US2338903A

US2338903A - Fluid operated pump assembly

Info

Publication number: US2338903A
Application number: US375219A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence J Coberly
Original assignee: ROKO CORP
Current assignee: ROKO Corp
Priority date: 1941-01-21
Filing date: 1941-01-21
Publication date: 1944-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1961-01-11

Description

Jan. 1l, 1944. C, COBERLY 2,338,903

FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 4 Sheetls-Shee'bl '//v ans/v ToA7 CLA laf/veg d. Coeli-Pz. y

Jan. 11, 1944.

c. J. coal-:RLY

' FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 HA 12ms, //Ec JUL 11, 1944. c. J. colar-:RLYl

FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 21, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 3 HA was, V/f/fscff, F05 rig/Q @5f/AMPM i a to. I m

F THE FM Ar" 0km/2K5.

11, 1944. K 'Q J. COB-ERLY 2,338,903

FLUID OPERATED P-UMP ASSEMBLY l l Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WW W A TTQP/vgns.

Patented Jan. 11, 1944l FLUID OPERATED PUMP ASSEMBLY Clarence J. Coberly, Los Angeles, Calif., asslgnor to Roko Corporation, Reno, Nev., a corporation of N evada Application January 21, 1941, Serial No 375,219

(Cl. S-46) 18 Claims..

My invention relates to pumps of the character used for pumping oil from deep wells and relates in particular to pumps which are operated by iluid under pressure which is forced downwardly through suitable piping to a duid motor unit forming part of the pump.

Although the invention is of especial utility with fluid operated pumps, it may be in many in- :stances proiitably employed with other types of pumps. Fluid operated deep Well pumps are now used where it is desired to avoid sucker rods and the attendant losses and ineillciency, A type of iiuid operated pump now in use employs an outer tube which is adapted to receive oil from the Well and an inner tube having a pump connected to the lower end thereof and extended down into the Well to such position that the intake of the pump will receive oil from the Well. The pump is operated by clean operating iluid, such as oil, which is pumped downwardly through the inner tube to the pump unit.` A pump of this character has been known to operate for a long period of time, but regardless of the high efliciency of the pump, such pump is subject to wear of its operating parts and must be removed as occasion demands. The known construction of such pumps, that is, with the pump secured to the lower end of the inner tube, requires the removal of the entire inner tube from the well in order to bring the pump to the surface. This requires considerable time and labor. For example, to pull a pump from a six thousand foot Well requires of crew of four or ve men and approximately four hours of time, and, in addition to this, the use of heavy equipment and consider.

able power.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pumping equipment in which the pump constitutes a separate unit adapted `to be lowered to the lower end of a tube in a well and to be .removed from such tube by the action of an upward flow of iiuid through the tube. With the.

invention in use, instead of four or ve hours being required for pulling the pump, it may be pumped from the Well in approximately onehalf'hour, the result being that a worn pump may be removed from a well and replaced by another in a period of one and one-half hours or less. The invention avoids the necessity of assembling a crew of men when it becomes necessary to pull the pump and also avoids the transporting of pulling equipment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pumping equipment including means for pumping a. clean operating iiuid under high pressure and relatively low velocity to a pump unit in a well for the purpose of operating such pump unit. and having improved means for reversing the flow of fluid and conducting the same at lower pressure and relatively high velocity in a manner to remove the pump unit from the well by the action of such reversed flow of fluid.

It isa further object of the invention to provide an improved means at the upper end of the well for receiving and holding the pump after it has been raised by fluid, such receiver being detachable from the upper end of the well structure so that the pump may be readily removed therefrom' after the uid has been turned of?.

To accomplish the foregoing objects I have previously employed a pair of concentric tubings disposed in a well, the pump being received in the inner tubing and the production therefrom being conveyed to the surface of the ground i through the outer tubing, as illustrated in my Patent No. 2,230,830, issued February 4, 1941, to which reference is hereby made. Such an installation requires an outer .production tubing of relatively large diameter, which is quite expensive, the expense thereof making the cost of such an installation prohibitive in the case of a well having a low production capacity, with the result that the recognized benets of such an installation system have not been commercially available for use in such small production capacity wells. It is therefore an object of my present invention to provide a two-tubing well system in which the production tubing may be oi relatively small diameter to permit the use of the system in low production capacity wells, and I prefer to accomplish this by providing a pump tubing and a pro-l duction tubing which are set side-by-side in the well. y

A further object of my invention is to provide a well pump adapted to be pumped out of a well tubing by uid pressure applied to the lower end thereof in which check valve means are provided in the pump for preventing a reverse iiow of uid through the pump as it is pumped out of the well tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a uid operated well pump adapted to seat on a seat member in the well and constructed and arranged so that the discharge from the pump is adjacent the seat so as to prevent sand or other foreign material from collecting between the seat and the pump.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a. n ovel type of valve mechanism adapted for use in a well pump, in which a valve member is tration only and in which:

provided which is normally held of! its seat to prevent wear thereon but which automatically engages said seat upon a reverse in ilow of fluid through the valve mechanism. I prefer to accomplish this by providing magnetic means for normally holding the valve member off its seat.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification and the drawings, which are for the purpose of illus- Fig. l is a vertical assembly view, partially in section, showing my invention installed in a well.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged crossusectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 oi Fig. l. 4

Fig. i is an enlarged vertical sectional view oi'. the upper end of the device shown in Fig. i.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line S6 oi' Fig. a.

