US1757381A - Fluid elevator - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1930. 0, MORGAN ET AL FLUID ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet In um to r5 liver Morgan Howard Ill/ Straw May 6, 1930. o. MORGAN ET AL FLUID ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U VG? Morgan Ho ward TA]. Sirm'i Patented May 6,. l93d OLIVER MORGAN AND HOWARD W. STRAIT, 01E WEWOKA, UMIJAHOMA FLUID ELEVATOR Application filed January 14, 1928. Serial Ito. MiG/W7.

5 as aerated columns.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a fluid elevator wherein an eXpansible packer unit is associated with the eduction tube, the same being 10 adapted to be expanded by the action of the lifting fluid that is forced downwardly in the well casing or tubing so that a liquid seal is formed whereby to prevent any possibility of the lifting fluid coming in contact with the 715 liquid within the lower portion of the well casing and disturbing the sand.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a fluid elevator of the above mentioned character which is simple in con- 20 struction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purposes for which it is designed.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate correspond ing parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an oil well casing showing the eduction pipe in elevation and showing the enpansible' paclrer in tight engagement with the inner wall oi. the well casing.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the well casing showing a per tion of the eduction pipe or tube in section and also disclosing more clearly the manner q in which the eirpansible paclrer is forced out wardly against the inner wall of the well easing to. provide a liquid seal.

Figure 3 is a group perspective view of eapansible packer and the bowed steel spring wires associated therewith; the ring to which the converging ends 01" the wires are secured; and also the supporting unit for the paclrer and the adjacent portion of theeduction pipe or tube, the parts being disassembled.

Figure a is atransverse sectionvtalren substantially on the line H oi Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is'a similar section taken approximately on the line 55 of. Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification of the liquid inlet portion of the eduction pipe.

in the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred cmbodt ment of our invention, the numeral 1. desig' nates the usual casing that extends downwardly into the well in the manner well known in the art, and which is provided at its lower end with the liquid inlet openings The upper end of this casing is open and secured thereon is the head 3 that is located above the surface of the ground.

rln eduction pipe or tube that is designated generally by the numeral 4t is arranged centrally within the casing 1 and the same includes a plurality of sections that are connected together by suitable couplin and the like. The upper section. 5 extends through the head 8 to provide a liquid outlet above the surtace of the ground. The lower end of the uppermost section is secured on the upper end of the adjacent pipe section 6 and this section is in turn secured at its lower endto the upper end of the pipe section 7.

The pipe section Fl constitutes what we term as a vacuum chamber and the upper end of this particular pipe section is enternally threaded as is also the lower end of the next adjacent section 7. itcoupling 9 aii'ords a means tor connecting the adjacent ends of these pipe sections together and this coupling structure is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The coupling is provided with a central partition 10 that is termed in its center with an opening 11, and the upper edge oi the opening is beveled to form a seat tor the vertically movable valve 19; that normally rests on the seat by the action of gravity whereby to close the opening. it cage 13 is arranged on the upper taco of the partition 10 around the opening 11 tor the valve also clearly illustrated in Figure 2 and the cage will prevent the displacement of tili till

till

Mil

the valve and further limit the upward movement thereof.

The lower portion of the vacuum chamber 8 is reduced as illustrated at 14and a neck 15 extends downwardly from the reduced portion 14 as more clearly shown in Figure 2. An

" annular shoulder 16 is formed in the neck portion 1'. The reduced portion 14 is formed wi a series of fluid passages 17, the purpose 0 which will be hereinafter more fully described. a v

A Venturi tube 18 is arranged vertically within the lower portion of the vacuum chamber 8, the lower end of this tube being enlarged and being externally threaded at its lower extremity for threaded engagementlwithin the upper portion of the neck and for rest upon the shoulder 16 as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The upper end of this Venturi tube terminates atthe central portion of the vacuum chamber 8 and is of such diameter as to be spaced a considerable distance from the sides of the chamber.

The eduction pipe or tube 4 further includes the provision of the pipe section 19 that is threaded at its upper end and a coupling 20 similar to the coupling 9 aflords a means for connecting the lower end of the vacuum chamber 8'with the upper end of the next lower pipe section .19. A central partition 21 is formed in the pipe coupling 19 and this partition is also provided with a central opening, the upper edge of which is beveled to form a valve seat and cooperating with this openingand valve seat is: the

vertically movable valve 22 which is similar to the valve 12 heretofore described.

A cage 23 is arranged on the upper face of the partition 21 for cooperation with the valve-22 as disclosed in Figure 2.

The pipe section 19 is formed adj acent' its lower end with the external annular shoulder or flange 24 and the upper face thereof is ground for a purpose to be presently apparent.

The portion of the pipe section 19 directly below this flange or shoulder is tapered as illustrated at 25 with reference more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. This tapered portion is formed with a series of spaced liquid inlet slots 26 that are similar to the slots 17 formed in the tapered or reduced portion 14 of-the vacuum cham-.

lower end of the lowermost pipe section 29'- is adapted to rest on the bottom of the well. This pipe section 29 provides an anchor and further serves to hold up a part of the weight w of the eduction pipe 4. l

The salient part of the present invention relates to an improved packer construction and m, the present instance, the packer comprises acup shaped member 31 that is formed ground for engagement with the ground upper edge of the shoulder 24 whereby to form aground seat and a liquid proof joint. An

annular flange or collar 34 is formed on the lower end portion of the sleeve 33 and the upper face of this shoulder or flange is slightly curved u wardly to conform to the contour of the ottom of the expansible packer member 31 and this is clearly shownin Figure 2.

