US2641187A - Stripper pump - Google Patents

Description

M. A. ADAMS STRIPPER PUMP June 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1951 R. l 06 WM WM A A m 0 M 1 m ff June 9, 1953 Filed April 10, 1951 M. A. ADAMS STRIPPER PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MZEL BY WQ'WMQMWZ/mm ATTOE/VE YS.

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Patented June 9, 1953 STRIPPER PUMP Mozel A. Adams, Rayne, La., assignor of one-third to Charles J. Fontenot, Welsh, one-third to Amos B. Richard, Evangeline, and one-third to Lloyd William Fontenot, Welsh, La.

Application April 10, 1951, Serial No. 220,188

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fluid-actuated pumps, and more particularly to an improved single acting double plunger pump of this type suitable for use in deep wells, the primary object of the invention being to provide more efficient and reliable pumps of this kind having simplied structure and relatively few component parts which are readily serviced and/or replaced when necessary or desirable.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, specific forms of the invention are set forth in detail.

In the drawings, wherein like or similar numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken through one form of pumping mechanism;

Figure 2 is a similar view taken through the associated air and iiow line assembly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure fi is a similar View taken on the line Ii-i of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line ll of Figure 6, the two extreme positions of the valve lever being indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken through another form of pumping mechanism;

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on the line 3 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure l0 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on the line I U--Ill of Figure 8,

Referring in detail to the drawings, and iirst to Figures l to '7 thereof, the form of the invention illustrated therein comprises an air-gas assembly I4 and a pumping mechanism I5, to be lowered into a well casing I6 by means of cables or wires (not shown) with lines of flexible pipes (not shown) extending thereto from the surface of the ground at the head of a well, one line being the air or gas line and the other line the discharge or ilow line for the oil stripped by the action of the pumping mechanism from the well .fluid in the casing into which the pumping mechanism has been lowered.

The air-gas or breaker assembly I4 comprises an outer cylindrical shell Il, through which a discharge pipe I8 extends axially in concentrically spaced relation to the side wall of the shell Il. An upper end portion of the pipe I8 passes through a packing gland i9 on the upper end of the shell Il and terminates in a reduced nipple 20 for connection to a exible pipe or line (not shown) leading to the ground surface at the head of the Well. On the lower end of the shell I'l there is coupled at ZI a fitting 22 of the same dameter as the shell, containing a smaller diameter vertical, tubular seat 23 including a perforated bevel ilange 24 on its upper end engaging the interior of the tting 22. On the lower end of the discharge pipe I8 is a reduced diameter portion 25 extending in the seat 23 and open at its lower end within a lower end of the seat 23. The lower end of the seat 23 extends through the lower end 2t of the fitting 22 and has a nipple 21 for connection with a pipe of the pumping mechanism I5. The space 23 in the shell Il between the shell and the discharge pipe IS constitutes the discharge line of the assembly I4. Connection with this discharge line is made tc a flexible pipe (not shown) leading to the ground surface by a nipple 29 leading from the side of the upper end of the shell Il, and connection is made to a pipe of the pumping mechanism by means of a downturned nipple 30 on the lower end of the tting 22.

The pumping mechanism, generally designated` I5, comprises upper and lower cylinder assemblies A and B, respectively, each including a relatively large diameter air or gas cylinder 3l and a smaller diameter uid cylinder 32, these assemblies being hourglass in shape with their registered tapered portions 33 and 34, respectively, coupled together, indicated at 35. The cylinder assemblies are secured in spaced axial alignment by an open sleeve 36 connected to the adjacent ends of the smaller fluid cylinders 32. The large cylinders 3l have heads 3l and the smaller cylinders have heads 38.

