CA1087521A - Non-metallic sucker rod string - Google Patents
Non-metallic sucker rod stringInfo
- Publication number
- CA1087521A CA1087521A CA327,427A CA327427A CA1087521A CA 1087521 A CA1087521 A CA 1087521A CA 327427 A CA327427 A CA 327427A CA 1087521 A CA1087521 A CA 1087521A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rod
- collets
- retainer
- sucker
- rods
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A connector for high tensile load attachment to an elongated rod, such as a resin bonded, glass reinforced rod, includes a high strength, elongated, metal cylindrical retainer having an internal shoulder formed at one longitudinal end and a plurality of outer peripheral threads formed at the other longitudinal end for the threaded attachment of a hook or other load bearing device. The connector further includes a plurality of metal collets or rings, whose inner peripheral profile configurations are that of a pair of truncated cones placed base-to-base, serially, longitudinally received within the retainer. The slopes of the cones of the collets rec-eived within the retainer are independently, variably preselectable to achieve optimum results. The junctions or edges defining the intersections of the bases of the cones are rounded off to avoid excessive stresses being transmitted to the rod. In mounting the connector onto an end of an elon-gated rod, the retainer is placed around the rod and a desired number of the collets, depending upon the tensile load anticipated, are serially placed within the retainer and abut against the shoulder of the retainer. An elastomeric O-ring seal is positioned securely about the rod and beneath the underside of the retaining cylinder. An organic potting compound, for example an epoxy resin, is poured into the space between the rod and the collets and is held therein by the O-ring seal. After the potting compound has set, the O-ring seal is removed and a suitable load bearing device or attachment may he threaded onto the threaded end of the retainer.
A connector for high tensile load attachment to an elongated rod, such as a resin bonded, glass reinforced rod, includes a high strength, elongated, metal cylindrical retainer having an internal shoulder formed at one longitudinal end and a plurality of outer peripheral threads formed at the other longitudinal end for the threaded attachment of a hook or other load bearing device. The connector further includes a plurality of metal collets or rings, whose inner peripheral profile configurations are that of a pair of truncated cones placed base-to-base, serially, longitudinally received within the retainer. The slopes of the cones of the collets rec-eived within the retainer are independently, variably preselectable to achieve optimum results. The junctions or edges defining the intersections of the bases of the cones are rounded off to avoid excessive stresses being transmitted to the rod. In mounting the connector onto an end of an elon-gated rod, the retainer is placed around the rod and a desired number of the collets, depending upon the tensile load anticipated, are serially placed within the retainer and abut against the shoulder of the retainer. An elastomeric O-ring seal is positioned securely about the rod and beneath the underside of the retaining cylinder. An organic potting compound, for example an epoxy resin, is poured into the space between the rod and the collets and is held therein by the O-ring seal. After the potting compound has set, the O-ring seal is removed and a suitable load bearing device or attachment may he threaded onto the threaded end of the retainer.
Description
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Tll;s application is a division o~ our Canadian patent ~Ipplication No. 251,210 filecl ~pril 27, 1976.
The de~ice of the present invention relates generally to a new and improved connector for high tensile Load attachment to an elongated ele-ment, SUC}l as a resin bonded9 glass reinforced rod, to a new and improved method Eor maintaining a high tensile load attachment to an elongated element, to a ne~ and improved suspension insulator~ to a ne~ and improved method for manufacturing suspension insulators, to a ne~ and improved sucker rod and to a new and improved method for actuating a remotely located pump.
~here is a need unfulfilled by prior art devices for low cost elongated rods and end fittings or connectors or these rods capable of carrying high tensile loads. In many geographical locations, there are wide variations in both temperature and environmental conditions, In these loca-tions, prior art connectors that are capable of carrying high tensile loads are technically or econo~ically undesirable.
A specific example o a common connector of this type is the end fitting used in rod type suspension insulators to support or suspend high voltage po~er cables from transmission towers. Due to the very high tensile loads and large temperature variations, these prior art end flttings tend to exert excessive shear stresses on the rod or suffer a change in the phy- ;
sical characteristics oE the materials that form the end fittings.
One type QE prior art fitting employs a cylindrical metal sleeve placed het~een compression dies and compressed about the end of a rod. An example of this type of prior art fitting is disclosed in United States patent No. 3,l92,622 of Bannerman, issued July G, 1965. Such ittings tend to be excessi~elr long and to creep upon belng subjected to high tensile loads and hlgh temperatures.
An~ther exa~ple o~ a typical prior art ~ittl^ng is the ~i~ting _ ~;
i375;~
employlng a metal wedge s~t forth in Unitecl States Patellt No. 3,698,7~9 of Yonkers~ issued October 17, 1972. This type of Eitting is costly to produce and tends eithe~ to spot load the rod or to lose its shear strength at the inter~ace between the wedge and the rod.
Other common prior art end fittings are expensive to manufacture and require large ~lounts of potting material between the end fitting and the rod, thus making the suspension insulator more susceptible to failure upon being exposed to temperature and environmental variations. These char-acteristics reduce the capability of prior art suspension insulators to achieve high tensile loading.
