ECONOMICAL PUMP

Abstract

A fluid pump can include one section which reciprocates relative to another section, whereby fluid is pumped between the sections. The fluid pump can be devoid of any dynamic seal. Each of the pump sections can include a check valve. Structural components of the pump can be made of a non-metal material. One section can be received in a bore of the other section, and a relatively small gap between the bore and the one section can allow minimal leakage of the fluid between the bore and the one section.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to fluid pump construction and, in an example described below, more particularly provides an economically constructed pump.

In some economically disadvantaged areas, such as central Africa, Honduras, etc., water is not readily available for human consumption or irrigation, due in large part to the fact that equipment needed to pump the water from its source (such as, an underground aquifer) is beyond a local population's means. Therefore, it will be appreciated that an inexpensive pump that can be easily installed and operated would be very beneficial to such an economically disadvantaged population.

There are other situations, also, in which an economical pump would be of benefit. For example, in some oil fields only marginal production is realized, and so it does not make economic sense to install very expensive pumping equipment. In those situations, the availability of an inexpensive pump would make a difference between whether or not the field is produced.

Thus, for these reasons and others, the art would be enhanced if economical construction of a fluid pump could be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative partially cross-sectional view of a well system and associated method which can embody principles of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale representative cross-sectional view of a pump which can embody principles of this disclosure, the pump being depicted in a fluid lifting configuration.

FIG. 3 is a representative cross-sectional view of the pump in a fluid receiving configuration.

FIG. 4 is a representative cross-sectional view of another example of a reciprocating section of the pump.

FIG. 5 is a representative side view of another example of the reciprocating section of the pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representatively illustrated in FIG. 1 is a system 40 for use with a well, and an associated method, which system and method can embody principles of this disclosure. However, it should be clearly understood that the system 40 and method are merely one example of an application of the principles of this disclosure in practice, and a wide variety of other examples are possible. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited at all to the details of the system 40 and method described herein and/or depicted in the drawings.

In the FIG. 1 example, a fluid pump 10 is installed in a wellbore 42, and is in fluid communication with a surface location via a pipe 28. At the surface location, a reciprocation device 44 is used to upwardly and downwardly displace the pipe 28, thereby operating the pump 10, so that fluid 36 from an earth formation 46 is pumped to the surface location via the pipe.

In FIG. 1, the reciprocation device 44 is depicted as being a pump jack of the type typically used in oil fields to pump hydrocarbons to surface. However, in other examples, the reciprocation device 44 could be a windmill, a hand-operated lever or crank, or any other device capable of reciprocating the pipe 28 in the wellbore 42. Thus, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to use of any particular type of reciprocation device.

Referring additionally now to FIGS. 2 & 3, enlarged scale cross-sectional views of the pump 10 are representatively illustrated, apart from the remainder of the system 40. Note that the pump 10 may be used with other well systems, in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.

In FIG. 2, the pump 10 is depicted in a configuration in which the pipe 28 is being displaced upward, and the fluid 36 is flowing into the pump. In FIG. 3, the pump 10 is depicted in a configuration in which the pipe 28 is being displaced downward, and the fluid 36 is flowing from the pump into the pipe.

The pump 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 & 3 can be constructed mainly of non-metal materials (such as, common PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe, etc.), and can be assembled and operated without use of any dynamic seals (e.g., without relative motion between a seal and a surface against which the seal seals). However, metal materials and dynamic seals may be used in some examples.

In the FIGS. 2 & 3 example, components of the pump 10 include a bottom seat 12, balls 14, 16, casing 18, lower bushing 20, upper seat 22, pump bushing 24, lower seat casing 30 and a threaded connector 26 for attachment of the pump to pipe 28. The lower seat 12 and ball 14 comprise a lower check valve 48, and the upper seat 22 and ball 16 comprise an upper check valve 50.

Note that, in the FIG. 2 configuration, the upper check valve 50 is closed, thereby drawing the fluid 36 into the pump 10 as the pipe 28 is raised, and the lower check valve 48 is open, thereby allowing the fluid to enter the pump. In the FIG. 3 configuration, the lower check valve 48 is closed, thereby preventing the fluid 36 from flowing downwardly out of the pump 10 as the pipe 28 is lowered, and the upper check valve 50 is open, thereby allowing the fluid to flow from the pump into the pipe.

