US1907951A

US1907951A - Valve mechanism for fluid pressure operated well pumps

Info

Publication number: US1907951A
Application number: US529059A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur G Gage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-04-10
Filing date: 1931-04-10
Publication date: 1933-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1950-05-09

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. G. GAGE In 12 enfor. flr'f illi. 6. Gc fi Original Filed April 10, 1931 VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED WELL PUMPS May 9, 1933. G E 1,907,951

FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED Original Filed April 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9,

ARTHUR G. GAGE, 02' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED WELL PUHPS Application filed April 10, 1931, Serial No. 529,059. Renewed October 7, 1932.

This invention has to do with dee well fluid ressure operated pumps, and in the majority of its aspects relates to valvular mechamsms in pumps of this type.

5. Fluid pressure operated pumps ,of they present type may be characterized as comprising a plunger or piston o erated on at least one of its strokes by the igh pressure fluid delivered to the pump from the ground level, the well li uid being discharged by the pump upwar 1y into a standing or pumping 'column within the well pipe. I may state that pumps typically of this character are described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,597,162 issued on August 24, 1926 'ointly to me with L. M. Kellogg and C. McWilliams and in my copending application on Oil well pumps, Ser. No. 109,098, filed May 14, 1926. The delivery of hi h pressure operating fluid to the piston chamber is controlled b a valve or an arrangement of valves whic primarily are controlled or operated by the plunger. Thus as the plunger nears the ends'of its strokes,

it is brought into operating connection with the valve so as to move the latter between two positions of adjustment.

In my copending application on Valve actuating devices, Ser. No. 302,737, filed August 29, 1928, I describe a mechanical It is to be understood that the invention broadly contemplates the use of fluid pressure from any suitable source for locking the valve in position, but in general I prefer to so lock the valve by the application of the plunger operating uid pressure thereto. In accordance with the hereinafter described preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating fluid pressure isalternately ap lied to opposing faces on the valve to hol the latter in its two positions of adjustment. The pressure applied to one of the faces not exposed to operatin fluid pressure may be either umping co umn or well pressure, but in either case the pressure will be substantially less than the operating fluid pressure so as to maintain a sufficient diflerential between the opposing pressures on the valve to securely hold the latter in position.

In the preferred form of the invention, the valve mechanism comprises a ilot valve operated by the plunger, and a uid pressure actuated master valve controlled bythe pilot valve, both valves being held in osition between intervals of operation 0 the pilot valve by the plunger, by means of differential fluid pressures applied to opposite ends of the valves. Although for purposes of describing the invention I show..-

the valvular mechanism as comprising typically a plunger actuated pilot valve and master valve controlled by the latter, it will be understood that the invention is not to be regarded as necessarily limited to this particular valve construction or arrangement. Also I show herein a type of pum in which the plunger is operated on bot of its strokes by successive amounts of hi h pressure delivered to the pump. Again t e invention, may not necessarily be limited to a pump in which the plunger is operated in the manner stated. For example it may, instead, be operated on both of its strokes by a single uantity of actuating fluid delivered to. t e plunger chamber during movement of the plunger in one direction only, as described in a companion application, Ser. No. 529,060 on Fluid pressure operated well pump, filed on even date herewith.

The various objects of the invention as well as the particularities of a typical and preferred embodiment, thereof will be set forth to best advantage and discussed more fully in the following description. In the description I refer to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a medial longitudinal and developed sectional view of the pump showing the plunger at the limit of its down stroke,

the various valve parts and passages in the valve head being shown in a single plane for urposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing the plunger with the end'of its u stroke, and'the valve parts in correspon ing changed positions; and J Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views on lines 33, 4-4, 5-5, and 66 of Fi 1, illustrating the true relative positions 0 the valves, and the ports and passages in the valve head.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the pump, generally indicated at P, is carried on the lower end of the well pipe 10, the latter being lowered within the well casing, not shown, and the pump during operation bein submerged beneath the standing level oft e liquid in the well. The pump comprises an upper valve head 11 threaded on the well pipe at 10a, and a lower plunger and plun er. barrel assembly section generally ind1cated at 12. The barrel assembly comprises an outer pipe or casing 13 'oined to the valve head at 14, and a piston arrel 15 extending concentrically within the casing 13 and annularly spaced therefrom at 16, the piston barrel being similarly mounted on the valve head at 17. The lower end of the pump casing is closed by a tubular plug 18, carrying a depending sleeve 19 within which the lower reduced section of the lunger operates, as will presently appear.

he lower end of the plunger barrel is s aced at 20 from the bottom closure 18'of t e casing, in order to provide for communication between the annular space 16 and the piston chamber 21.

