Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ball check-valve assembly comprising a ball; a casing comprising an outer surface and defining an internal cavity extending within the casing, the internal cavity comprising a cylindrical inner wall; a bottom threaded connection at a downhole end of the casing, the bottom threaded connection comprising an opening therethrough to allow fluid passage into the internal cavity; a top threaded connection at an uphole end of the casing, at least three longitudinally extending guides defined within internal cylindrical cavity; and (f) a sealing surface formed in the casing and interposed between the top threaded connection and the internal cavity, the sealing surface further defining at least three quartic-shaped flow-passages extending from the sealing surface and providing for fluid passage through the sealing surface from the internal cavity to the uphole end of the casing.

Abstract: Valve assemblies and related pumps, plungers, lift assemblies, and methods may include an insert disposed in an internal flow path of a plunger. The insert includes protrusions, each individually extending into the internal flow path of the plunger and converging at an apex of the insert to define a cage in which the restriction element is configured to move axially through the internal flow path.

Abstract: A ball valve cage insert that includes: (1) a first section including an inlet ring having a radial wall thickness varies along the longitudinal axis of the cage; (2) a second section including side ribs that define a plurality of side openings, where the width of each opening varies from a first width at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis to a second width at a second radial distance and (3) a third section including closure ribs extending from a first point at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis to a second point where, as measured at a given radial distance from the longitudinal axis, the width of each closure rib varies from a first circumferential width at a first point on the longitudinal axis to a second width at a second point on the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A ball valve cage insert that includes: (1) a first section including an inlet ring having a radial wall thickness varies along the longitudinal axis of the cage; (2) a second section including side ribs that define a plurality of side openings, where the width of each opening varies from a first width at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis to a second width at a second radial distance and (3) a third section including closure ribs extending from a first point at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis to a second point where, as measured at a given radial distance from the longitudinal axis, the width of each closure rib varies from a first circumferential width at a first point on the longitudinal axis to a second width at a second point on the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to a shear pin including a cylindrical shape positioned along a vertical axis having a first end having a common diameter with a second end; the first end and containing a first clutch at a point along the vertical axis that is furthest from the second end, the first clutch containing one of a recessing shape and a protruding shape; (c) the second end containing a second clutch at a point along the vertical axis that is furthest from the first end, the second clutch containing one of a recessing shape and a protruding shape; and (d) the curved portion including a diameter that is largest where the curved portion connects to each of the first end and the second end and then narrows along the curved portion, forming a curve that culminates at a neck where the diameter is smallest.

Abstract: Sensor systems for sucker rod pump systems and gear rod rotator systems may include one or more sensor modules comprising a sensor including at least one of a position sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or a vibration sensor for detecting a characteristic related to at least one component of the sucker rod pump systems or the gear rod rotator system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to a shear pin including a cylindrical shape positioned along a vertical axis having a first end having a common diameter with a second end; the first end and containing a first clutch at a point along the vertical axis that is furthest from the second end, the first clutch containing one of a recessing shape and a protruding shape; (c) the second end containing a second clutch at a point along the vertical axis that is furthest from the first end, the second clutch containing one of a recessing shape and a protruding shape; and (d) the curved portion including a diameter that is largest where the curved portion connects to each of the first end and the second end and then narrows along the curved portion, forming a curve that culminates at a neck where the diameter is smallest.

Abstract: Valve assemblies and related pumps and methods may include an insert disposed in an internal flow path of a casing where an outer surface of the insert is fixedly engaged with an inner surface the casing with fluid sealing. The insert includes protrusions, each individually extending into the internal flow path of the casing and converging at an apex of the insert to define a cage in which the restriction element is configured to move axially through the internal flow path.

Abstract: Sensor systems for sucker rod pump systems and gear rod rotator systems may include one or more sensor modules comprising a sensor including at least one of a position sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or a vibration sensor for detecting a characteristic related to at least one component of the sucker rod pump systems or the gear rod rotator system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plunger for use in a sucker-rod pumping system. The plunger reciprocates within a barrel. The plunger comprises first, second, and third sections, in which the first and third sections are sealed against the barrel and in which a second section is between the first and third sections and in some embodiments may be a pull tube. A through passage for production fluid is provided, along with a pressure balancing chamber that is connected to the through passage via a sand snare, where the pressure balancing chamber is operable to equalize pressure on longitudinal sides of the seals, whereas the sand snare operates to restrain solids from reaching the pressure balancing chamber from the through passage (which is carrying the production fluid) and thereby create a slippage flow in the pressure balancing chamber, which equalizes pressure between the balancing chamber and the plunger's through passage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ball check-valve assembly comprising a ball; a casing comprising an outer surface and defining an internal cavity extending within the casing, the internal cavity comprising a cylindrical inner wall; a bottom threaded connection at a downhole end of the casing, the bottom threaded connection comprising an opening therethrough to allow fluid passage into the internal cavity; a top threaded connection at an uphole end of the casing, at least three longitudinally extending guides defined within internal cylindrical cavity; and (f) a sealing surface formed in the casing and interposed between the top threaded connection and the internal cavity, the sealing surface further defining at least three quartic-shaped flow-passages extending from the sealing surface and providing for fluid passage through the sealing surface from the internal cavity to the uphole end of the casing.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to top caps for gear rod rotators and polished clamps. Disclosed top caps include an elongated top cap body extending along a central vertical axis, the top cap body including a top face, a bottom face, and an exterior perimeter surface defining an outer perimeter of the top cap body, and a polished rod opening extending along the central vertical axis of the top cap body, the polished rod opening defining an interior circumferential surface of the top cap body and configured to receive a polished rod. Additionally, disclosed top caps include a nesting region along the top face, the nesting region configured to receive at least a portion of the polished rod clamp, and a mounting rim on the bottom face and extending outwardly from the bottom face along a longitudinal axis of the top cap body, the mounting rim including a mounting rim outer diameter, a mounting rim inner diameter, and a mounting rim bottom face.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to top caps for gear rod rotators and polished clamps. Disclosed top caps include an elongated top cap body extending along a central vertical axis, the top cap body including a top face, a bottom face, and an exterior perimeter surface defining an outer perimeter of the top cap body, and a polished rod opening extending along the central vertical axis of the top cap body, the polished rod opening defining an interior circumferential surface of the top cap body and configured to receive a polished rod. Additionally, disclosed top caps include a nesting region along the top face, the nesting region configured to receive at least a portion of the polished rod clamp, and a mounting rim on the bottom face and extending outwardly from the bottom face along a longitudinal axis of the top cap body, the mounting rim including a mounting rim outer diameter, a mounting rim inner diameter, and a mounting rim bottom face.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plunger for use in a sucker-rod pumping system. The plunger reciprocates within a barrel. The plunger comprises first, second, and third sections, in which the first and third sections are sealed against the barrel and in which a second section is between the first and third sections and in some embodiments may be a pull tube. A through passage for production fluid is provided, along with a pressure balancing chamber that is connected to the through passage via a sand snare, where the pressure balancing chamber is operable to equalize pressure on longitudinal sides of the seals, whereas the sand snare operates to restrain solids from reaching the pressure balancing chamber from the through passage (which is carrying the production fluid) and thereby create a slippage flow in the pressure balancing chamber, which equalizes pressure between the balancing chamber and the plunger's through passage.

