Lubricator for bypass plunger
AssigneeTri-Lift Services, Inc.
InventorsKevin L. Kegin, Joey B. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lubricator for a plunger lift system includes a tubular body, a bumper housing, a bumper sub, a first spring, and a second spring. The bumper housing is disposed in the tubular body and has a chamber, a lower end, and an upper end. The lower end is open to receive an upper end of a shift valve of a bypass plunger. The bumper sub has a lower end and an upper end and is slidably disposed in the chamber of the bumper housing. The first spring is disposed in the chamber to absorb an impact force applied to the bumper sub by the shift valve. The second spring is disposed in the tubular body to absorb an impact force applied to the lower end of the bumper housing by a plunger body of the bypass plunger.
Claims18
A lubricator for a plunger lift system, comprising:
- a tubular body having a sidewall and a closed end;
- a bumper housing disposed in the tubular body, the bumper housing having a chamber, a lower end, and an upper end, the lower end being open to receive an upper end of a shift valve of a bypass plunger;
- a bumper sub having a lower end and an upper end, the bumper sub slidably disposed in the chamber of the bumper housing, the lower end of the bumper sub forming a strike plate engageable with the upper end of the shift valve of the bypass plunger;
- a first spring disposed in the chamber of the bumper housing between the upper end of the bumper sub and the second end of the bumper housing in a way to absorb an impact force applied to the bumper sub by the shift valve of the bypass plunger;
- and
- a second spring disposed in the tubular body between a portion of the bumper housing and a portion of the tubular body in a way to absorb an impact force applied to the lower end of the bumper housing by a plunger body of the bypass plunger.
A bumper assembly for a plunger lift system, comprising:
- a bumper housing disposable in a tubular body of a lubricator, the bumper housing having a chamber, a lower end, and an upper end, the lower end being open to receive an upper end of a shift valve of a bypass plunger;
- a bumper sub having a lower end and an upper end, the bumper sub slidably disposed in the chamber of the bumper housing, the lower end of the bumper sub forming a strike plate engageable with the upper end of the shift valve of the bypass plunger;
- a first spring disposed in the chamber of the bumper housing between the upper end of the bumper sub and the second end of the bumper housing in a way to absorb an impact force applied to the bumper sub by the shift valve of the bypass plunger;
- and
- a second spring disposed in the tubular body between a portion of the bumper housing and a portion of the tubular body in a way to absorb an impact force applied to the lower end of the bumper housing by a plunger body of the bypass plunger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.