Fig.` 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view oi my pump unit, taken in the neighborhood of the line 2 2 of Fig. i.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of my pump unit, being a downward extension of Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of my pump unit, being a downward extension oi Fig. 8.

Fig. li) is a vertical sectional view of my pump unit, being a downward extension of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a cross-sectional view taken on the line i l-ii of Fig. l0.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view oi the tubular element 132 of my device.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion oi Fig. i0, with one of the parts removed. Referring to the drawings, Fig. l shows a well casing i5 set in an oil well, as is well known in the art, so that the lower end thereof is open to an oil producing zone of the well, the upper end oi the casing being provided with a casing head I6. suitably suspended from the casing head i6 in any manner well known in the art is a pump tubing i1 having a lower collar i3 thereon, the lower end oi the pump tubing being connected through a connecting collar i9 with a lower tubing 2t to the lower end of which is connected a foot member 2i. As will be noted,

the pump tubing i1 and the connecting collarl i9 have the same interna1 diameter. Pumping l means comprised of a fluid operated pump unit 23 is received in the lower tubing 20, and when in working position occupies the position shown in Fig. i. Also suitably suspended from the casing head i6 is an auxiliary tubing 24 which extends through the casing head and is connected at its lower end tothe foot member 2l, its axis being parallel to but oset from the axis of the pump tubing i1. Enclosing the lower end of the pump tubing i1 and the lower end of the auxiliary tubing 24, and the foot member 2l. is a gas anchor device 25. Connected to the upper end of the pump tubing l1 and the auxiliary tubing 24 is a valve means 26 having a pump catcher 21 connected thereto in alignment with the pump tubing I1, and having a discharge pipe 28 anda supply pipe 29 connected thereto, the supply pipe being connected to a suitable high pressure pumping mechanism 30, and the discharge pipe being connected to a suitable point of discharge or storage (not shown) I asaaeos 26 includes a valve block 32 having an upper threaded major bore 33 and a lower threaded major bore 34 axially aligned with each other and communicating through a central chamber 35. Threadedly received in the' lower major bore 34 is the upper end of the pump tubing I1, and threaded into the upper major lbore 33 is the lower end oi a tubular member 38 of the pump catcher 21. Also provided in the valve block 32 is a tapered valve seat opening 31 connected with the central chamber 35 by means oi a slot 33, the valve seat opening also being connected through a diametrically opposed slot 39 with an auxiliary bore 40 which communicates with the upper end of the auxiliary tubing 24 which is suitably connected to the valve block 32. Seated in the tapered valve seat opening 31 is a tapered valve member 42 having a rst passage 43 and a second passage 44 therein, the passages preferably being of arcuate form as shown in Fig. 6. Formed on the upper end of the valve member 42 is a hollow stem 45, the upper end of the stem being threaded to receive a threaded plug bolt 465, there being a radial passage 41 communieating between the lower end of the interior of the hollow stem 4E and the periphery oi the valve member 42, the radial passage being provided with an outwardly opening ball member 48. A lubricant, such as grease, may be provided in the interior oi the hollow stem 45 so that by screwing the plug bolt 4t inwardly into the hollow stem the lubricant may be forced radially outwardly through the radial passage/41 onto the periphery of the valve member 42 to lubricate the same. Provided in the upper face oi the valve block 32 vis a counterbore 49 axially aligned with the valve seat opening 31, into which projects a plug 5i) formed on a closure plate 5i which is suitably rigidly secured to the valve block 32, as by bolts 52, the closure plate being separated from the valve body by a gasket 53 forming a iluid-tight joint therebetween. The closure plate 5l is provided with a bore 55 of larger diameter than the external diameter oi. the hollow stem 45 so as to provide a space therebetween in which packing 56 is provided around the hollow stem, the packing being held between a packing gland member 51 threaded into the bore as at titi, or otherwise secured relative to the closure plate, and a packing ring 59 resting on ball bearings 3i! provided between the lower face of the packing ring and the upper face of the tapered` valve member 42. t will be apparent that by tightening the packing gland member 51 relative to the closure plate 5i, the packing 56 may be compressed so as to prevent leakage of iluid past the hollow stern 45. The ball bearings 6D provide anti-friction means between the packing ring 59 and the tapered valve member 42 when the latter is rotated. The upper end 5| of the hollow stem 45 is preferably provided with square faces so as to receive a wrench by which member 42 may be rotated.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the valve means Also provided in the valve block 32 is a discharge opening 62 and aninlet opening 63, these openings being so positioned relative to the slots 3ii and 39 that when the tapered valve member 42 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the first passage 43 therein will connect the slot 38 and the inlet opening 63, and. the second passage 44 therein will connect the slot 39 and the discharge opening 62. By rotating the tapered lvalve mem ber 42 ninety degrees in either direction, the slot 3B may be connected to the discharge opening 62 and the slot 38 may be connected to the inlet opening 63. It will thus be appreciated that the valve means 26 provides a four-way valve. The supply pipe 29 is connected to the valve block 32 so as to communicate with the inlet opening 63, and the discharge pipe 28 is connected to the `valve block 32 so as to communicate with the discharge opening 62, as shown in-Fig. 6.