A sectional, tubular piston rod `extends axially through all of the cylinders and the sleeve 35,.

passing slidably through packing glands Ml in the smaller cylinder heads 38. Within the larger cylinders 3| the piston rod 39 has xed thereon suitable pistons 4I preferably involving single cups 42 facing the heads 3l, while within the smaller cylinders 32 the rod 39 has iixed thereon suitable pistons 43 preferably involving two cups 44 facing the heads 38. A discharge pipe '45 is connected at its upper end to the nipple 2l on the lower end of the seat 23 of the air-gas assembly I4 and leads downwardly therefrom alongside the upper cylinder assembly A to the upper part of the cylinder assembly B. The lower end of the pipe 45 is connected at 46 to the head 38 of the smaller cylinder of the lower assembly B and has a one-way check valve 41 just above this connection.

A branch 48 of the pipe 45 leads therefrom above the check valve 41 to make a connection 49 with the cylinder head 38 of the smaller cylinder of the upper assembly A and the branch 43 has a one-way check valve 5B therein.

An air-gas pipe 5I has its upper end connected with the nipple of the air-gas assembly I 4 and leads downwardly along the side of the pumping mechanism I5 opposite from the pipe 45 with its lower end at a noint intermediate the upper andlower ends of the sleeve 36 and coupled at 52 with a flexible tube 53. The smaller cylinders 32 have one-way uid check valves 54 at one side of the heads 3'8' thereof communicating with the space outside of these cylinders'.

The one- way check valves 41 and 50 are similar and are of the type shown in Figure 3, and comprise assembled housing members 54 and 55 interposed in the branch pipe 45 or 4t, with the upper' end of the lower pipe section formed to provide a seat 56 for the ball 51. The one-Way check valves 54 are also similar to each other and comprise, as' shown in Figure 4, a seat 58 threaded into a tubular extension 59 o1 the rela-ted cylinder head 3B and retaining a spider 56 above the ball 6I'.

As shown in Figure 6, the sectional tubular piston rod 3`9` has structurally incorporated therein at' its middle an air-gas, two-position, snap valve assembly 65 comprising a block 6e formed in its upper and lower ends with vertically aligned", threaded bores 61 and 68 in which the adacent ends of the upper and lower piston rod sections 69' and 10, respectively, are rigidly secured, I" -shaped r passages 1I and 12, respective- 1y',A lea-d from the bores 61 and 66 and open throughA the bottom 13 of a circular recess 14 formed' in one side of. the block 66, as shown in El'gures 6 and` '1 to' provide diametrically opposed"` ports 1IJ and 12", respectively. Another circular' recess T5' is axially aligned with the recess 14 and" formed in the opposite side of the block 6'6 and accommodates an annular ball bearing 16. An axial bore 1'1 extends between the recesses 14- and 15'and acts as a journal bearin'g;for'the-tnbularaxial stub shaft 18 on the flat cylindrical valve disc 19 which turns in the recess1'4. The disc 'I9 has ports 80 and 8| formed therethrough to register with either the port 1I or the. port`12", respectively, in the different ex'- treme positionsV ofthe valve disc 19. The disc 1S has'on the side thereof facing these ports an arcuate channel 8'2 adapted to register with either the" port 1I" or' the port 12" and provide communication between these ports and another L- shaped-portv as passage 83 opening through a side of..the block 66 and provided at its outer end with acne-way check. valve 84a opening to the space within th'e open sleeve 36. Thev inner end of the passagek 83'v opens' through the bottom 13 of the recess14l at one side of the recess at a point between'the' ports 1 I and 12.

cap. 84" has an annular, externally threaded, peripheral flange 85` threaded in an enlarged portion'`v 136r` at` the outer'end of the recess 14 and haga central socket 8T in which is seated the adja'clent'4 end of a helical spring B8 bearing against the adjacent'or-outer'side ofthe valve disc 19. A'

