US2328127A - Sucker rod stripper - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1943. c. s. CRICKMER SUCKER ROD STRIPPER Filed May 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1, 1943. cfs. CRICKMER Y Y ,328,127

SUCKER ROD STRIPPER Filed May 2 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C/za r/es S. CP/ckmer Patented Aug. 31, 1943 UNITED" STATES PATENT E'QFFICE sUcKEa non srmrrnn Char-less. Crickmer, Dallas, Tex. Application May 2, 1941, s riaiNoissrrs'zj 4 Claims. (61. 286-16) This invention relates to new andusef ul im provements in sucker rodstrippers,

One object of the invention is to provide an improved sucker rod stripper having flexible means for frictionally engaging the pump or sucker rods to remove the oil or well liquid there-e irom as the same are withdrawn from the well tubing, whereby said rods are cleansed and un-, due waste of the well liquid is prevented.

, An important object of the invention is to provide an improved sucker rod stripper having a fleqiible stripping element of relatively simple and inexpensive construction reinovably supported therein, ,whereby the elementmay readily removed andreplaced economically when the same becomes worn.

Another object of the invention is to; provide a sucker ,rod stripper having an improved annular stripping elementfof resilient material wlnchdsinolded or otherwise permanently secured within a housing and which has its bore of a diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the sucker rods so as to snugly, engage and scrape oil from the same ,the element and housing providing an inexpensive unit which may be entirelywdiscarded when the element becomes worn. i

A particularobject of the inventionisto pro vide an improved stripping element, oirthe char aeter described, having grooves i'ormed in its upper and lower surfaces for increasing the flex ibility thereof, wherebythe passage of couplings or tool joints therethrough is iacilitated.

, A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sucker rod stripper, of the character described, whereinthe stripping elementris composed oi a pair of semiecircular resilient segments and each segment is molded withinone of the semi-cylindricalysections of a housing,

7 whereby the stripper may be readily installed in sections for supporting the stripping element, the sections being pivotally or removably connected together so as to permit the removal of said element from the housing and also to facilitate positioning of the housing around saidrods, aswell with other features of the invention. 1

as removal therefrom, when said" sections are swung or separated. 1 Q, d a r The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, as an example of the, invention is shown, and wherein; Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a sucker rod stripper, constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2,is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing a coupling of the suckerrodpass ing through the strippingelementoi the stripper,

Figure 3 is a, horizontal, cross-sectionalview,

taken on the line ii 3 01 Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse; vertical, sectional view, showing a modified form of stripping ele ment,: h w,

Figure5 is a plan view of the stripper shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified f orm of strippingelement, j f

,Figure 7 is ,a view similar toFigure 1, showing a plurality of stripping elements molded within a nipple, d d Figure 8 is a view, ,partly in elevation and partly in section, of another form of stripper havingaslightly modified form of stripper element mounted therein,-

, Figure 9 is a plan view of thestripper shown in Figure 8, i

Figure 10 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line ilk-Lot Figure 8, and

Figure 11 is'a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken: on the line li -l Iof Figure 8. p

the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an upright cylindrioalbody ,or nipple which has its lower end externally screw-threaded as shown at I] so that it maybe connected to theupper end of a well tubing ljbya suitable coupling collar l3, The bore, of theinippleis of a diameter substantially equal to the bore of the tubing and communicates with thesame. Although the nipple may be cylindrical it is preferable .hmsplit the same diametricallyso as to provide complementarysemi-cylindricalsections l1 (Figure 3).

stripping element 18a is disposed within the bore of the nipple I0 adjacent its upper end. The element may be composed ofan annular disk, but it i preferably iormedxof, a pair of .by' the inner periphery of said collar.

semi-circular segments I8, of rubber, neoprene,

. or other suitable resilient material, which sec- I tions co-act to provide a resilient collar or ring. The external diameter of the collar is substantially equal to the diameter of the nipple bore I4, whereby the external periphery of saidcollar snugly engages the wall of said bore. The collar is relatively thick and one segment thereof is secured within each nipple section I! by having its external arcuate "surface bonded, molded or otherwise fastened, to the inner wall of its respective section. An arcuate lip I9 is made integral with each of the upper and lower faces of each segment at their outer or marginal edges so as to provide an amplified bonding surface for reinforcing the segments. The inner surfaces of collar.

