US1932453A - Swab plunger for pneumatically operated pumps - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1933. s. EVANS SWAB PLUNGER FOR PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED PUMPS Filed Dec. 20, 1952 Jot'b Emrw INVENTOR W/3 DEW ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWAB PLUNGER FOR PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED PUMPS Seth Evans, Houston, Tex., assignor to Hughes Tool Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 20, 1932 Serial No. 648,040

Claims.

My invention relates to plungers for use in plunger lift devices in which liquid is raised from wells by pneumatically operated swab plungers.

The device is an improvement upon the type of 5 plunger shown in the patent to Ricker No.

1,84%,0'74 issued February 9th, 1932.

It is an object to provide a swab plunger in which the valve will more positively open at the upper end of its stroke so that the plunger may quickly drop back on its return. stroke.

It is also an important object to increase the speed of operation of the plunger so that a greater number of strokes may be accomplished in a given time.

I desire to provide a valve separate from the body of the plunger, so formed that it will drop rapidly when the fluid pressure below the same is relieved and thus facilitate the falling of the plunger body.

In the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the valve member of my plunger, the plunger body and tube being shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the valve and body shown in assembled position removed from the tube.

My plunger is employed as is that shown in the Ricker patent previously noted. It is movable in an eduction tube 1 by air or gas under pressure entering the tube 1 below the plunger and its load of liquid. My plunger body 2 is cylindrical on its outer surface and is formed to fit freely within the eduction tube 1. The body is tubular having a central passage therethrough.

This passage is tapered downwardly at 3 from the beveled upper end 4. Adjacent the lower end the passage is flared outwardly at 5 to produce a stream line effect as it moves in the fluid in the well.

The flared end 5 forms a seat for a separately movable valve member 6. This member is formed to drop rapidly when its upper stroke is completed. It is shown as generally cylindrical with a tapered upper end 7 to engage within the valve seat 5. The upper extremity is formed with a small head or knob 8 to which a fishing tool may be engaged in case of necessity. The body of the valve member is rounded at its lower end 9.

contour so that the valve will fall faster than the plunger body 2.

Thus in the operation of the device the valve member will reach the seat at the lower end of the tube below the column of liquid to be raised. The plunger body will then fall through the liquid on to the valve as shown in Fig. 2. The air or gas pressure will then raise the assembled plunger up to the surface discharging the liquid and allowing the plunger to pass the outlet. The gaseous fluid will then exhaust and allow the plunger to drop. The valve member will fall away from the plunger body and will continue at a faster rate than the plunger body to the bottom.

The valve will open ireely at the upper end of the stroke and as the valve falls ahead, both parts of the plunger will fall without being greatly impeded by the fluid below. The operation of the plunger will therefore be more rapid than is the case where the valve is formed upon the plunger body itself. There is slight friction of the plunger body with the tube while the valve is obstructed in its fall only by fluid in the tube.

What I claim as new is:

l. A swab plunger formed of a tubular plunger body and a separate valve body free to move away from and out of contact with said plunger body, said valve body being shaped to fit into and close the lower end of said plunger body.

2. A swab plunger formed of a tubular plunger body and a separate valve body, said valve body being shaped to fit into and close the lower end of said plunger body, said valve body being of smaller external diameter than said plunger body, and shaped to fall ahead of said plunger body.

3. A swab plunger made up or" two separate sections including a tubular plunger body, and an upwardlytapered valve body, shaped to close the lower end of said plunger body, but adapted to drop separately ahead of said plunger body.

4. A tubular swab plunger body, having its outer surface cylindrical, an outwardly flaring seat in its lower end, a valve member shaped to fit said seat but of smaller outer diameter and free of said plunger body so that it may fall ahead of said plunger body on the downward stroke of the plunger.

5. The combination of a tubular swab plunger body and a separate valve body adapted to engage with and close said plunger body, said valve body beng cylindrical with tapered ends, and means to space said valve member centrally below said plunger body.

SETH EVANS.

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