US2296582A - Pump operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1942. c. w. sPRoULL.

PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July l0, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l CHAPLES W 5P/201m Sept. 22, 1942. -c. w. sPRoULL.

l PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July' 1o, 1939 s sheets-sheet 2 CHA/21.55 W JP/eol/LL Sept 22, 1942- c. w. sPRoULL.

Y PUMP OPERATING' MECHANISM 3 Shee'is-Sheet 3 Filed July l0. 1939 gms/HM' CHAQLES W SPROULL allai/lill "Y I 4115.,.0 1

Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNlTED STATES "PTENT OFFICE PUMP OPERATING MECHANST/ Charles W. Sproull, Houston, Tex. Application July 10, 1939, Serial No. 283,592 3 Claims. (Q1. 121-157) This invention relates to pump operating mechanism.

The invention embodies certain novel improvements over that type of pump disclosed. in my copending application led July 9, 1934, in the United States Patent Oice under Serial No. 734,283, now Patent No. 2,182,062, and is a cond tinuation, in part, of said application.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a deep well pump a novel type of master valve and controlling pilot Valve assembly for controlling the application of the operating fluid to the motor piston of the pump, and includes also a novel connection between the pilot valve and the said piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of master valve for controlling the application of the operating fluid to the piston whereby the operating ud will be more gradually applied to the work thus avoiding sudden shocks upon reversal of the application of the motive uid from one side of said vpiston to the other side thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for .the free escape of gas through the working barrel check valves when the pump plunger is at the limit of its down-stroke.

The invention also embodies means for entrapping and retaining the oil or other liquid in the pump tubing when the pump is withdrawn for repairs or replacements.

The invention also embodies novel means for collecting sand and detritus in the pumped liquid and preventing the same yfrom settling down about, and clogging, the working parts of the With the above and other objects in View the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a vertical, sectional View o' the upper portion of the pump showing the master valve in position to permit the application of operating fluid to the piston to effect downstroke or power stroke of the piston.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view oi the lower portion of the valve assembly showing the pilot valve and the connecting means for connecting the same to the motor piston.

Figure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view showing the motor cylinder and piston and the connection for the pump traveling Valve.

Figure 4 shows a vertical, sectional view of the pumping mechanism.

Figure 5 shows a vertical, sectional view of the upper portion of the Valve assembly showing the master valve at the end `of its downstroke vand in position to permit the application'of motive fluid to the motor piston to effect upward movement thereof.

Figure 6 shows a side elevation, partly in section, 0f an intermediate portion of the valve assembly showing the motive fluid conduits.

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary, side view of the upper end of the motor cylinder and the lower end of the valve assembly housing.

Figure 8 shows a fragmentary, side elevation of the lower end of the pump.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view takenon line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure l0 shows an elevational view, partly in section, of the upper portion of the assembly shown positioned in the well casing.

Figure 11 shows an elevational view, partly in section, of an intermediate view thereof.

Figure 12 shows an elevational view, partly in section, of the lower end of the pump.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates the pump body as a whole whose upper end is connected to the tubular string 2 which extends .to the ground surface and which forms a conduit for the application of the operating iiuid to the piston for operating the pump. This operating fluid may be oil, gas or other selected uid.

Connected to the lower end of the body there is a tubular connection 3 containing the stufng box 4 through which the tubular stem 5 reciprocates. Connected to the lower end of the coupling 3 there is a tubular pump working barrel 6 whose upper end carries the enlarged head 1 which rests on the upper end of the tubular packing cage 8. This cage contains the packing assembly 9 comprising cup rings and spacer rings forming a packing between the upper reduced end of the working barrel and the cage and said cage supports a surrounding wall packer assembly I0 of any conventional construction which forms a fluid tight seal between the cage and the well casing Il.

Beneath the cage 8 and connected thereto there is a liner l2 which may be formed into a well screen as I4 adapted to be set opposite the producing stratum in the well.

The tubular working barrel of the pump has a coupling I thereon provided with a seat to support the upwardly opening standing valve structure I6.

