US2786419A - Pulsating hydraulic pump equipment - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1957 J. LYNN 2,786,419

PULSATING HYDRAULIC PUMP EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. l0, 1955 INVENTOR John Lynn ATTORNEY;

PULSATING HYDRAULIC PUMP EQUlPMENT John Lynn, Alice, Tex.

Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,437

10 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 44) This invention relates to improvements in well pumping equipment, with particular reference to a unit which can be submerged in the liquid within the well at a desired level, under such circumstances that it can readily be cleaned of sand and sediment merely through controlled lifting of a part of the pump unit through a short distance within the Well.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved pump unit for use within wells, having an improved arrangement for the easy cleaning of sand and sediment therefrom without removal of the unit or any part of it from the well.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a pulsator type 'of submersible well pump having an improved expansible elastic pulsator.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved submersible well pump, constructed of a series of readily detachable parts.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing the improved pump unit and a prime mover for intermittently actuating an operating uid.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the details of the submersible pumping unit.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse cross sectional views taken substantially on the respective lines 3-3 and 4-4 shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through a modified form of ring through which passage of an operating uid takes place.

ln the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown an improved pumping unit and actuating means therefor, the letter A may generally designate the entire equipment. It may consist of a pumping unit B adapted to be submerged within a liquid within a well for detachable connection with the well tubing or casing C. Prime moving means D is provided for intermittently controlling the ilow of an operating iluid through the working line E to the unit B.

Referring to the pumping unit B, shown in sectional detail in Figure 2, the same preferably comprises an inner Working barrel, cylinder or sleeve 10, preferably of steel or other metal, having 4an operating uid transmitting passageway 11 therethorugh. lts upper end is externally screw threaded at 12 for attachment to the working line E by means of a coupling 13, as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve or cylinder isl externally screw threaded 4upon its lower end at 14 ,for detachably receiving a cone shaped nut 15; the latter being adapted to maintain the lower end of a pulsator member upon the cylinder 10, in a manner to be subsequently described. The barrel 10 is thickest at the intermediate portion and provides an exnited States Patent ternal upwardly facing shoulder 16 at its upper end and a downwardly facing shoulder 17 at its lower end for receiving thereagainst certain upper and lower steel rings forming part of the holding means for the upper and 5 lower ends of a pulsating member.

The pulsating member 20 is an expansible elastic sleeve, preferably of neoprene or some other oil resistant material. It is inherently contractible to the position shown in Figure 2, and if desired, it may be reinforced with nylon cording. It varies in thickness from the lower end thereof where it is of least thickness to the upper end thereof where it is of greatest thickness. The increase in thickness is preferably uniform from the lower end to thev upper end, in order that the lower end of the sleeve will expand more readily than the upper end. Thus, the lower end first expands and progressively expands upward for the purpose of directing liquid to be pumped in an upward direction through the working chamber of the unit B. The variation in thickness is taken care of by externally sloping or tapering the sleeve in an upwardly diverging relation.

The unit B preferably includes an outer working barrel, cylinder or casing 30 the upper end of which is externally threaded at 31a for connection by means of a coupling 32 to the lower end of the tubing or casing C, as shown in Figure l. The casing or cylinder 30 is thickest at its intermediate portion, defining an upwardly facing shoulder 31 at its upper end and a downwardly facing shoulder 32 at its lower end, against which certain rings of the pump unit are adapted to be seated, as will be subsequently described.

The outer working barrel 30 is internally screw threaded at 33, from the upper end thereof down to the shoulder 31, for removably receiving a steel ring 34. The latter is externally threaded to mate with the threads 33. This sleeve 34 is provided with a seating face 35 on the inner surface thereof, which slopes convergently downward.

The working barrel 30 at its lower end is internally screw threaded at 36 for removably receiving a steel ring or member 37. The latter is externally threadedfor mating with the threads 36. This ring 37 is provided with a passageway 38 therethrough. lt is internally and circumferentially smooth at its upper half, but at its lower half it is provided with vertical ridges which extend thereinto. These ridges are spaced to provide grooves 39 through which oil or liquid is adapted to pass from the well below the unit B into the accumulating chamber 40 between the sleeve 20 and the cylinder or barrel 30.