bolt nasa head Sil-"bearing against a washer 9i)V engaging the outer side of the valve disc 19 and has a shank 9I threaded into the adjacent end of a shaft portion 92 extending through the bore of the tubular stub shaft 18. The shaft portion 92 is a part of a large diameter shaft 93 journaled in the ball bearing 16 and having a fixed valve lever 94 projecting radially therefrom. Upper and lower stop lugs 95 and 96, positioned on opposite sides of a perpendicular plane passing through the axis of the shaft 93 project from the side of the block 66 for engagement by the valve lever in extreme positions thereof. The outer end of the lever 94 has connected thereto at 91 one end of a helical contractile spring 98 having its other end connected at a point 99 on the side of the sleeve 36 whereby the lever 94 is movedv past center to either of its extreme positions as the valve block 66 is moved to either side of the point 99 in the reciprocation of the pumping mechanism The' capI 34 has an axial bore IEI extending therethrough and' communicating withI a nipple lili' to which connected the flexible air' or" gas pipe The inner of the bore- Ii opens into the space or chamber Iii-2 between Cat5 64 and the outer side of the valve disc 159:. Air or gas under pressure entering theA Space' |591 will pass through that onel of the ports A8l?, 8l|f in the valve disc which happens toregistered with one of the valve block ports 11?", 1'2", and therethrough to the related one' oi`v the sections 69 and 10' of the piston rod't'l.

It will be apparent from Figure l' that the pis'- tons 4i and 43 oi the larger' and smaller cylin-y ders 'l and respectively, are in oppositev phases, so that upon completion of an upward stroke of the piston rod 39', the' pistons of the" lower assembly B are at the upper ends' of their cylinders and have completed power strokes, whereas the pistons of the upper assembly A: are'- at the upper ends o1" their cylinders andy are po`- sitioned to start their power strokes. With the pistons in these positions, the air-valve assembly disc 'i9 is in the position Il shown in Figure" 'l wherein the air or gas under' pressure supplied in suitable manner through the assemblyl I4 from above ground passes into the s'pace' Ill2r in the block 56, through the po1ts-8I'and'12"'.and into the bore of the lower section 1U of th'ep'iston rod 39 and enters the space between the hea'd 31 and the piston lll oi' the larger cylinder 3| of the lower assembly B, well fluid having already been expelled from. the companion smallei cylinder 32 intothe discharge pipe 45 on the'pre-` ceding upstroke of its piston 4'3`.

in the same position II of the valve levez" 94, the channel 82 is in registry with the valve block port 'l l', leading from the upper rod section 6.9.; and with the air port 83,. so that the air above the piston 4I of theV upper' cylinder 31 is ex-I hausted therefrom through the' checlz valve 8,4. In the course of reaching the positions of" the pistons shown in Figure l, the valve lever 94 is snapped over-center to the position I` indi,-

cated in Figure 7 wherein the valve disc port 80 is registered with the valve block port 1I and' the channel ill-is registered with the air exhaust port 83 and with the valve disc port 8l. In this positionof the valve lever 94, air or gas pressure is applied through the upper rod section 69 to drive the piston 4I of the upper cylinder 37|I downwardly and thereby cause the-piston 43 of the upper cylinder 32A t'oexpel uid from: the' uppercylindei 352` through the: branchpipe 48. the check valve 50,- and upwardly the dis-l charge pipe 45, At the same time, well fluid is sucked through the check valve 54 into the lower cylinder 32. Also, at the same time, air behind the piston 4| of the lower cylinder 3| exhausts through the lower rod section 10, the valve block port 1I', the channel 82, the port 83, and the check valve 84 on the block (it. As the lower cylinder assembly B moves toward its extreme depressed position, the valve lever 94 is snapped over to position II. These successive changes in position of the valve assembly 66 continue while air or gas pressure is applied through the flexible tube 53, so that the cylinder assemblies A and B are together continuously reciprocated.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 10 is adapted for use with or without the breaker assembly I4, and incorporates the valve assembly 65 described in connection with the form of Figures 1 to '7. The pumping mechanism of the form of Figures 8 to 10 operates in the same general manner as the form of Figure 1, but the fluid pumping cylinders are located above and below, respectively, the air or power cylinders 3| in contrast to the pumping mechanism of Figure l.

