Unibody bypass plunger and valve cage
AssigneeFlowco Production Solutions, LLC
InventorsGarrett S. Boyd, Mitchell A. Boyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bypass plunger includes a unitary or one-piece hollow body-and-valve cage, which retains a dart valve within the valve cage portion of the hollow body using a threaded retaining nut that is secured to the hollow body by crimple detents. A series of helical grooves surround the central portion of the outer surface of the hollow body of the plunger to control spin during descent. A canted-coil-spring disposed within the retaining nut functions as a clutch. The valve cage includes ports that may be configured to control flow through the plunger during ascent.
Claims20
A bypass plunger, comprising:
- a monolithic cylindrical body comprising:
- a first end,
- a second end opposite the first end;
- a hollow inner bore that extends from the first end to the second end,
- a first opening at the first end that allows fluid to flow into and out of the hollow inner bore, and
- a valve cage having a valve seat formed adjacent the second end an upper set of sealing rings located on an exterior of the monolithic cylindrical body adjacent the first end,
- a lower set of sealing rings located on an exterior of the monolithic cylindrical body adjacent the second end, and
- at least one helical groove formed on the exterior of the monolithic cylindrical body at a location between the upper and lower sets of sealing rings;
- a dart valve that is movably mounted within the valve cage;
- and
- a retaining nut having one of external threads and internal threads, the other of external threads and internal threads being formed on the second end of the monolithic cylindrical body,
- wherein the retaining nut is secured to the second end of the monolithic cylindrical body by the external and internal threads.
A bypass plunger, comprising:
- a monolithic hollow body that has first and second ends, wherein the monolithic hollow body includes:
- a first hollow cylindrical portion located adjacent the first end of the monolithic hollow body and having a first inner diameter,
- a second hollow cylindrical portion located inwardly from the first hollow cylindrical portion and having a second inner diameter that is greater than the first inner diameter, and
- a third hollow cylindrical portion located inwardly from the second hollow cylindrical portion and having a third inner diameter that is smaller than the second inner diameter,
- a valve cage having a valve seat is integrally formed in the monolithic hollow body adjacent the second end,
- an upper set of sealing rings located on an exterior of the monolithic hollow body adjacent the first end,
- a lower set of sealing rings located on an exterior of the monolithic hollow body adjacent the second end, and
- at least one helical groove formed on the exterior of the monolithic hollow body at a location between the upper and lower sets of sealing rings;
- a dart valve having a valve stem and a valve head, wherein the dart valve is slidably mounted on the monolithic hollow body such that the valve head is located within the valve cage and such that a sealing face of the valve head can seat against the valve seat of the valve cage;
- and
- a retaining nut having one of external threads and internal threads, wherein the other of external threads and internal threads are formed on the second end of the monolithic hollow body, and wherein the retaining nut is secured to the monolithic hollow body by the external and internal threads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.