Referring to the means which connects the upper end of the expansible pulsator 20 upon the inside working sleeve or barrel 10, a steel ring 41 is provided. It has a passageway therethrough adapted to be slipped over the upper end of the inside working barrel 11, upon which it has a snug sliding fit. The lower end rests detachably against shoulder 16 to hold it in place. This ring 41 in thickness cross section is triangular in shape, having an outer lower surface 43 which slopes from about midway of the sleeve 40 downwardly and inwardly. It has an upper sloping surface 44 which slopes upwardly and inwardly from about midway of its height. This surface 44 is provided with a number of annular grooves 45 therein.

The upper end of the expansible member 20 is adapted to be expanded over the surfaces 43 and 44 of the ring 41, and the uppermost portion of this expansible sleeve 20 is firmly secured upon the ring 41 because ribs moulded upon the sleeve fit into and are compressed into the grooves 45.

A steel ring 46, complementary to the rings 34 and 41, has a central passageway 47 adapted to slip over the upper end of the inside cylinder 10, as shown in Figure 2 with a snug sliding fit upon the external surface of said sleeve` 10. Ring 46v is provided with an` innerv angled surface 48 at the lower portion thereof, sloping convergently upwardly. It has, a plurality of. grooves 49 inwardly therein. This'surfa'ce dseats externallyagainst the'upperend'of the expansible member 21B.' Ribs are moulded externally upon the end of the' sleevev 26' for seating inthe grooves' 49. The ring 46' is provided with a downwardly convergentV outerI surface Sti for seating upon" the inner. passageway 35 of sleeve 34, as shown in Figure 2: Itis shown in. Figure 3`that the inner annular surface. 35 of ring 34' is provided with a series of upright grooves 51 open to the chamber 4t) at their lower ends and'at their upper ends openinginto the top of theworlting barrel 30' for transmittal of liquid from the operating chamber 40 into well tubing C. The grooves 5i could just as Well be provided upon the face 50 of the ring 46.

Aflexible flap valve 52,l of ring shaped formation, is seated upon the top. surface of the rings 3d and 46, with its outer flexible and movable margin normally closing the upper ends of the grooves Si. This apvalve 52 receives thereon a sleeve type nut 5'5v which is screw threaded internally for mating with the threads l2 of the upper end of the barrel 10. The nut 55 clamps the sleeve 46 downwardly in compressing engagement upon the upper end ofthe pulsator 2t), compressing it between ther-ings 41and 46. The sleeve 20 is distorted into the grooves 4S and 49for the firm holding of the pulsator 20upon the upper part of the unit B in the relationship shown in Figure. 2. The nut 55 is externally screw threaded `for receivinga ap valve clamping nut 6i) which clamps against the inner margin of ap valve 52 for holding it in place against the steel ring 46.

Referring to the structure for holding the lower portion of the pulsator 20 upon the inside working barrel 10, a steel ring 70 is provided, slidably but snugly seated externally on the lower end of the working barrel l0, in upper end abutment with the shoulder 17. This ring 70 has an upper outer surface 71 which slopes divergently downward to a location intermediate the ends of the ring 70, and a lower downwardly convergent outer surface 72 provided with annular grooves 73 inwardly thereof. The thinner lower end of the pulsator Zil is expanded over the outer surfaces 7l and 72 of this ring.

Ribs are internally moulded upon the end of sleeve Ztl for seating in the grooves 73.

The lower portion of the working barrel It), over. which the ring 70 is disposedis provided with an annular series of ducts 74 therethrough for passage of the operating fluid. Ring is provided with complementary annular series of ducts 75 therethrough aligning with the ducts 74. The ducts 75 open into enlarged openings 75 externally on the outer surface ofthe ring 70. ln lieu of the enlarged portions 75a an annular groove 76 may be provided into which the ducts 7Sb open, as shown in the modified form of ring 70a, shown in Figure 5. A steel ring 80 is provided for disposition within the passageway of the ring 37. it is of triangular cross section and has a sloping downwardly convergent inner face or passageway 81, angularly grooved at S2, for receiving external ribs moulded upon the sleeve 20. The ring 80 is adapted to seaty against the outer side of the lower end of the expansible sleeve 20. The tapered nut l5 has an internally screw threaded opening 84 therein for mating with the screw threads 14 at the lower end of the inside werking barrel 10. The nut 15 clamps against ring S0 for forcing it into holding and clamping engagement with the lower end of the pulsator for. seating it against the ring 70. The clamping action of the nut i5 compresses the moulded ribs of the sleeve 20 into the grooves 73 and 82 for holding the pulsating sleeve at its lower end between the rings 76 and Si), as shown in Figure 2. Nut 15 converges to a point and has a closed chamber therein facing passageway 11.