Also formed in the valve Ablock 32 is a bleeder valve bore |55, the lower end o! which communi cates with the central chamber 35 through a port |58, the upper end of the valve bore being counterbored to provide a bleeder valve seat |51 on which seats a bleeder valve element |58 which.

is threaded into the valve bore and which is provided with a. stufllng box |59 therearound to prevent fluid leakage past the bleeder valve elewell casing I5, although it may be connected to any desired point of discharge.

'The pump catcher 21 includes a tubular body member 65, the lower end of which' is threaded onto the upper end of the tubular member 36, there being a sealing ring 66 welded or otherwise secured to the member 36 so as to insure a, fluid-tight joint between the tubular body member 65 and thetubular member 36. Provided in the tubular body member 65 are a pair of diametrically

opposed openings

81 and 68 in which are received tubular elements 69 and 10, respectively, each of the tubular elements being provided with an end plug 1| threaded into the outer end thereof. The tubular element 69 is provided with a sliding dog 12 normally urged toward the interior of the tubular body member 65 by a coil spring 13, and the tubular element is likewise provided with a sliding dog 14 normally urged toward the center of the tubular body member 65 by a coil spring 15. Each of the dogs 12 and 14 is undercut at its inner lower edge, as at 16, and the dogs form a latch means adapted to permit a tapered head member 11 to be passed therethrough but to retain the same after the head member rises above the dogs. A dash-pot element 18 is pro- `vided in the upper end of the tubular body member 65 and has a conical opening 18 therein adapted to receive the tapered head 11, the dash-pot element engaging each of the dogs 12 and 14 to limit the inward movement thereof, and being yieldably retainedin such position by a coil spring 80. The clearance between the dash-pot element 18 and the inner wall of the tubular body member 65 is small, so that upward movement of the dash-pot element 18 is cushioned by fluid trapped thereabove, and it will be appreciated that this construction com` prises a dash-pot means for cushioning nal upward movement of the iiuid operated pump unit 23.

As sho-wn in Fig. l, the head element 1 1 is fixed tothe upper end of a perforated tubularl strainer 8|, the lower end of which is threadedly secured to a check valve device 82, which is shown in detail in Fig. '7. T he check valve device 82 includes a body member 83, the upper end of which'ls threadedly secured to the lower end of the perforated tubular strainer 8l, and the lower end of which is bored to provide a valve chamber 84, the lower portion of which is internally threaded, which communicates through a bore 85 with the lower end of the strainer 8|. Threaded into the valve chamber 84 is the upper end of a tubular` element 86 provided with a main bore 81 and a valve bore 88 at the upper end thereof, the valve bore 88 being counterbored at its upper end to provide an upwardly faced check valve seat 88 on which a ball valve element 80 is adapted to seat to close the valve bore 88. A plurality of vertical passages SI are provided in the upper end of the tubular element 86 and intersect the main bore 81 thereof below the check valve seat 89, and it is to be noted that such passages are of substantially smaller diameter than vthe valve bore 88, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. As will be noted, the outer surface of the tubular element 86 is relieved at 86a. so that the lower end of the tubular element is of slightly greater diameter than the balance thereof. l

The lower end of the tubular element'86 also forms part of a sealing member 92 and has a lower inwardly curved face 94 at its lower end and being threaded to a tubular element 95 having a ilange 95, the upper face of which is inwardly curved as at 91 so as to hold an annular packing element 98 preferably formed of resilient material, such as synthetic rubber, between the curved face 94 and the flange 96. The tubular element 85 is provided with an annular recess 83 which registers with themajor portion of the inner surface of the annular packlng element 98. Radial openings 99 are provided in the tubular element 95 so as to communicate with the recess 93 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The lower end of the tubular element 95 is threaded to the upper end 00 of the fluid operated pump unit 23, and it is to be noted that the external diameter of the sealing member 82 is substantially the same as the external diameter of the fluid operated pump unit, and that the sealing member makes a close sliding t within the connecting collar I9, which is connected to the lower end of the pump tubing l1, although the upper portion of the tubular element 86 above the relieved portion 86a has ample clearance in the tubing I1. The uid operated pump unit 23 may be o any desired type, although I prefer to use a fluid operated pump of the type shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 350,010, led August 2, 1940, to which reference is hereby made for a complete description of the construction and operation of the specific fluid operated pump-mechanism shown in the present application. Consequently, only the general elements of the fluid operated pump unit 23 will be described herein.