,Within the barrel assembly is a tubular plunger, generally indicated at 22, and comprising an intermediate piston section 23 and upper and lower reduced

diameter extensions

24 and 25, integral therewith, section 25 having a sliding fit within sleeve 19. It will be noted that the upper plunger section 24 is of somewhat greater diameter than section 25, so that there is provided a downwardly facing pressure area 26 on the piston section 23 of greater area than the upwardly facing pressure area 27, reasons for which will hereinafter appear. Plug 18 is formed with a central raised area 18a in order to arrest the downward travel of the plunger at a point such that the piston section 23 will not be permitted to cover the annular opening at 20 and thereby out off communication between space 16 and the piston cham- I ber 21. The plunger section 24 projects upwardly within a pipe sleeve 28 supported from the lower end of the valve head by way of pipe 28a. The diameter of sleeve 28 is such that the upper plunger section has a substantially sliding fit therein.

It ma be mentioned at this point that during t e down stroke of the plunger, on

.into what will hereinafter be termed the pumping column.

I may state further with reference to the plunger and plunger barrel assembly, that during its up stroke, substantially the entire upper end area of the plunger, including the area of the piston face 27 and the cross sectional area of the plunger section 24 is exposed to pumping column pressure, since both-chamber 21 above the piston and pumping chamber 30 are in communication, through the valve head, with the column of liquid in the well pipe. And during the down stroke of the plunger, the piston area 26 is exposed to pumping column pressure by virtue of the communication of chamber 21 below the piston with the column of liquid in the well pipe, while the interior of the plunger and the pumping chamber 30 are at well pressure, since during the down stroke the well liquid is being taken upward- 1 through the plunger into said chamber. 1317]. order to maintain substantially the same pressure difl'erential between the high pressure operating fluid and the pumping column pressure during both strokes of the plunger, the

sections

23, 24 and 25 of the latter will be so proportioned as to cross sectional area that the area of the 'piston face 26 will be to the cross sectional area of chamber-21 plus the crosssectional area of plunger section 24, as the area of piston face 27 is to the area of face 26.

The construction and arrangement of the plunger and plunger barrel assembly comprises no part of the. present invention, since these features of the pump are covered in my copending application, Ser. No. 109,098,

referred to hereinabove.

Well liquid in pumping chamber 30 is discharged upwardly into the pumping column by way of bore 32 extending substantially through the valve head 11, there being a check valve 33vat the upper end of bore 32 which the latter is moved by fluid pressure prises a plurality of

piston sections

34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d, interconnected b rod sectlons of reduced diameter. Depen ing from the lower piston section 34d is a valve operating rod 38 extending downwardly into the pump column chamber through a stufiing box sleeve 39 in the lower end of the valve bore. The master valve also comprises a plurality of piston sections 35a, 35b and 350, interconnected by reduced diameter rod sections.

High pressure fluid, which maybe liquid or gas, but preferably a clean fairly light oil is delivered to the pump by wa of conduit or tube 40 extending downwar y within'the well pipe 10 and connecting with the valve head at the upper end of bore 41. The latter is communicable with the master valve bore 37 by way of

ports

42 and 43, and with the pilot valve bore 36 by way of port 29. The master valve bore is communicable at its upper and lower ends at points beyond the valve, with the pilot valve bore by way of

passage

46 and 47. Master valve bore 37 communicates with space 16 between the pump barrel and the outer casing, by way of a transverse passage 50. A passage 51, leading from bore 50 to the upper end of bore 36 above the pilot valve, serves to put the master valve bore in communication with the pilot valve bore. The master valve bore also communicates with chamber 21 above the piston, by way of a passage 52.

Extending transversely from a longitudinal bore 53 are

ports

54, 55 and port 56, opening into the pilot and master valve bores, respectively. At the upper end of bore 53 opening 1nto the pumping column, is a check valve 57. The pilot valve bore has communication with the piston chamber at a point between the lower valve section 340? and the stufling box 39, by way of passage 58 leading to the annular space 59 between the lower reduced diameter section 11a of the valve head and plunger barrel 15. The upper and lower ends of the master valve bore are closed by means of plugs 60,

the latter having small extensions 61 which project into the bore a distance sufficient to arrest the travel of the valve at such points that it will not close off the openings of the

passages

46 and 47 into the valve bore. The

pilot valve bore similarly is closed at itsupper end by plug 62 having an extension 63 which is engaged by the valve to prevent and carrying a pair of s aced lugs 68 and 69 which are engaged by t e spider near the ends of the up and down strokes, respectively, of the plunger.