Referring to Figures 8 to l0, the upper and lower cylinder assemblies A and B, respectively, comprise uniform and similar diameter fluid and air cylinders 32a and 3 Ia, respectively, which are connected by couplings 35a. The axially outward ends of the cylinders 32o', are closed by heads 31a; and the axially outward ends of the cylinders 3|a are closed by heads 38a provided with packing glands lila through which the related sections of the piston rod 39 works, the axially inward ends of the cylinders 3|a vbeing open and rigidly connected by the open sleeve 36a. The valve assembly 65 connects the inward ends of the piston rod sections 69 and 10, and its operating spring 98 is connected to a xed member 99 on the sleeve 36a.

The ends of the piston rod 39 carry double cup pistons 43a working in the pumping cylinders 32a and single cup pistons 4|a in the air cylinders 3 Ia. The couplings 35a connecting the cylinders 32a and 3Ia have lubrication intake ports Ils communicating only with the cylinders 32a for intaking well uid by suction.

As shown in Figure l0, the air cylinder pistons 41a are circumposed on the piston rod 39 with nuts I I I and I I2 threaded on the rod and engaging opposite sides of these pistons. The nuts I I2 are longer than the nuts I l and are formed with lateral air pcrts I|3 which are in communication with spaces ||4 within the nuts I I2. These spaces ||4 are produced by having the piston rod formed of a tubular part ||5 and a solid axially outward part IIB, instead of entirely tubular as in the form of Figures 1 to '7 and spacing these parts within the nut I I2. The nut I I2 acts to connect the parts ||5 and H6. The ports H3 serve to admit air or gas under pressure into the cylinders 3|a from the bore of the tubular parts ||5 of the piston rod, which connect with the passages l|| and 12 of the valve block 6E.

The flexible air pipe 53 leading from the valve block 66 connects with the lower end of the air or gas pipe Ela which leads upwardly along one side of the upper cylinder assembly A and terminates at its upper end in a nipple for connection with a iiexible air pipe (not shown) leading from the well head. The well fluid discharge pipe 45a extends vertically along both of the cylinder assemblies A and VE on the sidevopposite theaiipipe-SIa-and has its -lower end connected 6 with a short central pipe I leading downwardly from the head 31a of the iiuid cylinder 32a of the lower assembly B and having a one-way check valve IIB in its lower end, the lower end of the pipe 45a being connected with the short pipe I Il between the check valve I I3 and the cylinder 32a. Another one-way check valve 47a is incorporated in the lower part of the iluid discharge pipe 45a.

- The upper end of the pipe 45a, is connected to a short central pipe |20 leading upwardly from the head 38a of the cylinder 32a of the upper assembly A. One-way check valves |2| and |22 are incorporated in the short pipe |28 above and below the connection thereto of the pipe 45a. A relatively short pipe |23 depending along the upper cylinder assembly A has a one-Way check valve 124 on its lower end and has its upper end connected to the short pipe i at a point between the check valve |22 and the head 37a of the cylinder 32a of the upper assembly. A protective, open-ended, tubular, cylindrical shell |25 spacedly surrounds the pumping mechanism and has Allen-type screws |26 threaded through upper and lower portions of the shell and engaging the sides of the cylinders 32a of both assemblies A and B and mounting the shell |25 in concentrically spaced relation to the assemblies.

The one-way check valve 24 is of the type shown in Figure 9, and comprises a tubular valve chamber |21 in whose upper end the pipe |23 is secured by a plug |28, rThe bottom I 29 of the chamber |21 has an opening I 3S including a valve seat |3I upon which a ball check |32 rests gravitationally and from which the ball is adapted to be raised by suction exerted through the pipe |23. A depending protective sleeve |33 is secured around the chamber |21 having a screened bottom |34.