The balls 14, 16 are preferably made of stainless steel, but other materials may be used, if desired. The bottom seat 12, casings 18, 30, 32, lower bushing 20, upper seat 22, pump bushing 24 and threaded connector 26 are preferably made of PVC material.

The casings 18, 30, 32, lower bushing 20, pump bushing 24 and threaded connector 26 can be made from industry standard PVC pipe and fittings, thus making the pump 10 very economical to inventory and manufacture. The non-metal components can be quickly and conveniently glued together, thus making the pump 10 very economical to assemble.

The lower seat 12 allows fluid 36 to enter a variable volume pump chamber 34 from an earth formation (e.g., a water aquifer or hydrocarbon reservoir) by upward displacement of the pipe 28 (as depicted in FIG. 2), which enlarges the volume of the chamber. Upon downward displacement of the pipe 28 (as depicted in FIG. 3), the chamber 34 volume decreases, and the fluid 36 is transferred from the chamber into the pipe.

This pumping process is accomplished, in this example, by using close tolerances resulting in a very small gap between two sizes of PVC pipe making up the casings 18, 32, and without use of any dynamic seals. The PVC pieces are machined to different tolerances depending on the actual sizes of PVC used for the pump 10 and pipe 28. Although a small amount of leakage occurs between the casing 32 and an inner bore 52 of the casing 18 when the chamber 34 expands and contracts, sufficient pressure differential can be created to flow the fluid 36 into the pump 10, and then into the pipe 28.

The PVC pipe used in the construction of this pump 10 can be a combination of schedule 40 pipe and schedule 80 PVC pipe to obtain desired tolerances for each nominal size pump. A smaller PVC piece (e.g., casing 32) slides inside a slightly larger piece (e.g., casing 18) to enable the pumping action. Thus, an upper section 54 (comprising the upper connector 26, casing 32, bushing 24 and check valve 50) reciprocates relative to a lower section 56 (comprising the casing 18, bushing 20, casing 30 and check valve 48) to pump the fluid 36, without use of any dynamic seal between the sections.

The top connector 26 is preferably threaded and glued to PVC pipe 28, although other materials and connection methods may be used, in keeping with the principles of this disclosure. No additional seal or packing material is needed to perform the pumping process. No electricity is required for the operation of this pump (although electricity could be used to power a motor to reciprocate the pipe 28, if desired).

Note that it is not necessary for the upper section 54 to reciprocate within the lower section 56 since, in other examples, a lower end of the upper section could outwardly overlap an upper end of the lower section 56. Thus, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular details of the pump 10 as depicted in FIGS. 2 & 3.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 4, another example of the upper section 54 is representatively illustrated. In this example, the upper section 54 can be made entirely or mostly of metal, so that it is more wear resistant and suitable for, e.g., oil field applications, situations where the fluid 36 may be somewhat abrasive, etc. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the lower section 56 can be similarly constructed entirely or mostly of metal.

In the FIG. 4 example, the threaded connector 26 is internally threaded for 1″ line pipe, but other types of threads may be used, if desired. In addition, the pump bushing 24 is replaced by a pin 58 disposed transversely through the casing 32, and the pin is welded, threaded, press-fit or otherwise secured in place.

The seat 22 is retained between two threaded together sections 32a,b of the casing 32. This demonstrates that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to use of PVC or any other non-metal material in the pump 10. Any suitable material may be used for any component(s) of the pump 10, in keeping with the principles of this disclosure.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 5, a side view of another example of the upper section 54 is representatively illustrated. In this view, it may be seen that a plurality of radially reduced annular grooves or recesses 60 are formed on an exterior of the casing 32. These grooves or recesses 60 may be helpful to reduce leakage between the casings 18, 32, for example, by increasing resistance to flow through the gap between the casing 32 and the bore 52 of the casing 18 in which it reciprocates.

In addition, the grooves or recesses 60 may be helpful to prevent sand and/or debris from passing between the casings 32, 18, for example, by increasing turbulence in the gap between the casings. However, the grooves or recesses 60 are not necessary in keeping with the scope of this disclosure.

It may now be fully appreciated that the above disclosure provides significant advances to the art of economically constructing fluid pumps. In examples described above, the pump 10 can be economically manufactured and assembled, and can operate reliably for a extended period of time due to an absence of any dynamic seals in the pump.