, grooves or channels 23 may be formed in the upper and lower faces of the collar as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The provision of these grooves will more readily permit or facilitate flexing of the lips I9- are curved or arced inwardly, whereby said lips form a continuationof the upper and" lower faces of the segments. It is preferable that inner arcuatesur'faces' of the segments; be equal to or slightly less than the diameter of therods I5 which extend therethrough,"whe'reby said disk will frictionally engage saidrods. 7 During themolding of the segments IE, it has beenfound practicable to'form' an integral lip or projection 2 I on the vertical edgesof each section I! at the same time. This is done by permitting a small portion of the rubben'or other material used, to escape from the mold (not shown) and flow onto the vertical edges of each section to which it adheres. The lips 2| extend throughout the length of the edges'of th'e 'segment's It and are relativelythin or film-like, whereby the same will fill the space of the material removed by splitting the nipple and will co-act to seal off the joint between the abutting surfaces of thesections when the same are brought together in op- Wardly. Thus, the abutting end surfaces of the segments will'be complementary and will co-act to seal off the joint therebetween aswell as to reinforce each other and prevent undue'dis'tortion thereof. Y

Whenever it is desirable or necessary to with- P draw the rods I5 from the tubing I2, the nipple I0 is screw-threaded into the uppermost coupling collar I3 of said tubing immediately prior to such I withdrawal; The rods are thenpulled'upwardly through the bore20 of the collar I8, whereby an excessive amount of oil or other liquid clinging to said .rods will be stripped or wiped therefrom This removed oil or'liquid will, of course, flow downwardly into the tubing. "Whena joint or coupling collar 25 of the rods is encountered, the resiliency of the collar I8 will permit the inner portion of thesame to flex upwardly'as shown in Figure 2; After the joint has passed through the disk, it is obvious that the same will revert to its original position (Figure 1). However; there will [be a slight upward flexing of the disk whenever the rods are moved upwardly due to the small diameter of the borelil; j I

Since the-nipple I0 and stripping element I811 the collar, especially when the same is engaged by one of the couplings 25, or other enlargements, of. the rods I5. It is manifest that substantially the same result could be obtainedby the formation of radial channels or recesses 24 in the upper and lower faces ofthe collar (Figure 6). Al'- though neither the grooves 23'nor the channels 24 are essential, both are desirable since they do not materially weaken the stripping element.

As shown in Figure '7, a plurality of stripping elements may. be mounted within the bore of a nipple in spaced 'superirnposed relation. Each elementconsists of a pair of semi circular segments 26 which have arcuatelips"2 I',*similar to the lips Iihformed on their up'pera'nd lower surfaces. Instead of being inclinedor bevelled", the end surfaces may be vertical so as to terminate substantially flush with. the edges of the nipple sections H; For sealingth'e joint between the adjacent surfaces of abutting segments, one end surface of each-segment is provided with a longitudinally-extending tongue 28,;while a com?" plementary groove or recess 29 is ;formed in'the other end surface. When the sections I! of the nipple are brought togetherin operating position, the tongues of the segments will engage within the groovesthereof' and co-actfto seal the joint therebetw'een. The-tongue and groove'connece Hons will'also e t-to Pr v iwnd distortion of the segments in thesame manner as'the bevelled or inclined surfaces of the segments I8. In molding-the segmentsit, the sealing lips'or projections- 2| are formed on the vertical edges of the sections I? of therlipple, as has been hereinbefore described; 1

' A modified form'of stripper-is shown-in Figures '8 to 11 and includes-a cylindrical housing areasing 38 having a de ziending, reduced shank -3I which is adapted to be screw threaded into the coupling collar I3. The central or intermediate portion of the housing 30 is enlarged to-pro'vi'de an annular recess orgroove'32. within the bore 33 thereof, while the upper end ofsaid housing is curved inwardly, upwardly. and. then outwardly so as to form afiaredcollaryor top 33a. The housing is preferably composedjofa pair of com-I plementary semi-cylindricalsections or, halves 34 having radiallyprojecting lugs or ears 35, which co-act with pins 36lto provide hinges for fastening the sections together; H

The stripping element of this stripperflis f ormed of an annular disk or collar 3i, similar to the disk I8 a, having integral annular lips 38 an a'xial bore 39 which aresubstantially idestical to the lips. I9 and bore 2Q ofsaiddiskIBa.

The disk 31 is of an external. diameter greater than the disk sea and as itsiouter periph eral surface bonded, molded or otherwise secured, to the inner periphery of a metallic supporting'col substituted in its place.

lar or ring 40, whereby the stripping element may be supported within the recess 32 of the housing. In order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the stripping element from around the sucker rods 15, the disk and ring are split at an incline from a vertical plane, as indicated by the numerals 4| and 42, respectively. Thus,

the free ends of the disk and ring may be readily separated or sprung apart so as to engage the stripping element around the rods I 5.