With the pistons 43al of the upper assembly A has completed a pumping stroke and the piston 43a of the lower assembly B has completed a suction up-stroke, air or gas pressure having' been exhausted from the cylinder Illa` of the upper assembly A through the upper section t9 of the piston rod 39 through the valve assembly $5 and air or gas pressure having reached a maximum in the cylinder Ma of the lower assembly, all in the same general manner explained above in connection with the form of Figure 1.

Air or gas under pressure is beginning to enter the cylinder lIIa of the upper assembly A through the ports ||3 in the upper rod section A to drive the piston 4 la, and hence all of the pistons, downwardly on a return stroke of the pumping mechanism, so that the well fluid present in the cylinder 32a of the lower assembly B sucked thereinto on the previous upstrcke through the check valve |8 short pipe I'I is discharged upwardly through the pipe 45a and emerges through the upper short pipe |26 into the flexible hose (not shown), connected 'thereto and leading to the well head. The downstroke of the piston 43d,` on the cylinder 32a of the upper assembly A sucks well :duid into 'this cylinder through the check valve 2d, pipe |23 and pipe I2!) below the check valve |22, 'the check valve |22 being closed.

On the next upstroke of the pistons, the Afluid discharged by the active iiuid cylinder is passed upwardly through the pipe |2ll, the pipe 45a being closed by the check valve 41a. The intake check valves I|8 and |24 close on alternate strokes of the pumping mechanism, as does the check valve 41a, and the check valves |2| and |22 open and close on alternate strokes ofthe pumping mechanism. IThe upperv portions of the-pipesl I2and` parallel and laterally spaced and are rigidly connected by a member li which is adapted to be used for connection of a cable (not shown) for raising and lowering the device in well.

it will be understood from.` the foregoing with respect to the action of the lower cylinder 32a that as the lower piston 43a moves upwardly from its depressed position toward theelevated position shown in Figure 8, valve I IS is opened by the suction produced, while valve lilo: is closed or remains closed, so that well fluid and not iiuid from the discharge pipe 45a isl drawn into the lower cylinder 32a.

@n the followingdownward stroke of the piston 43a, the valve l-lS is closed and valve lila is opened so that fluid in the cylinder 32a is forced upwardly through pipe 45u. The rise of fluid through the pipe ld opensA valve 122i, valve l22 remaining closed, whereby the rising fluid passes through pipe l2@ to the discharge line.

With regard to the action of the upper cylinder' 32d, on theI downstroke of its' piston i3d from the top position, shown in Figure S, well fluid is drawn into the cylinder above its piston through the check valve 26, the valve i222 being in its closed position. Cn the next upstrole of the piston i3d in the upper cylinder' 32a, the outgo oi' the iiuid from theV cylinder closes valve L24 and opens valves i222 and Il so that the outgoing fluid passes upwardly to the discharge line, the valve being eid closed. by ther back pressure of iiuid in the pipe da, so that practically all of the fluid forced out. of the upper cylinder 32a passes. to the discharge line. It is to be noted that the weight of fluid accumulated in the discharge line above and in the pipe Idil operates to keep the valve lil closed except during a power or pumping strolce phase of one of the cylinders 32a.

It is to be observed that while the above-described forms of the invention are primarily intended for use in upright position in vertical well casings, these forms can be` used in fluid containers other than vertical well casings, and in other than upright positions.

l claim:

