US3123008A - lowry - Google Patents

Description

H. D. LOWRY DOWN WELL PUMP March 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1962 INVENTOR. 5eM/QN DHLE Lon/@y H. D. LOWRY DOWN WELL PUMP March 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet'2 Filed March 5, 1962 INVENTOR. Affe/wn# mf [0n/@Y ,4r @QA/Ens'.

3,123,963 DWN WELL PUB/IP Herman Bale Lowry, Costa Mesa, Calif., assignor to Lowry Hydraulic Co., ong Beach, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Mar. 5, i962, Ser. No. 177,323 8 Claims. (Si. 10S- 46) In general, the present invention relates to an economical, dependable hydraulic pump for pumping fluids such as oil and water from wells, sumps or reservoirs. In particular, the present invention relates to a hydraulic pump which may be located in the fluid to be pumped and and within a narrow diameter production tube through which the fluid is pumped. The hydraulic pump of the present invention is an improvement over the invention described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 838,366 filed on September 4, 1959, now Patent 3,023,707, issued March 6, 1962.

ln the past many varieties of pumps have been utilized to pump fluids such as Water and oil. However, when the iluid body to -be pumped is located in a relatively inaccessible position, such as many thousands of feet underground, the presently used pumps had not been found very satisfactory and many diiiiculties, such as complex and expensive maintenance problems have been encountered. For example, a presently commonly used downwell pump involves the use of a plunger actuated by a long string of sucker rods. The operation of such standard pump has been found to be extremely cumbersome and the maintenance problems very diiiicult and expensive. For example, -when inserting the pump in a well, it is necessary to laboriously connect each sucker rod section by section as the pump is lowered into the well. Furthermore, because of the extremely high tensions to which the sucker rods are subjected, they frequently wear out and break. After breaking, the rods then must be lished out of the well and laboriously disconnected section by section in the same manner as during the initial installation of the plunger. Also, the weight of the sucker rods alone contributes substantially to the load which must be lifted by the pump. For example, the weight of a string of sucker rods in a 5,()0 foot well equals about live .tons llf the pump operates at l2 strokes per minute, the pump is thus lifting 3,600 tons of non-productive weight each hour of operation.

Another type of downwell pump is a centrifugal pump which involves the use of high speed impellers to pump the duid. However, where the uid to be pumped, such as oil or water, is located far underground, it commonly contains much foreign matter such as mud and sand. Consequently, during operation-s, the high speed impellers have a tendency to frequently fail due to the Wear of the sand-laden water or oil which is being pumped.

fl`he present invention eliminates the need for troublesome sucker rods and the need for high-speed impellers which frequently wear out. Thus, the present invention can quickly and easily be removed for maintenance from the production tubing. The removal of the hydraulic pump of the present invention may be accomplished without pulling the production tubing or disconnecting the cable that is used to lower the pump into the well. Furthermore, much saving of space is attained, unsightly machinery is eliminated and a much more quiet and efcient operation is assured.

In general, an object of the present invention is a hydrauiic pump which may be quickly and easily positioned in an inaccessible body of liquid, operated in said body of liquid with low maintenance and easily removed from said body of liquid.

Another object of the present invention is a hydraulic lZB Patented Mar. 3, lg

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pump which permits very low leakage past the pump during its operation.

Still another object of the present invention is a hydraulic pump having a simple construction and a minimum resistance to the liow of hydraulic fluid used therein.

Still another object of the present invention is a hydraulic pump which eliminates contamination of air bubbles in the hydraulic fluid used in said pump and avoids excessive hydraulic pressure build-up.

