US1194366A

US1194366A - Cushioning and oiling means for deep-well puhps

Info

Publication number: US1194366A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1916-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1933-08-15

Description

R. M. DOWNIE.

CUSHIONI NG AND OILING MEANS FOR DEEP WELL PUMPS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. m5.

I 1 94,65 Patented Aug. 15, 1916 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

Atlamey R. M. DOWNIE.

CUSHIONING AND OILING MEANS FOR DEEP WELL PUMPS.

Pafnted Aug. 15, 1916.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2. l9l5. wwm

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ROBERT M. DOWNIE, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO KEYSTONE DRILLER COMPANY, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, A

PENNSYLVANIA.

CORPORATION OF Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed July 12, 1915. Serial No. 39,437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. Downrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Cushioning and Oiling Means for Deepell Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to cushioning and oiling means for deep well pumps, its object being to provide an; automatically established air cushion to eliminate the jar of pumping and at the same time automatically deliver lubricant, which may be in the form of oil, to the parts requiring lubrication, and which are otherwise ordinarily inaccessible.

In accordance with the present invention, which is adaptable to either single or double acting pumps, and which for convenience of description may be considered as applied to a double acting pump, an air chamber is installed at the junction of the pump cylinder with the well tubing, while the pump head is provided with an air pump by means of which air is forced down the hollow pump rod about the solid pump'rod when one is present, and ultimately escapes through the pump piston carried by the hollow rod, and, rising, finds lodgment in the air chamber at the upper end of the pump cylinder. The greater portion of the air, however, escapes and passes up the well tubing and out therefrom with the water. At or near the surface of the ground the outlet pipe of the well has an air bell attached thereto which is kept automatically supplied with air by such portions of the air issuing with the water as may find access to said bell.

In order to lubricate the pump rod and other parts liable to need lubrication, but because of their position deep in the well being ordinarily inaccessible, lubricant is in troduced into the hollow pump rod along with the air and readily finds its way to such parts deep in the well as may need lubrication.

The air bells or receptacles perform the usual function of cushions, but the air bell within the well tubing closely adjacent to the upper end of the pump cylinder is located in a position where air bells or cushions have not heretofore been provided, and being close to the pump pistons and kept automatically charged with air, such air bellor cushion is highly efiici'ent in eliminating the jar heretofore experienced in pumps.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in'connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation with parts broken away and in section of a double-acting pump head such as is employed fordeep well pumps, and also showing adjacent portions of the well tubing. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the lower end of the well tubing and the pump cylinder with the pistons, foot valve and air bell shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the upperend of the pump cylinder, the air bell rising therefrom and one of the pump pistons. Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section with some arts in elevation of a somewhat modified form of air bell useful in the same position as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring tothe drawings there is shown a power pump head 1 mounted on a foundation 2 over a well 3 provided with a well casing A. The pump head 1 is provided with a base 5 to which is connected the upper end of a well tubing 6, which latter is continued into the well to the desired depth and there has fast to it a pump cylinder 7 by means of a coupling 8, which may be a reducing coupling. The pump head 1 may be of standard construction and the showing of the drawings is that of one of a number of different pump heads of the double-acting type, but which may also be taken as indicative of the single-acting type of pump head, such pump heads varying in construction and massiveness in accordancewith the work to be performed and whether the well be shallow or deep.

In the particular form of pump head shown there is provided a countershaft 8 having bearings 9 fast to the frame of the pump head and on this countershaft are pinions 10 meshing with gear wheels 11 on a crank shaft 12 having journal bearings 13 on the top of the main frame of the pump head, and these gear wheels carry wrist pins 14 on their outer faces in diametrically opposite relation to the crank of the crank shaft 12. The shaft 8 is provided near one end with apulley 15 and near the other end with a fly wheel '16, while the out-board end of the shaft 8 has a journal bearing 17 carried by a standard 18 erected on the base 2.