On the lower end of the valve stem 5 there is the conventional traveling valve structure |1. Upon downward movement of the traveling valve the standing valve I 6 will close and the liquid in the working barrel 6 will pass above the traveling Valve and upon upstroke of the traveling valve the fluid will be discharged out from the upper end of the working barrel through the discharge openings I8 and into the space between the casing and the pump body I and will pass thence up through said casing and out through the flow line |9.

It will be noted that the string 2 and the entire pumping apparatus may be withdrawn as a unit from ythe well leaving the packer I 9 and the well screen in the well and may be reinserted, also M as a unit, into the well and seated onto the packer cage 8. f Y

There is a cylinder 2| which formsca part of `the main body of the pumping apparatus and whose lower and upper ends may be connected with the adjacent parts of the pumping apparatusin any preferred manner. As shown its respective ends are connected into the main body of the pumping apparatus by the lower collar 29,

lwhich is connected to the coupling 3, and by the upper collar 20a. This cylinder 2| is provided with thelower inlet ports 22 which lead inwardly through the coupling 3. A piston 23 works within the cylinder 2| and is attached to the upper end of the traveling valve stem 5. The upper end of the main body I of the apparatus is formed with a master valvecylinder 24 and beneath it the pilot valve cylinder 25, said cylinders being separated by the partition 26 which is screwed into the lower end of the cylinder 24 and into which the upper end of the cylinder 25 is screwed. The partition 26 is formed with a depending skirt 25a which surrounds and is spaced from the upper end of the cylinder 25. The upper end of the cylinder 24 is closed by the plug 21 and the lower end of the cylinder 25 is closed by a bearing 28 through which the pilot valve stem 29 works.

As shown, the master Valve comprises the pistons 30, 3|, 32, 33 which are fitted into the cylinder 24 and are spaced apart and which may be formed integrally with a common piston rod 34. The ends of this rod project beyond the corresponding pistons 30, 33 forming the projections 35, 36 which maintain the end pistons of the valve spaced from the opposing ends of the cylinder.

The pilot valve is elongated and comprises the valve rod 31 and the upper and lower pistons 38, 39 which are fitted into the cylinder 25 and are maintained in fixed, spaced relation by said rod. The pilot valve assembly is xed to the upper end of the pilot Valve stem 29.

The stem 29 is preferably formed of sections adjustably connected by the elongated coupling 40. The lower end of the valve stem 29 works through a central, axial bore 4| of the piston 23 and has the head 42 on the lower end thereof. 'I'he upper end of the piston 23 is reduced in outside diameter and is provided with outlet openings 43, 43 and above said openings has a bushing 44 screwed therein which closely surrounds the stem 29. The openings 43 permit the free passage of liquid therethrough upon upward` movement of the stem 29 and prevent the formation of a vacuum upon downward movement of said stem. The head 42 is spaced a suflicient distance beneath the lower end of the coupling 49 to allow the required independent movement of the stem 29 relative to the piston 23.

Assuming that the traveling valve |1 has just completed its upstroke the master valve will be in its upper position as shown in Figure 1 and the operating fluid, under pressure, will pass downwardly through the conduits 45, 45 and through the inlet ports 46, 46 into the cylinder 24 between the pistons 3|, 32 and thence out through the ports 41, 41 into the conduits 43, 48

Yand down through said conduits and through the ports 49, 49 into the cylinder 2| and will operate against the piston 23 to drive said piston and traveling valve |1 downwardly as indicated in Figure 4, this movement of valve I1 closing the standing valveV I6 and the liquid beneath said traveling Valve passing into the working barrel 6 above it. As the piston 23 moves downwardly and approaches the end of its downward stroke the bushing 44 will engage the head 42 offthe pilot valve stem 29 and will move said pilot valve stem and pilot valve downwardly. Also as the piston 23 movesdownwardly the fluid beneath it, in the cylinder 2|, will be forced out through the ports 22 and up through the conduits', l563, connected therewith and through the ports-5|, 5| into the cylinder 24 andA thence out through the relief portsY 52, 52, between the'pistons 32, 33 and on into the fluid being pumped. t