Still another object of the present invention is an economical, dependable hydraulic pump which may be used to raise fluids over large vertical distances.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

In general, the present invention involves an economical, dependable Well pump adapted to be located within the production -tube in a Well and includes a verticallyoriented lirst elongated cylindrical housing having a lirst axial chamber therein and a second vertically-oriented elongated cylindrical housing attached to the bottom of said rst housing with the second housing having a second axial cylindrical chamber therein. A sealing sleeve means is attached to the top of said first housing and said sleeve means has a conduit therethrough for conducting well fluid from the upper portion of said first chamber into the portion of the production tube above said sleeve. Also, the seal-ing sleeve means is adapted to form a sealing lit with support means on said production tube to prevent well iluid from flowing downwardly within said production tube. A nst check valve means is located in said production tube below said sealing sleeve means and is adapted to permit well iiuid to ow only upwardly therethrough. A first piston is slidably mounted in said iirst chamber having a conduit therethrough and a second check valve means. The second check valve means is adapted to permit well fluid to flow only upwardly through said piston. A second piston is slidably mounted in said second chamber and a piston rod means connects said piston. The second chamber has at least two openings with tre lirst of said openings communicating hydraulic uid pressure to the upper end of said second chamber and the second of said openings communicating hydraulic fluid pressure to the lower end of said second chamber. At least two pipes are attached to the said second housing and extend upwardly outside or" said first housing above the highest position of said irst piston and into the production tube above said first housing. The iirst of said pipes is connected to said iirst opening and the second of said pipes is connected to the second of said openings. Finally there is at least one port in said first housing below the lowest position of said iirst piston for lconducting well fluid from the outside of said lirst housing into the lower portion of said iirst chamber. Preferably, bleeder means connect the upper portion of said second chamber below the highest position of said second piston to said iirst pipe.

FIGS. la, b and c together constitute a vertical crosssectional View on an enlarged scale of the pump of the present invention mounted within the production tube, the views being, respectively, the upper, middle and lower portions of the device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view of the upper portion of FIG. 1c.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at right angles to the section of FIG. 2 along the lines Ill-III of FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1-3 there is indicated generally at l a casing of conventional construction in a Well for pumping oil, water or other liquid. Within casing 1 and substantially concentric therewith is a production tube 2 having a sup- 3 3 adjacent its bottom end. Supported by shoulder .3 are sealing sleeve means l which has a mating shoulder 3 adapted to form a sealing lit with shoulder 3 to prevent well lluid rorn flowing downwardly within the production tube. Also, sealing sleeve 4 has a conduit S therethrough for conducting well duid into the portion of the production tube above said sleeve. Sleeve d is connected by struts 6 to a yoke "7 and yoke 7 is in turn connected to a support cable o The supporting shoulder Li. port cable which extends to the surface serves to raise and lower the entire pump within production tube 2.

Attached to the bottom o sleeve 4 is a verticallyoriented, rst elongated cylindrical housing 9 having a rst axial cylindrical chamber 1li therein. In the upper portion of chamber l@ below sleeve l are check valve means al having a conduit i2 therethrough and containing a ball 23 and a circular seat i3. Check valve means 1l is adapted to permit well luid to llow only upwardly through conduit l2 into the upper portion of chamber i0 and sealing sleeve Attached to the bottom of said iirst housing 9 is a vertically-oriented second elongated cylindrical housing 14 which has a second axial cylindrical chamber l therein. A third elongated cylindrical housing i6 which is coaxial with and has a smaller diameter than the second housing 11% forms chamber le and an annular space l? between second housing i4 and third housing lo. The bottom end of second housing is closed by a plug 1S. Preferablr the second chamber t5 has a substantially larger cross-sectional area than the first chamber lt?.

in first chamber l@ there is siidably mounted a first piston 19 having a conduit therethrough and containing a second check valve means Check valve means 2l includes a conduit therethrough 22 and a ball 23 with a seat 23. Check valve means 2i is adapted to allow well fluid to liow only upwardly through piston 19. Piston l is or" a length suitable to lift the well fluid the required distance and has several piston rings 24 along its length to obtain better sealing with respect to chamber 10. For example, in the oil elds it has been found for pumping oil conventionally one foot of piston length is required for every 1,000 feet or lift for the oil and about one bronze ring for every one-half foot of piston length is suitable sealing. In the lower portion of housing 9, preferably below the lowest position of piston i9, are ports 25 for conducting well lluid into the lower portion of chamber l0.

