US2079922A

US2079922A - Device for capping pump tubing

Info

Publication number: US2079922A
Application number: US28867A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank M Owen
Original assignee: AMERICAN IRON AND MACHINE WORK
Current assignee: AMERICAN IRON AND MACHINE WORK; AMERICAN IRON AND MACHINE WORKS Co
Priority date: 1935-06-28
Filing date: 1935-06-28
Publication date: 1937-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1954-05-11

Description

May 11, 1937.

F. M. OWEN `DEVICE: FOR CAPPING PUMP TUBING Filed June 28, 1935 BY Il;

ffm?" ATTCRNEY "Patented May 1l, 1937 I UNITED STATESA aoiaz'z DEVICE Foa emma Pour mmc Frank Mrowcn, Oklahoma City, kb., assignor ofA one-half to American Iron and Machine Works Company, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application June 2s', 1935, serial No. 28.867

a claims.. (culos-2oz) This invention relates to a device for capping the pump tubing of an oil or like well and particularly1` to what is known in oil eld parlance as a sucker rod Christmas tree through which oil pumped from the w'ell is diverted for ow into a receiving tank. 1

Itis the present practice to assemble a Christmas tree. from standard pipe ttings connected by suitable nipples; for example, a coupling is usually threaded upon the upper end of the pump tubing to mount a nipple which, in turn, carries a T-tting having nipples screwed in thevertical and lateral branches thereof to respectively mount a stuiiing box and a check equipped flow line 'leading to the receiving tank. All of these connections are not only expensive but they offer serious leak hazards and make the total height of the tree excessive.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple inexpensive structure incorporating both the stufng box and the check valve in a single unit.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a more compact structure, thereby reducing the total height of the assembled tree, and

to provide a connection which facilitates assembly thereof in the well pumping apparatus.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in accompanying drawing wherein:`

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an oil well equipped with a sucker rod Christmas tree embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the Christmas tree" on line 2-2 of 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the tree on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a modied form of the tree showing a different type of packing gland.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates an oil well including a casing 2 having a casing head 3 through which is extended a string of pump tubing l leading to the bottom of the well and which connects with a suitable pump (not shown) The pump is actuated through a string of sucker rods which extend through the pump tubing and connect with a polish rod 5 that is operably connected with a..

reciprocating mechanism such as a pumping jack 9. Capping the upper end` of the tubing 4 is a Christmas tree" l embodying the features of the present invention and wherethrough fluid lifted tubing.

by the pump is diverted for ow through a pipe or. lead line 8 extending to a suitable receiver (not shown) 4 The Christmas tree 1 includes a body member 9 having a cylindrical portion I0 provided 5 with an axial flow passage I I inits lower end and an aligning cylindrical packing chamber I2 at its upper end. The lower end of the body member has an annular enlargement I3 providing sufiicient thickness of material to accommodate 10 internal threads I4 by which the body member is attached to the threaded end I5 of the pump The opposite end of the body member containing the packing chamber is of larger diameter than the lower .end to form an internal annular shoulder I6 for seating a washer Il that has an axial opening IB to pass the polish rod 5, which extends upwardly through the ilow passage II and packing chamber I2. Supported by the washer are upper and lower packing rings I8 and 20 that are separated by a spacer 2l including upper and

lower flange portions

23 and 24 for respectively engaging -the packing sections, and an integral cylindrical web 25 spaced from the polish 25' rod and wall of the packing chamber to form concentric

annular lubricant chambers

26 and 21, communicating wih each other through suitable yopenings 29 formed in web, asclearly shown in Fig. 3. Seated against the upper packing section 30 is a washer 30 that is retained in seating relation thereagainst by a packing gland 3l The packing gland includes a nipple portion 32 slidably engaging within the open end of the packing chamber and bearing upon the washer 35 29 to compress the packing. Formed upon the gland in normally spaced relation with the upperV end of the body .member are laterally extending

ears

33 and 34 which align with

similar ears

35 and 36, on the body member as shown in Fig. 1 to pass fastening devices lsuch as bolts 31 and 38, for drawing the packing gland into rm engagement with the washer 29, to compress the packing into sealing engagement with the polish rod. Y [Formed on the side of the cylindrical portion of the body member is a lateral extension 40 having a cylindrical chamber 4I arranged with its axis extending at right angles to the axis of the packing chamber to accommodate a ball check- 42 later described. The outer end of the extension is internally threaded as at I3 for attaching the threaded end M of the lead line 8.