The uid operated pump unit 23 is provided at its upper end with a tubular valve body |02 in which i's provided a reciprocating main valve member |03, the valve body being provided with a longitudinal passage |04 and a longitudinal discharge passage |05, the latter communicating through a discharge port 08 with an annular space |01 provided between the lower tubing 20 and the exterior of the iiuid operated pump unit 23. To the lower end of the valve body I|02 is threaded a pump cylinder |08 having a liner |08 therein, there being a longitudinalspace ||0 between the pumpcylinder and the liner, the upper end of the space ||0 communicating with the lower end of the longitudinal passage |04, and there being a, radial opening communicating between the lower end of the space H0 and the interior of the liner |09, as best shown in Fig.

9. Disposed in the liner |09 is a piston I|2 making a fluid-tight sliding nt with the interior of upwardly through the main valve member it and the tubular valve body 502, the upper end thereof projecting' into the connecting pipe t6, as shown in Fig. 7. Fixed to the lower side oi the piston II2 is a tubular element il@ having a working valve l2@ secured in the lower end thereof, the tubular element projecting into a sleeve construction lil in which the tubular" element I I9 makes a fluid-tight sliding rit.

Fixed to the lower end of the pump cylinder MiB is a lower cylinder IZB, the upper-end of which abuts against the lower end of the liner E09, and the lower end of which is threaded to a tubular seating member itil, as best shown in Fig. 10. An upwardly opening standing valve |25 is provided so as to close a central passage I |26 through the seating member im, the central passage communicating through the standing valve with the interior of the lower end or" the sleeve construction I2II, as best shown in l0 and l1. As will be noted, the lower end of the seating member itt is provided with a conical face itl adapted to seat in a conical opening itil formed in the upper end of a lower check valve means 29.

The lower check valve means I2@ makes a close fluid-tight lit in a bore iti provided in the foot member 2l, and includes an upper tubular element lili and a lower tubular element i3d threaded thereto. The upper tubular element l32 has a tubular member i3@ disposed rigidly therein, or formed integrally therewith, the lower end being counterbored to receive a U-shaped permanent magnet lll' rigidly ixed therein, the permanent magnet being adapted to normally retainthereon by magnetism a metallic closure ball itil. vided with a plurality of iiow passages M50, radially spaced, only one of which is shown in Fig. i0, and is provided with a longitudinal slot ibi in one side thereof. The longitudinal slot, as shown in Fig. l2, is formed with an upper major portion l62 and a lower minor portion it, the portions thereof being separated by shoulders iiifl which are arcuate in form, as shown in Fig. i3. Received in the slot ll is a release member M55 having shoulders IE6 formed thereon which are adapted to seat on the shoulders |64 formed by the slot Ilil, the shoulders |66 having a lower arcuate face adapted to .t into the shoulders i645 of the slot. The release member |65 has an upper end I6I which, when the closure ball |3'II is seated as shown in Fig. l0, projects into the line of the central passage |26, and has a lower curved end |68 which engages the closure ball |31. The release member |65 is also provided with a at spring |69 secured thereto, which normally urges the upper end |671 of the release member into the line of the central passage |26.

The lower tubular element |33 is provided with u seating ring |38 on which the closure ball |31 may seat to close a central passage |39 formed in the lower tubular element |33. The lower end of the lower tubular element |33 is provided with The upper tubular element I32 is pro-v a conical seating face |40 adapted to seat in a conical opening |4I formed ina tubular inlet plug |42 threadedly secured in the lower end of the bore ISI. As will be noted, the upper tubular element |32 is counterbored so as to provide an annular shoulder |43 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Also, as shown in Fig. 10, the foot member 2I is provided with an auxiliary bore |44 into which the lower end of the auxiliary tubing 24 is threaded, the lower end thereof communicating through a passage |46 with a chamber |46 formed in the upper end of the foot member 2| and intersecting and axially aligned with the bore I3I. The

chamber M6 also communicates with the lowerl end or the annular space |01.