Furthermore, there is a need for low cost, light-weight, rigid rods and interconnections between adjacent rods for actuating remotely loca-ted pumps, such as oil ~ell pumps. When the oil pressure in an oil ield has fallen to a point where the oil is not naturally lifted to the surface, artiicial means must be used to lift the oil to the surface. One artiicial means is an oil well pump placed at the bottom o the oil well and actuated by a pluralit~ or string of rods, commonly referred to as a sucker rod string. ~ typical sucker rod string includes a plurality of steel rods having lengths of bet~een 25 and 30 feet and diameters of I~, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1 or 1~ inches interconnected by threaded couplings. A typical pumpîng unit including a typical sucker rod string is ully disclosed and discussed in a reference book entitled PRIMER OF OIL AND GAS PRODUC~ION ~1971), publish-ed by the American Petroleum Institute. See particularly Chapter 5~ pages 23-26. In addition, the special problems encountered in this method o oil production are discussed in Chapter 10.
Typical steel sucker rods must be replaced at rather fre~uent intervals due to corrosion. Many attempts have been made to reduce corrosion or the effects ~f corrosion. For example~ plastic coatings have been devel-.. . . . . . - : ~ , 37SZiL
oped for application to metal surfaccs to protect tho metal surfaces Erom corrosion. In many lotY pressure systems, plastic pipe is being used as a substitute for steel pipe to reduce corrosion problems. ~lowever, -the plas-tic pipe typically does not have the same strength as the metal pipe. ~or all of the above reasons, a neecl exists for corrosion resistant, high ten-sile strength sucker rod strings for use in pumping oil to the surface.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device and method for actuating a remotely located pump.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved sucker rod.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and ?
improved sucker rod string.
Briefly, the present invention is directed to a ne~ and improved end fitting or connector for the high tensile load attachment to an elonga-ted element~ such as the rod of a suspension insulator or a sucker rod.
The connector includes a high-strength, elonga~ed, metal cylindrical retain~
er having an internal shoulder formed at one longitudinal end and a plurality of peripheral threads formed at the other longitudinal end for threadedly engaging a suitable load bearing attachment. i~
rn accordance with one feature of the present invention, the connector includes one or more metal collets or rings having inner perlpher-al profile ¢onfigurations of a pair of truncated cones positioned base-to-base. The collets are stacked within or serially disposed along the long-itudinal axis of the retainer and about the rod such that the lo~ermost col- ~
let abuts against the internal shoulder of the retainar. A suitable organic ` 'potting compound o~ an engineering grade~ such as an epoxy resin, is p -~
between the collets and rod and is held therein b~ an elastomerlc Q-rin~
seal disposed exteri~rly of the retainer. ~hen the co~pound has cured or -, ~,; .
~ .. ,~, , .
, ~ 3 ~ ; ~;~
~ 7S2~
hardened, the O-ring seal may be removed and a suitable load bearing at-tachment may be secured to the threaded end o:E the .retainer.
In accordance wi-th one aspect oE -the invention, there is provided a sucker rod string comprising a plurality of non-metallic suc~er rods and means for serially interconnecting said plurality of sucker rods, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first end fitting for attachment to a longitudinal end of each of at least some of said plurality of nonmetallic sucker rods, said first end fitting comprising a plurality of collets positioned about each such rod, elongated means for re-ceiving and retaining said plurality of collets about and spa~ed from said rod in a serially disposed, coaxially aligned condition within said elongated receiving and retaining means and along the longitudinal axis of said rod and means for filling sub-stantially all of the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said plurality of collets to thereby afflx said end fitting to said rod. ;
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of interconnecting an oil well pump located below the earth's surface with an oil well pump ~ower plant comprising the steps of positioning a plurality of : .
elongated, nonmetallic sucker rods in a serially disposed end-to-end relationship between said power plant and said pump, securely interconnecting the proximal longitudinal ends of :--adjacent ones of sald plurality of rods, securely connecting the uppermost one of said plurality of rods to a portion of said power plant and securely connecting the lowermost one of said -4~
52~
plurality of rods to a portion oE saic1 pL~mp, wherein said secure-ly interconnecting s-tep comprises the steps of positioning a hi~h-strength, elonga-ted, tubular, cylindrical retainer about a longitudinal end of a rod of said plurality of rods, placing a plurality of collets in a stacked, serially disposed, coaxially aligned condi-tion within said re-tainer, about and spaced from said rod and along the longitudinal axis of said rod and filling substantially all the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said plurality of collets to thereby attach said end fitting to said rod.
The above and other objects and advantages and novel ;~
features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a sus- ~-pension insulator having end fittings or connectors constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the ;
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insulator takell along :line 2-2 ot`l:~GURF~ l;
F.~GURE 3 is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary, elevational vlew o:f the connector device illustrclted in FIGURE l;
FIGlJRE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of an as-sembled device prior ~o the insertion of a suitable potting compound;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmen-tary, elevational view of the assembled device, similar to the view of FIGURE 4, after the insertion o~ the potting compound;
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the connector device ;
FIGURE 7 is a partially elevational and partially cross-sectional diagrammatic view oE an al~ernate embodiment of the device of the present invention used in a pumping unit;
FI~URE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view portion of the device of FIGURE 7 taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;
FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of another portion of the device of FIGURE 7 taken along line g-9 of FIGURE 7;
and FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a por-tion of the device of FIGURE 7.