There is a conduit 53 which leads ldownwardly from one of the conduits -45 and enters the cylinder 25 through the port 54 between the pistons 38, 39 and the lower end of the cylinder 24 has a port 55 leading from which-is a conduit 55 which enters the cylinder 25 through the upper port 51, this last mentioned port being spaced above the port 54. There is `also a conduit 58 connecting the lower port 59 of the cylinder 25 andthe port 6|) at the upper end of the cylinder 24. v

The cylinder 24 also has Vthe relief outlets 6|, 6| leading out from between the pistons 30, 3| into the space between the pump and the casing Also the upper end the outlets 62, 62 leading therefrom for theroutlet and inlet of liquid'above the piston 38. The.

end of the cylinder 24 in any preferred manner,-

as, for example, by means of a collar 64 and whose lower end may be connected into the main body of the pumping apparatus in any preferred` manner. As shown said lower end is connected tothe upper end of the collar 20a by means of an open cage 65 andthe Vtubular connection 66- which contains the ports 49. The connection 66 contains a stu'lng box 61 which closely' sur-v rounds the valve stem 29.

The jacket 63 has enlarged openings as v69 through which the connections on the conduits 53, 56 and 58 may be made into the pilot valve cylinder 25. The outlets 62 the pilot valve cylinder thus ly with the space between the pump and the casing through said openings Vb9. The conduit 53 is connected into the cylinder 25 at'a point between thepistons 38,A 39 such that there will of the cylinder 25 has at the upper end Vof` communicates free-A always be high pressure fluid in the cylinder 25 'between said pistons 33, 39.

While the operating fluid is lbeing applied to the piston 23 the pressure of said fluid between the pilot pistonsSS, 39 and beneath the master valve Apiston 33 will be equalized, said pressure fluid passing through the conduits 53, 56. The pressure of the fluid column in the casing above the pilot piston 38 and between the master pistons 33, 3| will also be equalized through the openings 6|, S2 and the Apressure of the fluid above the master piston 3|) and beneath the pilot piston 39 will be equalized through the outlet 59 and the conduit 58.

As the pilot valve moves downwardly under the iniiuence of the downward movement of the .piston .23 the piston 38 thereof will move past the outlet port 51 simultaneously with the movement of the pilot piston 39 past the port 59, An operating uid, under pressure, 'will then pass through the conduit 58 to the upper end of the cylinder 2d above the master valve piston 30 and the master valve will be forced downwardly into the position shown in Figure 5. The port 59, however, of the cylinder 25 is located some distance above the lower end of said cylinder so that the pilot valve and the piston 23 will not be suddenly stopped but may continue on their downward movement until the master valve shall have reversed its movement, the pilot valve thus having the required lead. The liquid beneath the piston 39 will not be trapped in the lower end of the cylinder 25 but may pass out through the ports 38, 68 as shown in Figure 2. When the master valve has been forced downwardly as explained the operating fluid will pass through the conduits 35 and ports 46 into the cylinder 24 and thence out through the ports 5|, through the conduits f! and the ports 22 into the cylinder 2| beneath the piston 23 and said piston and the pump travelling valve |1 will be elevated and the well liquid above said traveling valve will be forced from the working valve out through the ports I8 and on up through the casing and an additional charge of well liquid will be drawn into the working barrel through the standing valve I6. Upon elevation of the piston 23 it eventually will strike the coupling 40 and will elevate the stern 29 and the pilot valve whereupon the pilot piston 38 will clear the port 51 and pass above it and the pilot piston 39 will clear and pass above the port 59 and the operating uid under pressure will then pass from the conduit 53 through the cylinder 25 and the conduit 5B into the lower end of the cylinder 24 beneath the master valve cylinder 33 and the master valve will be elevated into its original position as shown in Figure 1.

Upon elevation of the master valve the operating fluid will then pass through the conduits 45 into the cylinder 24 and thence through the ports 41 and conduits 48 and ports 49 into the cylinder 2| to again force the piston 23 and the traveling valve downwardly as before and before said piston 23 reaches the limit of its downward movement it will operate through the stem 29 as above explained, to reverse the position of the pilot valve and after the pilot valve has been reversed and the operating fluid has been admitted through the conduit 58 into the upper end of the cylinder 24 it has sufficient lead to continue its downward movement until the application of the operating fluid underneath the piston 23 has been effected to cause a reversal of the movement of said last mentioned piston.