It is toy be noted that ring 80. in depth extends only for the height of the grooves 39, so that the upper portion of the passageway 38 throughl the sleeve 37 is unobstructed to permit the lower end of the sleeve 29 to expand against its smooth surface and seal ott travel of liquid through the grooves 39, at the time of expansion of the pulsator sleeve 20.

If desired, the ring 70 may have a key to seat in a groove (not shown) in thev lower end of the working barrel 1t) in order to insure that the ducts 74 and 75 will lie in true alignment when the ring 70 is seated upon the lower end of said barrel 10.

Any suitable prime moving means for intermittently expanding the pulsator 2t), by means of operating fluid, may be provided. Means D shown may consist of a motor including a cylinder 90, having a piston 93. operating in the chamber 92 thereof. The piston 9i is crank operated. The cylinder has connected therewith a pipe line 93 connected with-the working. line E; a detachable coupling 94 being provided for disconnecting the tubing 93 from the working line E.

l may use liquid, gas. or air as the operating fluid. aureferably oil is used. It is intermittently placed under pressure in the cylinder 9() by means of piston 9i and forced through tubing 93 andthe working line E into the unit B. It travels through the ducts 74 and 75, entering the expansible elastic sleeve or member Ztl and expanding it. Such expansion seals off ingress of liquid from the well through grooves 39 to the chamber 4t) by seating against the smooth upper portion of the passageway 38. The pulsating sleeve 20 is expanded, rst from its lower end then progressing upward, for decreasing the effective volume of chamber 40. Thus, the accumulated liquid is forced through the grooves 51 into the tubing C and elevated therein. It is discharged through an upper lateral line 96. The expansible elastic member 20 inherently contracts to the position shown in Figure 2. However, upon the return stroke of the piston 90 a partial vacuum will be created in the passageway through the. inner working barrel 10. This will also tend to contract the expansible member 20 to the position shown in Figure 2. Such contraction will suck liquid from the well below the unit B upwardly through grooves 39 into the chamber 40, filling the same, so that upon return inward stroke of the piston 90 the liquid will be forced, as above described, through the grooves 5l into the well. tubing. It will be.V noted that flap valve 52 normally closes oif. the grooves 51, so that the column of liquid in the tubing C.v will be. supported until it is replenished and elevated by expansion of the pulsating member 20, as above described.

In connection with the. prime mover, I provide a reservoir or tank the chamber of which connects with the piston chamber by means of a. line 3.01 wherein a pressure reducing by-pass valve 102 is located. This reservoir takes care of excess operating fluid. The pressure reducing valve 102 insures that there will be a relief of excess pressure upon the operating fluid.

Aside from the improved means for mounting the pulsating member 20 in the unit B, the easeof cleaning sand and sediment from the unit B will be apparent from the above description. One of the most troublesome features of pump units placed for submerging within the liquid of a well is the fact that sediment and sand collect in it, clogging. the same and rendering it ineicient in use. The improved unitB may be readily cleaned of sand merely by disconnecting coupling 94 and lifting the working line E a short distance. It will be noted that the steel ring 46 seats against ring 34. This holds the entire lower assemblage upon the inner` working barrel 1G in suspended position. There is nothing to impede lifting of this entire assemblage including the ring 46, off of the seating face 3S. Suchdisconnection and lifting of the fluid. power line a short distance, permits the oil or liquid in thezcasing Cto ow'rapidly through the cylinder, removing. sand and. sedimentfromthe ingress and egress passageways of the rings 37 and 34, and the flushing of sand and sediment from the chamber 40. Lowering of the pumping line E will properly seat the inner working parts of the unit B with respect to the rings 34 and 37, as is quite apparent.

