Detonating Cord Retaining Device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for connecting a detonating cord with a shaped charge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shaped charge detonating cord retention system comprising:
 a charge tube with a first axis and at least one charge hole having a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and   at least one shaped charge retaining cutout coaxial with the second axis, wherein the shaped charge retaining cutout is adapted to fit a detonating cord retainer in any angular orientation relative to the second axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of charge hole cutouts and a corresponding plurality of shaped charge retaining cutouts. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each charge hole cutout and corresponding shaped charge retaining cutout has a corresponding common axis perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each corresponding common axis is parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each adjacent corresponding common axis has a pre-selected phase angle relative to the next adjacent common axis. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the detonating cord retainer is adapted to interface with the apex end of a shaped charge case and further comprising:
 a base having a bottom end and a top end; 
 a bore extending into the base from the bottom end; 
 an aperture in the top end of the base adapted to allow detonation communication from the top end of the base into the bore; 
 a first retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base; 
 a second retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base; and 
 wherein the inner face of the first retention arm is substantially parallel to and facing the inner face of the second retention arm. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the inner face of the first retention arm has a retention nub distal from the base extending toward the second retention arm; and
 the first retention arm and second retention arm are adapted to retain a detonating cord in proximity to the aperture. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the inner face of the second retention arm has a retention nub distal from the base extending toward the first retention arm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a circumferential ridge in the bore adapted to engage a corresponding groove in a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a circumferential groove in the bore adapted to engage a corresponding ridge in a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the aperture extends from the top end of the body to the bore. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the bore extends through a portion of the top end of the body to form the aperture. 
     
     
         13 . A detonating cord retainer comprising:
 a first portion with a thru-hole having a first axis;   a second portion located above the first portion; and   a truncated cone located above and coaxially aligned with the first portion and the second portion and having a thru channel with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion is a cylindrical shape located coaxial with the first axis. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second portion has a cylindrical shape located coaxial with the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer is composed of plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first cylindrical portion is adapted to snap over an apex end of a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first cylindrical portion is composed of two cylindrical halves. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the truncated cone portion has a u-shaped interface adapted to snap around a detonating cord. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shaped charge retainer is adapted to rotate in 360 degrees about the apex end of the shaped charge case. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising the second portion having a thru-slot along a first plane perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         22 . A shaped charge retention system comprising:
 a shaped charge case with an apex end and an explosive discharge end;   a charge tube with a center axis, having a first plurality of circular cutouts adapted for interfacing with a shaped charge case apex end and a second plurality of circular cutouts located 180 degrees opposite of the first plurality of cutouts about the charge tube axis;   a detonating cord; and   a substantially cylindrical retainer with a channel adapted to accept a detonating cord, wherein the shaped charge case is located within the charge tube such that the apex end is coupled to a first circular cutout with the cylindrical retainer and the explosive discharge end is located adjacent to a second circular cutout.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical retainer is composed of plastic. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical retainer can pivot about the shaped charge apex in 360 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical retainer is further coupled to the detonating cord. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of shaped charges. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of cylindrical retainers. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the channel is a u-shaped cutout. 
     
     
         29 . A shaped charge retainer comprising:
 a first portion, a first end having a truncated cone shape, a bottom end, with a slotted thru-hole passing through the first portion from the first end to the second end;   a counter-bore in the bottom end having an axis;   a second portion located above the first portion; and   a truncated cone located above the first portion and the second portion and having a channel with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the retainer is composed of plastic. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first portion is adapted to snap over an apex end of a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the channel of the truncated cone portion is a u-shaped interface adapted to snap around a detonating cord. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the shaped charge retainer is adapted to rotate in 360 degrees about the apex end of the shaped charge case. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the bottom end is cylindrical. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first portion is cylindrical. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second portion is cylindrical. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the first portion, second portion, and truncated cone are coaxial. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the first cylindrical portion is composed of two cylindrical halves. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising the second portion having a thru-slot along a first plane perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a shaped charge with a case, the case having an explosive end and an apex end adapted to interface with the shaped charge retainer, wherein the apex end is located within the counter bore in the bottom end.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the shaped charge case is connected to the shaped charge retainer via the apex and counter bore interface. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a shoulder located on the bottom end. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein a charge tube is captured between the shoulder and a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         44 . A detonating cord retainer comprising:
 a base having a bottom end and a top end;   a bore extending into the base from the bottom end;   an aperture in the top end of the base adapted to allow detonation communication from the top end of the base into the bore;   a first retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base;   a second retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base; and   wherein the inner face of the first retention arm is substantially parallel to and facing the inner face of the second retention arm.   
     
     
         45 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 44  wherein the inner face of the first retention arm has a retention nub distal from the base extending toward the second retention arm; and
 the first retention arm and second retention arm are adapted to retain a detonating cord in proximity to the aperture. 
 
     
     
         46 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 45  wherein the inner face of the second retention arm has a retention nub distal from the base extending toward the first retention arm. 
     
     
         47 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 44  further comprising a circumferential ridge in the bore adapted to engage a corresponding groove in a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         48 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 44  further comprising a circumferential groove in the bore adapted to engage a corresponding ridge in a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         49 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 44  wherein the aperture extends from the top end of the body to the bore. 
     
     
         50 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 44  wherein the bore extends through a portion of the top end of the body to form the aperture. 
     
     
         51 . A detonating cord retainer comprising:
 a base having a bottom end and a top end;   a bore extending into the base from the bottom end;   an aperture in the top end of the base adapted to allow detonation communication from the top end of the base into the bore;   a first retention arm having extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base and having an end distal from the base; and   a second retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base and having an end distal from the base.   
     
     
         52 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 51  wherein the end of the first retention arm has a retention nub extending toward the second retention arm. 
     
     
         53 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 52  wherein the end of the second retention arm has a retention nub extending toward the first retention arm. 
     
     
         54 . A shaped charge comprising:
 a case with an apex end and an explosive end and an axis;   a substantially conical liner located within and coaxially with the case;   an explosive material located between the liner and the case;   a detonating cord retainer adapted to interface with the apex end of the case further comprising:
 a base having a bottom end and a top end; 
 a bore extending into the base from the bottom end; 
 an aperture in the top end of the base adapted to allow detonation communication from the top end of the base into the bore; 
 a first retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base; 
 a second retention arm having an inner face extending substantially orthogonally from the top side of the base; and 
 wherein the inner face of the first retention arm is substantially parallel to and facing the inner face of the second retention arm. 
   
     
     
         55 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 54  wherein the inner face of the first retention arm has a retention nub distal from the base extending toward the second retention arm; and
 the first retention arm and second retention arm are adapted to retain a detonating cord in proximity to the aperture. 
 
     
     
         56 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 55  wherein the inner face of the second retention arm has a retention nub distal from the base extending toward the first retention arm. 
     
     
         57 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 54  further comprising a circumferential ridge in the bore adapted to engage a corresponding groove in a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         58 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 54  further comprising a circumferential groove in the bore adapted to engage a corresponding ridge in a shaped charge case. 
     
     
         59 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 54  wherein the aperture extends from the top end of the body to the bore. 
     
     
         60 . The detonating cord retainer of  claim 54  wherein the bore extends through a portion of the top end of the body to form the aperture.