A second piston 26 is slidably mounted in second chamber 15 with rings 27 to obtain better sealing with respect to second chamber i5. Piston 26 is connected to piston 19 by means of a piston rod 28 which passes through a cap 29 connecting cylindrical housings 9, ld and i6. Cap 29 includes a conventional packing gland arrangement 30 to separate chamber l5 from chamber 10.

Chamber l5 has at least two openings 31 and 32. The irst of such openings 3l communicates hydraulic fluid pressure to the upper end or chamber l5 and the second of said openings 32 communicates hydraulic fluid pressure to the lower end of chamber i5. At least two rigid pipes 33 and are attached to the econd housing 14. The rst of said pipes 33 is connected to the rst opening 3l in the upper end of chamber l5. The second of said pipes 34 is connected to the second opening 32 in the lower end of chamber l5 by means of the annular space i7. Pipes 33 and 3d extend upwardly from the second housing E4, outside of said rst housing 9, above the highest position or" the rst piston il?. Pipes 33 and 34 then enter into iirst housing 9 through openings 33 and 3d' respectively and extend upwardly within said rst housing into the production tube above rst housing 9. The upper ends of pipes 33 and 34 are received in a pair of laterally spaced bores in yoke member 7 and at their uppermost ends are connected through connectors 35 and 36, respectively, to a pair of laterally spaced flexible hoses and 3d, respectively. The openings 33 saone to minimize friction ilow loss in the hydraulic huid pass-V therethrough and to obtain a resistant to high pressures.

The cylindrical housings lil and lo and cap 29 include a bleeder means indicated generally at 39 connecting the upper portion or" chamber 15 below the highest position of piston 26 to the nrst pipe 33. Cap 29 includes an opening lll for connecting pipe 34 with annular space 17 thereby aording a conduit for the hydraulic iluid to the lower end of chamber le'. Bieeder means 3*; include a conduit 4l in housing lil and lo which is separated from annular space 17 by means of enclosure 42 at its lower end and which enters chamber 15 through opening 43. Open 1g 43 is below the highest position. of piston Z6 in chamber l5. in cap 29, conduit 4l contains a check valve means including a ball 44S and a seat 45.- which is biased by a spring 45. Spring 45 is located in an opening 46 in cap 29 which is displaced from either opening 4h or opening Sti and the amount of bias exerted by spring 45 may be adjusted by a screw 57 which also serves to seal the opening 46 and conduit @il from the surrounding well uid.

In operation, hydraulic pressure fluid is forced downwardly through pipe 33 and opening 3l in cap 29 into the upper portion of chamber l5 above second piston 26 by suitable surface means not shown. Simultaneously, the hydraulic pressure liuid in chamber' l5' below second simple construction piston 26 is removed through opening 32, annular spaceV i7, opening 4u and pipe 34 by suitable surface means not shown. ln this way, second piston 2o is forced downwardly in chamber d5. Such downward motion of see-V ond piston 25 is transmitted by piston rod 2S to first piston 19. The downward movement of first piston 9- causes ball 23 in second check valve means 21 to rise from its seat 23 and permit the well fluid within iirst chamber 10 to pass above piston 19 by means of conduits 20 and 22. As noted above, well uid is present withinV first chamber 10 due to the openings 25 in cylindrical housing 9.

Under the control of suitable surface control means not shown, the direction ofy hydraulic fluid flow in the pipes 33 and 34 is reversed when pistons 26 and 19 have reached their lowermost position. 26 and its associated parts, including piston rod 27 and first piston 19, are then forced upwardly. During such upward movement, second check valve means 2l is main tained in a closed position by the weight of well huid above it. Also, the lirst xed check valve means lll is forced open by the upward movement of the'well fluid trap above. second check valve means 23 and the well uid trapped above check valve means 23 is forced through conduit 12 and sleeve 4 into the portion of the production tube above the pump.

