June 4, 1940.

M. F. ALol WELL CASING PERFORATOR

Filed June 26, 1939

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2,202,887

Patented June 4, 1940

UNITE

2,202,887

STATES 2,202,887 WELL CASING PERFORATOR

Millio F. Aloi, Maywood, Calif.

Application June 276, 1939, Serial No. 281,214 13 Claims. (Cl. 164-05) My invention relates to a Well casing perforator of my invention, IIl designates a body, preferably of the gun type and has for its principal object, cylindrical in form and composed of metal and the provision of a relatively simple and practical which may be of any desired and convenient casing perforating device including a body that length. 'I‘he diameter of this body is such that is adapted to be lowered into well casing to the it will readily pass downward through oil well 5 desired depth and, said body carrying a plurality casing of standard sizes. of projectiles and an explosive charge which when Formed in the upper portion of body I0 is a ignited by an electric spark ñres said projectiles chamber II and, leading from the lower end of outwardly through the wall of the casing, thereby said chamber to the lower end of body II) is an perforating the same and, said projectile carrying axial bore I2. body carrying means for producing the electric A head I3 is removably seated, preferably by spark required to ñre the explosive charge, thus being screw seated in the upper portion of cham eliminating al1 electrical connections between the ber I I, and removably seated in the center of this gun~like member that is lowered into the casing head is a socket I4 to which is suitably connected, w and the ground surface at the top of the Well hole. the lower end of a cable I5 that is utilized in 15 A further object of my invention is, to provide lowering the perforator into the casing. simple and convenient means, preferably a weight Arranged to slide freely through a vertically that is permitted to slide by gravity downward on disposed bore I6 that is formed through head I3 the cable that is utilized for lowering the perfora to the side of socket I4, is a plunger I'l, the upper 20 tor into the casing and which weight is effective end of which is enlarged to form a head I8 20 in imparting motion to the electric spark produc through the central portion of which is formed ing means carried within the perforator so as to an aperture I9. An expansive spring 20 surrounds effect the firing of the explosive charge. the upper portion of plunger I1 and bears against A further object of my invention is, to provide the lower end of the head I8 and against a shoul der 2I that is formed in the upper portion of the 25 simple and eflicient means for rendering the ex plosive charge firing means ineffective so as to

bore I6, thus normally maintaining the plunger

prevent accidental or premature ñring of the

in elevated position.

charge while the perforator is being assembled and made` ready to be lowered into the casing. With the foregoing and other objects in view, 30 my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated -in the accompanying

35 drawing in which: Fig. l is a vertical section taken through the center of a casing perforator constructed in ac cordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the upper end portion‘of the perforator and looking in the direc tion indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the perforator. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through the center of the Weight that is utilized for elïecting 45 operation of the electric spark producing means. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line

5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on 50 the line 1-1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower

end portion of the perforating device.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying> 66 drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment

i

Plunger I'I passes through a fluid pressure tight gland or stufñng-box 22 that is arranged in the lower portion of head I3 and, that portion of the 30

plunger that projects below said gland is provided with rack teeth 23. These teeth engage the teeth of a pinion 24, which latter is ñxed on the arma

ture shaft of a conventional magneto 25. While plunger I1 is in its normal position or at the upper end of its limit of movement, the teeth of pinion 24 engage the lowermost teeth of rack "

23. An opening formed in the wall of body IU surrounding chamber I I directly opposite the cen tral portion of the magneto and which opening is 40 closed by a readily removable plug 26, gives access to the magneto for the purpose of inspection,

adjustment, repairs, etc. Removably positioned in the aperture I9 in head I8 is a' pin or key 2'I that serves to secure 45 the plunger in its elevated position and prevent the same from being accidentally moved down ward to operate the magneto while the perforator is being charged and made ready for use and be fore it is inserted in the upper end of the well 50

casing.

Formed through that portion of the perforator body I0 through which the bore I2 passes are

radially disposed apertures 2B, preferably disposed in spaced and staggered relation and which serve 55

2 32. thereby closing the projectile containing

as chambers for the bullet-like projectiles 29 that are utilized in perforating the casing. Formed

chambers.