The crank of the crank shaft 12 is 0011- nected by a pitman 19 to a cross head movable in the main frame of the pump head and to this cross head is connected a pump rod, 20 constituting the solid rod of the pump. The wrist pins 14 each carry one end of a pitman 21 connected to the respecp tive end of a cross head 22 movable up .and

"down in the frame of the cross head and in turn carrying a hollow pump rod 23. The pump rod 20 passes through a stuffing box 24 on the cross head 22 and enters and ex tends lengthwise of the hollow pump rod 23,

' While both pump rods enter the well tubing 6 through the upper end where the rod 23 is suitably packed, as is customary. At the lower ends of the rods Within the pump cylinder 7 are valved

pistons

25, 26, respectively, the piston 25 being carried by the rod 20 and the piston 26 by the rod 23. These pistons as shown being of known type need no special description. I

At a suitable'point below the countershaft 8 a bracket 27 offstands from the pump head and on this bracket there is mounted a pump 28 which may comprise any appropriate form of air pump having its piston driven by a pitman 29 terminating in an eccentric strap 30 embracing an eccentric 31 on the. shaft 8 The pitman 29 is adjustably connected to the eccentric strap 30 to which it may be locked in adjusted positions by a clamp nut 32, so that the density of compression of the air is readily controlled, such variation in density being advantageous to meet varying conditions. One

side of the pump 28 is provided with an outlet pipe 33 connected by a flexible pipe 34 to the upper end of the hollow piston or sucker rod 23 of the pump. The inlet side of the pump receives air through an inlet member 35 connected to a T coupling 36 carrying an oil cup 37 or other suitable receptacle for lubricant and between the coupling 36 and the pump there is a cut-off valve shown as a globe valve 38, and a check valve 39, in the order named. By this means the pump in operation may supply a continuous stream of air at such density as may be desired to the upper end of the hollow pistonor sucker rod 23, and this stream of air may carry with it a desired quantity of lubricant from the oil cup 37, which latter may be of any customary construction permitting such control of the flow of lubricant as may be desired. WVhenever deemed expedient the action of the air pump may be controlled or entirely stopped by a proper manipulation of the globe valve 38.

Since water is pumped up through the well tubing 6 and from thence diverted to a suitablepoint of disposal the tubing at the upper end or at any other convenient point is provided with a T 40 from which there is branched .a nipple 41 entering a check valve casing 42, in which casing check valves 43 are located, but as the casing 42 and valves 43 may be of ordinary construction, no special description is needed. From the casing 42 there leads a pipe 44 to the point of disposal of the pumped water.

On top of the casing 42 there is connected, an upright pipe 45 closed at the upper end by a cap 46 but at the lower end in free com munication with the interior of the casing 42 at a high point thereon. The pipe 45 is representative of an air bell and such air bell is conveniently made of ordinary pipe of suitable diameter with appropriate fittings, thus obviating the necessity of a special construction of air bell.

The pump cylinder 7 carries a foot valve 48 which being of known construction requires no special description. The internal diameter of the pump cylinder 7 is somewhat less than that of the well tubing 6 and the upper end of the pump cylinder where screwed into the coupling 8 forms a shoulder upon which there is lodged the lower end of an air bell 49 having an outer wall 50 and an inner wall 51 joined together at the upper end, as shown at 52, the junction providing for the separation and approximate concentricity of the two

walls

50 and 51. The air bell therefore incloses an annular chamber 553 closed at the upper end and with the lower end of the outer wall 50 continued below the lower end of the inner wall 51 and said outer wall 50 of a diameter to enter the coupling 8 at its lower end and rest upon the upper end of the pump cylinder 7. Such lower end of the wall 50 is notched, as shown at 54, or otherwise constructed to provide passages from the interior of the wall 50 through it and above the inner wall of the coupling 8 to a space separating the outer surface of the wall 50 from the inner surface of the well tubing 6.

In Fig. 3 the air bell is shown as composed of two separate

tubular members

50 and 51 riveted together .at the end 52, but the junction of these two tubular members or sleeves may be integral, as shown at 52, in Fig. 4, where there is illustrated an air bell 49 with outer and

inner members

50 and 51, respectively, defining between them an annular chamber 53 Otherwise the air bell is the same as that illustrated in Fig. 3 with the exception that the lower end of the tube 51 is inturned, as shown at 57, to more certainly direct the air into the chamber 53. The lower end of the tube 50 has notches 54 corresponding to the notch 54 of the air bell 49.