When the direction of the hydraulic fluid how in pipesV 33 and 34 is again reversed, the pistons are again forced downwardly. As already noticed, during the downward movement of piston t9, second check valve means 23 is forced open. In addition, however, during the downward movement of piston i9, the iirst check valve means l remains closed due to the Weight of well uid trapped above it. Consequently, by the reciprocating movement of the piston, successive portions of well fluid are liftedV upwardly in the production tube. The cycle of reciprocating this movement is repeated at suitable speed and frequency for the requirements of a given installation. should be noted that in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated, the pipes 33V and 34 enter housing 9 above the highest position of piston T19 and also above rst check valve means li. However, if desired, pipes 33 and 34 may extend upwardly outside of the housing 9 through sealing sleeve 4, and the first check valve means Thus, second piston l Itk may be substituted for plug 13, as in the aforementioned copending appiication. Similarly, other means besides annular space 17 may be used to conduct the hydraulic pressure fluid from pipe 34 to opening 31, such as an eX- tension of pipe 34.

When piston 25 reaches its highest position, during the operation of the pump of the present invention, conduit 41 of bleeder means 39 is connected to the high pressure hydraulic iiuid in chamber 15 through opening 43. When the hydraulic fluid pressure exceeds the pressure set by spring 45, the ball 4a lifts from seat 44 and the excess pressure is released to opening 31 and pipe 33. In addition, such arrangement prevents cavitation from forming and allows all hydraulic pressure luid to return to the surface for filtering, cooling and decontamination. When the direction of hydraulic liuid flow is reversed and piston 26 is forced downwardly, the check valve closes due to biasing spring 45 and the high pressure in pipe 33. Thus, the bleeder means 39 obtains its results without interfering with the operation of the pump.

it should be noted that piston rod 2S has an enlarged portion 48 adjacent piston 26 and such enlarged portion is received in a recess 49 in the bottom of cap 29. The small annular clearance between such enlarged portion and such recess permits the hydraulic fluid trapped in such recess by the upward movement of piston 26 to leak out slowly. Such arrangement cushions any impact of the upward movement of piston 26. -Of course, the arrangement may also be utilized to cushion the downward movement of piston 26.

One of the features of the present invention and one which represents an improvement over the aforementioned copending application, is the avoidance of leakage past the upper piston 19. In the present invention, the upper piston 19 and the chamber 1G' within which it is located may be of conventional construction thereby permitting a good seal with a simple sealing sleeve whereas the piston in said copending application contains two additional bores through which leakage may occur and which complicates its construction. Likewise, such construction enables chamber to have a substantially smaller crosssectional area than chamberand thus obtain a large mechanical advantage.

Another feature of the present invention is the fact that the hydraulic pump is formed from a single unit which may be of substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the production tube. Consequently, the hydraulic pump of the present invention may be easily inserted and removed from the production tube without causing wear on either of the cylinders or the production tube.

Another feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention involves the use of an annular space in the lower housings to conduct the hydraulic pressure iiuid to the lower portion of the second chamber. Such arrangement minimizes the uid flow friction within the well pump since a maximum cross-sectional area is obtained from the available area, and the velocity of the iiuid low is thereby reduced. Likewise, such arrangement aids in achieving a pump of simple, rugged construction.