Abstract: The present invention corresponds to a device for deflecting and decelerating a flow comprising a deflecting surface, a support structure connected behind the deflecting surface and a vortex generator connected on the deflecting surface, where the vortex generator generates two turbulent flow zones, a first low pressure zone below the vortex generator and a second high pressure zone above the vortex generator, and where the deflecting surface is concave in the direction of the incident flow, and the vortex generator is on the concave part.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to top caps for gear rod rotators and polished clamps. Disclosed top caps include an elongated top cap body extending along a central vertical axis, the top cap body including a top face, a bottom face, and an exterior perimeter surface defining an outer perimeter of the top cap body, and a polished rod opening extending along the central vertical axis of the top cap body, the polished rod opening defining an interior circumferential surface of the top cap body and configured to receive a polished rod. Additionally, disclosed top caps include a nesting region along the top face, the nesting region configured to receive at least a portion of the polished rod clamp, and a mounting rim on the bottom face and extending outwardly from the bottom face along a longitudinal axis of the top cap body, the mounting rim including a mounting rim outer diameter, a mounting rim inner diameter, and a mounting rim bottom face.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to top caps for gear rod rotators and polished clamps. Disclosed top caps include an elongated top cap body extending along a central vertical axis, the top cap body including a top face, a bottom face, and an exterior perimeter surface defining an outer perimeter of the top cap body, and a polished rod opening extending along the central vertical axis of the top cap body, the polished rod opening defining an interior circumferential surface of the top cap body and configured to receive a polished rod. Additionally, disclosed top caps include a nesting region along the top face, the nesting region configured to receive at least a portion of the polished rod clamp, and a mounting rim on the bottom face and extending outwardly from the bottom face along a longitudinal axis of the top cap body, the mounting rim including a mounting rim outer diameter, a mounting rim inner diameter, and a mounting rim bottom face.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a downhole pump designed to include a sand separation unit. In one implementation, the downhole pump comprises a barrel having a first valve for controlling fluid flow into the barrel. The first valve includes an interior cavity with a first surface. The downhole pump further includes a plunger housed within the interior cavity of the barrel. The plunger comprises a wiper-plunger having a first circumference to which one or more resilient seals are coupled. The one or more resilient seals seal a first boundary between the first circumference of the wiper- plunger and a first portion of the first surface associated with the barrel. The plunger further comprises a sand separation unit coupled to the wiper-plunger at a first side. The sand separation unit forms a balancing chamber that minimizes a pressure differential across the one or more resilient seals.

Abstract: A multi-use cooking system for reducing splash and managing steam release while cooking a food item in a cooking vessel is provided. The cooking system comprises a lid having at least one opening portion allowing a user to open and close the opening portion to regulate steam release. A splashguard is attached to the lid by a locking device which allows the splashguard to be securely attached and separated and reattached to the lid. A lid edge forms the periphery of the cooking system and allows the cooking system to be placed on a cooking vessel while cooking a food item.

Abstract: An environmentally-safe, disposable, and combustible charcoal-based heat source includes a first chimney structure and a second wall structure surrounding the chimney structure. An inner chimney flue receives air for igniting and burning the charcoal-based heat source and an outer chimney flue exhausts combustion fumes from the charcoal-based heat source. A bottom wall member secures to the inner chimney flue and the outer chimney flue and forms of a combustible material to be consumed during the ignition and burning of the charcoal-based fuel. A top wall member secures to the inner chimney flue and the outer chimney flue to be consumed during the ignition of the charcoal-based fuel. A plurality of exhaust apertures are arranged within the top wall for exhausting the combustion fumes from the outer chimney flue. An ignition ring establishes a sustained ignition of sufficient duration to ignite uniformly the charcoal-based fuel. A plurality of flaps provide an initial ignition of the ignition ring.