~ith reference to FIGURES 1-5 of the drawings~ there is illustrat-ed a ne~ and improved suspension insulator 10 including a new and improved end fitting or connector 12, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and claimed in the aforementioned patent applica-tion Serial ~o. 251,210. : ... ;
The insula~or 10 may be used to suspend high voltage power cables :
from transmission towers by attaching one longitudinal end of the insulator 10 to an arm of the to~er and the other longitudinal end to a high voltage power cable. The insulator 10 includes an elongated suspension element or .. 5 - : . ~ ::, ~ . , : ,, . : . . .
, .
. : - , :. , . : ~. . : .
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rod l~ preferably of tlle resin bonded, glass roillforced type. [n ~he illus-trated form, the insukltor 10 includes a plllrality o~ porcelain ~hells or skirts 16 each having a central bore 18 therethrough. The rod 14 is passed thro~lgh the bore 18 of one or more of the shells 16 such that shells 16 are axially mounted about rod 14 in a stacked relationship. The spaces between shells 16 and rod 14 are ~ypically fill~d w:ith an elastomeric flller 22 in a manner well known in the art.
Mounted on the ends of rod 14 are a pair of new and improved end fittings or connectors 12. The connectors 12 each include a high-strength ~
metal cylindrical retainer 26 having an internal shoulder 28 formed at one ~:
longitudinal end and a plurality of threads 30 formed at the other longitu-dinal end.
A plurality of metal collets or rings 32, 34 and 36 ~FIGURE 3), formed in a specific embodiment of a metal such as aluminum, are stacked :
within and serially disposed along the longitudinal axis of the retainer 26.
The collets 32, 34 and 36 are of an annular configuration and are held ~ithin the retainer 26 by the in~ernal shoulder 28. The outer peripheries of the collets 32, 34 and 36 may be circular, polygonal or of any desired shape and, in general, should be formed to conform with the inner periphery of the retainer 26. -The inner peripheral profile configurations of the collets 32, 34 and 36 are that of two, base-to-base or abutting, truncated, right circular cones. At least the long tapers or slopes of the longer cones of the collets 3Z, 34 and 36 may be formed with the same or different inclinations or slope angles or may be otherwise mathematically programmed to achieve op-timum res~lts in the attachment of the connector 12 to the rod 14. Prefer-ably, the edge 44 formed by the junction of the cone bases is rounded off to avoid transmission of excessive shear stresses to the rod 14 and the ,: -J.,~ .
. 6 - . . ~- - ~ . : .
Tll;s application is a division o~ our Canadian patent ~Ipplication No. 251,210 filecl ~pril 27, 1976.
The de~ice of the present invention relates generally to a new and improved connector for high tensile Load attachment to an elongated ele-ment, SUC}l as a resin bonded9 glass reinforced rod, to a new and improved method Eor maintaining a high tensile load attachment to an elongated element, to a ne~ and improved suspension insulator~ to a ne~ and improved method for manufacturing suspension insulators, to a ne~ and improved sucker rod and to a new and improved method for actuating a remotely located pump.
~here is a need unfulfilled by prior art devices for low cost elongated rods and end fittings or connectors or these rods capable of carrying high tensile loads. In many geographical locations, there are wide variations in both temperature and environmental conditions, In these loca-tions, prior art connectors that are capable of carrying high tensile loads are technically or econo~ically undesirable.
A specific example o a common connector of this type is the end fitting used in rod type suspension insulators to support or suspend high voltage po~er cables from transmission towers. Due to the very high tensile loads and large temperature variations, these prior art end flttings tend to exert excessive shear stresses on the rod or suffer a change in the phy- ;
sical characteristics oE the materials that form the end fittings.
One type QE prior art fitting employs a cylindrical metal sleeve placed het~een compression dies and compressed about the end of a rod. An example of this type of prior art fitting is disclosed in United States patent No. 3,l92,622 of Bannerman, issued July G, 1965. Such ittings tend to be excessi~elr long and to creep upon belng subjected to high tensile loads and hlgh temperatures.
An~ther exa~ple o~ a typical prior art ~ittl^ng is the ~i~ting _ ~;
i375;~
employlng a metal wedge s~t forth in Unitecl States Patellt No. 3,698,7~9 of Yonkers~ issued October 17, 1972. This type of Eitting is costly to produce and tends eithe~ to spot load the rod or to lose its shear strength at the inter~ace between the wedge and the rod.
Other common prior art end fittings are expensive to manufacture and require large ~lounts of potting material between the end fitting and the rod, thus making the suspension insulator more susceptible to failure upon being exposed to temperature and environmental variations. These char-acteristics reduce the capability of prior art suspension insulators to achieve high tensile loading.
Furthermore, there is a need for low cost, light-weight, rigid rods and interconnections between adjacent rods for actuating remotely loca-ted pumps, such as oil ~ell pumps. When the oil pressure in an oil ield has fallen to a point where the oil is not naturally lifted to the surface, artiicial means must be used to lift the oil to the surface. One artiicial means is an oil well pump placed at the bottom o the oil well and actuated by a pluralit~ or string of rods, commonly referred to as a sucker rod string. ~ typical sucker rod string includes a plurality of steel rods having lengths of bet~een 25 and 30 feet and diameters of I~, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1 or 1~ inches interconnected by threaded couplings. A typical pumpîng unit including a typical sucker rod string is ully disclosed and discussed in a reference book entitled PRIMER OF OIL AND GAS PRODUC~ION ~1971), publish-ed by the American Petroleum Institute. See particularly Chapter 5~ pages 23-26. In addition, the special problems encountered in this method o oil production are discussed in Chapter 10.