The above disclosure provides to the art a fluid pump 10. In one example, the pump 10 can include a first section 54 which reciprocates relative to a second section 56, whereby fluid 36 is pumped between the first and second sections 54, 56. The fluid pump 10 may be devoid of any dynamic seal.

The first section 54 may be received in a bore 52 of the second section 56, and a relatively small gap between the bore 52 and the first section 54 may allow only minimal leakage of the fluid 36 between the bore 52 and the first section 54.

Each of the first and second sections 54, 56 can include a check valve 48, 50. In some examples, the check valve 48, 50 can include a ball 14, 16 which seals against a non-metal seat 12, 22. The ball 14, 16 may be contained in a non-metal casing 30, 32.

The first section 54 may be received in a bore 52 of the second section 56, and recesses 60 formed on an outer surface of the first section 54 may reciprocate in the bore 52. A volume of a chamber 34 of the pump 10 may vary in response to reciprocation of the first section 54 relative to the second section 56.

Although various examples have been described above, with each example having certain features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for a particular feature of one example to be used exclusively with that example. Instead, any of the features described above and/or depicted in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples, in addition to or in substitution for any of the other features of those examples. One example's features are not mutually exclusive to another example's features. Instead, the scope of this disclosure encompasses any combination of any of the features.

Although each example described above includes a certain combination of features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for all features of an example to be used. Instead, any of the features described above can be used, without any other particular feature or features also being used.

It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the disclosure, which is not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.

In the above description of the representative examples, directional terms (such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” etc.) are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular directions described herein.

The terms “including,” “includes,” “comprising,” “comprises,” and similar terms are used in a non-limiting sense in this specification. For example, if a system, method, apparatus, device, etc., is described as “including” a certain feature or element, the system, method, apparatus, device, etc., can include that feature or element, and can also include other features or elements. Similarly, the term “comprises” is considered to mean “comprises, but is not limited to.”

Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the disclosure, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to the specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of this disclosure. For example, structures disclosed as being separately formed can, in other examples, be integrally formed and vice versa. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A fluid pump, comprising:

a first section which reciprocates relative to a second section, whereby fluid is pumped between the first and second sections, and

wherein the fluid pump is devoid of any dynamic seal.

2. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the first section is received in a bore of the second section, and a relatively small gap between the bore and the first section allows minimal leakage of the fluid between the bore and the first section.

3. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a check valve.

4. The fluid pump of claim 3, wherein the check valve comprises a ball which seals against a non-metal seat.

5. The fluid pump of claim 4, wherein the ball is contained in a non-metal casing.

6. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the first section is received in a bore of the second section, and wherein recesses are formed on an outer surface of the first section, whereby the recesses reciprocate in the bore.

7. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein a volume of a chamber of the pump varies in response to reciprocation of the first section relative to the second section.

8. A fluid pump, comprising:

a first section which reciprocates relative to a second section, whereby fluid is pumped between the first and second sections, and

wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a check valve.

9. The fluid pump of claim 8, wherein the fluid pump is devoid of any dynamic seal.

10. The fluid pump of claim 8, wherein the first section is received in a bore of the second section, and a relatively small gap between the bore and the first section allows minimal leakage of the fluid between the bore and the first section.

11. The fluid pump of claim 8, wherein the check valve comprises a ball which seals against a non-metal seat.

12. The fluid pump of claim 11, wherein the ball is contained in a non-metal casing.

13. The fluid pump of claim 8, wherein the first section is received in a bore of the second section, and wherein recesses are formed on an outer surface of the first section, whereby the recesses reciprocate in the bore.

14. The fluid pump of claim 8, wherein a volume of a chamber of the pump varies in response to reciprocation of the first section relative to the second section.

15. A fluid pump, comprising:

a first section which reciprocates relative to a second section, whereby fluid is pumped between the first and second sections, and

wherein the first section is received in a bore of the second section, and a relatively small gap between the bore and the first section allows minimal leakage of the fluid between the bore and the first section.

16. The fluid pump of claim 15, wherein the fluid pump is devoid of any dynamic seal.

17. The fluid pump of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a check valve.

18. The fluid pump of claim 17, wherein the check valve comprises a ball which seals against a non-metal seat.

19. The fluid pump of claim 18, wherein the ball is contained in a non-metal casing.

20. The fluid pump of claim 15, wherein recesses are formed on an outer surface of the first section, whereby the recesses reciprocate in the bore.