Still another feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is the utilization of bleeder means in the upper portion of the second chamber. Such arrangement prevents cavitation or air pockets from forming and allows all of the hydraulic oil to return to the tank for filtering, cooling and decontamination of air bubbles. In addition, such arrangement insures that excessive hydraulic pressure is not obtained in the lower chamber.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and drawings are only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto. Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims or to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In an economical, dependable well pump adapted to be located within the production tube in a well, the combination of:

(a) a vertically-oriented first elongated cylindrical housing having a first axial cylindrical chamber therein and containing a first check valve means in the upper portion of said chamber, said check valve means being adapted to permit well fluid to flow only upwardly through said chamber;

(b) a vertically-oriented second elongated cylindrical housing attached to the bottom of said first housing and having a second axial cylindrical chamber therein, said second chamber being formed by a third elongated cylindrical housing with said third housing being coaxial and having a smaller diameter than said second housing and forming an annular space between said housings and said second cylindrical chamber having a substantially larger cross-sectional area than said first chamber;

(c) a sealing sleeve means attached to the top of said first housing, said sleeve means (I) having a conduit therethrough for conducting well fluid from the upper portion of said first chamber into the portion of the production tube above said sleeve; and

(Il) being adapted to form a sealing fit with support means on said production tube to prevent well fluid from flowing downwardly within said production tube;

(d) a first piston slidably mounted in said first chamber having a conduit therethrough and containing a second check valve means, said second check valve means being adapted to permit well iiuid to iiow only upwardly through said piston;

(e) at least one port in lower portion of said first housing for conducting well fluid from the outside of said first housing into the lower portion of said rst chamber;

(7') a second piston slidably mounted in said second chamber;

(g) a piston rod means connecting said pistons;

(h) at least two openings into said second chamber, the first of said openings communicating hydraulic fluid pressure to the upper end of said second chamber and the second of said openings communicating hydraulic fluid pressure to the lower end of said chamber through the annular space between said second and third housings;

(i) at least two pipes attached to said second housing and extending upwardly outside of said first housing above the highest position of said first piston, entering into said first housing at an acute angle with the axis of said first housing, and then extending upwardly within said first housing into the production tube above said rst housing;

(I) the first of said pipes being connected to said first opening and the second of said pipes being connected to said second opening;

(j) bleeder means connecting the upper portion of said second chamber below the highest position of said second piston to said first pipe.

2. In an economical, dependable well pump adapted to be located within the production tube in a well, the combination of:

(a) a vertically-oriented, first elongated cylindrical housing having a first axial cylindrical chamber therein;

(b) a vertically-oriented, second elongated cylindrical housing attached to the bottom of said first housing, said second housing having a second axial cylindrical chamber therein;

(c) a sealing sleeve means attached to the top of said rst housing, said sleeve means (I) having a conduit therethrough for conducting Well iiuid from the upper portion of said first chamber into the portion of the production tube above said sleeve; and

(Il) being adapted to form a sealing lit with support means on said production tube to prevent well iiuid from flowing downwardly within said production tube;

(d) a irst check valve means in said production tube below said sleeve means, said check valve means being adaptedv to permit well fluid to iloW only upwardly therethrough;

(e) a irst piston slidably mounted in said iirst chamber having a conduit therethrough and containing a second cheek valve means, said second check valve means being adapted to permit well 'luid to ilow only upwardly through said piston;

(f) at least one port in said irst housing below the lowest position of said iirst piston for conducting well uid from the outside of said first housing into the lower portion of said irst chamber;

(g) a second piston slidably mounted in said second chamber;

(Iz) a piston rod means connecting said pistons;

(i) at least two openings into said second chamber, the rst of said openings communicating hydraulic liuicl pressure to the upper end of said chamber and the second of said openings conducting hydraulic tiuid pressure 'to the lower end of said second chamber;

(j) at least two pipes attached to said second housing and extending upwardly outside ofsaid rst housing CTL above the f7liest position of the said rst piston and into the production tube above sail tirst housing, (D the iirst of said pipes being connected to said iirst opening and the second of said pipes being connected to said second opening. 3. The well pump as stated in claim 2 wherein the second chamber has a substantially larger cross-sectional a ea than said iii-st chamber.