Typical steel sucker rods must be replaced at rather fre~uent intervals due to corrosion. Many attempts have been made to reduce corrosion or the effects ~f corrosion. For example~ plastic coatings have been devel-.. . . . . . - : ~ , 37SZiL
oped for application to metal surfaccs to protect tho metal surfaces Erom corrosion. In many lotY pressure systems, plastic pipe is being used as a substitute for steel pipe to reduce corrosion problems. ~lowever, -the plas-tic pipe typically does not have the same strength as the metal pipe. ~or all of the above reasons, a neecl exists for corrosion resistant, high ten-sile strength sucker rod strings for use in pumping oil to the surface.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device and method for actuating a remotely located pump.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved sucker rod.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and ?
improved sucker rod string.
Briefly, the present invention is directed to a ne~ and improved end fitting or connector for the high tensile load attachment to an elonga-ted element~ such as the rod of a suspension insulator or a sucker rod.
The connector includes a high-strength, elonga~ed, metal cylindrical retain~
er having an internal shoulder formed at one longitudinal end and a plurality of peripheral threads formed at the other longitudinal end for threadedly engaging a suitable load bearing attachment. i~
rn accordance with one feature of the present invention, the connector includes one or more metal collets or rings having inner perlpher-al profile ¢onfigurations of a pair of truncated cones positioned base-to-base. The collets are stacked within or serially disposed along the long-itudinal axis of the retainer and about the rod such that the lo~ermost col- ~
let abuts against the internal shoulder of the retainar. A suitable organic ` 'potting compound o~ an engineering grade~ such as an epoxy resin, is p -~
between the collets and rod and is held therein b~ an elastomerlc Q-rin~
seal disposed exteri~rly of the retainer. ~hen the co~pound has cured or -, ~,; .
~ .. ,~, , .
, ~ 3 ~ ; ~;~
~ 7S2~
hardened, the O-ring seal may be removed and a suitable load bearing at-tachment may be secured to the threaded end o:E the .retainer.
In accordance wi-th one aspect oE -the invention, there is provided a sucker rod string comprising a plurality of non-metallic suc~er rods and means for serially interconnecting said plurality of sucker rods, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first end fitting for attachment to a longitudinal end of each of at least some of said plurality of nonmetallic sucker rods, said first end fitting comprising a plurality of collets positioned about each such rod, elongated means for re-ceiving and retaining said plurality of collets about and spa~ed from said rod in a serially disposed, coaxially aligned condition within said elongated receiving and retaining means and along the longitudinal axis of said rod and means for filling sub-stantially all of the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said plurality of collets to thereby afflx said end fitting to said rod. ;
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of interconnecting an oil well pump located below the earth's surface with an oil well pump ~ower plant comprising the steps of positioning a plurality of : .
elongated, nonmetallic sucker rods in a serially disposed end-to-end relationship between said power plant and said pump, securely interconnecting the proximal longitudinal ends of :--adjacent ones of sald plurality of rods, securely connecting the uppermost one of said plurality of rods to a portion of said power plant and securely connecting the lowermost one of said -4~
52~
plurality of rods to a portion oE saic1 pL~mp, wherein said secure-ly interconnecting s-tep comprises the steps of positioning a hi~h-strength, elonga-ted, tubular, cylindrical retainer about a longitudinal end of a rod of said plurality of rods, placing a plurality of collets in a stacked, serially disposed, coaxially aligned condi-tion within said re-tainer, about and spaced from said rod and along the longitudinal axis of said rod and filling substantially all the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said plurality of collets to thereby attach said end fitting to said rod.
The above and other objects and advantages and novel ;~
features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a sus- ~-pension insulator having end fittings or connectors constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the ;
;~'' ':
~,' ",' : ' ; '- ,' :: ' . ~ i .
-4a-::
5Z~
insulator takell along :line 2-2 ot`l:~GURF~ l;
F.~GURE 3 is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary, elevational vlew o:f the connector device illustrclted in FIGURE l;
FIGlJRE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of an as-sembled device prior ~o the insertion of a suitable potting compound;
FIGURE 5 is a fragmen-tary, elevational view of the assembled device, similar to the view of FIGURE 4, after the insertion o~ the potting compound;
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the connector device ;
FIGURE 7 is a partially elevational and partially cross-sectional diagrammatic view oE an al~ernate embodiment of the device of the present invention used in a pumping unit;
FI~URE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view portion of the device of FIGURE 7 taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;
FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of another portion of the device of FIGURE 7 taken along line g-9 of FIGURE 7;
and FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a por-tion of the device of FIGURE 7.
~ith reference to FIGURES 1-5 of the drawings~ there is illustrat-ed a ne~ and improved suspension insulator 10 including a new and improved end fitting or connector 12, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and claimed in the aforementioned patent applica-tion Serial ~o. 251,210. : ... ;
The insula~or 10 may be used to suspend high voltage power cables :
from transmission towers by attaching one longitudinal end of the insulator 10 to an arm of the to~er and the other longitudinal end to a high voltage power cable. The insulator 10 includes an elongated suspension element or .. 5 - : . ~ ::, ~ . , : ,, . : . . .
, .
. : - , :. , . : ~. . : .
