US2144944A - Well swab - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 1939. R. STANDLEE 2,144,944

WELL SWAB Filed Jan. 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. R- STANDLEE WELL SWAB Jan 1. 24, 1939.

Filed Jan. 18, 1937 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v. A r// 4 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Guiberson Corporation tion of Delaware Dallas, Tex., a corpora- Application January 18, 1937, Serial No. 121,055

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well swabs and constitutes an improvement over the mechanism shown in my Patent 1,883,053, patented October 18, 1932.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well swab of the flexible type having certain advantages making for more efllcient operation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a well swab of the flexible type having improved means for attaching the flexible support to the sub, whereby said flexible support may be readily connected to or disconnected from the sub without manipulating screw threaded members or twisting the elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well swab wherein various swab assemblies may be readily connected with an improved sub, whereby a single sub may be used interchangeably with various swab assemblies, making for savings in time and equipment costs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved well swab wherein the normal distortion of the elastic swab member or cup may be regulated to compensate slight variations in the inside diameters of the well tubing or casing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sub for well swabs of the flexible type having a socket therein for receiving the upper end of a flexible stem connected with the swab assembly, and having latching means void of screw threads for retaining the upper end of said stem within the socket, whereby the sub and swab assembly may be readily and easily coupled and uncoupled.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a well swab constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the swab,

Figure 3 is a continuation of Figure 2 showing the lower portion of the swab,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the locking bar in an open position, and

Figure 8 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of another type of swab assembly.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a tubular support or mandrel which has at its central portion a collar or spacer II which is welded or otherwise secured to said mandrel. Surrounding the mandrel ll) above and below the spacer l I are mounted annular, elastic swab members or cups A and B respectively. The lower member B is confined between an upper flanged cap l2 which abuts the spacer II, and a lower thimble l3 which is supported by a nut l4 screw-threaded on the lower end of the mandrel. The inner lower edge of the nut I4 is provided with an annular beveled valve seat H.

The upper swab member A has its lower end engaged in a thimble I5 which is supported by the upper end of the spacer l I and an adjustable confining cap l6 surrounds the upper end of the member. An adjusting nut l'l, having an upwardly directed sleeve I8 formed integral therewith, is screw-threaded on the upper end of the mandrel l0 and engages the cap Hi. It will be seen that by moving the nut l'l vertically, the cap I6 may be moved to regulate the distortion of the swab member A.

The extended sleeve portion l8 of the nut I1 is provided with apertures l9, whereby, fluid may enter the bore of said sleeve and the bore of the mandrel [0.

As clearly shown in Figure 3, a cavity or chamber 20' is formed between the inner periphery of each swab member and the mandrel Ill. The mandrel has ports 20 connecting with these chambers for admitting the fluid under pressure and expanding the members into engagement with the well wall.

A flexible stem 2|, formed of a length of steel cable or other suitable material, extends axially through the mandrel Ill and sleeve l8 and is suitably fastened in a cap 22 at its upper end. A valve 23 is secured on the lower end of the stem in position to engage the seat l4"on the lower end of the nut l4.

An elongate sub or head 24 is provided with a pin 24' at its top for connection to a socket on the end of a cable line or other support (not shown). The sub is preferably provided with an axial bore 25 extending to substantially its upper end, and an elongate radial slot 26 extends from the midportion of the sub to its lower end.

The midportion of the slot is enlarged whereby a socket 21 having shoulders 261 and 29 is formed for receiving the head 22 of the flexible stem. As shown in Fig. 2, the head normally rests upon the lower shoulder 29 and is supported thereby, whereby the mandrel I is suspended from said head and the sub 24.

A lockin or latching bar 30 is pivoted at its upper end 0 a pin 3| which extends transversely at the upper end of the slot 26 above the socket 21. It is noted that the bar is formed with a slot 3|) through which the pin 3| extends, whereby the bar may undergo a limited longitudinal movement. The midportion of the locking bar is enlarged to fit within the socket 21 formed by the enlarged portion of the slot 26, whereby shoulders 32 and 33 are formed near the upper and lower ends of the bar. An offset or shoulder 34 is formed on the inner surface of the bar, and when said bar is swung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 this shoulder is in horizontal alinement with the shoulder 29 of the socket. It will be seen, therefore, that the head 22 is also supported by this shoulder 34.

The shoulder 29 of the socket is recessed at its ends on each side of the slot 26 to form notches 35. Lugs 36 extend downwardly from the lower shoulder 33 of the locking bar and are adapted to engage in the notches 35 when the bar is swung inwardly. It will be seen that when the lugs are engaged in the notches, the locking bar is prevented from swinging outwardly and the head 22 of the stem 2| is securely held in the socket 21.

The lower end of the sub is reduced to form a shoulder 31 and the reduced lower portion is adapted to freely telescope the sleeve l8 on the upper end of the mandrel l0. However, the shoulder has a greater diameter than the sleeve and, therefore, the sub cannot slide downwardly into said sleeve.

For positively preventing displacement of the lugs 36 on the locking bar 30 from the notches 35, a split ring 38 is arranged to fit in an annular groove 39 formed in the reduced lower portion of the sub below the shoulder 31 and in the looking bar (Fig. 2), whereby upward movement of the locking bar is prevented.

