Perforating gun brake

Abstract

A perforating gun brake includes a first body having an axis. Several gripping feet are provided each having a pivot end and a remote end. The pivot end is pivotally mounted to the first body. The gripping feet are movable between a stored position substantially parallel to the axis of the first body and an engaging position extending outwardly at an angle in relation to the first body. A second body is coupled to and axially movable relative to the first body. A wedge member is carried by the second body. The wedge member exerts a force upon the remote end of the gripping feet upon movement of the second body to force the gripping feet outwardly into the engaging position.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A perforating gun brake, comprising: 
 a first body having an axis;    several gripping feet having a pivot end and a remote end, the pivot end being pivotally mounted to the first body, the gripping feet being movable between a stored position substantially parallel to the axis of the first body and an engaging position extending outwardly at an angle in relation to the first body;    a second body coupled to and axially movable relative to the first body; and    a wedge member carried by the second body, the wedge member exerting a force upon the remote end of the gripping feet upon movement of the second body to force the gripping feet outwardly into the engaging position.    
     
     
         2 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 1   , wherein a spring exerts a biasing force upon the second body to bias the second body away from the first body.  
     
     
         3 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the first body has an interior bore, and the second body is telescopically received in the interior bore of the first body.  
     
     
         4 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 1   , wherein an expandable retainer holds the gripping feet in the stored position until a counteracting force is exerted by the wedge member.  
     
     
         5 . A perforating gun brake, comprising: 
 a first body having an axis, an exterior surface, a first end, a second end, and an interior bore accessible from the second end of the first body;    a wireline attachment at the first end of the first body whereby the first body is suspended from a wireline;    several gripping feet having a pivot end and a remote end, the pivot end being pivotally mounted to the second end of the first body, the gripping feet being movable between a stored position substantially parallel to the axis of the first body and an engaging position extending outwardly at an angle in relation to the first body;    a second body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second body being telescopically received in the interior bore at the second end of the first body, such that the second body is telescopically movable relative to the first body;    a perforating gun attachment at the second end of the second body, whereby a perforating gun is attached to the second body; and    a wedge member carried by the second body, the wedge member engaging the remote end of the gripping feet upon movement of the second body to force the gripping feet outwardly into the engaging position.    
     
     
         6 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 5   , wherein a spring disposed within the interior body of the first body exerts a biasing force upon the first end of the second body to bias the second body away from the first body.  
     
     
         7 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 5   , wherein electrical wiring extends from the wireline attachment at the first end of the first body to the perforating gun attachment at the second end of the second body, whereby an electrical signal to trigger detonation is transmitted via a wireline secured to the wireline attachment to a perforating gun secure to the perforating gun attachment.  
     
     
         8 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 4   , wherein the wedge member is a cone.  
     
     
         9 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 5   , wherein an expandable retainer holds the gripping feet in the stored position until a counteracting force is exerted by the wedge member.  
     
     
         10 . A perforating gun brake, comprising: 
 a first body having an axis, an exterior surface, a first end, a second end, and an interior bore accessible from the second end of the first body;    a wireline attachment at the first end of the first body whereby the first body is suspended from a wireline;    several gripping feet having a pivot end and a remote end, the pivot end being pivotally mounted to the second end of the first body, the gripping feet being movable between a stored position substantially parallel to the axis of the first body and an engaging position extending outwardly at an angle in relation to the first body;    a second body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second body being telescopically received in the interior bore at the second end of the first body, such that the second body is telescopically movable relative to the first body;    a perforating gun attachment at the second end of the second body, whereby a perforating gun is attached to the second body;    electrical wiring extends from the wireline attachment at the first end of the first body to the perforating gun attachment at the second end of the second body, whereby an electrical signal to trigger detonation is transmitted via a wireline secured to the wireline attachment to a perforating gun secured to the perforating gun attachment,    a conical wedge member carried by the second body, the wedge member engaging the remote end of the gripping feet such that upon movement of the second body as a result of detonation of the perforating gun the wedge member forces the gripping feet outwardly into the engaging position; and    a spring disposed within the interior body of the first body exerting a biasing force upon the first end of the second body to bias the second body away from the first body, such that when the forces unleashed by detonation of the perforating gun subside the second body is biased away from the first body thereby releasing the wedge member and permitting the gripping feet to return to the stored position.    
     
     
         11 . The perforating gun brake as defined in    claim 10   , wherein an expandable retainer holds the gripping feet in the stored position until a counteracting force is exerted by the wedge member.