US2223602A - Sand sucker apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1940. A. L. cox

SAND SUCKER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 4, 1938 I Inventor Patented Dec. 3, .1940

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to sand sucker apparatus for use in pumping sand and fluid from oil wells. Among the important objects of the invention, are to provide a compact, readily portable, ap-

paratus of this character in which vibration in operation is reduced to a minimum so that in action it will not break down nor disturb formations of oil sand behind the well casing.

' Other objects are to provide apparatus for the purpose above set forth which is economical both as regards manufacture and upkeep, durable, easilyassembled and disassembled, capable of high speed operation and positive action as regards dumping and which does not require washing of the sand chamber to free the same from sand, or fluid, as is necessary in present day apparatus of this character.

Still another object is to provide improved dumping means for use with sand sucker apparatus.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvement, will become apparent when the following description and claims are read with reference to thedrawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a sand sucker apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the dumping section being omitted.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the lower pressure relief valve shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view'through the plunger valve taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the upper pressurerelief valve shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the dump section and dump cage.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the dump cage proper, the view being taken at a right angle to Figure 5, and

Figure '1 is a view in longitudinal section of the dump section with the key positioned therein.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the sand sucker apparatus of my invention comprises a pump l of the type to be dropped into the well casing (not shown) and pulled out of said casing yunder operation of the usual operating mechanism with which well drills are equipped for such purposes and which being well known need merely be mentioned in passing.

The pump comprises an outer tubular section 2 of suitable length having externally threaded upper andlower ends 3 and 4, for a purpose presently seen, and an inner tubular shorter section 5 of relatively smaller diameter secured in the upper end of the outer section I, axially thereof, and spaced therefrom by acylindrical head casting 6 having a tubular lower skirt 1 threaded onto the upper end of the inner section 5 and seating on the upper end of the outer section 2, and a coupling sleeve 8 threaded on said skirt I and onto theupper end 3 of said section 2. An annular spacer 9 is interposed between the lower end of the inner section 5 and the outer section 2.

Thehead casting 6 is bored axially, as at ID, to receive a sliding plunger rod ll vertically reciprocable therein, the bore Ill having a lower flaring end [2 and the plunger rod ll an enlarge'd lower end l3 beveled, as at Hi, to fit into and close said flaring end for a purpose presently referred to.

Suspended from the end l3 of plunger rod II is a plunger l5 comprising an upper cage l6 secured to the end I3 by an upper socket l1 on said cage threaded onto a stud depending from said end l3 of the plunger rod II. The lower end of the cage l6 terminates in a nipple l8 having a circular seat 19 in the upper end thereof for aball valve 20, said nipple having a reducedlower end 21 threaded into the upper end of aplunger tube 22 on which is mounted in any suitable manner, as shown for instance in Figure 3, a plurality of vertically spaced apartfibre suction cups 23 fitting into the inner section 5 of the pump.

At a suitable point below the lower end of the inner section 5, the outer section 2 has mounted thereon a lower relief valve 24 comprising arodlike valve casing 25 extending diametrically of said section 2 with its opposite ends suitably anchored in said section and provided with a centralvertical port 26 for the passage of fluid therethrough,chambers 21 inits respective outer ends anda pair ofaxial ports 28 extending from theport 26 to thechambers 21, respectively. Thechambers 21 are closed by a pair oftubular screw plugs 29 threaded into the outer ends thereof'and said chambers house a pair ofball valves 30 and a pair ofcoil springs 3| interposed between the said plugs and valves and urging the latter againstsuitable seats 32 in thechambers 21, whereby saidvalves 30 normally close theports 28. The screw plugs are provided with openings communicating between the chambers 2'1 and the exterior of the outer section 2. Thehead casin 6 forms the housing of an upper relief valve, said casing being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite, longitudinally extending throughbores 33 therein having reducedlower ends 34 opening into-the upper end of the inner section of the pump and normally closed by a pair of upthereto of a bottom dump or-bailing section 40.