l. In a single acting doublev plunger pump, first and second cylinder assemblies, means assembling said assemblies together in axial alignment .and in axially spaced relation, each cylinder assembly comprising a fluid pumping cylinder and an air cylinder in end-to-.end relation, pistonsI in said cylinders, and a piston rod tubular section connected to each of sa-id pistons and having the end adjacent the air cylinder extending into the space between the cylinder assemblies, the pistons of said first and second assemblies being in opposite phase, an air valve assembly mounted on and in communication with said ends of said piston rod sections in the space between said assemblies, said valve assembly including a block having opposed passages, one of said piston rod sections being connected to onev end of one of said passages and the other of said piston rod sections being connected to one end of the other of said passages, a shaft. extending transversely through and rotatably supported in said block intermediate said passages, a disc secured, to the end of said shaft adjacent the other ends of said passages, said disc having a pair of spaced ports registrable with either of the other endsA of said passages, therev being an arcuate channel in said disc, spaced from. each of; said ports and resistrable. with either of the otherV ends. or saidnasuil) sages, there being an arcuate channel in said disc spaced from each of said ports and registrable with either of the other ends of said passages, an operating lever secured to the end of said shaft remote from said disc and movable from the other end of one of said passages to the other end of the other of said passages, said block having a chamber adjacent said disc and in communication with said ports, a compressed air supply connected to said chamber, air exhaust means for said air cylinder, fluid intake means for said iiuid pumping cylinders, and a iiuid discharge means connected to. said pumping cylinders to receive fluid discharged from the pumping cylinders as the pistons therein are operated to compress fluid therein intaken by suction through said fluid intake means.

2. lIn a single acting double plunger pump, rst and second cylinder assemblies, means assembling said assemblies together in axial alignment and in axially spaced relation, each cylinder assembly comprising fluid pumping cylinder Aand a-n 'air cylinder in end-to-end relation, pistons in said cylinders, and a piston rod tubular section connected to each of said pistons and having the end adjacent the air cylinder extending into the space between the cylinder assemblies, the pistons oi said first and second as.- sernblies being in opposite phase and an air valve assembly mounted on and in communica.- tion with said ends of said piston rod sections in the space between said assemblies, said valve assembly including` a block having opposed passages, one of said piston rod sections being connected to one end of one of said passages and the other of said piston rod sections being connected to one end of the other of said passages, a shaft extending transversely through and r0- tatably supported in said block intermediate said passages, a disc secured to the end of said shaft adjacent the other ends of said passages, said disc having a pair of spaced ports registrable with either of they other ends of said passages, there being an arcuate channel in said disc spaced from each of said ports and registrable with either of the other ends of said passages, an operating lever secured to the en d of said shaft remote from said discI and movable from the other end of one of said passages to the other end of the other of said passages, said block having a chamber adjacent said disc and in communication with said ports, a compressed air supply connected to said chamber, air exhaust means for said air cylinder. iuid intake means for said uid pumping cylinders, and a fluid discharge means connected to said pumping cylinders to receive fluid discharged from the pumping cylinders as the pistons therein arev operated to compress fluid therein intaken bysuction through said iiuid intake means, said pumping cylinder of each assembly bein?T positioned axially outwardly from the air cylinder thereof.

In a acting double plunger pump, nrst. and second cylinder assemblies, meansv assembling said assemblies together in :axial alignment and in axially spaced relation, each cylinder assembly comprising a fluid pumping cylinder and an alr cylinder in end-to-end relation, pistons in said cylinders, and a piston rod tubular section connected to each of said pistons and having the end adjacent the air cylinder extending intothe space between the cylinder assemblies, thepistons of said rst and second assemblies being in opposite phase and an air valve assembly mounted on andin communication with said ends of said piston rod sections in the space between said assemblies, said valve assembly including a block having opposed passages, one of said piston rod sections being connected to one end of one of said passages and the other of said piston rod sections being connected to one end of the other of said passages, a shaft extending transversely through and. rotatably supported in said block intermediate said passages, a disc secured to the end of said shaft adjacent the other ends of said passages, said disc having a pair of spaced ports registrable with either of the other ends of said passages, there being an arcuate channel in said disc spaced from each of said ports and registrable with either of the other ends of said passages, an operating lever secured to the end of said shaft remote from said disc and movable from the other end of one of said passages to the other end of the other of said passages, said block having chamber adjacent said disc and in communication With said ports, a compressed air supply connected to said chamvMOZEL A. ADAMS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,220,334 Holmberg Mar. 5, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273,677 Great Britain June 2l, 1928

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