~375;Z~
rod l~ preferably of tlle resin bonded, glass roillforced type. [n ~he illus-trated form, the insukltor 10 includes a plllrality o~ porcelain ~hells or skirts 16 each having a central bore 18 therethrough. The rod 14 is passed thro~lgh the bore 18 of one or more of the shells 16 such that shells 16 are axially mounted about rod 14 in a stacked relationship. The spaces between shells 16 and rod 14 are ~ypically fill~d w:ith an elastomeric flller 22 in a manner well known in the art.
Mounted on the ends of rod 14 are a pair of new and improved end fittings or connectors 12. The connectors 12 each include a high-strength ~
metal cylindrical retainer 26 having an internal shoulder 28 formed at one ~:
longitudinal end and a plurality of threads 30 formed at the other longitu-dinal end.
A plurality of metal collets or rings 32, 34 and 36 ~FIGURE 3), formed in a specific embodiment of a metal such as aluminum, are stacked :
within and serially disposed along the longitudinal axis of the retainer 26.
The collets 32, 34 and 36 are of an annular configuration and are held ~ithin the retainer 26 by the in~ernal shoulder 28. The outer peripheries of the collets 32, 34 and 36 may be circular, polygonal or of any desired shape and, in general, should be formed to conform with the inner periphery of the retainer 26. -The inner peripheral profile configurations of the collets 32, 34 and 36 are that of two, base-to-base or abutting, truncated, right circular cones. At least the long tapers or slopes of the longer cones of the collets 3Z, 34 and 36 may be formed with the same or different inclinations or slope angles or may be otherwise mathematically programmed to achieve op-timum res~lts in the attachment of the connector 12 to the rod 14. Prefer-ably, the edge 44 formed by the junction of the cone bases is rounded off to avoid transmission of excessive shear stresses to the rod 14 and the ,: -J.,~ .
. 6 - . . ~- - ~ . : .
2~
resin 52 upon the applicatioll of a tens.i.le loa~ to the colmecto-~s 12 aTId the ro~ 14. Ihe collets 32, 3~ ancl 36 are coatecl Witil suitable l~lbr:icclrlts or mold release agents such as molybdenum disulfide, silicorle grease or polytetrafluoroethylene prlor to assembly to avoid thle development o:E a bond between the colle-ts 32, 34 and 36 and ~he resin 52.
In assembling or mounting one o:f the connectors 12 to one of the ends of the rod 14, an elastomeric O-ring seal 46 (FIGUR~ 4) is positioned about the rod 14 and below a groove 48 fabricated on the retainer 26 to a location such that the retainer 26 rests upon the seal 46. In this position, the seal 46 serves to cover and seal the lower open end o-f the retainer 26.
The retainer 26 is then positioned coaxially about the rod 14 and upon the seal 46. Subsequently, the collets 32~ 34 and 36 are serially positioned within and along the longitudinal axis of the retainer 26 and about the rod 14.
~he space 50 betwe.en the inner su~faces of the collets 32, 34 and 36 and the rod 14 is filled with a sui~able organic potting compound 52 ~FIGURfi 5) of an engineering grade, for example, an epo~y resin. Once the potting compound 52 has cured or set, the seal ~6 may be remo~ed.
In accordance with a specific embodiment of the present invention a spring support washer 54 is mounted on the upper end of the top shell 16.
A loading spring 56 is then placed upon the washer 54 and is housed within an upper spring cover 58. A clevis fitting 60 is threaded onto the threads .
30 of the connector 12 to compress the spring 56 and thereby load the top shell 16 against the connector 12. The fitting 60 may be held in place by a set screw 62. ~ .
At .the lower end of the insulator 10, a loading spring 64 is :~
mounted within a s.pring cover 65 and about the lower connector 12. A tongue fitting 66 is threaded onto the threads 30 of the lower connector 12 and may _ 7 .
,. . .- . ., .
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: . . ~ ".
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be helcl in place by a set scrcw 68.
Ihe insulator lO in its asseTnbled configuration may be mounted on a transmission tower by securing the clevis fitting 60 to an arm of a transmission tower. A high voltage power cable may be suspcnded from the transmission tower by securing the power cable to the tongue fitting 66, in which case the end fittings 12 and the rod 1~ are normally subjected to a very high tensile load.
Both the number and the interior profile configurations of the collets may be varied depending upon the particular application of the end fitting 12 and the tensile load. For example, the interior profile configup-ations of the collets may be mathematically derived or determined to achieve the optimum re~ults under various tensile loads. The number of collets, ~ -the slope angles of the cones of the collets and the lengths of the cones and of the collets are variably preselectable and easily manufactured to provide a wide variety of design combinations that may be included in each retainer 26 and end fitting 12.
For example, an alternative embodiment of the present invention ~-includes a connector or end fitting 112 ~FIGURE 6~ having a cylindrical retainer 126 and a plurality of five collets 132, 134, 136,138 and 140mounbed about the rod 14. The connector 112 would be useful for withstanding higher tensile loads than the connector 12 discussed above. The collets 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 may be individually die cast or machined and may have dif-ferent long tapers, such as long tapers of 2~, 3~ and 5 degrees. Thus, com-pound slope interfaces may be achieved without the need for a~d the high cost of specialized machining.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention~ an oil pumping unit 200 ~FIGURE 7) includes a new and improved sucker rod string 202 ~or actua~ing a remotely located oil pump 20~ used to pump oil 206 to the surface .: : : ~
of ~he earth. rhe sucker rod string 202 includes a pl-lrali.ty o~ new and impro~ecl ~ucker rods 20S interconnect~d by a pluralit~ o~ connecto-rs ~r end ~ittings 210 ~mcl 212 (T:IGURES 5-10~. In a particular embodilnent, a string 202 may include t~Yo hundred or more s~lcker rods 208~
~ n accordance ~ith an .important Eeature. of t:he present invention each s-lcker rod 208 is a resin bonded, glass reinforced rod, fvr ex~mple, a polyester resin bonded fiberglass rod. Each rocl Z08, in a preXerrecl em-bodiment, is approximately thirty to thirty-five feet in length ~nd is .S75 inch in diameter. Ob~iously, rods 208 may be formed in any length and diameter in accordance ~ith the construction o~ typical steel sucker rods.