The dump section is preferably of the type comprising an upper tubular member 4| threaded at its upper end onto end 4 of the outer section 2 of said pump, an inner tubular member 42 extending through and below member 4| and having an externally flanged upper end 43 rotatably mounted on aninternal shoulder 44 provided in the upper end of member 4| and against which said flange is held by the lower end of section 2, a lower outertubular member 45 threaded onto the lower end of the member 42 and havingdiametrical slots 46 extending from its lower end upwardly for a. suitable distance, a'pair of longitudinally extending discharge ports 41 and 48 formed in the lower ends of the members 4| and 42, respectively, for movement into and out of registration under relative rotation of said members, and a valve unit fitted into the lower end of the member 42 below said ports comprising asleeve 49 clamped to the member 42 by means of abase flange 50 thereon interposed between the lower end of said member 42 and an internal shoulder on the lower tubular,

member 45, said sleeve having an upwardly opening flap valve pivoted thereto for opening and closing the same. Atransverse pin 53 extending throughmembers 45, 42 andsleeve 49, prevents said members from working loose.

Thedump section 40 is designed for use with a dump cage and key as follows.

Thedump cage 54 has the form of a somewhat cylindrical pedestal provided withlegs 55, abase flange 56 by means of which it may be bolted; as at 51, to therig platform 58, an upper end flat head 59 axially bored at 60 for the insertion of the lowertubular member 45 of dump section 4| therethrough, and a bar-like transversely extendingsupport 6| for saidmember 45 suspended in diametrically opposedslots 62 in thecage 54 for vertical movement and by means of a pair oftension springs 63 pivotally connected at one end to laterally extendinglugs 64 on the head 59 and having their opposite ends suitably connected to saidsupport 6| A pair of.stop pins 65 extending through saidsupport 6| on opposite sides -.7..5,..,inv, ention, the pump I is lowered mm the well of thecage 54, respectively, limit endwise play of saidsupport 6| p The support"'6| has upstanding therefrom aflat key member 66 adapted to fitv loosely into thebeforementioned slots 46 provided in thelower member 45 ofdump section 40. and for a purpose presently seen.

Referring now to the operation and use of the pump plunger i 5 is reciprocated in a manner which will be understood to draw sand and oil, or other fluid in the wellyinto the inner section 5 below said plunger 5. Under the downstrokes of Y the plunger 5 the lower relief valve 24 opens, in a manner which will be understood, and under upstrokes of said plunger the described upper relief valve similarly opens, theball valve 20 under downstrokes of said plunger opening to permit air to pass through said plunger'and escape by way of the upper relief valve as will be clear. As will be understood, opening of theball valve 20 provides for trapping air between the plunger l5 andhead casting 6 to be discharged on the upstroke of said plunger. Consequently, air is .positively removed from below the plunger 5 thereby making dumping of the sand which is accumulated in the pump much easier to accomplish than with other types of pumps.

The sand and oil, or other fluid, are drawn upwardly past the lower relief valve 24 and through theport 26 thereof.

When it is desired to dump, or bail out, the pump, the latter is withdrawn fromthe well casing and the dump section attached to the lower end of the outer section 2 of said pump in the manner already described. The pump and saidsection 46 are then maneuvered into a position over thedump cage 54 and the lower member ofsection 40 dropped into theaperture 60 and turned until the slots '46 thereof are in a position to receive thekey member 66 whereupon the whole device is lowered onto thesupport 6|. 'In this position of the parts, thelower member 45, the inner member 42 and thesleeve 49 of thedump section 40 are held stationary by said key so that by turning the pump the section 4| of thedump section 40 may be rotated to bring the slot 41 thereof into registration with the slot 48 .of member 42 whereupon the pump I may drain through thedump section 46 in a manner which will be understood without further explanation.