The gas anchor device 25, shown in Fig. 1, is of conventional construction well known in the art and may be dispensed with if desired. The gas anchor device 2 5 includes a head member Mil through which the pump tubing I1 and the auxiliary tubing 24 extend, the head member abutting against the lower end of the lower collar Ill. .abutting against the lower end of the head member |48 is a gas anchor barrel |49, the upper end of which is provided with perforations ld, and the lower end of which abuts against a tail member IBI secured to the foot member ti by means or a bolt |52 threaded into a threaded opening |53 provided in the foot member. By tightening the bolt I52, the gas anchor barrel M9 may be rigidly clamped beiFi/en the head member 48 .and the bail member ln operating my invention, the levice is first installed in a well with the parts in the operating position shown in Fig. l. During normal operation the four-way valve means 26 has the tapered valve member 62 in the position shown in Fig. 6. The high pressure pumping mechanism till, which may be of any standard type of high pressure fluid pump well known in the art, is operated to convey an operating fluid-such as clean oil, through the supply pipe 29, the inlet opening the first passage 43, the slot 38, the central chamber 35, and into the top of the pump tubing Il. The operating fluid passes downwardly through the pump tubing II and enters the perforated tubular strainer 8i, passing downwardly therethrough and into the check valve device Since the ball valve element lill is normally in its seated position on the seat the operating Fluid ows downwardly therearound, 'through the vertical passages 9| into the tubular element liti, flowing therethrough and iiowing through the sealing member 92 into the upper end i0!) of the fluid operated pump unit 23. Operating uid also flows outwardly through the radical openings 99 of the sealing member 92 into the annular recess 93 so as to force the annular packing element outwardly into sealing engagement with the interior of the connecting collar I9.

The iiuid operated pump unit 23, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, has its piston II2 in its uppermost position in the liner |09, the same having just completed its upstroke. In this position, the main valve member |03 is in its lowermost position in which the under face of the piston II2 is in fluid communication with the uid discharge pressure in the annular space |01 through the radial opening III, the longitudinal space IIB, the longitudinal passage |04, and the discharge port |22. In this position of the main valve member |03, the lower end thereof is open to the discharge pressure in the discharge passage through suitable grooves formed in the pilot rod ||8 and suitable ports provided therefor. As will be noted, the upper end of the piston ||2 is also in direct communication with the discharge pressure in the annular space |01 through the passage H6, the discharge passage |05, and the discharge port |06. Consequently, in this position of the parts, the duid pressure is balanced on the upper and lower faces of the piston ||2. The pressure of the operating fluid used to operate the fluid operated pump unit 23, as will be evident to those skilled in the art, is substantially higher than the fluid discharge pressure in the annular space |01, and since the pilot rod ||8 extends upwardly into the tubular element 86, the operating fluid pressure at all times bears on the upper end of the pilot rod, and with the parts in the position shown-in Figs. 8 and 9, in which the fluid pressures on the upper and lower faces of the piston ||2 are balanced, the pressure of the operating fluid on the upper end of the pilot rod ilcauses the same to move downwardly, carrying vwith it the piston ||2. This causes the downstroke of the piston ||2, which also moves downwardly the tubular element ||9 which. is rigidly connected thereto. On the downstroke of the-tubular element H9, since well fluid is trapped between the working valve and thestanding valve |25, the working valve |20 opens to permit well fluid therebelow to be displaced upwardly into the tubular element H9. When the piston ||2 and the pilot rod ||8 reach the end of their downstroke, high pressure operating fluid is admitted to the lower end of the main valve member |03 through suitable grooves cut in the top of the pilot rod, and since the main valve member is a differentialarea valve it moves upwardly to an upper position in which operating uid inthe upper end of the tubular valve body |02 is admitted directly into the longitudinal passage |04 through an inlet port |22a\ formed in the main valve member |03. Operating fluid then flows downwardly through the longitudinal passage |04', the longitudinal space ||0, and the radial opening into the lower end of the liner |09 to bear against the lower face of the piston II2, causlng the same to move upwardly to perform its upstroke. During the upstroke of the piston ||2, the working valve |20 is closed, and the piston causes fluid thereabove in the liner |09 to discharge through the discharge passage ||6, the discharge passage |05, and the discharge port |06 into the annular space |01. This pumped fluid from the well passes downwardly' through the annular space |01 into the chamber |46 at the lower end of the fluid operated pump unit 23 and flows therefrom through the passage and the yauxiliary bore |44 formed in the foot member 2| into the lower end of the auxiliary tubing 24, through which it flows upwardly. From the upper end of the auxiliary tubing 24, the pumped well iluid iiows into the auxiliary bore 40 formed in the valve block 32, passes therefrom through the slot 39 and the second passage 44 .into the discharge opening 62, from which it discharges into the discharge pipe 28. Upon the upstroke of the traveling valve |20, suction is created therebeneath, causing the working valve |20 to open and permitting Well fluid to flow upwardly therethrough.

Well fluid ows into the uid operated pump unit 23 by first entering the gas anchor device 25 through the perforations |50 of the gas anchor tubular seating member |24, from which it passes through the standing valve |25. Consequently, it will be appreciated that the fluid operated pump unit 23 shown and described herein pumps on the upstroke of its piston H2, the discharge from the pump passing upwardly through the auxiliary tubing 24 to a suitable Y point of discharge. It will be appreciated, however. that any suitable type of pumping mechanism may be used in the well instead of the iluid operated pump unit 23 without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not intend to be limited to a fluid operated pump unit. It will also be appreciated that as soon as the fluid pressure above the metallic closure ball |31 is reduced below thepressure of the well uid in the central passage |39, the closure ball |31 will be raised by this pressure differential so as to engage the permanent magnet |35, which thereafter holds the closure ball in open position during operation of the fluid operated pump unit 23, which is the normal position of the closure ball.