Ln accordance ~ith the further important feature of the present invention, adjacent sucker rods 208 are interconnected by the end fittings 210 and 212 constructed in accordance w.ith the principles qf the present in~ention. The end it~ing 210 includes a high-strength metal retainer 214 ha~ing an internal shoulder 216 formed at one longitudinal end and a threaded male connector 218 securely affixed, such as by ~eld~ng, to anqther longitudinal end of the retainer 214. Preferably, the retainer 214 includes a generall~ c~lindricall~ shaped mner surface and an elongated pQlygonally shaped outer surface or body portion 220 to assist in the connection or disconnection of the end fittings 210 and 212 connec~ed to ad~acent sucker rods 208.
~he end fitting 210 includes a plurality of metal c~llets or rings 232, 234, 236" 238 and 240 stacked within and seriall~ disposed along the longitudinal axis of the retainer 214. rhe collets 232, 23~, 236~ 238 and 240 are held within the retainer 214 by the internal shoulder 216 and are, for all practieal purposes, identical in design and assembl~ tQ the collets 32, 34 and 36 ~FIGURES 2-5? and the collets 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 CFIG-URE 6~. As described hereinabove, -the space bet~eeen the inner surfaces _ 9 _ , .~
:,. ~ -, : , 1~752~ ~
of the callets 232, 234J 236, 238 and 240 allCI tlle rocl208 is filled wi~ a suit-able organic potting compolmd 252 of an ellg:ineer.ing grade, for examplc, an epoxy resin. Once the potting compound 252 :is curecl or set, the seclling member normally used to cover the open end of the retainer 214 may be remov-ed. Thereaf-ter, the weld 219 is formecl to securely attach the retainer 21~ ~`
to the threaded male connector 218.
The connector 212 is essentially identical to the connector 210 except tha~ it includes a threaded female connector 242 securely affi~ed to one end portion of a retainer 214 at the weld 219. Thus, adjacent rods 208 may be securely interconnected by the threaded engagement of the connec-tors 218 and 242. The polygonally shaped body portions 220 of the retainers 214 may be engaged by an operator and suitable tools to facilitate the inter-connection of adjacent rods 208 by the connectors 218 and 242.
A suitable connector 244 ~FIGUR~ 9) may be used to attach the lowermost sucker rod 208 to the oil pump 204 (FIGURF 7) remotely located far beneath the surface of the earth. In this manner, a new and improved pumping unit 200 including a new and improved sucker rod string 202 for actuating a remotely located oil pump 204 is provided.
Qbviously, many modifications and variations of the present inven-tion are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be under- .
stood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described abo~e.
~.. ~. :
... ,.. ~.. ,, :
. . :~ : . -: : . :: : .
resin 52 upon the applicatioll of a tens.i.le loa~ to the colmecto-~s 12 aTId the ro~ 14. Ihe collets 32, 3~ ancl 36 are coatecl Witil suitable l~lbr:icclrlts or mold release agents such as molybdenum disulfide, silicorle grease or polytetrafluoroethylene prlor to assembly to avoid thle development o:E a bond between the colle-ts 32, 34 and 36 and ~he resin 52.
In assembling or mounting one o:f the connectors 12 to one of the ends of the rod 14, an elastomeric O-ring seal 46 (FIGUR~ 4) is positioned about the rod 14 and below a groove 48 fabricated on the retainer 26 to a location such that the retainer 26 rests upon the seal 46. In this position, the seal 46 serves to cover and seal the lower open end o-f the retainer 26.
The retainer 26 is then positioned coaxially about the rod 14 and upon the seal 46. Subsequently, the collets 32~ 34 and 36 are serially positioned within and along the longitudinal axis of the retainer 26 and about the rod 14.
~he space 50 betwe.en the inner su~faces of the collets 32, 34 and 36 and the rod 14 is filled with a sui~able organic potting compound 52 ~FIGURfi 5) of an engineering grade, for example, an epo~y resin. Once the potting compound 52 has cured or set, the seal ~6 may be remo~ed.
In accordance with a specific embodiment of the present invention a spring support washer 54 is mounted on the upper end of the top shell 16.
A loading spring 56 is then placed upon the washer 54 and is housed within an upper spring cover 58. A clevis fitting 60 is threaded onto the threads .
30 of the connector 12 to compress the spring 56 and thereby load the top shell 16 against the connector 12. The fitting 60 may be held in place by a set screw 62. ~ .
At .the lower end of the insulator 10, a loading spring 64 is :~
mounted within a s.pring cover 65 and about the lower connector 12. A tongue fitting 66 is threaded onto the threads 30 of the lower connector 12 and may _ 7 .
,. . .- . ., .
