Snap-on Liner Retention Device

Abstract

A shaped charge retainer ring for use in containing the liner of a shaped charge and the explosive material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shaped charge apparatus comprising:
 a shaped charge case with an axis, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top surface; and   at least one circumferential retaining means for retaining a ring on the outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining means on the outside surface of the shaped charge case is a circumferential groove. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one retaining means is a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining means is a thread. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the thread is a buttress thread. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining means is a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein retaining means is a plurality of detents. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein retaining means is a lip. 
     
     
         9 . A shaped charge retaining system comprising:
 a shaped charge case with an axis, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top surface;   at least one circumferential groove on the outer surface;   a L-shaped inner retainer ring with an inner radial surface, an outer radial surface, a lower axial surface, and an upper axial surface, wherein the lower axial surface is adjacent to the top surface of the shaped charge and the outer radial surface is adjacent to the inner surface of the shaped charge;   a L-shaped outer retainer ring having an upper axial surface, a lower axial surface, an inner radial surface, and an outer radial surface, wherein the inner radial surface includes at least one circumferential groove that interfaced with the shaped charge outer surface circumferential groove;   a liner with an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the liner is restrained axially by the inner retainer ring and the outer retainer ring; and   an explosive material located between the outer surface of the liner and the inner surface of the shaped charge case.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one circumferential groove on the outside surface of the shaped charge case is a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one circumferential groove on the inner radial surface of the outer retainer ring is a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inner retainer ring is composed of plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the outer retainer ring is composed of plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the outer retainer ring and the inner retainer ring are integrally formed into a single retainer ring. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inner retainer ring is rated to function up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the outer retainer ring is rated to function up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inner retainer ring has a low electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the outer retainer ring has a low electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inner retainer ring is manufactured using an additive manufacturing process. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the outer retainer ring is manufactured using an additive manufacturing process. 
     
     
         21 . A method for making a shaped charge comprising:
 forming explosive material inside of a shaped charge case;   forming a liner over the explosive material; and   installing a first retainer ring onto the shaped charge case, wherein the retainer ring prevents axial movement of the liner and the explosive material within said shaped charge case.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising installing a second retainer ring to the shaped charged case. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising installing the shaped charge in a charge tube. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second retainer ring prevents axial movement of the first retainer ring. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the forming a liner results in a substantially frusto-conical shape. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the forming explosive material results in a substantially frusto-conical shape. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising electrically isolating the shaped charge. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising manufacturing the first retainer ring. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising manufacturing the second retainer ring. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the manufacturing of the first retainer ring includes additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the manufacturing of the second retainer ring includes additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         32 . A shaped charge comprising:
 A case having an apex end, an open end having a rim, and a cavity extending into case from the open end;   a liner fitted into the open end of the case;   an electrically insulating ring adapted to fit over the rim of the open end of the case.   
     
     
         33 . The shaped charge of  claim 32  wherein:
 the rim of the open end of the case is substantially circular and comprises a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a substantially cylindrical outer surface; and 
 the insulating ring is substantially circular and comprises a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a substantially cylindrical outer surface. 
 
     
     
         34 . The shaped charge of  claim 33  wherein: the inner surface of the insulating ring has a smaller diameter than the inner surface of the open end of the case. 
     
     
         35 . The shaped charge of  claim 33  wherein the outer surface of the rim of the case comprises a retention feature. 
     
     
         36 . The shaped charge of  claim 35  wherein the retention feature comprises a raised circumferential ridge. 
     
     
         37 . The shaped charge of  claim 35  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of raised circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         38 . The shaped charge of  claim 35  wherein the retention feature comprises a circumferential groove. 
     
     
         39 . The shaped charge of  claim 35  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         40 . The shaped charge of  claim 33  wherein the inner surface of the rim of the case comprises a retention feature. 
     
     
         41 . The shaped charge of  claim 40  wherein the retention feature comprises a raised circumferential ridge. 
     
     
         42 . The shaped charge of  claim 40  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of raised circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         43 . The shaped charge of  claim 40  wherein the retention feature comprises a circumferential groove. 
     
     
         44 . The shaped charge of  claim 40  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         45 . The shaped charge of  claim 33  wherein the wherein the inner surface of the insulating ring comprises a retention feature. 
     
     
         46 . The shaped charge of  claim 45  wherein the retention feature comprises a raised circumferential ridge. 
     
     
         47 . The shaped charge of  claim 45  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of raised circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         48 . The shaped charge of  claim 45  wherein the retention feature comprises a circumferential groove. 
     
     
         49 . The shaped charge of  claim 45  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         50 . The shaped charge of  claim 33  wherein the wherein the outer surface of the insulating ring comprises a retention feature. 
     
     
         51 . The shaped charge of  claim 50  wherein the retention feature comprises a raised circumferential ridge. 
     
     
         52 . The shaped charge of  claim 50  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of raised circumferential ridges. 
     
     
         53 . The shaped charge of  claim 50  wherein the retention feature comprises a circumferential groove. 
     
     
         54 . The shaped charge of  claim 50  wherein the retention feature comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         55 . The shaped charge of  claim 32  wherein:
 the rim of the open end of the case is substantially circular and comprises a substantially cylindrical inner surface and a substantially cylindrical outer surface; and 
 the insulating ring comprises a substantially circular end face, a substantially cylindrical inner wall extending axially from the end face, and a substantially cylindrical outer wall extending axially from the end face. 
 
     
     
         56 . The shaped charge of  claim 55  wherein the outer wall of the insulating ring is adapted to fit outside the outer surface of the rim of the case. 
     
     
         57 . The shaped charge of  claim 55  wherein the outer wall of the insulating ring comprises a retention feature adapted to engage a retention feature on the outer surface of the rim of the case. 
     
     
         58 . The shaped charge of  claim 55  wherein the inner wall of the insulating ring is adapted to fit inside the inner surface of the rim of the case. 
     
     
         59 . The shaped charge of  claim 55  wherein the inner wall of the insulating ring comprises a retention feature adapted to engage a retention feature on the inner surface of the rim of the case.