Rotatably mounting the stem head 22 in the sub prevents twisting and spinning of the supporting cable from being transmitted to the swab. As the swab is lowered into the well, the sleeve l8 abuts the shoulder 31 on the sub and the valve at the lower end of the swab is open. The well fluid enters the bore of the mandrel I0 through the opening in the nut l4 and passes upwardly therethrough, being discharged through the apertures IS in the sleeve I8. When the swab has been lowered sumciently into the well liquid and upward movement is started, the valve 23 is seated and the apertures I9 in the sleeve l8 admit fluid into the mandrel It, said liquid flowing through the ports 20 into the chambers 20'. Upon lifting the swab the liquid will exert sufiicient pressure to expand the swab members into engagement with the wall of the well. By pulling the swab upwardly liquid in the well thereabove is also lifted.

Frequently the swab is lowered to such a depth that the liquid above it forms too great a load to lift and the frictional contact of the swab members with the well wall becomes so great, due to the internal pressure, as to cause the swab to stick. If this should occur it is merely necessary to slack up the line to allow the valve 23 to drop'from the seat l4, thus bleeding or unloading the swab, which frees the swab members.

It, also becomes necessary at times to use the sub as a hammer to aid in releasing a swab whir' 1. has adhered or become stuck to the well well. This is done by dropping the sub until the shoulder 31 strikes the upper. end of the sleeve I6, thereby jarring the swab loose.

It will be seen that the mandrel may be readily disconnected from the sub by removing the split ring 38, lifting the locking bar to release the lugs 36 from the notches 35 and swinging the bar outwardly, as shown in Fig. '7, whereupon the head 22 and stem 2| may be removed from the socket 21 and slot 26.

Manifestly the swab collars may be increased or decreased from the number shown by merely lengthening or shortening the mandrel III as desired. Also, the swab members may be of any desired type.

In Figure 8 is shown another type of elastic swab member, which may be attached by means of the flexible stem 2| to the sub 24 in the manner already described. The mandrel has mounted thereon in spaced relation a plurality of elastic swab cups 40 having internal reinforcing members 4| provided therein. The cups are adapted to be engaged ,in upwardly directed thimbles 42, being confined therein by spacing sleeves 43. Each cup is provided with grooves 44 extending upwardly from near the bottom of its outer periphery and reinforcing rods 45 of a cage are embedded in these grooves and extend above the upper edge of the cups. The thimbles 42 enclose and secure the lower ends of the rods and their upper ends are bent inwardly above the cup and hooked into a retaining ring 46. A retaining nut 41 engages the upper end of the uppermost spacing sleeve 43 and confines the assembly on the mandrel between a supporting nut 48 at its lower end and said retaining nut.

The nut 41 is similar to the nut l1 and the nut 48 is similar to the valve seated nut l4.

When this type swab is lowered into a well, the fluid entering the space between the cups and the sleeve will expand said cups into engagement with the wall of the well when the swab is lifted, and well fluid thereabove will be lifted with 50 the swab.

Obviously, should the swab become overloaded or stuck for any other reason, the sub may be lowered opening the valve 23 and reducing the fluid column pressure as in the first form, whereupon the swab will be freed or unstuck.

Manifestly the sub may be used with a swab assembly having any type swab members thereon, and such assemblies may be readily connected or disconnected or interchanged with regard to the sub.

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

1. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, and latching means on the sub for detachably securing the flexible connecting means to the sub.

2. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swabmember carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat inthe support, and pivoted means on the sub for detachably securing the flexible connecting means to the sub.

3. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, means on the sub for suspending the flexible means therefrom, and latching means for detachably holding said flexible means on the suspending means.

4. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, means on the sub for suspending the flexible means therefrom, and pivoted means for detachably holding said flexible means on the suspending means.

5. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permit the flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and means for holding said flexible means within the socket.

6. A well swab including, a tubularsupport having a. valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permit the flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and latching means for detachably holding said flexible means within the socket.

7. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permit the flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and pivoted means on the sub for detachably holding said flexible means within the socket and suspended therefrom.

8. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub hav- "for connecting the tubular ing a. valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, pivoted means for detachably securing the flexible means to the sub and means normally holding the pivoted means against being opened. 5

9. A well swab including, a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support, a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub havl0 ing a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permit the flexible means to be inserted thereinto, and a swinging locking bar pivoted to the sub for holding said flexible 15 means within the socket.

10. A well swab including. a tubular support having a valve seat at its lower end, an elastic swab member carried by the support. a sub carried by a supporting element, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, the sub having a socket open at one side to permit the flexible means to be inserted thereinto, a swinging locking bar pivoted to the sub for holding said flexible means within the socket, and detachable means for holding the locking bar in a locking position.

11. A well swab including, a sub carried by a supporting element, a tubular support having an elastic swab member mounted thereon and having a valve seat at its lower end, flexible means support to the sub, having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support, pivoted means for detachably'securing said flexible means to the sub and means normally holding the pivoted means against being opened.

12. A well swab including, a sub carried by a 0 supporting element and having a socket therein open at one side, a tubular support having an elastic swab member-mounted thereon and having a valve seat at its lower end. flexible means extending axially through the support and having a valve at its lower end adapted to engage the seat in the support and also having a head at its upper end adapted to be mounted in the socket in the sub and means on the sub for detachably securing the head within the socket. o

13. A well swab including, a sub carried by a supporting element, a tubular support having a plurality oi elastic swab members mounted thereon and having a valve seat at its lower end, means on the support for varying the distortion of the uppermost swab member, flexible means for connecting the tubular support to the sub having a valve at its lower end arranged to engage the seat in the support, and means on the sub for detachably securing the flexible means to u the sub.

HARVEY R. STANDLEE.

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