The operation of the pistons is the same as usual, the water being elevated to the surface and discharged through the pipe 44, but while the pump is operating in the usual manner, air is being compressed by the air pump 28 and is forced through the

pipes

33 and 34 into the hollow piston or sucker rod 23 and passes through this rod around the solid rod 20 until it reaches the piston 26, escaping through the spaces uncovered by the piston valve, which latter is indicated at 26. The air naturally rises with and through the water being pumped, some of the air passing through the notches 54 into the space between the outer wall 50 of the air bell and the well tubing 6. Other por tions of the air pass up with the water through the interior of the member 51 of the air bell to the pipe 41 and the air thus reaching the top of the well finds its way into the check valve casing 42. Some of this air rises into the air bell 45 and other portions of the air escape with the water to the point of disposal of the water. Still other portions of the air issuing through the openings uncovered by the valve 26" rise into the air bell space 53 between the

walls

50 and 51, and since the end 52 of the air bell, whether riveted or solid, as by welding, is hermetically sealed, the air remains entrapped in the air bell and has the usual function. The air entering the air bells 45 and 49 displaces any water that may be therein and, of course, provides the usual air cushions with the air constantly renewed so that the cushion always maintains its full efiiciency during the operation of the pump. The automatic renewal of air in the air chambers or bells prevents these devices from becoming water logged.

The construction of the air bell 49 permits its insertion after the pump pistons are in place, since no special fastening means are needed to hold it when once seated at the junction of the upper end of the pump cylinder with the lower end of the well tubing. The inflowing air carries lubricant with it into the hollow pump or sucker rod, and this lubricant becomes deposited upon the inside of the hollow rod, thus thoroughly lubricating the rods where they are liable to come into contact. On the rising stroke of each pump piston in a double-acting pump, or on the rising stroke of the piston of a single-acting pump, the air in the air bell 49, the air carried by the water, and the air within the air bell 45 all serves to cushion the impact of the water, the air bell close to the pump cylinder being particularly efficient for this purpose. By the provision of a stream of air traveling along with the water being pumped, the air within the air chamber or bell 45 is kept at a practically constant volume, this having been found heretofore to be a diflicult proposition to meet, since the water in churning back and forth in the air chamber absorbs some of the air and carries it away with the water current, so that it happens at times that all the air in the air chamber is absorbed, and the air chamber becomes totally inefficient or water logged.

By the present invention an air chamber or cushion is provided close to the pump cylinder, another air chamber is provided at the surface of the ground, and not only are these two air chambers constantly supplied with air and kept at full efficiency, but the water column is supplied with an abundanceof air to render the whole column resilient, wherefore there is produced a steady flow of water without shock or jar. Moreover, the inflowing air stream provides an efiicient means for directing lubricant to the moving piston rods, thus avoiding the wear of the rods one on the other. The supply of air is readily regulated by the globe valve 38 and the air compressor though of constant stroke is rendered by the adjustment of the effective length of the pitman capable of supplying air at higher or lower com pression, wherefore the operator may control the air delivery in accordance with the needs. It will be understood, of course, that the air compressor is in practice, in accord ance with the usual custom, provided with cooling means, but such means being commonly employed it is not deemed necessary to specifically illustrate or describe them. The flexible pipe 34 is demanded because of the movement of the hollow piston rod through a considerable range dependent upon the length of stroke used. The stuffing box 24 is employed to prevent wastage of air by leakage where the solid piston or sucker rod 20 emerges from the hollow rod.

In the drawings a commercial form of double stroke pump head is illustrated, but it will be understood that the invention is by no means confined to use with such par ticular form of pump head, but may be assocated with various types of pump head of either the single or double stroke form, since the operation and efficiency of the invention are satisfactory with various forms of pumps and pump heads. For the same reasons the invention is susceptible of use with other forms of working barrels or water cylinders or other forms of pump pistons than the particular ones shown in the drawings.

