US2051019A - Means for stabilizing the fluctuating flow of liquids in pipe or conduit systems - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1936. A. ARUTUNOFF 2,051,019

MEANS FOR STABILIZING THE FLUCTUATING FLOW OF LIQUIDS IN PIPE OR CONDUIT SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 21, 1955 mmvro A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 18, E936 eases 2&513195 mans son surname "rm minim me FLQW F LEQUWQ m PEPE @R was DUHE assesses Amelia Amtnnefi, Enztlseeiiie, @Mga a are 1 Application d My invention relates to a m for i v the fluctuating flow of liquids in pipe or c nduit systems. It particularly relatw to a means for stabilizing the how of liquids delivered by re- 5 ciprocating pumps, and is intended for the class of work ordinarily assigned to the air chamber.

The air chamber is a necessity in a pump driven by a crank motion, for two reasons. One reason is to protect the pipe system and the other is the protection of the pump itself.

In the pipe system, the uniform flow afiorded by action of such a device as an air chamber enhances the life of connections, keeps friction losses of fluid to a minimum and eliminates objectionable noises, while for the pump, the employment of such a device as an air chamber means even more, as by eliminating the pounding and hydraulic ram phenomena, it preserves the working parts from overloads and breakage? However, ordinary air chambers, as mown. have several disadvantages or shortcomings.

One drawback consists in the necessarily. large dimensions of the air chamber. Particularly large dimensions are required for high pressure pumps such as for pressures above 60 atmospheres when for each cubic inch of compressible ass under working pressure, it is required to have more than sixty cubic inch capacity of the air chamber at atmospheric pressure.

Another drawback consists in that, that air 7 contained in the air chamber, no matter of how.

large capacity, dissolves itself in liquid and is gradually carried out oi. it, rendering the air chamber inoperative.

- One object of my invention is to provide a'device for the class of work described which will be tree from the above mentioned objectionable features of air chambers.

Another object is to utilize elasticity of metals FIgureZisacrosssectionoithecompressible element shown on Figure 1. Piguresisscrosssectionoithecylindrlcal 21 1933, 843ml N6). meem (Cit. ems

tube or conduit or housing; with a number of compressible elements assemhlw in it.

e :si s is a crow section at the complete assembly of my compensator for-use in the mine place where iormerly an air climber was in- 5 stalled.

r c 5 is the em nt oi my invention for use in deep wells and in connection with reciproosting pumps such m um in oil fields where a string of sucker rods has to pass through the 10 tubing.

figure 6 is a crow section of 5.

ions oithe Figures 7. 8 and 9 are at compressible element ofmy invention.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 11 15 showing mmifimtion when compressible element is in the form oi a fiat walled conduit through which the fluid is w For the sake of simplicity, the compression element is shown with four walls althoughthe form is pre!- erable.

In the draw g I representsthe compressible element, 2 is a normally plugged threaded opening, 8 is check valve arrangement, Q is top piece welded to I, 5 is bottom piece. 6 is tubing, conduit, or housing, I is connection to line part of compensator, 3 is housing, 8 is tubing 02 a deep well reciprocating pump in which sucker rods are operated, as indimtes commimicatins holes to compensator, H

. l8 designates air filled space, It is welded on end piece oi; compressible element 85. it is the space occupied or by liquids. Y The compressible element I is in a form of flattened tube, sealed and welded on both ends.

when such element is subjected to pressure, the walls bend in as shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2; ivhen pressure is releasedthe walls expand 4 to normal position. The elasticity of spring tempered walls is thus utilized for work ordinarily done byair in conventionalair chambers. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that element I of my design, although highly compressible, is not 001- lapsible; i. e., will not form remaining deformation under any practical pressure for which it is dimensioned as-to the thickness oi the walls.

As it may be seen from Fig. 2, the compressible element may be so dimensioned that maximum deflection is well within elastic limits oimaterial used and as the walls, deflecting, meet and support each other, the resistance to collapsing is increased with increase oi deflection;

Itisevidenttlmtimanygivenpreaurethe compression element utilizing elasticity of spring tempered metal, will have more capacity and can do more work for given space than the ordinary air chamber, however, in order to utilize more advantageously all available space, I have provided a check valve arrangement 3 through which element may be charged with air to a suitable pressure and in that way a comparatively light wall element may be used for high pressure con-' ditions.

Elasticity of metal and compressed air are taken advantage of in a simple compact and effective arrangement. The compressed air cannot escape as the element is sealed, and the opening 2 is plugged before installation. Although by allowing only very small deflections of working wall, the element may last indefinitely even if deflection changes its sign in regard to a neutral position; i. e., the wall bends in at high pressure and bulges out at low pressure, I am preventing changing of sign of deflection of air charged elements and so increasing the useful life of the elements by having a wall so formed that under pressure of compressed air supporting it, the wall, normally is practically flat as shown on Figure 2.

Various forms of elements may be used and various arrangements of elements may be employed for different conditions. Some forms and some arrangements are shown on the drawings, all of which have in common the property that they are compressible but not collapsible under any, encountered in practice, pumping pressure.

The underlying principle of supporting the walls of the compressible element may be applied not only to construction when the liquid is exerting pressure from the outside of each element but also to conditions when the liquid acts from the insideof the compressible element, as shown in simplified form on Figures 10 and 11. I am also fully aware of the fact that my invention may be modified in form so that the walls of any pipe conducting the fluid may be flattened to benefit by their elasticity, and to acquire compensator action out of the pipe itself. However, in such modification of my invention, the material ordinarily used for. tubular goods is deficient in spring qualities and their use may-not be advisable, and must be changed to a better quality material with higher fatigue resisting properties.

From the foregoing,- it is believed that my invention may be clearly understood without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my'invention, and I desire to claim the invention 'both broadly and specifically as set forth in the following claims.

being charged with compressed air prior to installation.

2. A compensator for use in connection with deep well reciprocating pumps comprising a section of tubing forming a conduit for the fluid being pumped, a Jacket around said tubing and spaced therefrom to form a surrounding chamber, communicating passages between said tubing and chamber, and a plurality of independent elongated flat walled, substantially tubular compreasible elements disposed longitudinally in said chamber around said tubing and forming a series of enclosed air spaces which are charged with compressed air prior to installation.

3. A compensator for use in connection with deep well reciprocating pumps, comprising a section of tubing forming a conduit for the fluid being pumped, a jacket. around said tubing and spaced therefrom to form a surrounding chamber, communicating passages between said tubing and chamber, and at least one compressible clement disposed longitudinally in said chamber, said element being substantially tubular in form, closed at its longitudinal extremities and composed of resilient spring tempered fiat metal walls.

4. A compensator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said chamber is provided with a plurality of said compressible elements, each independent of the other. 1

5. A compensator for use in connection with deep well reciprocating pumps comprising a section of tubing forming a conduit for the fluid being pumped, a' Jacket around said tubing and spaced therefrom to form a surrounding chamber, communicating passages between said tubing and chamber, and a plurality of independent iongitudinally extending compressible elements in said chamber around said tubing, each of said elements being composed of resilient metal in the form of an elongated flattened tube, substantially elliptical in cross section and closed at its longitudinal extremities.

ARMAIS ARUTUNOFF.

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