Fluid level control mechanism

A pumping apparatus comprising:

• an electrically driven downhole pump;
• and
• a fluid level control mechanism, wherein the fluid level control mechanism is disposed above the downhole pump and comprises a reservoir assembly, resilient force assembly, and a flow line assembly;
• said reservoir assembly comprising a cylindrical outer float tube and a cylindrical inner float tube, wherein an upper portion of the outer float tube is connected to an upper portion of the inner float tube by an upper end plate disposed between the outer and inner float tubes and a lower portion of the outer float tube is connected to a lower portion of the inner float tube by a lower end plate disposed between the outer and inner float tubes, wherein the upper end plate has at least one hole;
• said flow line assembly positioned below the reservoir assembly and comprising a main flow line capable of passing a fluid therethrough, a diverter flow line in fluid communication with the main flow line, and a diverter valve disposed within the diverter flow line, wherein the diverter valve is connected to the lower end plate of the reservoir assembly via a lever arm;
• said resilient force assembly positioned above the reservoir assembly, wherein an upper portion of the resilient force assembly is attached to the main flow line, a lower portion of the resilient force assembly is attached to the reservoir assembly, and the resilient force assembly comprises at least one resilient device capable of exerting a vertical force against the reservoir assembly;
• and
• wherein the reservoir assembly is disposed along a length of the main flow line and capable of sliding movement along the length of the main flow line, wherein a downward movement of the reservoir assembly opens the diverter valve and an upward movement of the reservoir assembly closes the diverter valve.

A fluid level control mechanism comprising:

• a float assembly, a flow line assembly, a resilient force assembly, an upper centralizer, and a lower centralizer;
• said float assembly comprising a cylindrical outer float tube and a cylindrical inner float tube, wherein an upper portion of the outer float tube is connected to an upper portion of the inner float tube by an upper end plate disposed between the outer and inner float tubes and a lower portion of the outer float tube is connected to a lower portion of the inner float tube by a lower end plate disposed between the outer and inner float tubes, thereby forming a pressurized sealed cavity between the outer float tube and the inner float tube, wherein a lower bumper tapering to a diameter narrower than the diameter of the float assembly is attached to a lower portion of the float assembly, wherein the lower bumper, an upper bumper tapering to a diameter narrower than the diameter of the float assembly is attached to an upper portion of the float assembly and comprises a liquid reservoir portion capable of containing a liquid;
• said flow line assembly positioned below the float assembly and comprising a main flow line capable of passing a fluid therethrough, a diverter flow line in fluid communication with the main flow line, and a diverter valve disposed within the diverter flow line, wherein the diverter valve is connected to the lower end plate of the float assembly via a lever arm;
• said resilient force assembly positioned above the float assembly, wherein an upper portion of the resilient force assembly is attached to the main flow line, a lower portion of the resilient force assembly is attached to the float assembly, and the resilient force assembly comprises at least one resilient device capable of exerting a vertical force against the float assembly;
• wherein the float assembly is disposed along a length of the main flow line and capable of sliding movement along the length of the main flow line, wherein a downward movement of the float assembly opens the diverter valve and an upward movement of the float assembly closes the diverter valve;
• and
• wherein the lower centralizer is positioned along the main flow line below the flow line assembly and the upper centralizer is positioned along the main flow line above the resilient force assembly, wherein the upper and lower centralizers each have a diameter larger than the float assembly.