# US 10,480,257 B2 · System for relieving lateral strain on a rod string within a wellbore > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,257 B2 - Document ID: US10480257B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/703,853 - Filed: 2017-09-13 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-13 - Applicants: Randy Downing - Inventors: Randy Downing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480257B2 ## CPC - E21B 17/042: Threaded - E21B 17/1071: {specially adapted for pump rods, e.g. sucker rods} - E21B 17/20: Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A system for relieving lateral stress on rods within a wellbore. A flexible sucker rod coupling has a top connecting member threadedly attached to a ball shank housing. The ball shank housing houses in a ball and socket fashion, a ball shank which extends out of the ball shank housing, defining a swivel gap to allow swivel movement. The ball shank is threadedly attached to a lower connection member. Both ends of the coupling threadedly attaches to an adjacent sucker rod within the wellbore. The ball shank is secured to the ball shank housing to ensure that the ball shank and the ball shank housing rotate together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string within a wellbore comprising: at least one flexible sucker rod connection assembly for attaching to adjacent sucker rods within said wellbore, said sucker rod connection assembly comprising: a top connecting member adjacent and attached to a ball shank housing, said ball shank housing receiving a portion of a ball shank therein; and a bottom connecting member spaced from said ball shank housing, and connected to a lower portion of said ball shank; and an adjustable adjustment rod assembly attached to a polished rod of a pump jack above said wellbore, said adjustment rod system comprising: an adjustment rod comprising external threads along a lower portion, said adjustment rod engaging with said polished rod and said pump jack a load adjustment housing receiving said adjustment rod and being slidable along a longitudinal axis of said adjustment rod and attachable thereto at a desired location; and an adjustment rod connector comprising internal threads on a top surface thereof, said internal threads threadedly engaging said external threads of said adjustment rod, and a lower portion comprising external threads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said top connecting member further comprises internal threads along an internal top portion thereof, external threads along an external lower portion thereof for threadedly attaching to said ball shank housing, and a bottom surface defining a recessed socket extending internally within said top connecting member, said socket engaging with a ball of said ball shank; said ball of said ball shank being attached to said ball shank housing, and said ball shank further comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped lower portion comprising external threads and extending through a lower portion of said ball shank housing, defining a swivel gap between said ball shank housing and said lower portion of said ball shank; and said bottom connecting member comprises internal threads along an internal top portion thereof which engage said external threads of said ball shank, and internal threads along an internal bottom portion thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ball shank housing comprises a plurality of slotted apertures extending there through, and a corresponding plurality of screws inserted within said slotted apertures and engaging a corresponding plurality of internal threads within said ball of said ball shank, said screws being slidable within said slotted apertures to provide controlled swiveling movement of said flexible sucker rod connection assembly within said swivel gap of said ball shank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 3 wherein said top connecting member and said bottom connecting member comprise recessed portions along their external surfaces, defining wrench flats. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said adjustment rod comprises a plurality of apertures for attaching said load adjustment housing at said desired location; said load adjustment housing comprises at least two apertures corresponding to at least two apertures of said adjustment rod, and at least two pins extending through said apertures of said load adjustment housing and said at least two apertures of said adjustment rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 4 wherein: said adjustment rod comprises a plurality of apertures for attaching said load adjustment housing at said desired location; and said load adjustment housing comprises at least two apertures corresponding to at least two apertures of said adjustment rod, and at least two pins extending through said apertures of said load adjustment housing and said at least two apertures of said adjustment rod. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustment rod assembly comprises a ball shank comprising a ball and a lower portion, said ball of said ball shank disposed within a ball shank housing, and said lower portion extending through the bottom of said ball shank housing, defining a swivel gap between said ball shank housing and said lower portion of said ball shank; wherein said ball shank comprises a collar along said lower portion, and internal threads along an internal bottom portion; and said ball shank housing comprises a plurality of slotted apertures extending there through, and a corresponding plurality of screws inserted within said slotted apertures and engaging a corresponding plurality of internal threads within said ball of said ball shank, said screws being slidable within said slotted apertures to provide controlled swiveling movement within said swivel gap of said ball shank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 4 wherein said adjustment rod assembly comprises a ball shank comprising a ball and a lower portion, said ball of said ball shank disposed within a ball shank housing which is attached to said adjustment rod connector, and said lower portion extending through the bottom of said ball shank housing, defining a swivel gap between said bottom of said ball shank housing and said lower portion of said ball shank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system for relieving lateral strain on a rod string as set forth in claim 8 wherein said ball shank comprises a collar along said lower portion, and internal threads along an internal bottom portion; said ball shank housing comprises internal threads disposed internally along an upper portion of said ball shank housing for receiving said external threads of said adjustment rod connector, a plurality of slotted apertures extending there through, an a corresponding plurality of screws inserted within said slotted apertures and engaging a corresponding plurality of internal threads within said ball of said ball shank, said screws being slidable within said slotted apertures to controlled provide swiveling movement within said swivel gap of said ball shank. ### Claim 10 A system for adjusting the engagement of a polished rod with a pump jack comprising an adjustment rod comprising external threads along a lower portion, a load adjustment housing receiving said adjustment rod and being slidable along a longitudinal axis of said adjustment rod and attachable thereto at a desired location; and an adjustment rod connector comprising internal threads on a top surface thereof, said internal threads threadedly engaging said external threads of said adjustment rod, and a lower portion comprising external threads, a ball shank comprising a ball and a lower portion, said ball of said ball shank disposed within a ball shank housing which is attached and adjacent said adjustment rod connector, and said lower portion extending through the bottom of said ball shank housing, defining a swivel gap between said ball shank housing and said lower portion of said ball shank; said ball shank housing comprising internal threads along an internal top portion thereof for receiving said external threads of said adjustment rod, and wherein said ball shank comprises a collar along said lower portion, and internal threads along an internal bottom portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said ball shank housing comprises a plurality of slotted apertures extending there through, an a corresponding plurality of screws inserted within said slotted apertures and engaging a corresponding plurality of internal threads within said ball of said ball shank, said screws being slidable within said slotted apertures to provide controlled swiveling movement within said swivel gap of said ball shank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein: said adjustment rod comprises a plurality of apertures for attaching said load adjustment housing as said desired location; and said load adjustment housing comprises at least two apertures corresponding to at least two apertures of said adjustment rod, and at least two pins extending through said apertures of said load adjustment housing and said at least two apertures of said adjustment rod. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for relieving lateral strain between two rods within a wellbore, said apparatus comprising: a top connecting member; a ball shank housing attached to said top connecting member along a bottom portion thereof, said ball shank housing receiving a portion of a ball shank therein; and a bottom connecting member spaced from said ball shank housing, and connected to a lower portion of said ball shank; wherein said ball shank housing comprises a plurality of slotted apertures extending there through, a corresponding plurality of screws inserted within said slotted apertures and engaging a corresponding plurality of internal threads within a ball of said ball shank, said screws being slidable within said slotted apertures to provide controlled swiveling movement within a swivel gap defined by a space between said lower portion of said ball shank and said ball shank housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus for relieving lateral strain between two rods as set forth in claim 13 wherein: said top connecting member further comprises internal threads along an internal top portion thereof, external threads along an external lower portion thereof for threadedly attaching to said ball shank housing, and a bottom surface defining a recessed socket extending internally within said top connecting member, said socket engaging with said ball of said ball shank; and said bottom connecting member comprises internal threads along an internal top portion thereof which engage said external threads of said ball shank, and internal threads along an internal bottom portion thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus for relieving lateral strain between two rods as set forth in claim 14 wherein said top connecting member and said bottom connecting member comprise recessed portions along their external surfaces, defining wrench flats.