lt will be apparent from the foregoing that an improved hydraulic pump has been provided for submergence in the liquid of a well, the parts of which are of simple arrangement, and so assembled that sand and sediment may be inexpensively and with facility, and with loss of very little time, flushed 'to permit eicient operation of the pump, without withdrawing it from the well.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a hydraulic pump unit for use in the pumping of liquids from wells the combination of an outer working cylinder, an inner working cylinder within the outer working cylinder, an expansible pulsating sleeve normally inherently contracted upon the inner working cylinder and externally defining an accumulation chamber between the same and the inner surfacing of the outer working cylinder, 'means connecting the upper end of the pulsating sleeve upon the inner working cylinder including an annular supporting flange, a seat mounted inside of the outer working cylinder at the upper portion thereof upon the top of which the annular flange releasably seats and is removable therefrom by mere linear lifting action, the seating surfaces of said flange and outer working cylinder seat defining liquid egress passage means, pump valve means mounted upon said inner working cylinder normally closing off the egress passage, means connecting the lower end of the expansible sleeve to the lower end of said inner working cylinder including an annular portion facing the outer working cylinder and defining an ingress passage for travel of liquid from the well into the accumulating chamber, the inner working cylinder having port means in the lower portion thereof to the lower inner portion of the pulsating sleeve for expanding the same and sealing off the ingress passage under pressure of operation fluid within the inner working cylinder.

2. ln a hydraulic pump the combination of an outer working barrel having a passageway therethrough, an inner working barrel within said passageway having itself a passageway therethrough, the inner working barrel being externally spaced from the inner wall of the passageway of the outer working barrel, an elongated expansible pumping sleeve, means clamping the pumping sleeve at its upper end upon the upper outside portion of the inner working barrel, means clamping the lower end of the expansible pumping sleeve externally upon the lower portion of the inside working barrel, the inside working barrel having duct means therethrough for the travel of an operating fluid into the lower portion of the sleeve for expanding the sleeve at said lower portion and throughout its length up to the means which connects the upper part of said sleeve to the inner working barrel, said sleeve being spaced within the passageway of the outer working barrel to define a liquid accumulating chamber, port means providing ingress passage for admission of liquid in the lower portion of said working barrel to the accumulating chamber, the port means to said sleeve being located above the ingress passage so that the lower portion of the sleeve when expanded will seal olf the ingress passageway to said accumulating chamber, means in the upper portion of the outer working barrel providing egress passage means between the accumulating chamber and the passageway of the working barrel above said expansible sleeve, tlap valve A means carried by the inner working barrel externally thereon normally closing olf the egress means and operable to permit the liquid to pass into the upper portion of the working barrel under pressure against the liquid in the accumulating chamber. l

3. A pump unit as described in claim 2 in which the inner'working barrel with the expansible sleeve and the means which connects the same at its upper and lower ends upon the inner working barrel is liftable from the outer working barrel without moving the latter, through linear and non-rotatable movement.

4. A hydraulic pump as described in claim 2 in which the expansible pumping sleeve gradually increases in thickness from the lower end thereof at the ingress port means to a location adjacent the egress passage means whereby to impart thereto a variable resistance which will enable the sleeve to first expand at said ingress port means and then gradually expand upwardly towards the egress passage means.

5. In a hydraulic system for pumping liquids fromA wells the combination of a prime mover operable to place an operating fluid under intermittent pressure, a well casing having a passageway therethrough adapted at its lower end to be located in liquid within a well, a pump unit in said passageway adapted to be submerged in the well liquid at the lower end of said casing, said unit comprising an outer working barrel, an inner working barrel, a pulsating sleeve, the outer working barrel having an accumulating chamber therein between said plusating sleeve and the inner wall of said outer working barrel, the inner working'barrel having a passage-- way communicating with the well casing, the inner working barrel having duct means for transmittal of operating fiuid into the sleeve for expanding it, means providing an ingress passageway at the lower end of the outer working barrel opening into said accumulating chamber, an egress passageway means opening from the accumulating chamber to the well casing passageway, and check valve means normally closing off the egress passageway means thereabove for supporting a column of liquid within the passageway of said well casing.

