# US 9,520,249 B2 · Changing the state of a switch through the application of power

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- Number: US 9,520,249 B2
- Document ID: US9520249B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/119,310
- Filed: 2011-10-11
- Published: 2014-07-03
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-02
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Clovis Satyro Bonavides
- Inventors: Clovis Satyro Bonavides
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520249B2

## CPC

- H01H 5/04: Energy stored by deformation of elastic members (by deformation of bimetallic element in thermally-actuated switches H01H37/54)
- F42C 15/42: from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields
- F42C 19/06: Electric contact parts specially adapted for use with electric fuzes {(switches operated by change of speed H01H35/06; switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. shock or vibration, inertia switches H01H35/14; fluid-pressure-operated switches H01H35/24)}
- H01H 3/30: using spring motor
- H01H 37/76: Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material
- H01H 37/761: {with a fusible element forming part of the switched circuit (H01H37/767 takes precedence)}
- H01H 37/767: {Normally open}
- H01H 61/02: wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively
- H01H 61/04: wherein the thermally-sensitive member is only heated directly
- H01H 85/36: Means for applying mechanical tension to fusible member
- H01H 85/46: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the protective device
- H02J 4/00: Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36)
- F42C 15/36: wherein arming is effected by combustion or fusion of an element; {Arming methods using temperature gradients}(F42C15/31 takes precedence)
- F42C 15/40: wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
- F42C 19/00: Details of fuzes (except F42C15/00)
- H01H 2037/762: {using a spring for opening the circuit when the fusible element melts}
- H01H 2037/763: {the spring being a blade spring}
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- F42C: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

## Abstract

A switch includes a spring. The switch further includes a collapsing element. The spring has a first spring state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element and a second spring state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed. The collapsing element is situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail. The switch further includes a first contact coupled to the spring. The switch further includes a second contact coupled to the spring. The first contact and the second contact have a first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the first spring state. The first contact and the second contact have a second 1-2 electrical connection state different from the first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the second spring state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A switch comprising:
a spring;
a collapsing element;
the spring having a first spring state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element;
the spring having a second spring state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed;
the collapsing element being situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail;
a first A contact coupled to the spring;
a second A contact coupled to the spring;
the first A contact and the second A contact having a first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the first spring state; and
the first A contact and the second A contact having a second 1-2 electrical connection state different from the first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the second spring state;
wherein:
the spring is C-shaped, having a first end, a second end, and an arced element coupled to and between the first end and the second end;
the first contact is coupled to the first end of the spring;
the second contact is coupled to the second end of the spring;
a first elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the first end of the spring;
a second elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the second end of the spring;
a first B contact is coupled to a distal end of the first elongated tension element;
a second B contact is coupled to a distal end of the second elongated tension element, such that the first B contact is coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the first spring state and the first B contact is not coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the second spring state;
moving the distal end of the first elongated tension element toward the distal end of the second elongated element causes the first end of the spring to separate from the second end of the spring; and
the restraining element is coupled between the distal end of the first elongated tension element and the distal end of the second elongated tension element such that the first end of the spring is separated from the second end of the spring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The switch of claim 1 wherein the restraining element is selected from a group consisting of a tie-wrap, a eutectic substance, and the collapsing element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The switch of claim 1 further comprising:
a third contact coupled to the spring;
a fourth contact coupled to the spring;
the third contact and the fourth contact having a first 3-4 electrical connection state when the spring is in the first state; and
the third contact and the fourth contact having a second 3-4 electrical connection state different from the first 3-4 electrical connection state when the spring is in the second state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The switch of claim 3 wherein:
the first contact is electrically connected to the second contact in the first 1-2 electrical connection state;
the first contact is electrically isolated from the second contact in the second 1-2 electrical connection state;
the third contact is electrically connected to the fourth contact in the first 3-4 electrical connection state;
the third contact is electrically isolated from the fourth contact in the second 3-4 electrical connection state.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The switch of claim 1 wherein:
a portion of the first end of the spring adjacent to where the first contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity; and
a portion of the second end of the spring adjacent to where the second contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The switch of claim 1 further comprising:
a voltage barrier coupled to the first contact.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The switch of claim 6 wherein the voltage barrier comprises a spark gap.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The switch of claim 1 further comprising:
a verification device coupled to the first contact.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The switch of claim 8 wherein the verification device is selected from the group consisting of a fuse and a resistor, the resistance of the resistor being much greater than the resistance of the collapsing element.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
coupling a first switch to a Power-in line, the first switch comprising:
a spring;
a collapsing element;
the spring having a first spring state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element;
the spring having a second spring state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed;
the collapsing element being situated such that, when sufficient current of a first polarity is applied to the collapsing element, heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail;
a first A contact coupled to the spring;
a second A contact coupled to the spring;
the first A contact and the second A contact having a first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the first spring state;
the first A contact and the second A contact having a second 1-2 electrical connection state different from the first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the second spring state;
the first A contact coupled to a first switch Attach line;
the first switch Attach line coupled to the Power-in line;
wherein:
the spring is C-shaped, having a first end, a second end, and an arced element coupled to and between the first end and the second end;
the first A contact is coupled to the first end of the spring;
the second A contact is coupled to the second end of the spring;
a first elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the first end of the spring;
a second elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the second end of the spring;
a first B contact is coupled to a distal end of the first elongated tension element;
a second B contact is coupled to a distal end of the second elongated tension element, such that the first B contact is coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the first spring state and the first B contact is not coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the second spring state;
moving the distal end of the first elongated tension element toward the distal end of the second elongated element causes the first end of the spring to separate from the second end of the spring; and
the restraining element is coupled between the distal end of the first elongated tension element and the distal end of the second elongated tension element such that the first end of the spring is separated from the second end of the spring; and
applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the Power-in line to the first switch Attach line that the restraining element fails and the spring moves from the first spring state to the second spring state.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising:
coupling the second contact to a second switch Attach line on a second switch; and
after applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the Power-in line to the first switch Attach line, directing current of a second polarity opposite the first polarity through the first contact and the second contact to:
a perforating gun; and
the second switch Attach line, the second switch being constructed the same as the first switch except that the second switch requires sufficient power of the second polarity to cause a spring in the second switch to change from a first spring state to a second spring state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising:
coupling the second contact to a second switch Attach line on a second switch; and
after applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the Power-in line to the first switch Attach line, directing current of a second polarity opposite the first polarity through the first contact and the second contact to:
an explosive initiator in a setting tool; and
the second switch Attach line, the second switch being constructed the same as the first switch except that the second switch requires sufficient power of the second polarity to cause a spring in the second switch to change from a first spring state to a second spring state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein:
the first switch further comprises:
a verification device coupled to the first contact; and
the method further comprises:
verifying that the restraining element has failed after applying sufficient power of the first polarity to the Power-in line by detecting the presence of the verification device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein detecting the presence of the verification device comprises measuring an impedance between the Power-in line and a ground and comparing it to a known impedance of the verification device.