When it is desired to remove the iuid operated pump unit 23 from the well, for repairs ory for any other reason, the tapered valve member 42 of the four-way valve means 25 is rotated ninety degrees in either direction, preferably by applying a suitable wrench to the upper end 6| ofthe hollow stem 45 thereof, which operation connects the inlet opening 63 with the auxiliary bore 40 of the valve block 32 through either of the

passages

43 or 44, and which connects the discharge opening 62 and the central chamber 35 of the valve block through the other of the

passages

43 or 44. By this adjustment, itv will be appreciated that the auxiliary tubing 24 is connected to the supply pipe 28 and the pump tubing |1 is connected to the discharge pipe 28. Operating fluid then passes downwardly through the auxiliary tubing 24 and through the auxiliary bore |44 and passage |45 of the foot member 2| into the chamber |46 formed in the foot member. The pressure of the operating' iiuld is thus applied to the tubular seating member 24 attached to the lower end ofthe uid operated pump unit 23, and this causes the fluid operated pump unit 23 to move upwardly through the lower tubing 20, the connecting collar I9, and the pump tubing I1. As soon as the tubular seating member |24 moves upwardly off its seat in the conical opening |28, operating iiuid immediately tends to flow downwardly through the lower check valve means |29 and back into the well casing |6. However, downward movement ofop- -erating iluid past the metallic closure ball |31 of the lower check valve means |29 forces th'e same away from the permanent magnet |35 and causes it to seat on the seating ring |38, thus preventing further fluid flow downwardly through the central passage |39 of. the lower tubular element |33. Thereafter, the weight of the column of iiuid in the pump tubing above the metallic closure ball 31 causes the same to remain seated on the seating ring |38. It will be noted that the maximum external diameter'of the tubular seating member |24 is considerably greater than the maximum external diameter of the seal formed between the conical lface |21 of thc seating member and the conical the seating member from its seat in the conical opening |28.

As indicated, the connecting collar I9" and the pump tubing l1 have approximately the same internal diameter, and since the annular packing element 98 of the sealing member 92 is expanded, a sliding fluid-tight fit is provided between the fluid operated pump unit 23 and the walls of the tubing through which it passes. Due to the relief at 86a on the tubular element 86, the latter does not tend to bind in the pump tubing as the unit is raised therethrough. As soon as the pressure in the pump tubing |1 above the iiuid operated pump unit 23 is reduced, by

' adjustment of the four-way valve device 26, the

ball valve element 88 of the check valve device 82 is no longer held on its seat 89 by fluid pressure' thereabove, and since the cross-sectional area of the valve bore 38 is greater than the total of the cross-sectional areas of the vertical passages 9|, the reverse flow of operating fluid passes through the valve bore to raise the ball valve element into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 in which it closes'the bore 85 to prevent further reverse flow of operating fluid therethrough as the uid operated pump unit 23 is being raised through the pump tubing I1. The fluid operar-ed pump unit 23 passes upwardly through the pump tubing i1 until the tapered head member 11 on the perforated tubular strainer 8i passes between the sliding` dogg 12 and 14 of the pump catcher 21 and engages the dash-pot element 18 therein. The dash-pot element 18 is free to move slowly vertically in the upper end of the tubular body member of the pump catcher 2l, but since the upper end o1 the tubular body member is closed, and since clearance between it and the dash-pot'element is small, it acts as a dash-pot to reduce the jarring eiect normally involved in stopping the upward movement of the fluid operated pump unit 23. As will be apparent, as soon as the tapered head member 11 passes above the sliding dogs 12 and 14, they will latch therebeneath by reason of the action of the coil springs l-l and 'l5 so as to retain the tapered head member 11, which in turn supports the fluid operated pump unit 23.

To remove the fluid operated pump unit 23 from the pump catcher 2l, it is preferable to first rotate the tapered valve member 42 forty-five degrees in either direction so as to move the passages i3 and lill out oi registry with the other openings in the valve block 32 and thus shut ofi the supply of operating fluid to, and the discharge of fluid from, the well. The bleeder valve element |53 is then rotated so as to move the same oil its seat 551 so as to open communication between the central chamber 35 and the well casing through the port |56, the valve bore |55, the bleeder port 10, and the bleeder pipe i1 I. This relieves the pressure in the pump tubing l1 above fluid operated pump unit 23,