The rubber packer 31 is of a suitablethickness but it will be ,observed that the upper edge portion of the cup shaped packer is of slightly greater thickness than the remaining portion of. said member, and this is also clearly villustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

A have their lower end portions extending downwardly into the upper-edge portion of the rubber cup shaped packer and the lower end portions of these wires extend downwardly along the sides of the body of the packer and along the bottom portion so as to be securely embedded in the packer.

The upper ends of the steel spring wires 35 gradually converge and are secured to a ring 36 that is freely slidable over the upper portion of the pipe section 19 and is further series of bowed steel spring wires 35 j adapted for slidable movement between the lower end of the coupling 20 and the upper end of the sleeve 33.

The spring wires 35 normally have a tendency to hold the expansible packer31 in a contracted position and obviously by increasing the distance between the upper end of the sleeve 33 and the cou ling 20, the tension on the spring wires may. e regulated to effect an upward movement of the upper converging end portions of the wires and thereby to further contract the rubber packer.-

A compressed air or gas pipe 37 extends into the side of the head 3 provided for the upper end of the well casing 1 and a compressor designated generally by the'numeral 38 and of any well known construction is associated with the pipe 37 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

Normally, the rubber packer 31 is contracted and is not in tight engagement with the inner wall of the casing and thereby will, not interfere with'the placing .of the eduction pipe or tube within the well casing. When the arts are arranged as shown in Figure 1, it Wlll be observed that the air or gas under pressure that enters the top of the casing will T move downwardly in the 'casingaround the manifestly the air or gas under pressure will pass upwardly through the passages 17 into the chamber 8 and create a vacuum within the chamber whereby to unseat the valve 22 and at the same time force the valve 12,,upwardly out of engagement with its seat. This section will result in a vacuum being created in the lower portion of the eduction pipe whereby to lift the oil or other liquid upwardly through the various pipe sections of the eduction pipe and the oil will flow outwardly through the upper end of the eduction pipe.

Simultaneously with the fluid that is under pressure, creating a suction in the eduction pipe to raise the liquid upwardly in the pipe, a certain amount of the fluid under pressure will travel downwardly below the vacuum chamber and will enter the cup shaped packer 31 and will cause the packer to expand whereby the outer side of the cup shaped packer will be brought into tighter en agement with the inner wall of the well casing 1 and thus provide a perfect liquid seal so that the oil or other liquid in the lower portion of the casing cannot be subjected to agitation by coming in contact with the liquid under pressure that -is employed for lifting the liquid. The liquid will enter the eduction pipe through the inlet passages 26 that are located below the packer unit.

It is of course understood that when the eduction pipe is lowered into the well, the liquid of its own accord will raise upwardly by its own volume and gas pressure. The liquid enters through the passages 26 and passes upwardly through the tube 18 then a portion of the liquid flows downwardly in the chamber 8 and passes out through the openings 17, thence downwardly until the same comes in contact with the eirpa'nsible packer whichfits close enough against the casing of the well to hold it in position until the packer becomes more firmly seated by the action of the compressed air or gas. The

liquid continues to seek a higher level in the casing.

When the compressed air, or gas comes in contact with the liquid it causes the latter to travel downwardly under pressure between the casing and the eduction pipe, then upwardly through the passages 17 into the vacuum chamber 8 and then upwardly through the upper portion of the eduction pipe and out of the well. At the same time, while traveling upward through the vacuum chamber a vacuum is created thereby drawing the liquid through the passages 26.

In Figure 6 there is shown a modification of the liquidinlet portion of the eduction pipe. A swage nipple 30'is detachably secured at its upper end to the-lower end of the pipe section 19' through the medium of the coupling 30. The intermediate portion of the nipple is formed with liquid inlet passages 26, and the lower reduced end 27"is secured to the upper end of the next adjacent pipe section 29' by means of the coupling 28. a

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that we have provided a fluid elevator which will at all times be positive and efficient in its operation and by providing a packing structure such as above described, there will be no possibility of the lifting fluid coming in contact with the liquid in the lower portion of the said well casing.

It is of course to be understood that when the fluid under pressure is cut olf to the casing 1, so that the same will not act on the rubber packer and force the same outwardly, the bowed steel spring wires that have been placed under tension by the action of the fluid under pressure coming in contact with the rubber packer will return the packer to its con tracted position and thereby permit the eduction pipe to be readily and easily removed from the well casing.

bodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.-

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fluid elevator, a casing, a liquid eduction pipe arranged therein having liquid openings in the lower portion thereof, and

passages to permit a fluid under pressure to enter the pipe and lift the liquid upwardly therethrough, a packer surrounding the eduction pipe at a point below the fluid inlet pas sage, said packer being normally contracted and out of tight engagement with the casing, said packer beingie'xpanded and forced outwardly against the casing to provide a liquid seal by the action of the lifting fluid.

under pressure acting on the packer.

2. In-a packer, an eduction pipe, a sleeve surrounding said pipe, a shoulder formed on the lower end portion of said sleeve, a flange formed on the eduction pipe for engagement with the lower end of the sleeve, an expansible cup-shaped member for resting upon said shoulder, said sleeve extending upwardly through the bottom of the cup-shaped member, a series of bowed spring elements having their lower ends extending downwardly into the upper edge portion of the cup-shaped member, the lower edge portions of the spring element extending downwardly along the sides 'of the body of the cup-shaped member and along the bottom thereof, said spring elements gradually converging toward their upper ends, and aring to which the upper ends of the spring elements alre connected, said ring being slidable on the eduetion pipe, the spring elements normally holding the cupshaped member in a, contracted position. 1 In testimony whereof We aflix our signatulzes.

' OLIVER MORGAN HOWARD W. STRAIT.

Images