4. A well pump as stated in claim 2 wherein said means connecting the upper portion of said second chan ber below the highest position of said second piston to said first pipe.

7. A weil pump as stated in claim 2 wherein said pipes enter into said first housing above the hichest position of said irst piston and then extend upwardly within said first housing into the production tube above said rst housing.

8. A well pump as stated in claim 7 wherein the pipesV entering into said first housing form an acute angle with the axis of said first housing.

References 'ited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,616,7/4 Warren Feb. 8, 1927 2,33l,l5l Williams et al, Oct. 5, 1943 2,"'l,9l7 Hardy Nov. 10, 1959

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ECONOMICAL, DEPENDABLE WELL PUMP ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE PRODUCTION TUBE IN A WELL, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) A VERTICALLY-ORIENTED FIRST ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL HOUSING HAVING A FIRST AXIAL CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER THEREIN AND CONTAINING A FIRST CHECK VALVE MEANS IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID CHECK VALVE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT WELL FLUID TO FLOW ONLY UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID CHAMBER; (B) A VERTICALLY-ORIENTED SECOND ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL HOUSING ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST HOUSING AND HAVING A SECOND AXIAL CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER THEREIN, SAID SECOND CHAMBER BEING FORMED BY A THIRD ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL HOUSING WITH SAID THIRD HOUSING BEING COAXIAL AND HAVING A SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID SECOND HOUSING AND FORMING AN ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN SAID HOUSINGS AND SAID SECOND CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN SAID FIRST CHAMBER; (C) A SEALING SLEEVE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF SAID FIRST HOUSING, SAID SLEEVE MEANS (I) HAVING A CONDUIT THERETHROUGH FOR CONDUCTING WELL FLUID FROM THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER INTO THE PORTION OF THE PRODUCTION TUBE ABOVE SAID SLEEVE; AND (II) BEING ADAPTED TO FORM A SEALING FIT WITH SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID PRODUCTION TUBE TO PREVENT WELL FLUID FROM FLOWING DOWNWARDLY WITHIN SAID PRODUCTION TUBE; (D) A FIRST PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FIRST CHAMBER HAVING A CONDUIT THERETHROUGH AND CONTAINING A SECOND CHECK VALVE MEANS, SAID SECOND CHECK VALVE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT WELL FLUID TO FLOW ONLY UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID PISTON; (E) AT LEAST ONE PORT IN LOWER PORTION OF SAID FIRST HOUSING FOR CONDUCTING WELL FLUID FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID FIRST HOUSING INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER; (F) A SECOND PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SECOND CHAMBER; (G) A PISTON ROD MEANS CONNECTING SAID PISTONS; (H) AT LEAST TWO OPENINGS INTO SAID SECOND CHAMBER, THE FIRST OF SAID OPENINGS COMMUNICATING HYDRAULIC FLUID PRESSURE TO THE UPPER END OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER AND THE SECOND OF SAID OPENINGS COMMUNICATING HYDRAULIC FLUID PRESSURE TO THE LOWER END OF SAID CHAMBER THROUGH THE ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN SAID SECOND AND THIRD HOUSINGS; (I) AT LEAST TWO PIPES ATTACHED TO SAID SECOND HOUSING AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY OUTSIDE OF SAID FIRST HOUSING ABOVE THE HIGHEST POSITION OF SAID FIRST PISTON, ENTERING INTO SAID FIRST HOUSING AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH THE AXIS OF SAID FIRST HOUSING, AND THEN EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITHIN SAID FIRST HOUSING INTO THE PRODUCTION TUBE ABOVE SAID FIRST HOUSING; (I) THE FIRST OF SAID PIPES BEING CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST OPENING AND THE SECOND OF SAID PIPES BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND OPENING; (J) BLEEDER MEANS CONNECTING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER BELOW THE HIGHEST POSITION OF SAID SECOND PISTON TO SAID FIRST PIPE.

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