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The explosive cartridge vis now inserted in bore

within these chambers near their inner ends are shoulders 30 against which the rear ends of the

I2 and plug 42 is screw seated in the lower end

of body III and, when so seated the spring-held contact 45 engages contact 49 on the lower end oi' the cartridge and the latter is maintained in the bore I2 with contact pin 31 in engagement with contact 38. Just before the perforator is lowered into the 10 casing, the key 21 is removed from head Il, thus

projectiles engage when properly positioned in the chambers.

The outer ends of the chambers 29 are closed by thin discs 3l, preferably of metal that are pressed into recesses 32 that are formed in body III 10 around the outer ends of the chambers 28. Bore I2 is adapted to receive a cartridge com prising a thin walled casing 32 containing a` leaving plunger I1 tree to move downward as a. charge 33 of explosive substance, such as gun result of the engagement of the weight 5I with

said head at the termination of its travel down the cable I5.

powder. Embedded in the explosive charge‘ 33 15 is- a plate 34 of insulating material,_carrying .a

’ The perforator is now lowered into the well cas

pair of spaced spark terminals 35. The upper

ing by proper manipulation of cable I5 and, when said perforator has reached the depth at which the casing is to be perforated, the two-part weight 5I is opened and afterbeing applied to

one of these terminals is connected by a conductor 36 to a contact 31 that is seated in the top of

casing 32 and, when the casing is properly posi tioned in bore i2 this contact 31 directly engages

" 20 '

a contact 38.

A the cable the parts of the weight are closed and

Y

This contact 38 is carried by the lower end Vof a pin or rod 39 formed of metal: and serving as a

held in such position by the engagement of t free end of hook 53 in recess '54.

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The weight is now released and by gravity it that portion of the body i0 between the ‘ will slide down the cable from which the perfo 2.5 through upper end of bore I2 and the lower 'portion- of rator is suspended and, when the weight reaches chamber II. This conductor 39 is suitably insu 4the upper end oi' the perforator it will strike the lated from the metal in body I0, preferably by a top of head I8, thereby moving the same and sleeve 40 of insulating material. plunger I1 downward and, the engagement of the 3.0 One side of the magneto 25 is grounded on the rack 23 with pinion 24 will actuate the armature conductor for electric current and, which passes

. body I0 while the other side is connected by a

conductor 4i to the upper end of conductor 39. The lower end of the cartridge receiving bore _ or chamber 23 is closed by a screw plug 42, there

35 being a packing ring or gasket 43 arranged be tween the upper portion of said plug and the body i0 around the lower end of bore I2 and, arranged for sliding movement in the upper por

tion of this plug is an axially arranged pin 44 40 prbvided on its upper end with a head 45.

An

expansive coil spring 46 is arranged between the

duced between the sparking terminals, the ex plosive charge of the cartridge will be iired and the resulting _force will drive the projectiles 29 outwardly from their chambers through the ad jacent wall of the casing so as to perforate the

same, thereby accomplishing thev desired results. After the casing operation as just described has been accomplished, the perforator is withdrawn

head e5 of contact pin 44 and a shoulder 41 that is formed in the upper portion of plug 42 around the aperture that receives said contact

from the well by means of cable I5 and said perforator may be re=used after the chambers 25 have-been reñlled with projectiles and a car tridge inserted in bore or chamber I2.

pin. Seated in the lower end of the cartridge that

A particularly advantageous feature of my ime proved perforator is the mounting of a magneto

is positioned in bore I2 is a contact pin '48 pro vided on its lower end with a head 49 and, which

or other spark producing means within or directly

latter engages the head 45 of the spring-held

50 contact pin 44. ' Connecting contact pin 48 with the lower one of the spark terminals 35 is a conductor 50. The means utilized for forcing plunger I1 down

ward to operate the magneto is illustrated in 55 Fig. 4 and 5 and comprises a two-part weight 5I substantially cylindrical in form and, the two parts of which are hingëdly connected to each . other, preferably by a vertically disposed hinge 60

of the magneto so as to produce an electric spark between the terminals 35. As thel spark is pro- -

pin 52. The two parts of the weight are normally held in closed position by means of a hook 53 that is hinged to one of the parts of the weight and which engages in a recess 54 in the other

part (seeA Fig. 5). Formed in the lower portion 65 of this weight is a chamber 55 open at its lower

end and which is of such size as to receive the

socket I4 and, formed through the upper portion of said weight is an axial opening 56 that receives the cable I5 that carries the perforator. To load the perforator, key 21 is inserted 70 through opening I9 in head I8 _so as to prevent the plunger from being moved downward to oper ate the magneto and the projectiles 29 are now inserted in their chambers 28, after which the

disc-like closures 3l are pressed into the recesses

upon the perforator, for by such provision the requirement for spark producing means including lll electrical conductors extending from the top of the well hole downwardly therethrough to the perforator and which distance may be several

thousand feet, is entirely eliminated. Thus it will be seen that I have provided a cas

ing perforator that is relatively simple in con struction, inexpensive of manufacture and very eñective in performing the functions for which ' it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved well casing perforator, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims. I claim as my invention:

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1. A casing perforator comprising a body pro vided with a chamber for the reception of an ex

plosive charge, there being chambers formed in the body for directing the force of the exploded charge laterally against the well casing in which the perforator is positioned, projectiles located in said last mentioned chambers and magnets ac

tuated means located wholly within said body and ß

2,202,887 operable from the exterior thereof for producing an electric spark within the explosive charge. 2. In a casing perforator the combination with a body, of a cable connected to said body for low ering the same into well casing, an explosive

charge contained within said body, there being chambers formed in the body for directing the force of the exploded charge laterally toward the well casing, projectiles located in said chambers, 10 magneto actuated means carried by the body for producing an electric spark in the explosive charge and means adapted to slide down the cable to said body for actuating the spark produc ing means. 3. A casing perforator as set forth in claim 1, with means for rendering the spark producing

means inoperative while the body is being loaded for use and before it is lowered into the well cas

ing. 20

4. In a casing perforator, a body adapted to be lowered into well casing, an explosive charge con- _

tained within said body, there being chambers contained in said body for directing the explosive force of said charge laterally toward the sur

25 rounding well casing and means including a mag

neto carried by said body for producing an elec tric spark in said explosive charge. 5. In a well casing perforator the combination with a body, of a cable connected to said body for lowering the same into well casing said body con

taining an explosive charge, there being cham bers formed in said body for directing the force of the exploded charge toward the well casing surrounding said body, projectiles in said cham

3

generating an electric current and causing the same to pass through said ignition points and the spark gap between the same. 8. A casing perforator as set forth in claim 7, with a cable connected to said body for lowering the same into well casing and means adapted to

travel downwardly upon said cable for actuating said sparkv producing means. 9. In a well casing perforator, a body, an ex

plosive charge contained Within said body, there 10 being chambers formed in said body for directing the explosive force of said charge outwardly to Ward the well casing in which the body is sus pended, projectiles located in said chambers, a pair of spaced ignition points located in said explosive charge and means including a magneto carried by the body for generating an electric cur rent and causing the same to pass through said ignition points and the spark gap between the same.

20

10. A well casing perforator as set forth in claim 9, with a cable connected to said body for lowering the same into well casing and means

adapted to travel downwardly upon said cable and to actuate the magneto of said spark produc 25 ing means. 11. In a well casing perforator, a gun body in cluding a plurality of gun units arranged to dis charge laterally from said body, said gun units including an explosive charge receiving chamber 30 and a plurality of projectile receiving chambers that communicate with the explosive charge re ceiving chamber, an electric circuit including a pair of spaced spark terminals located within the

bers, means including a magneto carried by said body for producing an electric spark in said ex

charge occupying said explosive charge receiving 35

plosive charge and a member adapted to travel downward on the cable that carries said body for actuating said magneto.

body for energizing said circuit and producing an electric spark between said spaced spark termi nais. 12. A well casing perforator as set forth in 40 claim 1,1 and with means for actuating said mag

6. A well casing perforator as set forth in claim 5 and with means for rendering the spark produc ing means inoperative while the body is being made ready for use and before being lowered in to the casing. 7. In a well casing perforator, a body, an ex

plosive charge contained within said body, there being chambers formed in said body for direct ing the explosive force of said charge outwardly toward the well casing in which the body is sus pended, projectiles located in said chambers, a pair of spaced ignition points located in said ex plosive charge and means carried by the body for

chamber and magneto means carried by said gun

neto means from the exterior of said perforator. 13. In a well casing perforator, a body provided with a chamber for the reception of an explosive

charge, said body being provided with a plurality 45 of projectile receiving chambers that communi cate with the explosive charge chamber and mag neto means carried by said body for producing an electric spark within the charge located within said explosive charge receiving chamber. MILLIO F. ALOI.