# US 11,078,762 B2 · Downhole perforating gun tube and components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,762 B2 - Document ID: US11078762B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/293,508 - Filed: 2019-03-05 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-05 - Assignees: SWM International, LLC - Applicants: SWM International Inc. - Inventors: Dawna Mauldin; Sidney W. Mauldin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078762B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/117: Shaped-charge perforators (E21B43/118 takes precedence) - E21B 43/1185: Ignition systems - E21B 43/119: Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction - F42D 1/045: Arrangements for electric ignition (dynamo-electric generators H02K) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F42D: BLASTING (fuses, e.g. fuse cords, C06C5/00; {for obtaining fluid from wells E21B43/00; for mining or quarrying E21C37/00; for making tunnels or galleries E21D9/006}; cartridges F42B3/00) ## Abstract A gun tube for a downhole perforating gun assembly includes a body having a cavity and one or more weights in the cavity. Gravity acts on the weights, which causes the tube body to rotate around its longitudinal axis so the weights are adjacent the lower part of the wellbore in which the gun assembly is positioned when oriented horizontally. This positions shape charges in the gun tube in a desired position prior to the shape charges being fired. The gun tube may also include one or more end connectors with electrical contacts having a first, extended position, and a second, contracted position, and/or end connectors that can be assembled by hand without the use of tools. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole perforating gun system, comprising: an outer casing having a longitudinal center axis; a gun body having a longitudinal center axis, wherein the gun body is concentrically disposed in the outer casing such that the longitudinal center axis of the gun body is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the outer casing; one or more explosive charges coupled to the gun body; a collar; a bearing assembly at least partially disposed in the collar such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing; and one or more weights, wherein the gun body is rotatable by the weights via the bearing assembly based on gravity acting on the one or more weights. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a bearing housing, and one or more bearings disposed within the bearing housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising a support member, wherein the bearing assembly is disposed between the collar and the support member such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising an end contact configured to transmit the electricity to the gun system, wherein the end contact is at least partially disposed through the collar and the bearing assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising an end contact having a first, extended position and a second, contracted position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gun system of claim 5, wherein the end contact comprises a spring disposed on a reduced outer diameter portion of the end contact, wherein the spring is disposed between an enlarged outer diameter portion of the end contact and a support member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising a support member having a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein the bearing assembly is positioned on the first portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the gun body comprises one or more charge openings configured to receive at least one of the one or more explosive charges. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the one or more weights are fixed within a cavity of the gun body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The gun system of claim 9, wherein the gun body comprises one or more securing members configured to retain the one or more weights within the cavity of the gun body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gun system of claim 10, wherein the one or more securing members are pressed down against a flat surface of the one or more weights to retain the one or more weights within the cavity of the gun body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising: a first end fitting that includes a first end contact having a first, extended position and a second, contracted position, and a second end fitting that includes a second end contact having a first, extended position and a second, extended position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The gun system of claim 12, wherein the first end contact and the second end contact are biased into the second, extended position by one or more biasing members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising an end contact having a first end that comprises a stem, the stem being positioned at least partially inside of the gun body and the end contact having a second end, the second end comprising an electrical contact, the electrical contact being positioned at least partially outside of the gun body, wherein the end contact is configured to transmit electricity therethrough. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising a second collar and a second bearing assembly at least partially disposed in the second collar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising an insulated electrical contact configured to transmit electricity to the gun system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly comprises one or more ball bearings. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a radial bearing or a thrust bearing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the gun body includes predefined locations to affix the one or more weights to the gun body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the one or more explosive charges have a predefined orientation relative to the outer casing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the gun body is a cylindrical tube comprising one or more charge openings, and wherein the one or more explosive charges are disposed in the one or more openings at predetermined orientations. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, wherein the gun body is a cylindrical tube. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The gun system of claim 1, further comprising an end fitting, wherein the collar comprises a portion of the end fitting. ### Claim 24 A downhole perforating gun system, comprising: an outer casing having a longitudinal center axis; a gun body having a longitudinal center axis, wherein the gun body is concentrically disposed in the outer casing such that the longitudinal center axis of the gun body is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the outer casing; one or more explosive charges coupled to the gun body; a collar; a support member; a bearing assembly at least partially disposed between the collar and the support member such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing; and one or more weights, wherein the gun body is rotatable by the weights via the bearing assembly based on gravity acting on the one or more weights. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The gun system of claim 24, wherein the support member has a larger outer diameter portion and a smaller outer diameter portion, wherein the collar has a cavity, and wherein the bearing assembly is at least partially disposed on the smaller outer diameter portion of the support member and at least partially disposed in the cavity of the collar such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The gun system of claim 24, further comprising a second collar, a second support member, and a second bearing assembly at least partially disposed between the second collar and the second support member such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The gun system of claim 24, wherein the gun body is a cylindrical tube. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The gun system of claim 24, further comprising an end fitting, wherein the collar comprises a portion of the end fitting. ### Claim 29 A downhole perforating gun system, comprising: an outer casing having a longitudinal center axis; a gun body having a longitudinal center axis, wherein the gun body is concentrically disposed in the outer casing such that the longitudinal center axis of the gun body is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the outer casing; one or more explosive charges coupled to the gun body; a support member having a larger outer diameter portion and a smaller outer diameter portion; a collar having a cavity; a bearing assembly at least partially disposed on the smaller outer diameter portion of the support member and at least partially disposed in the cavity of the collar such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing; and one or more weights, wherein the gun body is rotatable by the weights via the bearing assembly based on gravity acting on the one or more weights. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The gun system of claim 29, wherein the bearing assembly is a radial bearing assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The gun system of claim 29, wherein the gun body is a cylindrical tube. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The gun system of claim 29, further comprising an end fitting, wherein the collar comprises a portion of the end fitting. ### Claim 33 A downhole perforating gun system, comprising: an outer casing having a longitudinal center axis; a gun body having a longitudinal center axis, wherein the gun body is concentrically disposed in the outer casing such that the longitudinal center axis of the gun body is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the outer casing; one or more explosive charges coupled to the gun body; a support member having a larger outer diameter portion and a smaller outer diameter portion; a radial bearing assembly at least partially disposed on the smaller outer diameter portion of the support member such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing; and one or more weights, wherein the gun body is rotatable by the weights via the bearing assembly based on gravity acting on the one or more weights. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The gun system of claim 33, further comprising a collar, wherein the radial bearing assembly is at least partially disposed between the collar and the smaller outer diameter portion of the support member. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The gun system of claim 34, further comprising a second collar, a second support member having a larger outer diameter portion and a smaller outer diameter portion, and a second radial bearing assembly at least partially disposed between the second collar and the smaller outer diameter portion of the second support member such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing, wherein the collar and the second collar are disposed at opposite ends of the gun body. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The gun system of claim 33, further comprising a collar having a cavity, wherein the radial bearing assembly is at least partially disposed in the cavity. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The gun system of claim 33, wherein the gun body is a cylindrical tube. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The gun system of claim 33, further comprising a collar and an end fitting, wherein the collar comprises a portion of the end fitting.