When the stripping element is disposed within' the recess 32 of the bore 33 of the housing, the central portion of its joint is preferably alined with one of the joints of said housing as shown in Figures 9 and to. For holding the stripping element fixed inthis position, diametrically-opbe readily removed at any time, irrespective of whether the well rods are extending therethrough.

This is made possible by the splitting of the strip-- ping element and the fastening of the same to the sections of the housing. Of course, by splitting the element diagonally, the leakage of oil or, other liquid is reduced to a minimum. Since the element is removably confined within the posed screw-threaded openings 43 are formed in the ring. Suitable stud bolts or screws 44, which extend through openings 45 in the housing wall, engage within the openings 43 so as to prevent rotative movement of the stripper element within the housing. Therefore, whenever the sections of thehousing are swung apart, the free endsof the stripping element will be moved away from each other and thereby permitthe housing, it is relatively simple to replace the same. i V

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various change in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, with in, the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v l. A stripping device for a well rod including,

a housing composed of semi-cylindrical sections,

, and flexible means bonded to the internal wall removal of the entire stripper while the rods are extending therethrough. For preventing leak-.

age of the housing Joints, vertical packing members or strips 46, of suitable materiaLare interposed between the abutting faces of the shanks of the housing sections 34 as shown in Figure 11. The packing members may be mounted in any suitable manner, but it is preferable to dispose of one of the adjacent faces of each section 34. As shown in Figure8, each recess 4! extends from the intermediate portion of the shank of its section to the recess 32 and follows the contour of said shank.

In operation, the housing 30 of the stripper is attached to the uppermost coupling collar l3 of the well tubing. The sucker rods l5 are then pulled upwardly through the bore 33 of the disk 31 in the usual manner, whereby the excess oils or other liquid clinging to said rods will be wiped therefrom. In order to replace the stripping of each section and co-acting with each other for engaging and surrounding the rod, the flexible .means projecting beyond the internal wall of its section and being bonded to the vertical edges thereof so as to provide a sealing means between a the edges of the sections when the same are placed together.

2. A stripping device for a well rod including,

.ahousing composed of semi-cylindrical sections,

an arcuate yieldable member confined within each housing section to form a collar for engaging and surrounding the rod, the collar having a plurality of recesses in its upper and lower surfaces for increasing the flexibilitythereof to facilitate passage of enlargements on said rod, and arcuate lips formed on the upper and lower surfaces of 7 each element at the external peripheral portion element, it is necessary to disconnect the shank 3| of the housing from the collar l3 and then disengage the bolts 44 from the ring40 of said housing. By removing one of the pins 36, the

sections 34 may be swung apart and the strip ping element lifted from the same and another If it is necessary or desirable to replacethe stripper, element while the rods are extending iihrough the bore of the stripper, the housing shank is disconnected from the collar 13 inthe same manner. The sections of the housing are thereof so as to providean amplified bonding surface, each element projecting beyond the interior of its section so as to overlie the vertical edges thereof, whereby a seal between the edges q of the sections is provided when said sections are I placed together.

3. A stripping device for a well rod including, a pair of substantially semi-circular sections adapted to fit together to form an annular housing, a substantially semi-circular stripping element constructed of a resilient material bonded v to the inner surface of each section, the material of which the element is formed also being bonded to the vertical edges of its section, whereby when the sections are placed together the material between the abutting vertical sections provides a packing or sealing means therebetween,

the semi-circular stripping elements, co-acting then swung apart, such swinging being permitted bythe removal of the pin 36 which is immediately adjacent the joint or split of the stripping element. Since the ring 40 is connected to both of the sections 34, the stripping element will be swung apart by the outward movement of said;

sections to permit the passage of the rods through the joint of said element. The bolts 44 are then disengaged from the ring 40 and the element removed from the housing. After another stripping element has been positioned within the housing, the sections are again swung apart and the element spread for the reception of the rods. The

sections are then fastened together by the pin 36 and the housing shank is screw-threaded into the collar l3, whereby stripping of the rods may be continued. p

, It is manifest that the stripping element may with eachtother to form an annular stripping member.

4. A strippingdevice for a well rod including,

a housing adapted to be removably connected to the upper end of a well tubing and composed of semi-cylindrical sections, a semi-circular resilient element having its external surface bonded to the inner wall of each section and co-acting with each other for engaging and surrounding the rod, the ends of each element being inclined in opposite 7 directions and being complementary to the ends

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