It will be noted the conduits for conducting 'the operating fluid are mounted externally of the supporting structure for said conduits andare preferably formed of pipe, as shown. The ends of the conduits 45, 48 and 59 are welded to suitable attaching plates which are substantially similar and which are designated on the drawings by the numerals 16 and these plates are bolted to the pump body by suitable bolts as 1|. At the points of the attachment of the plates to the body said body is formed rectangular in. crosssecticnal contour as shown in Figure 9 to provide fiat faces against which the attaching plates are fitted. The ends of these pipes are plugged up as shown and the plates are formed with central openings to register with the corresponding Vinlet and outlet openings. The other conduits 53., 5t and '58 have their ends connected into the respective valve cylinders by means of suitable elbows 'as shown.

Special attention is called to the fact that the ports 41, 5| have a greater inside diameter than the length of the corresponding pistons 3|, 32 so that as the master valve is moved to control the application of the operating fluid to opposite sides of the piston 23, said ports 41, 5| will never, at any time, be completely blocked or closed by said pistons 3|, 32. The column of operating fluid being exerted through the tubular string 2 and the conduits 45 flows under strong pressure and a sudden stoppage of the movement of said column by the complete closing of said ports 41, 5| as the corresponding pistons pass them would result in a sudden shock or jar which is avoided by making said ports somewhat larger in inside diameter than the length of the corresponding master valve pistons thus only retarding but not completely stopping the movement of the column oi operating fluid.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pump, a motor comprising a motor cylinder, a piston therein, a master valve cylinder aligned with the motor cylinder, branch conduits connected into the master valve cylinder and also connected into the motor cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, a supply conduit above and in alignment with and connected into the valve cylinder for the supply of an operating fluid, under pressure, thereto, a master valve in the valve cylinder for connecting the supply conduit alternately with the branch conduits, said master valve including spaced pistons connected to move as a unit and shaped to only partly close one branch conduit while connecting the supply conduit with the other branch conduit, a pilot valve cylinder aligned with and located beneath the master valve cylinder, a partition separating said valve cylinders, said partition being formed with a depending tubular skirt which surrounds and is spaced from the adjacent end of the pilot valve cylinder, a pilot valve in the pilot valve cylinder arranged to be controlled by the movements of the piston in the motor cylinder and to control the movements of the master valve, said pilot valve cylinder having a relief outlet at its lower end and a relief outlet at its upper end in said skirt.

2. In a pump, a motor comprising a motor cylinder, a piston therein, a master valve cylinder, branch conduits connected into the valve cylinder and also connected into the motor cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, a supply conduit connected into the valve cylinder for the supply supply conduit with the other branch conduit, a pilot valve cylinder beneath and aligned with the master Valve cylinder, a jacket connected to the master Valve cylinder and surrounding and spaced from the pilot valve cylinder, a connection attached to the lower end of the jacket and containing a seal for a stem through which the pilot valve may be connected to said piston.

3. Ina pump a motor comprising a motor cylinder, a pilot valve cylinder, a master valve cylinder and an inlet conduit entering the master Valve cylinder for supplying an operating fluid under pressure thereto, said cylinders and conduit being arranged in vertical alignment, a piston in the motor cylinder, branch conduits leading from the master Valve cylinder and terminating in the motor cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, said master valve cylinder having ports connecting the branch conduits into said master valve cylinder and also having corresponding relief ports, a master valve in the master valve cylinder movable to alternately connect said inlet conduit with one of the branch conduits and to simultaneously connect the other branch conduit With the corresponding relief port, said valve being shaped to simultaneously connect the inlet conduit with the branch ports during one portion of its movement and the Valve being arranged, during said portion of movement, to connect the inlet conduit with both branch ports and their corresponding relief ports, a pilot valve in the pilot valve cylinder, a pilot valve rod connecting the pilot valve with the piston, a jacket connected to the master valve cylinder and surrounding and spaced from the pilot Valve cylinder, coupling means connecting the motor cylinder to the jacket, said coupling means including an open cage through which the pilot valve stem Works, and containing a seal around said stem.

CHARLES W. SPROULL.

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