6. In a pulsating type of pump unit the combination of an outer casing having a chamber therein, an inner casing within the chamber of the outer casing having a passageway therethrough, a detachable seat mounted in the chamber in the outer casing in the upper portion thereof having a downwardly convergent seating surface, a lower ring detachably mounted in the chamber of the outer casing in the lower portion thereof, an elongated expansible pulsating sleeve, annular means mounted externally upon the upper portion of the inner casing clamping the upper portion of the sleeve upon said inner casing, said clamping means having a downwardly convergent surface for seating upon the seating surface of said upper ring and defining therebetween a liquid egress passage, means clamping the lower portion of the sleeve upon the lower portion of said inner casing externally thereon whereby the sleeve may expand between its clamped ends and into the chamber of the outer casing for forcing liquid therefrom through the egress passage, liquid ingress means between the sleeve lower clamping means and the lower ring for travel of liquid from a well into the said chamber, the inner casing having lateral duct means opening into the lower extensible portion of said pulsating sleeve whereby under the force of an operating duid the lower part of the sleeve will be expanded to seal off the egress passage and expand across the chamber for forcing the liquid through the egress passage, and a liftable valve mounted upon the inner casing for normally'sealing off the egress passage above the accumulating chamber.

7. A pump as described in claim 6 in which said sleeve has an increasing thickness from the lower end thereof towards the upper end thereof whereby under the force of operating fluid the sleeve will expand first at the lower portion thereof and then gradually upward across said chamber.

8. ln a pump unit for use in the pumping of liquids from wells, the combination of an inner cylinder having a passageway therethrough, an outer cylinder, relatively spaced; upper: andlower; connecting means yconnecting Vthe inner' cylinder` to thev outer cylinder,Y with the inner and outer cylinders defining anaccumulating chamber therebetween,` an expansibleV pulsating sleeve connected in sealed; relation, at its upper end. upon the innerv cylinder at said upper connectingfrneans4- and at its lower end being connected in sealedrelatiorr upon` the inner cylinder at the lower connecting'means, said expansible sleeveV lying externallyiof' the ,inner cylinder in; the said chamber in close` but expansibleproxirnity to the externalV surfacing ofY theinner, cylinder, the inner cylinder having duct means: opening into the passageway of the inner cylinderandfintoythe expansible sleeve, saidupper connecting means having duct meansA therethrough, opening into .said aceumulatingchamberand into theouter cylinder above thejuppcr connectingmeans, saidA lower connecting meansY havingA ductmeans, therein opening into said ac cumulatingchamber; and into the outer cylinder, means tofseal oithe; duct means. of the lower connecting means'under fluide expansion action of said sleeve, and valve means normally maintaining the duct means of the upper connecting means closed but operable to open upon expansion of ysaid sleeve within said accumulating chamber for forcingl uid from said accumulating chamber through said duct means of the upper connecting means and into the outer working cylinder above the upper connecting means.

9. A pumpiunit as described in claim 8 in which said expansion sleeve isconstruct-ed. to expand` starting at its lower end andihaving anincreasing resistance to expansion in directionv upwardly therealoug, the duct means communicating rthe passageway, of the inner cylinder with said expansion: sleeve being'located at the area of least expansive resistance of said sleeve.

l0. A pulsating` type of pump unit as described in claim 8 in which the duct means communicating the pas` sageway of the inner cylinder with said sleeve is located adjacent to the lower connecting means for admitting fluid under pressure from said inner cylinder passageway into the said expansiony sleeve, said expansion sleeve gradually increasing ineffectiveL thickness from adjacent said duct means which admits fluid from the passageway of the inner cylinder-upwardly to a location adjacent to the upper vconnecting means whereby the sleeve will expand first at its lower end and then gradually upwardly for forcing tluid from the accumulating chamber in an upward direction'and iinally the duct means of said upper connecting. means.

References Cited'in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 862,867 Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907 1,922,264 Shirner Aug. 15, 1933 1,940,516 Tennant Dec. 19, 1933 2,435,179 McGovney Jan. 27, 1948 2,526,086 Sanders Oct. 17, 1950

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