I shallnow describe the operation of the pump assuming first the plunger and valve arts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1.

he high pressure operating fluid delivered to .bore 41 through the conduit 40 is conducted through ort 42, the master valve bore between va ve sections 35a and 35b, passage 50, and to the lower end of piston chamber 21 beneaththe piston section 23, by way of the annular space 16. The pressure so applied to the lower pressure area 27 of the plston causes the plunger to move on its up stroke in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1.. The master valve is held, and substantially locked, in raised position by the differential in operating fluid and pumping column pressure applied to opposite ends of the valve. @peratin fluid pressure is ap lied to the lower en of the valve by way 0 port 29, the pilot valve bore between valve sections 34k and 340, and passage 47. Pumping column pressure is aplied to the upper end of the mastervalve y communication of the valve bore above the valve through passage 46, the pilot valve bore between

valve sections

34a and 346 port 54 and passage 53. The operating flui pressure will of course be substantially greater than the pumping column pressure, and the differential therebetween will be sufiicient to hold the master valve in raised position. It may be stated at this point that as the master valve is moved from its lower to upper position, fluid in the upper endoif the valve bore is displaced to permit upward movement of the valve, into the pumping column by way of passage 46, port 54, and passage 53.,

The pilot valve likewise is held and substantially locked in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the differential between the operating fluid and pumping column pressures applied to its opposite ends. Operating fluid pressure is applied to the upper end of the valve by way of port 42, the master valve bore between

valve sections

35a, 356, port 50, and passage 51. The pressure within the piston chamber above plunger section 23, or in other words, pumping column pressure, isapplied to the lower en of pilot valve section 3412 by way of the annular space 59 and passage 58. Y

During the up stroke of the plunger, the well liquid previously taken into the pumping chamber 30 during its down stroke, is discharged through bore 32 into the pumpmg column. Simultaneously, the spent actuating fluid in chamber 21 above the plunger piston section, previously utilized in movmg the plunger on its down stroke, is discharged into the pumping column by way of space 59, port 52, the master valve bore between valve sections 35?), 350, port 56, and passage 53.

As the plunger nears the end of its up 5 stroke, spider 66 engages the upper valve rod lug 68, causing the pilot valve to be raised to the position of Fig. 2. The master valve thereupon is thrown down-to its lower position by the application of high pressure fluid to its upper end by way of port 29, the pilot valve bore between valve sections 34b, 34c, and passage 46. Pumping column pressure is applied to the lower end of the master valve by way of bore 53, port 55, the pilot valve bore between valve sections 34c, 34d, and passage 47. In order to permit downward-movement of the master valve, the fluid in the lower end of the bore is discharged through the last mentioned bores and passages, by way of which the lower end ofthe valve is put in communication with the pumping column pressure.

Upon movement of the master valve to its lower position, high pressure fluid is a plied to the upper pressure area 27 of t e piston by way of port 43, the master valve bore between valve sections 356, 350, port 52 and space 59. And during downward movement of the plunger by the pressure of operating fluid so applied, the spent fluid in the piston chamber below the piston 23 previously utilized in moving the plunger on its up stroke, is discharged into the pumping column by way of space 16,. pas- 5 sage 50, the master valve bore between

valve sections

35a, 35?), port 56 and passage 53. As previously stated, during the down stroke of the plunger, well li uid is taken upwardly therethrough into t e pumping chamber past the foot valve 31 carried in the lower end of the plunger.

The pilot valve is also held or locked in its lower position by difi'erential pressure applied to its opposite ends. Thus in Fig. 2, operating fluid pressure is applied to the lower end of valve section 34d by way of the piston chamber, annular space 59, and passage 58. The upper end of the pilot valve is exposed to the comparatively smaller pumping column pressure through passage 51 vwhich communicates with the assage through which spent operating uid is being discharged from the lower portion of the plunger chamber into the pumping 55 column as hereinabove described. The area of the upper end of the pilot valve is of course greater than the bottom pressure area 73 of the lower valve section 34d, by the cross sectional area of valve operating rod 38. 1 However, the pressure differential between the operating fluid and pumping column pressure will be suflicient to hold the pilot valve in raised position, in spite of the reduction of pressure area on the lower end of section 340! by the valve rod.

