Detonator cartridge for perforating gun assembly

Abstract

A detonator cartridge includes a housing configured for receipt in a receptacle of a charge tube, an electronic initiation board supported in the housing, and a detonating capsule configured for lateral receipt in a slot defined in a first side wall of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detonator, comprising:
 a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, the first side wall defining a slot therein;   an electronic initiation board supported in the housing;   a line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, and a ground terminal each electrically coupled to the electronic initiation board; and   a detonating capsule configured for receipt in the slot of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The detonator according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a rotationally asymmetric shape. 
     
     
         3 . The detonator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side wall of the housing has first and second opposed surfaces that define the slot therebetween, the slot extending along a length of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The detonator according to  claim 3 , wherein the first surface of the first side wall has a first chamfered edge configured to facilitate receipt of the detonating capsule laterally into the slot of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The detonator according to  claim 4 , wherein the first surface includes a second chamfered edge angled inwardly from the first chamfered edge and configured to retain the detonating capsule in the slot of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The detonator according to  claim 1 , further comprising an internal wall positioned within the housing and extending in parallel relation with the first side wall, wherein the detonating capsule is configured to abut the internal wall when the detonating capsule is fully inserted into the slot of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The detonator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ground terminal extends alongside the second side wall of the housing such that the ground terminal and the detonating capsule are parallel with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The detonator according to  claim 7 , wherein the ground terminal is mounted on a lateral side of the electronic initiation board and protrudes laterally outward from the second side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The detonator according to  claim 8 , wherein the line-in terminal includes:
 a contact positioned at a first end of the housing and configured to receive an initiation signal; and   a spring having a first end resiliently biasing the contact toward the first end of the housing, and a second end in electrical communication with the electronic initiation board.   
     
     
         10 . The detonator according to  claim 9 , wherein the line-in terminal is parallel with and positioned underneath the electronic initiation board. 
     
     
         11 . The detonator according to  claim 9 , wherein the line-out terminal includes:
 a contact positioned at a second end of the housing and configured to transmit the initiation signal to a perforating gun; and   a spring having a first end resiliently biasing the contact of the line-out terminal toward the second end of the housing, and a second end in electrical communication with the electronic initiation board.   
     
     
         12 . The detonator according to  claim 11 , wherein the line-in and line-out terminals are axially aligned with one another. 
     
     
         13 . A perforating gun assembly, comprising:
 a charge tube defining a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough;   an end cap attached to an end of the charge tube, the end cap defining a receptacle therein; and   a detonator cartridge configured for receipt in the receptacle of the end cap, the detonator cartridge including:
 a housing including a first side wall and an opposite second side wall, the first side wall defining a slot therein; 
 an electronic initiation board supported in the housing; 
 a line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, and a ground terminal each electrically coupled to the electronic initiation board; and 
 a detonating capsule configured for receipt in the slot of the housing and configured to transmit combustion to a detonating cord. 
   
     
     
         14 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the detonating capsule is positioned in side-by-side relationship with a proximal end portion of the detonating cord. 
     
     
         15 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising a gun housing in which the charge tube, the end cap, and the detonator cartridge are received. 
     
     
         16 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 15 , further comprising a spring-loaded contact extending within the end cap and electrically coupling the ground terminal and the gun housing. 
     
     
         17 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the spring-loaded contact is perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the gun housing. 
     
     
         18 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the housing has a rotationally asymmetric shape corresponding to an asymmetric shape of the receptacle of the end cap. 
     
     
         19 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the first side wall of the housing has first and second opposed surfaces that define the slot therebetween, the slot extending along a length of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The perforating gun assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the first surface of the first side wall includes:
 a first chamfered edge configured to facilitate receipt of the detonating capsule laterally into the slot of the housing; and   a second chamfered edge angled inwardly from the first chamfered edge and configured to retain the detonating capsule in the slot of the housing.