. ::.:.---; :: ' : `:
: . . ~ ".
~0~7~
be helcl in place by a set scrcw 68.
Ihe insulator lO in its asseTnbled configuration may be mounted on a transmission tower by securing the clevis fitting 60 to an arm of a transmission tower. A high voltage power cable may be suspcnded from the transmission tower by securing the power cable to the tongue fitting 66, in which case the end fittings 12 and the rod 1~ are normally subjected to a very high tensile load.
Both the number and the interior profile configurations of the collets may be varied depending upon the particular application of the end fitting 12 and the tensile load. For example, the interior profile configup-ations of the collets may be mathematically derived or determined to achieve the optimum re~ults under various tensile loads. The number of collets, ~ -the slope angles of the cones of the collets and the lengths of the cones and of the collets are variably preselectable and easily manufactured to provide a wide variety of design combinations that may be included in each retainer 26 and end fitting 12.
For example, an alternative embodiment of the present invention ~-includes a connector or end fitting 112 ~FIGURE 6~ having a cylindrical retainer 126 and a plurality of five collets 132, 134, 136,138 and 140mounbed about the rod 14. The connector 112 would be useful for withstanding higher tensile loads than the connector 12 discussed above. The collets 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 may be individually die cast or machined and may have dif-ferent long tapers, such as long tapers of 2~, 3~ and 5 degrees. Thus, com-pound slope interfaces may be achieved without the need for a~d the high cost of specialized machining.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention~ an oil pumping unit 200 ~FIGURE 7) includes a new and improved sucker rod string 202 ~or actua~ing a remotely located oil pump 20~ used to pump oil 206 to the surface .: : : ~
of ~he earth. rhe sucker rod string 202 includes a pl-lrali.ty o~ new and impro~ecl ~ucker rods 20S interconnect~d by a pluralit~ o~ connecto-rs ~r end ~ittings 210 ~mcl 212 (T:IGURES 5-10~. In a particular embodilnent, a string 202 may include t~Yo hundred or more s~lcker rods 208~
~ n accordance ~ith an .important Eeature. of t:he present invention each s-lcker rod 208 is a resin bonded, glass reinforced rod, fvr ex~mple, a polyester resin bonded fiberglass rod. Each rocl Z08, in a preXerrecl em-bodiment, is approximately thirty to thirty-five feet in length ~nd is .S75 inch in diameter. Ob~iously, rods 208 may be formed in any length and diameter in accordance ~ith the construction o~ typical steel sucker rods.
Ln accordance ~ith the further important feature of the present invention, adjacent sucker rods 208 are interconnected by the end fittings 210 and 212 constructed in accordance w.ith the principles qf the present in~ention. The end it~ing 210 includes a high-strength metal retainer 214 ha~ing an internal shoulder 216 formed at one longitudinal end and a threaded male connector 218 securely affixed, such as by ~eld~ng, to anqther longitudinal end of the retainer 214. Preferably, the retainer 214 includes a generall~ c~lindricall~ shaped mner surface and an elongated pQlygonally shaped outer surface or body portion 220 to assist in the connection or disconnection of the end fittings 210 and 212 connec~ed to ad~acent sucker rods 208.
~he end fitting 210 includes a plurality of metal c~llets or rings 232, 234, 236" 238 and 240 stacked within and seriall~ disposed along the longitudinal axis of the retainer 214. rhe collets 232, 23~, 236~ 238 and 240 are held within the retainer 214 by the internal shoulder 216 and are, for all practieal purposes, identical in design and assembl~ tQ the collets 32, 34 and 36 ~FIGURES 2-5? and the collets 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 CFIG-URE 6~. As described hereinabove, -the space bet~eeen the inner surfaces _ 9 _ , .~
:,. ~ -, : , 1~752~ ~
of the callets 232, 234J 236, 238 and 240 allCI tlle rocl208 is filled wi~ a suit-able organic potting compolmd 252 of an ellg:ineer.ing grade, for examplc, an epoxy resin. Once the potting compound 252 :is curecl or set, the seclling member normally used to cover the open end of the retainer 214 may be remov-ed. Thereaf-ter, the weld 219 is formecl to securely attach the retainer 21~ ~`
to the threaded male connector 218.
The connector 212 is essentially identical to the connector 210 except tha~ it includes a threaded female connector 242 securely affi~ed to one end portion of a retainer 214 at the weld 219. Thus, adjacent rods 208 may be securely interconnected by the threaded engagement of the connec-tors 218 and 242. The polygonally shaped body portions 220 of the retainers 214 may be engaged by an operator and suitable tools to facilitate the inter-connection of adjacent rods 208 by the connectors 218 and 242.
A suitable connector 244 ~FIGUR~ 9) may be used to attach the lowermost sucker rod 208 to the oil pump 204 (FIGURF 7) remotely located far beneath the surface of the earth. In this manner, a new and improved pumping unit 200 including a new and improved sucker rod string 202 for actuating a remotely located oil pump 204 is provided.
Qbviously, many modifications and variations of the present inven-tion are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be under- .
stood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described abo~e.
~.. ~. :
... ,.. ~.. ,, :
. . :~ : . -: : . :: : .
