wherein
each wire extends within an interior of the base, and
the electrically contactable ground portion, in combination with the electrically contactable line-in portion and the electrically contactable line-out portion, are configured to complete a wireless electrical connection merely by contact, without using a wired electrical connection.
15. An initiator head assembly, comprising:
a body comprising a head extending from a base, the head including a first surface, a second surface, and an insulating portion extending therebetween, and the base including a first end and a second end, wherein the body is composed of a thermoplastic material and the first end of the base extends from the second surface of the head; and
an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body, the electrical contact component comprising an electrically contactable line-in portion, an electrically contactable ground portion, an electrically contactable line-out portion and an electrical insulation between the line-in portion, the ground portion and the line-out portion.
16. The initiator head assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a line-in wire extending from the line-in portion;
a line-out wire extending from the line-out portion; and
a ground wire extending from the ground portion, wherein
each wire extends within an interior of the base, and
the ground portion in combination with the line-in portion and the line-out portion complete a wireless electrical connection by the electrical contact component merely by contact, without using a wired electrical connection.
17. The initiator head assembly of claim 16 , wherein the body is formed as an integral and unitary component around the line-in portion, the line-out portion, and the ground portion, such that the body forms the electrical insulation between the line-in portion, the line-out portion, and the ground portion.
18. The initiator head assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first surface of the head includes a recessed area, wherein the recessed area extends around an outer periphery of the line-in portion, and is positioned between a central portion of the first surface and an upper edge of the insulating portion.
19. The initiator head assembly of claim 18 , wherein the recessed area of the first surface of the body extends between the outer periphery of the line-in portion and the upper edge of the insulating portion.