Swivel connector

A swivel connector comprising:

• a ball member having a generally tubular extension portion and a ball portion with generally spherical surfaces with the central longitudinal bore extending through said portions for fluid communication;
• a sleeve within said central bore extending at least partially through said ball portion and spaced inwardly from the interior of said ball member to provide an annular sleeve passage;
• said ball portion having at least one ball port for fluid communication to said sleeve passage;
• a swivel cap with a seating surface seated on said ball portion and having a central passage in communication with said ball member central bore;
• a housing surrounding said ball member and said swivel cap;
• an inner seating surface in said housing engaging the outer spherical surface of said ball;
• said swivel cap connecting to said housing to retain the seating surfaces of said swivel cap and said housing in sealing engagement against said ball member and permitting pivotal and rotational movement of said housing relative to said ball member;
• an annular chamber defined between said ball member and said housing adjacent said ball passage;
• said chamber providing fluid communication with said ball passage during said pivotal and rotational movement;
• at least one passage extending from said annular chamber in the direction away from said sleeve means;
• and
• a stop surface on said housing adapted to engage said ball member to limit the pivotal movement of said housing and said swivel cap relative to said ball member.

A well production apparatus, comprising:

• a production tubing string;
• a pump;
• a locking mandrel connected to said pump and supporting said pump within said string;
• a swivel joint connected to said pump said swivel joint including;
• a ball member having a tubular leg extending therefrom, an exterior generally spherical surface on one end, and a central bore extending through said tubular leg and said one end;
• a port defined in said ball member at a point intermediate of said spherical surfaces so that spherical surfaces are above and below the port;
• a swivel cap having a bore in communication with said central bore through said ball member and a mating seat engaging said ball member;
• a tubular housing having an inner mating seat engaging said ball member and surrounding said swivel cap and said ball member, said tubular leg extending through said housing;
• means for retaining the mating seats of said swivel cap and said tubular housing in firm engagement with said ball member's spherical surfaces and permitting pivotal and rotational movement of said cap and said housing relative to said ball member;
• an annular chamber defined by said ball member, said swivel cap and said housing in communication with the exterior of said ball port during said pivotal and rotational movement;
• means for sealing said annular chamber from said central bore during said pivotal and rotational movement;
• means for communicating with said annular chamber, contained within said swivel cap and said housing, to provide fluid communication from beyond said cap and said housing to said chamber;
• a passage in communication with said ball member port separate from said central bore, and extending through said tubular leg;
• and
• means for limiting said pivotal movement of said swivel cap and said housing with respect to said ball member to maintain communication between said ball port and said communication beyond said cap and said housing;
• and
• a pump intake connected to the other side of said swivel joint having its intake passage in communication with the central bore through said swivel joint.