In the attached position of thedump section 40, the flap valve 49' prevents escape of the contents of the pump until the ports 4! and 48 are in registration.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to inipart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from v the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of-the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sand pump for sanding oil wells, a tubuj lar casing adapted to be lowered into the well, a head casting threaded onto the upper end of said casing and provided with a central bore,

a plunger rod slidable in, said'bore for vertical reciprocation in said casing, a pump plunger secured to the lower end of said rod for reciprocation therewith and having anaxial port extending therethrough, a ball valve mounted in the vi 2 upper end of said plunger, and upper and lower pressure valve units in the lower end of said casing and in said casting, respectively, the upper unit opening outwardly under compression created by the upstroke of said plunger, and the lower unit opening outwardly under compression effected by the downstroke of said piston.

2. In a sand. pump for sanding oil wells, a

tubular casing adapted to be lowered into the well, a head casting threaded onto the upper end of said casing and provided with a central bore, a plunger rod slidable in said bore for vertical reciprocation in said casing, a pump plunger secured to the lower end of said rod for reciprocation therewith and having an axial port extending therethrough, a ball valve mounted in the upper end of said plunger, and upper and lower pressure valve units in the lower end of said casing and in said casting, respectively, the upper unit opening outwardly under compression created by the upstroke of said plunger,

and the lower unit opening outwardly under compression effected by the downstroke of said piston, the lower valve unit including a tubular valve casing extending diametrically of the easing to provide clearance on each side thereof for the passage of material upwardly thereby.

3. In a sand pump for sanding oil wells, a tubular easing adapted to be lowered into the well, a head casting threaded ont the upper end of said casing and provided with a central bore, a plunger rod slidable in said bore for vertical reciprocation in said casing, a pump plunger secured to the lower end of said rod for reciprocation therewith and having an axial port extending therethrough, a ball valve mounted in the upper end of said plunger, and upper and lower pressure valve units in the lower end of said casing and in said casting, respectively, the upper unit opening outwardly under compression created by the upstroke of said plunger, and the lower unit openin outwardly under compression effected by the downstroke of said piston, the lower valve unit includinga tubular valve casing extending diametrically of the casing to provide clearance on each side thereof for the passage of material upwardly thereby, the bore in said casting having a lower flared end, and said pump plunger being provided with a beveled part fitting into said flared end to seal said bore in the limit of upstroke mu vement or said plunger rod.

4. A sand pump for wells, including a cylindrical chamber adapted to be lowered in the well, a rod extending from and reciprocable within said chamber, a reciprocable pump piston connected with said rod for slidable sealing engagement with the Walls of said chamber, means providing a passageway through said piston between high and low pressure portions of said chamber, a oneway valve for closing said passageway when said piston moves toward said high pressure chamber portion, a relief valve for venting said high pressure portion of the chamber upon such movement of said piston, and a relief valve for venting said low pressure portion of the chamber upon movement of said piston in the opposite direction.

5. A sand pump for wells, including a cylindrical chamber adapted to be lowered in'the well, a reciprocable rod extending through the upper end of said chamber, a piston secured to said rod for slidable sealing engagement with the walls of said chamber, means providing a passageway through said piston establishing communication between the upper and lower portions of said chamber, a one-wa valve carried by said piston for closing said passageway when said piston moves toward the upper end of said chamber, a one-way relief valve at the upper end of said chamber for venting said-upper chamber portion when said piston moves toward said upper end of the chamber.

6. A sand pump for wells, including a cylindrical chamber adapted to be lowered in the well, a reciprocable rod extending through the upper end of said chamber, a piston secured to said rod for slidable sealing engagement with the walls of said chamber, means providing a passageway through said piston establishing communication between the upper and-lower portions of said chamber, a one-way valve carried by said piston for closing said passageway when said piston moves toward the upper end of said chamber, a one-way relief valve at the upper end of said chamber for venting said upper chamber portion whensaid piston moves toward said upper end of the chamber, and a one-way relief valve at the lower end of said chamber for venting said lower chamber portion when said piston moves in the opposite direction.

' AMBROSE L. COX.

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