Granted Patent B2

US 12,509,971 · App. 18/586,504 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Inventors: Shelby L. Sullivan (Minot, ND); Joshua M. Scott (Katy, TX)

Assignee: XConnect , LLC

E21B43/119F16C19/361F16C41/002F16C2352/00

Abstract

Claims (45)

1 . A bearing assembly, comprising:

a tubular sub having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end;

connection threads placed at each of the first and second ends;

an internal bore within the tubular sub extending from the first end to the second end, and having a tapered shoulder residing along the internal bore at the second end, with the tapered shoulder defining an angle relative to a central axis of the internal bore and forming an inner race;

a contact pin residing within the internal bore of the tubular sub; wherein the contact pin is in electrical communication with a signal line, and is configured to receive a detonation signal from the signal line; and

a plurality of roller bearings disposed along the inner race, wherein the roller bearings are positioned at an angle that corresponds with the angle of the tapered shoulder; and

a cage securing the roller bearings against the inner race, the cage having a frusto-conical profile and being integral to the internal bore.

2 . The bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a connector housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore residing within the connector housing;

wherein:

the connector housing is fabricated from a non-conductive material;

the first end of the connector housing extends into the internal bore of the tubular sub; and

the bearing assembly resides between the tapered shoulder of the internal bore of the tubular sub and the connector housing.

3 . The bearing assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:

a banana plug terminal residing at least partially within the bore of the connector housing; and

a conductive wire attached to the banana plug terminal within the bore of the connector housing;

wherein the banana plug terminal is configured to transmit an electrical signal to the conductive wire, which then transmits the electrical signal to an addressable switch, which completes a circuit by grounding to the bearing assembly and further to the tubular sub.

4 . The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the tubular sub is a tandem sub for a perforating gun assembly;

the cage comprises a plurality of windows, with each window receiving a respective bearing member; and

each of the bearing members extends partially through its respective window to engage the inner race.

5 . A bearing member assembly, comprising:

a tubular sub having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, and connection threads placed at each of the first and second ends;

an internal bore within the tubular sub extending from the first end to the second end, and a tapered shoulder residing along the internal bore at the second end, with the tapered shoulder defining an angle relative to a central axis of the internal bore;

a contact pin residing within the internal bore of the tubular sub, the contact pin being in electrical communication with a signal line and configured to receive a detonation signal from the signal line; and

a bearing member comprising:

a tubular support body having an inner diameter forming a bore, and an outer diameter forming a race;

a plurality of roller bearings disposed along the race at an angle that corresponds with the angle of the tapered shoulder of the tubular sub; and

a bearing housing configured to hold the plurality of roller bearings against the race, serving as a cage.

6 . The bearing member assembly of claim 5 , wherein the tubular sub is a tandem sub connected to a gun barrel housing.

7 . The bearing member assembly of claim 6 , wherein:

the bearing housing has a frusto-conical profile;

the bearing housing comprises a plurality of equi-distantly spaced windows; and

each of the windows receives a respective roller bearing.

8 . The bearing member assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:

a connector housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore residing within the connector housing;

wherein:

the connector housing is fabricated from a non-conductive material;

the first end of the connector housing extends into the internal bore of the tubular sub; and

the bearing member resides between the tapered shoulder of the internal bore of the tubular sub and the connector housing.

9 . The bearing member assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:

a banana plug terminal residing at least partially within the bore of the connector housing; and

a conductive wire attached to the banana plug terminal within the bore of the connector housing;

and wherein the banana plug terminal is configured to transmit an electrical signal to the conductive wire, which then transmits the electrical signal to an addressable switch, which then completes a circuit by grounding to the bearing assembly and further to the tubular sub.

10 . The bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the conductive wire is attached to the banana plug terminal by crimping or by soldering.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (174)