The

air bell

49 or 49 is made of light, thin tubing and hence it would crush or collapse under the hydrostatic pressure in a deep well were it not for the fact that the pressure is equalized about the air bell by the free admission of water through the passages or

ports

54 or 54* to the outside of the air bell at the same pressure as on the inside of the annular bell. This equalization of pressure also prevents the up current of water and air from lifting the un-, attached air bell from its position. Moreover, the

air bell

49 or 49 is wholly sepa rate from and unsecured in any way to the well tubing, pump cylinder or sucker rod. The air bell, therefore, is readily lowered into place when the water pistons are inserted and is freely removed when the water pistons are removed for repacking or for any other reason, and this without in the least disturbing the well tubing or pump cylinder.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A deep well pump provided with an air bell or chamber adjacent and 'in fixed relation to and located above and free from mechanical connection with the pump cylinder, whereby the air bell is normally stationary and may be applied to or re moved from the pump cylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means for directing air to said air bell.

2. A deep well pump provided with an annular air bell or chamber adjacent 'to and free from mechanical connection with the pump cylinder, whereby the air bell is normally stationary and may be applied to and removed from the pump cylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means for directing air to said air bell.

3. A deep well pump provided with an annular air chamber adjacent to the pump cylinder, said air bell or chamber comprising twotubular members in spaced relation one to the other, joined at the upper end and open at the lower end, with one of said members longer than the other and constituting the supporting member for the bell, said supporting member having passages therethrough at the lower end.

i. A deep well pump having a well tubing and a pump cylinder'at the lower end thereof, an annular air bell or chamber within the well tubing and adjacent to and above the pump cylinder in spaced relation to the well tubing, and means for directing air to said'air bell.

5. A deep well pump having a well tub ing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, an annular air bell having concentric walls in spaced relation joined at the upper end with the walls spaced apart at the lower ends to provide an annular entrance to the air bell, the outer wall of the air bell being longer than the inner wall and supporting the air bell in spaced relation to the well tubing with the outer wall provided with passages at its-lower end opening into the space between the air bell and 'well tubing, and means for supplying air t the a r be 6. A deep well pump having a well tubing and a pump cylinder carried thereby at the lower end of the well tubing, the pump being also provided with a piston and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell within the well tubing rising from the pump cylinder and free from mechanical connection with said pump cylinder whereby the air bell is normally stationary and may be applied to and removed from the pump cylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means for directing air through the hollow piston rod to a point of escape below the air bell for rise into the latter.

7. In a deep well pump having a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell within the well casing rising from the pump cylinder in fixed relation thereto and free from mechanical connection with the pump cylinder, whereby the air bell is normally stationary and may be applied to and removed from the pump cylinder with and by the pump piston or pistons, and means for forcing air through the hollow piston rod to a point of escape below the lower end of the air bell for rise into said air bell.

8. In a deep well pump provided with a well tubing, a pump cylinder carried thereby and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell having concentric walls joined at the upper end and spaced apart at the lower end and there freely accessible to air and water, the outer wall being longer than the inner wall and constituting the support for. the air bell and with said outer wall spaced from the well tubing and having passages therethrough at its lower end, and means for directing air through the hollow piston rod to a point of escape at the lower end of the piston rod so located as to permit the escaping air to move through the passages in the lower end of the outer wall of the bell, into said bell, and through the bell interior to the inner wall thereof.

9. In a deep well pump having a well tubing, a pump cylinder carried thereby and a hollow piston rod, an annular air bell comprising two concentric walls joined at the top and spaced apart at the bottom with the outer wall longer than the inner wall and supported by the upper end of the pump cylinder, the outer wall being there provided with passages, and said outer wall being of a diameter to provide a space between it and the inner wall of the well tubing, and means for forcing air through the hollow pump rod to a point of escape below the air bell.

10. A deep well pump provided with a tubular air bell open at both ends and provided with an annular air chamber surrounding the through passage of the air bell, said air chamber being closed at the top and open at the bottom and having its outer wall longer than the inner wall to rise from the top of the pump cylinder and sustain the lower end of the inner wall at a higher level than said pump cylinder, and means for directing air to a point of escape below the air bell for the rise of the air along the through passage and also into the annular air chamber.

11. In a deep Well pump having a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, and a hollow piston rod, an air bell within the tubing in fixed relation and adj acent to the pump cylinder, another air bell adjacent to the outlet end of the well tubing, and means for directing air through the hollow piston rod to the first-named air bell and through the well tubing to the second named air bell for providing both air bells with air and preventing either of them becoming water logged.