Claims (19)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A sucker rod string comprising a plurality of non-metallic sucker rods and means for serially interconnecting said plurality of sucker rods, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first end fitting for attachment to a longitudinal end of each of at least some of said plurality of nonmetallic sucker rods, said first end fitting comprising a plurality of collets positioned about each such rod, elongated means for receiving and retaining said plurality of collets about and spaced from said rod in a serially disposed, coaxially aligned condition within said elongated receiving and retaining means and along the longitudinal axis of said rod and means for fill-ing substantially all of the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said plurality of collets to there-by affix said end fitting to said rod.
2. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of nonmetallic sucker rods comprise a plurality of resin bonded, glass reinforced sucker rods.
3. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 2 wherein said plurality of resin bonded, glass reinforced sucker rods comprise a plurality of polyester resin bonded fiberglass rods.
4. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated receiving and retaining means includes an inner cylindrical surface and an integrally formed, inwardly project-ing shoulder at one longitudinal end thereof for engaging one of said plurality of collets.
5. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 4 wherein said first end fitting includes a plurality of exterior threads at the other longitudinal end thereof, opposite from said one longi-tudinal end.
6. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated receiving and retaining means comprises a high-strength metal cylinder.
7. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 1 wherein said filling means comprises a polyester resin.
8. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 1 wherein said interior surfaces of at least some of said plurality of collets are configured in the form of a pair of adjacent, base-to-base, truncated cones along the longitudinal axes of said some of said plurality of collets.
9. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 8 wherein the heights or lengths of said pair of cones of each of said some of said plurality of collets are unequal.
10. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 9 wherein the inclinations or slant angles of the longer cones of at least two of said some of said plurality of collets are unequal.
11. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means further comprises a second end fitting affixed to a second longitudinal end of said rod, said second end fitting comprising a second plurality of collets positioned about said rod, second elongated means for receiving and retain-ing said second plurality of collets about and spaced from said rod in a serially disposed, coaxially aligned condition within said second elongated and receiving means and along the longi-tudinal axis of said rod and second means for filling substan-tially all of the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said second plurality of collets to thereby affix said second end fitting to said rod.
12. A sucker rod string as defined in claim 11 wherein said second end fitting includes a plurality of interior threads at a longitudinal end thereof for threadedly engaging the exterior threads of a first end fitting of an adjacent rod.
13. A method of interconnecting an oil well pump located below the earth's surface with an oil well pump power plan com-prising the steps of positioning a plurality of elongated non-metallic sucker rods in a serially disposed end-to-end relation-ship between said power plant and said pump, securely inter-connecting the proximal longitudinal ends of adjacent ones of said plurality of rods, securely connecting the uppermost one of said plurality of rods to a portion of said power plant and securely connecting the lowermost one of said plurality of rods to a portion of said pump, wherein said securely interconnecting step comprises the steps of positioning a high-strength, elongated, tubular, cylindrical retainer about a longitudinal end of a rod of said plurality of rods, placing a plurality of collets in a stacked, serially disposed, coaxially aligned con-dition within said retainer, about and spaced from said rod and along the longitudinal axis of said rod and filling substantially all the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior sur-faces of said plurality of collets to thereby attach said end fitting to said rod.
14. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein said position-ing step comprises the step of positioning a plurality of elongated, resin bonded, glass reinforced sucker rods in a serially disposed end-to-end relationship between said power plant and said pump.
15. A method as defined in claim 13 further comprising the steps of forming an integral, inwardly projecting shoulder at one longitudinal end of said retainer for physically engaging and for retaining said plurality of collets within said retainer.
16. A method as defined in claim 13 further comprising the step of configuring said interior surfaces of at least some of said plurality of collets in the form of a pair of adjacent, base-to-base, truncated cones along the longitudinal axes of some of said plurality of said collets.
17. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising the step of forming the heights or lengths of said pair of cones of each of some of said plurality of collets such that said heights or lengths are unequal.
18. A method as defined in claim 17 further comprising the step of forming the inclinations or slant angles of the longer cones of at least two of said some of said plurality of collets such that said inclinations or slant angles are unequal.
19. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein said filling step comprises the step of filling substantially all of the spaces or voids between said rod and the interior surfaces of said plurality of collets with a filler material that is in a fluid state during the step of filling.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA327,427A CA1087521A (en) | 1975-05-12 | 1979-05-11 | Non-metallic sucker rod string |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US576,731 | 1975-05-12 | ||
| US06/576,731 US4315699A (en) | 1975-05-12 | 1975-05-12 | Multiwedge connector |
| CA251,210A CA1072191A (en) | 1975-05-12 | 1976-04-27 | Multiwedge connector for an electrical suspension insulator |
| CA327,427A CA1087521A (en) | 1975-05-12 | 1979-05-11 | Non-metallic sucker rod string |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1087521A true CA1087521A (en) | 1980-10-14 |
Family
ID=27164441
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA327,427A Expired CA1087521A (en) | 1975-05-12 | 1979-05-11 | Non-metallic sucker rod string |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1087521A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0143236A2 (en) * | 1983-09-30 | 1985-06-05 | Bayer Ag | Pump rods |
-
1979
- 1979-05-11 CA CA327,427A patent/CA1087521A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0143236A2 (en) * | 1983-09-30 | 1985-06-05 | Bayer Ag | Pump rods |
| US4592421A (en) * | 1983-09-30 | 1986-06-03 | Bayer Aktiengesellschaft | Sucker rods |
| EP0143236A3 (en) * | 1983-09-30 | 1986-10-29 | Bayer Ag | Pump rods |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |