Explosive pressure activated switch

Abstract

A switch connectable to an upper explosive device and a lower explosive device in a perforation gun train is provided. The switch comprises a circuit, a portion of the circuit being openable upon detonation of the lower explosive device, and the switch being changeable from a first position to a second position upon the opening of the portion of the circuit. In the first position, current can flow to the lower explosive device but not to the upper explosive device. In the second position, opposing current can flow to the upper explosive device but not to the lower explosive device.

1 . A switch comprising a circuit, a portion of the circuit being openable upon a detonation and the switch being changeable from a first position to a second position upon the opening of the portion of the circuit. 
     
     
         2 . The switch of  claim 1 , the circuit being connectable to a first explosive device, a second device, and a selectively startable current supply. 
     
     
         3 . The switch of  claim 2 , wherein the circuit permits transmission of current between the first explosive device and the current supply when the switch is in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The switch of  claim 3 , wherein the circuit permits transmission of an opposing current from the current supply to the second device when the switch is in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The switch of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing, and the circuit is placed inside the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The switch of  claim 5 , further comprising a piston disposed near a first end of the housing, the piston being movable from a lower position to an upper position by a force from the detonation. 
     
     
         7 . The switch of  claim 6  wherein, in the upper position, the piston opens the portion of the circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein components of the circuit are solid-state electronics. 
     
     
         9 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is a negative switch fuse circuit or a positive switch fuse circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The switch of  claim 2 , wherein the current supply is from the second device or from a source above the switch. 
     
     
         11 . The switch of  claim 2 , wherein one or both of the first explosive device and second device is a gun segment of a perforation gun train. 
     
     
         12 . The switch of  claim 4 , wherein the second device is an explosive device and the supply of current to the second device initiates detonation of the second device. 
     
     
         13 . The switch of  claim 11 , wherein the switch is one of a series of switches in the perforation gun train, and wherein the circuit of consecutive switches alternates between a negative switch fuse circuit and a positive switch fuse circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The switch of  claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises a shoulder to limit the upper position of the piston. 
     
     
         15 . The switch of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is at least partially shielded by protective material. 
     
     
         16 . The switch of  claim 5 , wherein an outer surface of the housing further comprises a groove for receiving a sealing element. 
     
     
         17 . The switch of  claim 5 , wherein the housing provides a pressure barrier between the first explosive device and the second device. 
     
     
         18 . A switch comprising an anti-fuse, the anti-fuse being breakable upon reacting to a detonation and the switch being changeable from a first position to a second position upon breakage of the anti-fuse. 
     
     
         19 . The switch of  claim 18 , further comprising a circuit connected to the anti-fuse, the circuit being connectable to a first explosive device, a second device, and a selectively startable current supply. 
     
     
         20 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein the circuit permits transmission of current between the first explosive device and the current supply when the switch is in the first position. 
     
     
         21 . The switch of  claim 20 , wherein the circuit permits transmission of an opposite current from the current supply to the second device when the switch is in the second position. 
     
     
         22 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein the anti-fuse comprises an electrical pathway of the circuit. 
     
     
         23 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein components of the circuit are solid-state electronics. 
     
     
         24 . The switch of  claim 19 , further comprising a housing, and the circuit and the anti-fuse are placed inside the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The switch of  claim 24 , further comprising a piston disposed near a first end of the housing, the piston being movable from a lower position to an upper position by a force from the detonation. 
     
     
         26 . The switch of  claim 25  wherein, in the upper position, the piston breaks the anti-fuse. 
     
     
         27 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein the circuit is a negative switch fuse circuit or a positive switch fuse circuit. 
     
     
         28 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein the current supply is from the second device or from a source above the switch. 
     
     
         29 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein one or both of the first explosive device and second device is a gun segment of a perforation gun train. 
     
     
         30 . The switch of  claim 29 , wherein the switch is one of a series of switches in the perforation gun train, and wherein the circuit of consecutive switches alternate between a negative switch fuse circuit and a positive switch fuse circuit. 
     
     
         31 . The switch of  claim 21 , wherein the second device is an explosive device and the supply of current to the second device initiates detonation of the second device. 
     
     
         32 . The switch of  claim 25 , wherein the housing further comprises a shoulder to limit the upper position of the piston. 
     
     
         33 . The switch of  claim 24 , wherein the housing provides a pressure barrier between the first explosive device and the second device. 
     
     
         34 . The switch of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the circuit is shielded by protective material. 
     
     
         35 . The switch of  claim 24 , wherein an outer surface of the housing further comprises a groove for receiving a sealing element. 
     
     
         36 . A method of detonating a series of consecutive explosive devices comprising:
 providing a switch between a first explosive device and a second explosive device, the first and second explosive devices being a pair of adjacent explosive devices in the series, and the switch having a circuit;   sending current to the first explosive device and blocking current to the second explosive device;   detonating the first explosive device, thereby providing a detonation force; and   opening a part of the circuit using a portion of the detonation force, thereby blocking current to the first explosive device and sending an opposing current to the second explosive device.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising detonating the second explosive device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising providing a second switch between the second explosive device and a third explosive device, the second and third explosive devices being a pair of adjacent explosive devices in the series, and the second switch having a circuit. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising blocking the opposing current to the third explosive device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising opening a part of the circuit of the second switch using a portion of a detonation force from the detonation of the second explosive device, thereby blocking opposing current to the second explosive device and sending current to the third explosive device. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising detonating the third explosive device. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the switch comprises a housing, and the circuit is placed inside the housing. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the switch further comprises a piston disposed near a first end of the housing, the piston being movable from a lower position to an upper position by the portion of the detonation force from the detonation of the first explosive device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the opening of the part of the circuit is achieved by the movement of the piston into the upper position. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein components of the circuit are solid-state electronics. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the circuit is a negative switch fuse circuit or a positive switch fuse circuit. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the consecutive explosive devices are gun segments of a perforation gun train. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the switch is a positive switch and the second switch is a negative switch, or vice versa. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the housing further comprises a shoulder to limit the upper position of the piston. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the circuit is at least partially shielded by protective material. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein an outer surface of the housing further comprises a groove for receiving a sealing element. 
     
     
         52 . The switch of  claim 42 , wherein the housing provides a pressure barrier between the first explosive device and the second explosive device.