12. In a deep well pump provided with a well tubing and a pump cylinder carried by the lower end of the tubing, an annular air bell in fixed relation and adjacent to the pump cylinder and provided with a through passage and an annular air chamber there about, another air bell adjacent to the discharge end of the well tubing, and means for directing air to a point below the first-named air bell for the rise of air to and through the first air bell and well tubing to the second 4 air bell.

13. A deep well pump provided with a pump cylinder, an air bell adjacent to and above the cylinder, a hollow pump rod, a pump head for driving the pump rod,- an air pump at the pump head connected to the hollow pump rod for delivering air from the lower end of the pump rod at a point below the air bell, and adjustable connections between the power side of the pump head and the air pump for varying the degree of pressure of the air supplied by the air pump.

14. A deep well pump provided with a power pump head, a pump cylinder, a hollow piston rod leading to the pump cylinder, an air bell adjacent to and above the pump cylinder, an air pump on and connected to the power side of the pump head and in turn connected to the hollow piston rod to deliver air thereto, and an air inlet to the air pump having a lubricant receptacle connected thereto for supplying lubricant to the hollow piston rod along with the air delivered by the air pump.

15. A deep well pump provided with a power pump head, a pump cylinder, a hollow piston rod leading to the pump cylinder, an air bell adjacent to and above the pump cylinder, an air pump on and connected to the power side of the pump head and in turn connected to the hollow piston rod to deliver air thereto, and an air inlet to the air pump having a lubricant receptacle connected thereto for supplying lubricant to the hollow piston rod along with the air delivered by the air pump, said air inlet also including a controllable valve for determining the amount of air delivered to the air pump.

16. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof, concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby and extending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and an annular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered by the pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above the cylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power side of the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge side connected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods.

17. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof, concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby and extending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and an annular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered by the pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above the cylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power side of the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge side connected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods, said air pump having associated therewith a lubricant receptacle for the delivery of lubricant along with the air to the outer pump rod.

18. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof, concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby and extending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and an annular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered by the pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above the cylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power side of the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge side connected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods, said a r pump having associated therewith a lubricant receptacle for the delivery of lubricant along with the air to the outer pump rod,

said lubricant receptacle being connected to the inlet side of the pump and the connections including a check valve and a controllable valve for determining the effective size of the air inlet to the pump.

19. A deep well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, a power pump head at the upper end thereof, concentric pump rods connected to the pump head to be driven thereby and extending to the pump cylinder and there carrying pump pistons, and an annular air bell with a passage therethrough for the water delivered by the pump, said air bell being located adjacent to and above the cylinder, and an air pump on the pump head connected to the power side of the pump head to be driven thereby and having its discharge side connected to the interior of the outer one of the pump rods, said air pump having associated therewith a lubricant receptacle for the delivery of lubricant along with the air to the outer pump rod, said lubricant receptacle being connected to the inlet side of the pump and the connections including a check valve and a controllable valve for determining the effective size of the air inlet to the pump, and the pump having its connections to the power side of the pump head adjustable as to length for determining the degree of compression of the pumped air.

20. A deep Well pump comprising a well tubing, a pump cylinder at the lower end thereof, a pump head at the upper end thereof, concentric pump rods connected to and extending from the pump head into the cylinder and there carrying respective pistons, an air pump on the pump head connected to the power side of the latter to be driven thereby and connected to the outer one of the pump rods for delivering air thereto, a lubricant receptacle connected to the air pump for the delivering of lubricant to the outer pump rod along with the air, an annular air bell provided with an annular air chamber, and a through passage for water interior thereto, said air bell being lodged in the well tubing above and adjacent to the pump cylinder for the delivery of air to and through the air bell, and an other air bell connected to the well tubing adjacent to its outlet end to receive air rising through the well tubing.

21. A deep well pump with a separate and mechanically unattached annular air bell or chamber located adjacent to and above the pump cylinder and freely removable with the water pistons.

22. A deep well pump with an annular air bell or chamber adjacent to the pump cylinder and loosely resting upon the latter.

23. A deep well pump provided with an annular air hell or chamber adjacent to and loosely resting upon the pump cylinder, and said air bell having internal and external passages for the Water.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. DO'WNIE.

Witnesses:

J. WALKER VVILsoN, J. VALE DOWNIE.

' copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.