Also formed as an integral part of the body mem.

l and the lateral extension 40is a web 45 having a passageway 46 formed'therein and extending upwardly at an angle from the flow passage I'I to communicate through a port 41 with the 5 checkv chamber 4l. Seated over the'port is the ball check 42 which prevents back flow,l of fluid from the lead line 8 when the pump is not operating.

In order to provide a guide for the ball check 10 in movement to and from engagement with its seat the lateral extension is provided With an opening 48, into which is threaded a plug 49 having depending fingers 50 to guidingly engage the ball check and retain it in alignment with its seat. 'I'he guide fingers are spaced apart as at 5l to provide oW openings for free outlet of liquid into the lead line 8.`

In orderl to maintain a constant supply of lubricant within the chambers formed by the spacer 2|, the wall portion 52, which divides the packing chamber from the check chamber, is provided with a port or channel 53 wherethrough fluid trapped within the check chamber may flow into the lubricant chamber; the port preferably being located at the upper portion of the lubricant chamber to maintain it in completely filled condition.

By thus supplying lubricant from the lead line 8 the lubricant chamber is maintained full of lubricant regardless of whether the pump is in operation or not, since there is always a sufcient quantity of liquid trapped within the check chamber and lead line to supply the needs thereof. The cylindrical body portion of the Christmas tree may be provided with other auxiliary outlet connections as shown at 54, Fig. 2.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is substantially identical to that above described except for the packing gland 55. In this form of the invention the packing gland includes a cap 56 having an internally threaded flange 51 screwed on to the externally threaded end 58 of the body member. Also engaged by the cap is a depending ring 59 for seating against the upper washer 30. The cap is further provided with ears 6D to which lever arms 6I are pivotally connected and whereby the cap may be readily rotated without the necessity of a wrench or the like.

If desired the check valve seat may be provided Witn a reversible insert seating ring 62 which is retained within the port 63 by the guide ngers 64 on the cage 65.

In assembling a Christmas tree constructed as described the body member is sleeved over the upper' end of the polish rod and threaded upon the projecting end of the tubing. The packing sections and spacer are then passed over the polish rod and, pushed within the packing chamber after which the packing gland is. applied and secured by the drawbolts 31 and 38 to compress the packing in sealed engagement with the polish rod.

The lead line 8 is then connected to the lateral extension of the body member to complete the assembly. Upon operation of the polish rodr oil is lifted within the tubing for flow through the passageway Il, from where it is diverted due to the packing, through the passageway 44, port 41 and check. chamber 4l into the lead line 8.

After the pump is operated suiiciently to fill the lead line, the lubricant chamber and packing are kept filled from the check chamber by passage of the liquid through the port 41, so that the packing is kept in pliable condition to eiectively seal against the polish rod.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the Christmas tree is of compact construction and is readily assembled in connection with the well tubing and flow line without the use of nipples or other ttings as now commonly employed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a well tubing and a pipe line, a capping-device for the upper end of the well tubing including a body member having alow passage and a packing chamber aligning with the flow passage, a packing in said chamber, a lateral extension on the body member having a ow passage communicating'with the packing chamber to supply lubricant to said packing, said body member having a ow connection between the flow passage in said body member and rod reciprocable in the well tubing, and a pipe line, a capping device for the upper end of the well tubing including a body member having a ow passage communicating with the well tubing and the pipe line, means connecting the body member with the well tubing and with the pipe line, a packing in the body member for sealing the sucker-rod, check means integrally connected with the body member for controlling reverse flow of fluid from the pipe line, and means for supplying the packing with lubricant from said pipe line.

3. In combination with a well tubing, a sucker rod reciprocable through the well tubing, and a pipe line for conveying well fluid from the tubing, a capping device for the upper end of the well tubing including a body member having a flow passage connected with the tubing and having a packing chamber, means on the body member for connecting the pipe line and having communication with the flow passage, and a channel connecting the flow passage with the packing chamber, a. packing in the packing chamber, and a packing` gland for compressing the packing about the sucker rod.

FRANK M. OWEN.