### Claim 15

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a computer system, perform a method comprising:
coupling a first switch to a Power-in line, the first switch comprising:
a spring;
a collapsing element;
the spring having a first spring state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element;
the spring having a second spring state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed;
the collapsing element being situated such that, when sufficient current of a first polarity is applied to the collapsing element, heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail;
a first A contact coupled to the spring;
a second A contact coupled to the spring;
the first A contact and the second A contact having a first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the first spring state;
the first A contact and the second A contact having a second 1-2 electrical connection state different from the first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the second spring state;
the first contact coupled to a first switch Attach line;
the first switch Attach line coupled to the Power-in line;
wherein:
the spring is C-shaped, having a first end, a second end, and an arced element coupled to and between the first end and the second end;
the first A contact is coupled to the first end of the spring;
the second A contact is coupled to the second end of the spring;
a first elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the first end of the spring;
a second elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the second end of the spring;
a first B contact is coupled to a distal end of the first elongated tension element;
a second B contact is coupled to a distal end of the second elongated tension element, such that the first B contact is coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the first spring state and the first contact is not coupled to the second contact when the spring is in a second spring state;
moving the distal end of the first elongated tension element toward the distal end of the second elongated element causes the first end of the spring to separate from the second end of the spring; and
the restraining element is coupled between the distal end of the first elongated tension element and the distal end of the second elongated tension element such that the first end of the spring is separated from the second end of the spring; and
applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the Power-in line to the first switch Attach line that the restraining element fails and the spring moves from the first spring state to the second spring state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
coupling the second contact to a second switch Attach line on a second switch; and
after applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the Power-in line to the first switch Attach line, directing current of a second polarity opposite the first polarity through the first contact and the second contact to:
a perforating gun; and
the second switch Attach line, the second switch being constructed the same as the first switch except that the second switch requires sufficient power of the second polarity to cause a spring in the second switch to change from a first spring state to a second spring state.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:
coupling the second contact to a second switch Attach line on a second switch; and
after applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the Power-in line to the first switch Attach line, directing current of a second polarity opposite the first polarity through the first contact and the second contact to:
an explosive initiator in a setting tool; and
the second switch Attach line, the second switch being constructed the same as the first switch except that the second switch requires sufficient power of the second polarity to cause a spring in the second switch to change from a first spring state to a second spring state.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein:
the first switch further comprises:
a verification device coupled to the first contact; and
the method further comprises:
verifying that the restraining element has failed after applying sufficient power of the first polarity to the Power-in line by detecting the presence of the verification device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The computer-readable media of claim 18 wherein detecting the presence of the verification device comprises measuring an impedance between the Power-in line and a ground and comparing it to a known impedance of the verification device.