Stator tube removal and installation device

A stator removal device for removing a stator tube from its position about a rotor of a progressing cavity pump, comprising:

• a hydraulic cylinder assembly that is removably mounted to a discharge end of the stator tube;
• a hollow piston that is driven by the hydraulic cylinder assembly, the hollow piston having a keyhole near a distal end for receiving a pin therein, the hydraulic cylinder assembly being located between the distal end of the hollow piston and the stator tube;
• a pusher rod received in the hollow piston and being longitudinally repositionable with respect to the hollow piston, the pusher rod having a plurality of keyholes spaced along its length for receiving a pin therein and having a working end for contacting a discharge end of the rotor during a removal operation, the hydraulic cylinder assembly being located between the working end of the pusher rod and the distal end of the hollow piston;
• and
• a pin that is removably positionable in the keyhole of the hollow piston and a selected keyhole of the pusher rod for coupling the hollow piston and the pusher rod together;
• wherein a working length of the stator removal device is adjustable by adjusting the longitudinal position of the pusher rod with respect to the hollow piston;
• wherein the hydraulic cylinder assembly, when activated, exerts a force on the hollow piston that drives the distal end of the hollow piston toward the hydraulic cylinder assembly and the rotor until the working end of the pusher rod engages the discharge end of the rotor;
• and
• wherein the engagement of the discharge end of the rotor with the working end of the pusher rod causes the hydraulic cylinder assembly and stator tube to move toward the distal end of the hollow piston and away from the rotor.

A method for manipulating a pump, the pump including a rotor received inside a stator tube, the rotor being rotatable relative to said stator tube to pump material through said stator tube, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus including an actuator assembly having a base and a piston that is displaceable relative to said base along a first axis and a pusher rod located adjacent to said piston;
• attaching said base to a discharge end of said stator tube;
• coupling said pusher rod to said piston for movement along said first axis;
• and
• activating said actuator assembly such that said piston and pusher rod are displaced relative to said base along said first axis such that a working end of said pusher rod engages said rotor which provides a resistive force as said base and stator tube are spaced away from said rotor along said first axis by said actuator assembly.

A method for installing a stator tube on a rotor of a pump comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus including an actuator assembly having a base, a piston that is displaceable relative to said base along a first axis, and a tension member;
• attaching a working end of said tension member to said rotor;
• attaching said base to a discharge end of said stator tube;
• coupling said tension member to said piston for movement along said first axis;
• and
• activating said actuator assembly such that said piston and tension member are displaced relative to said base along said first axis such that the working end of the tension member pulls on said rotor which provides a resistive force as said base and said stator tube are moved along said first axis toward said rotor to urge said stator tube onto said rotor.