and the tubular element 36 may then be unscrewed from the 'valve block 32 and the fluid operated pump unit 23 removed from the pump tubing If, for any reason, it is desired to remove the check valve means |29 from the well after the fluid operated pump unit 23 has been removed therefrom, a conventional spearing tool of any a,sss,eos

standard construction well known in the art may be run into the well through the pump tubing I1 and into the lower check valve means through the conical opening |28. It will be appreciated that if the pump tubing |1 is filled with liquid, the weight thereof will maintain the metallic closure ball |31 tightly seated on its seating ring |38, and, consequently, it is important to provide a means whereby the closure` ball can be readily moved from its seating ring so as to permit liquid thereabove to bleed back into the well before the lower check valve means |29 is raised through the pump tubing l1. This is provided by the release member |65. When aspearing tool is lowered through the conical opening |28, it will engage the upper end |61 of the release member |65, causing the same to rotate outwardly on the shoulders |64, which in turn causes the lower curved end |68 to rotate inwardly to move the closure ball |31 from its seating ring |38 and thus permit liquid above the closure ball to drain back into the well. This relieves the lower check valve means |23 of the weight of the column of fluid y thereon in the pump tubing l1, and the spearing tool engages the annular shoulder |43 in the upper tubular element |32 of the check valve means to permit the check valve means to be raised through the pump tubing by the spearing tool which may be connected to a,- wire line for this purpose, as is well known in the art.

From the foregoing description, it will also'be apparent that the lower check valve means |23 may be installed in the well in the position shown in Fig. l by inserting it into the upper end of the pump tubing I1, reconnecting the pump catcher 21 to the valve block 32, andv then adjusting the four-way valve means 26 so as to convey operating fluid under pressure downwardly `through the pump tubing so that it can pump the lower check valve means |29 downwardly threrethrough. This is frequently desirable when a quick installation is desired. Similarly, the fluid operated pump unit 23 may then be inserted into the upper end of `the pump tubing il, and by suitable adjustment of the four-way valve means 25 the fluid operated pump unit may be pumped downwardly through the pump tubing to the operating position shown in Fig. 1. It will thus be apparent that I provide a construction by which a pump unit may be pumped into or out of a well in a minimum amount of time and a construction in which a check valve device may be independently pumped into seated position at the bottom of the well tubing. It will also be apparent that by providing the pump tubing lll and the auxiliary tubing 24 with their axes laterally offset I am able to use an auxiliary tubing oi relatively small diameter, thus materially reducing the cost of installation of my device.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my device, it will be appreciated that other devices and elements may be substituted for the particular devices and elements shown herein without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not intend to be limited to the specific construction shown but desire to be afforded the full scope of end thereof; means for connecting the intake of said pump with the iiuid in the well; and means for producing a flow of iiuid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly -through said iirst tubing to move said pump upwardly -through said rst tubing to the ground level.

2. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a first tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; means for connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in huid communication; a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof; means for forming a seal between said pump and said iirst tubing; means for connecting the intake of said pump with the fluid in the well; and means for producing a iiow of iiuid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly through said first tubing to move said pump upwardly through said iirst tubing to the -ground level.

3. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a first tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said rst tubing; means for connecting the lowerends of said tubings together in fluid communication; a iluid operated pump of a size to be passed through s aid first tubing to the lower end thereof; means for connecting the intake of said pump with the fluid. in the well; and means for producing a flow of fluid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly through said `first tubing to move said Apump upwardly through said i'lrst tubing to the ground level.

4. In a Well pumping device, the 'combination of :'a iirst tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; means for connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in fluid communication; a pump of a size to be passed through said iirst tubing to the lower end thereof; means forconnecting the intake of said pump with the uid in the Well; means for producing a iiow of uid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly through said first tubing to move said pump upwardly through said iirst tubing to the ground level; and means at the upper end of said iirst tubing to receive and hold said pump after it. f has been raised by said flow o! fluid.

5. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a iirst tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; means for connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in iiuid communication; a pump of a size to be passed through said rst tubing to the lower end thereof; means for connecting the intake of said pump with the fluid in the well; means for producing a iiow of iiuid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly through said rst tubing to move said pump upwardly through said rst tubing to the ground level; and a detachable pump catcher at the upper end oi said first tubing for receiving and holding said pump therein after said pump has been raised by said flow of uid.

6. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a first tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said ilrst tubing; means for connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in iluid communication; a fluid operated pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof; means for connecting the intake of said pump with the fluid in the well; means for forcing fluid down through said rst tubing to operate said pump; and means down through said second tubing and up through 'said first tubing to carry saidfpump to the upper end-of said iirst tubing.

7. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a iirst tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said rst tubing, said second tubing being substantially smaller in diameter than said iirst tubing; means for connecting the lower ends of said tubings together in fiuld communication; a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof means for connecting the intake of said pump with Ithe fluid in the well; and means for producing a flow of fluid downwardly through said second tubing and upwardly through said first tubing to move said pump upwardly through said ilrst tubing to the ground level.

8. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upper end of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the same has been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, said pump Lcatcher means including a housing adapted to receive said pump; means for moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing and into said housing; and dash-pot means associated with said pump catcher means for stopping the upward movement of said pump.

9. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a lrst tubing set in a well and having a pump seat at the lower end thereof; a pump adapted to seat on said pump seat, said pump having an inlet port communicating with the iiuid in the well and a discharge port disposed therein so that when said pump is seated on said pump seat said discharge port will be a substantial distance above said pump seat; means for conveying pumped well fluid -from said. discharge port downwardly and around said pump seat so as to prevent the deposit of sand therearound: a second tubing set in said well; and means providing a fluid passage communicating between said first tubing adjacent vsaid pump seat and the lower end of said second tubing.

10. In a Well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upper end of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the same has been moved upwardly thereinto .throughsaid tubing, said pump catcher means including a housing adapted to receive said pump; means for moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing and into said housing; conduit means communicating between the interior of said housing and the well exterior to said tubing; and

Valve means in the line of said conduit means.

11. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at 'the upper end of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the same has been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, said pump catcher means including a housing adapted to receivel said pump; means for moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing and into said housing; conduit means communicating between the interior of said hous- Ior reversing the flow of iiuld so that it will flow 76 i118 at the lower end thereof and the well exterior to said tubing; and valve means in the line of said conduit means.

12. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upper end of said tubing adapted to receivel and hold said pump when the same has been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, said pump catcher means .including a housing adapted to receive said pump; hydraulic means for moving said pump means upwardly through said tubing andinto said housing; conduit means communicating between the interior of said housing at the lower end thereof and the well exterior to said tubing; and valve means in the line of said conduit means.

13. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof pump catcher means at the upper end of said tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the same has been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, including a housing adapted to receive said pump, a spring-urged dog element adapted to engage andJ support said pump, and resilient means in the upper end of said housing for cushioning the upper end-movement of said pump in said housing; and means for moving said pump upwardly through said tubing and into said housing.

14. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a tubing set in a well; a pump of a size to be passed through said tubing to an operating position adjacent the lower end thereof; pump catcher means at the upper end of vsaid tubing adapted to receive and hold said pump when the same has been moved upwardly thereinto through said tubing, including a housing adapted to receive said pump, a fitting connected to said housing and having a spring-urged dog element therein projecting into the line of said pump; and means for moving said pump upwardly through said tubing and into said housing, said pump being adapted to engage and depress said dog element upon upward movement of said pump.

15. In a fluid operated pumping device, the combination of: a iiuid operated pump for use in a well, said pump having an operating uid inlet adapted to supply said pump with operating fluid under pressure to operate the same; and check valve means in said inlet adapted to permit a flow of operating fluid from said inlet to said pump but preventing a reverse flow thereof, said check valve means including a central passage communicating at one end with said inlet and at the other end with a valve chamber, a valve passage substantially aligned with said central passage and communicating between said valve chamber and said pump, a ball valve member adapted to seat in and close said valve passage in response to a ow of operating iuid to said pump but operable to close said central passage in response to a reverse flow of said operating fluid, and a by-pass port of substantially smaller cross-sectional area than said valve passage and communicating between said chamber and said pump, operating fluid flowing through said bypass port from said inlet to said pump when said ball valve member is seated in said valve passage.

16. In a Well pumping device, the combination of: a ilrst tubing set in a well; a second tubing set in the well beside said first tubing; a foot member secured to the lower ends of both of said tubings and having a longitudinal. bore therethrough with an annular pump seat in said bore and a passage communicating between said bore above said pump seat and the lower endy of said second tubing, the upper end of said longitudinal bore communicating with the lower end of said first tubing; and a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof so as to seat on said pump seat, said pump having an inletl port communicating with said bore below said pump seat and a discharge port communicating with said passage.

l'l'. In a well pumping device, the combination of: a iirst tubing set in a well; asecond tubing ,set in the weil beside said first tubing; a foot ing; a removable check valve element adapted to seat on said annular seat in said longitudinal bore and having a pump seat formed thereon; and a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof so as to seat on said pump seat, said pump having an inlet port communicating with said bore below said pump s seat and a discharge port communicating with said passage.

18. In a well pumping device, the combination of a first tubing set in a weil; a second tubing set in the well beside said rst tubing; a foot member for connecting the lower-,ends of said tubings together in fluid communication; a pump of a size to be passed through said first tubing to the lower end thereof; means in said foot member for connecting the intake of said pump with the fluid in the well; an upper head member through which both of said tubings pass; a. lower head member below the lower end of said foot member; a barrel surrounding said tubings and said foot member, the upper end of said barrel engaging said upper head member and the lower end of said barrel engaging said lower head member, said barrel having perforations therein adjacent the upper end thereof; and means for securing said lower head member to said foot member to retain said barrel.

CLARENCE J. COBERLY.