The plunger itself of course serves as the primary mover of the valve mechanism. However, it will be apparent that the lunger will continue its movements in t e reverse directions until the pilot valve is fully moved from one position to the other, before the application of the fluid pressure to the plunger will be reversed to move it in the opposite direction. And as will be further noted, this reverse of operating well fluid pressure against the plunger cannot occur until the master valve changes position. Therefore the plunger is prevented from stalling on a dead center due to the fact that it will continue its movement until the pilot valve is fully moved from one position to the other and to the point at which the master valve, as a result of the application thereto of pressure fluid controlled by the pilot valve, is caused to change position and direct the high pressure fluid to a reverse side of the plunger.

By virtue of the'application of difierential fluid pressures to opposite ends of the valves, it is assured that during the intervals of engagement of

lugs

68 and 69 on the valve operating rod by the plunger, the master valve and pilot valve will be securely held and substantially locked in their respective positions by the application of high pressure fluid. And as previously mentioned, this ability to lock the valves y fluid pressure is of particular advantage m that it eliminates the necessity for use of additional mechanical valve locking devices for holding the pilot valve in position after havin been moved by the plunger.

T may, in some instances, particularly where a gaseous high pressure operating fluid is belng used, prefer to discharge the spent operating fluid from the plunger chamber to the well instead of the pumping column. In this case, bore 53 may communicate at its upper end with the well through a suitable transverse passage, indicated by the dotted lines 74 in Fig. 2, instead of with the pumping column. As will be apparent, if passage 53 be led to the well instead of the pumping column, the pressure differentials on opposite ends of the master valves will be between the operating fluid ressure and well pressure, instead of the di erentials between operating fluid and pumping column pressures. And similarly, the ressure differential applied to opposite en of the pilot valve when the latter is in its raised position, will also be between the operating fluid pressure and well pressure.

I claim 1. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the well liquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a fluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving said plunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including a valve erated by said plunger; to control the app ication of fluid pressure to the plunger, and

I pressure-and pum mg column ressure to opposite ends of said valve to ho d the valve in position. a

2. 'A fluid ressure 0 embed well ump adapted to dlscharge t e well liqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprismg a plunger barrel, a fluid pressure operated plunger, in said' barrel, meansfor moving said lunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including a valve 0 1 erated by said plunger; to control the app ication" of fluid pressure to the plunger, and means for alternately a plying the! high pressure fluid pressure an pumping column pressure to opposite ends of said valve to 2 old the valve 1n two positions.

- 3. A fluid pressure operated well pum adapted to discharge the well liquid upwar 1y into a pumping column, comprising a fluid pressure operate plunger'barrel, .a plunger 2 n said barrel, means for moving said plunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including a valve operated by said plunger; to control the ap lication of fluid pressure to the plunger, an means for alter- 80 nately applyin differential fluid pressures, to opposite en s of said valve to hold the valve in two positions.

4. A fluid pressure operated well pum adapted to discharge the well liquid upwar 36 1y into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a fluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving said lunger in one direction by high pressure fluid, said means including a valve 0 40 erated by said plunger; to control the app ication of fluid pressure to the plunger, and means for alternately applying the high pressure fluid pressure to opposlte ends of said valve to hold the valve in position.

5. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the well liquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a fluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving said plunger in one direction by high pressure uid, said means including a valve operated by said plunger; to control the application of fluid pressure to the plunger, and means for applying the high pressure fluid pressure and well pressure to opposite ends of said valve to hold the valve in position.

6. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to discharge the well liqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a fluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for moving said plunger in opposite directions by high pressure fluid, said means including a valve operated by said lunger; to control the application of fluid pressure to the plunger,

means for applying the high pressure fluid plunger barrel, a fluid and means for appl ing the high pressure fluid and pumping co umn ressures to opposite ends' of said valve to old the valve in position.

7. A fluid pressure 0 erated well umpadapted to discharge t e well. liqui upwardly into a pumping column, compr' a plunger barrel, a fluid pressure operated plunger in said barrel, means for movin said plun er in opposite directions by big pressure uid, said means including a valve for controlling the delivery of hi h pressure fluid to operate the plunger; and means for alternately applying the high pressure fluid pressure and well ressure to opposite ends of said valve to ho d the valve in position.

I 8. A fluid ressure o erated well ump adapted to discharge t e well liqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a ressure operated plunger in said barrel, a va ve head above the plunger barrel, means for deliverin high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to the plungerbarrel to move the lunger in one direction, said means inclu g a vertically movable valve in said head and operated by said plunger, and means for holding said valve in one position by differ. ential fluid fpressures applied to opposing faces thereo i 9. A fluid pressure operated well pum adapted to discharge the well liquid upwar ly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a pxlunger in said barre a valve head above t e plunger barrel, means for delivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to the plunger barrel to'move the piston in opposite directions, said means including a vertically movable valve in said head operated by sald plunger to control the flow of fluid through said head; and means for alternately a plyin diflerential pressures to opposing aces 0% said valve to hold the valve in two positions.

10. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to discharge the well liqui .upwardly into a pumping column, compfisin a plunger barrel, a plunger in said arre a valve head above the plunger barrel, means for delivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to the plunger barrel to move the iston in opposite directions, said means inclhding a vertically movable valve in said head operated by said plunger to control the flow of fluid through said head; and means for applying the high pressure fluid pressure to one end of said valve to hold the valve in position.

'11. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the well liquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a lun er in said barrel, a; valve head above t e-p unger barrel, means for delivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to the plunger barthrough said valvehead to the plunger barrel to move the piston in opposite directions,

said means including a vertically movable valve in said head operated by said lunger to control the flow of fluid throug said head; and means for alternately a plying the high pressure fluid pressure an pumping column pressure to opposite faces of said valve.

13. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to discharge the well'llqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprlsmg a plunger barrel, a plunger in said arre a valve head above the plunger barrel, means for delivering high pressure operating fluld through said valve head to the plunger barrel to move the piston in opposite directions, said means including a pilot valve in said valve head operated b said plun er and a fluid pressure operate master va ve controlled by said pilot valve, said master valve controlling the delivery of operating fluid to the plunger, means for applying fluid pressure to one end of said pilot valve to hold the valve in position, and means for alternately applying differential fluid pressures to the opposite ends of said master valve.

14. A fluid pressure operated well ump adapted to dlscharge the well liqui upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a plunger in said barrel, a valve head above the plunger barrel, means for delivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to the plunger barrel to move the piston in opposite directions, said means including a pilot valve in said valve head operated by said plunger and a fluid pressure operated master valve controlled by said pilot valve said master valve controlling the delivery of operating fluid to the plunger, means for alternately appl ing high pressure fluid pressure to opposite flaces of said pilot valve, and means for alternately applying high pressure fluid pressure to opposite ends of said master valve.

15. A fluid pressure operated well pump adapted to discharge the well liquid upwardly into a pumping column, comprising a plunger barrel, a plunger in said barrel,i.a valve head above the plunger barrel, means for delivering high pressure operating fluid through said valve head to the plunger barrel to move the piston in one direction, said means includin a pilot valve in said valve head operated y said plunger and a fluid pressure operated master valve controlled b said pilot valve, said'master valve contro ling the deliver of operating fluid to the plunger, means or alternately applying high pressure fluid pressure pumping column to opposite faces of said pi ot valve, and means for alternately applying high pressure fluid pressure pumpin column to opposite ends of said master va ve.

16. In a pump of the character described, the combination of a pump barrel having a medial bore, an upper bore of reduced diameter above said medial bore, and a lower bore of still further reduced diameter below said medial bore, a hollow plunger mounted to reciprocate in the pump barrel, said hollow plunger, comprising a piston head adapted to work in said medial bore of the barrel, an upper plunger part of reduced diameter extending upwardly from said piston-head and adapted to work in the said reduced upper bore, whereby an upwardly facin annular area is provided on the upper en of the said piston-head, a lower plunger part of reduced diameter extending downwardl from said piston-head and adapted to wor in the said reduced lower bore, whereby a downwardly facin annular area is provided on the lower end 0 the piston-head of greater extent than the upwardly facing annular area on the upper end of the iston-head, means for admitting fluid undhr pressure to the medial bore of the barrel above the piston-head, to move the plunger "on its down stroke, valve means for intermittently admittin fluid under pressure to the medial bore of t e barrel below the piston head to raise the plunger on its up stroke, said valve means comprising a piston operated pilot valve and a fluid pressure operated master valve controlled by said ilot valve, and means for holding said va ves in their respective positions by fluid pressure.

17. In a pump of the character described, the combination of a pump barrel having a medial bore, an upper bore of reduced di ameter above said medial bore, and a lower bore of still further reduced diameter below downwardly facing annular area is provided on the lower end of the piston-head of greater extent than the upwardly facing annular area on the upper end of the piston-head,"

means for admitting fluid under pressure to the medial bore of the barrel above the piston-head, to move the plunger on its down' stroke, valve means for intermittentlyadmitting fluid under pressure to the medial I bore of the barrel below the piston head to raise the plunger on its up stroke, said valve means comprising a piston operated pilot valve and a fluid pressure operated master valve controlled by said pilot valve, and means for alternately applying the plunger operating. fluid pressure to opposite ends of both said pilot and master valves.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of September, 1930.

ARTHUR e. GAGE.