Off-vertical pumping unit
AssigneeLegrand Industries Ltd.
InventorsQuentin R. Siebold, Walter Labuhn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pumping unit or pump jack, of the walking beam type of class I geometry, is provided which is arranged to permit relatively efficient pumping of a well inclined to the vertical, by suitable selection of beam support configuration and location, horsehead size, configuration and position, and position of the beam support fulcrum and beam length. Also provided is an adjustable pumping unit arranged to relatively efficiently pump wells ranging from about 0.degree. to 45.degree. off-vertical, in that the pitman is adjustable in length and the angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of the samson post is adjustable.
Claims20
A pumping unit of a walking beam type of class I geometry, having a source of rotary motive power, a crank driven by the source of rotary motive power, a pitman pivotally connected at one end to the crank and pivotally connected at an opposite end to one end of a beam, a beam support for pivotally supporting the beam at a fulcrum, and a horsehead at an opposite end of the beam, said horsehead having a convex arcuate surface for supporting a wire rope sling connectable to a remote pump by means of a polish rod, said pumping unit being arranged to permit relatively efficient pumping of a well having a central axis inclined at an angle to geological vertical in a range from 10.degree. to about 45.degree. in that:
- (a) the beam support configuration, the beam support location and angle of inclination to the vertical of a longitudinal axis of the beam support are selected to maintain resultant forces exerted by the beam on the beam support as substantially compressive forces;
- (b) size, configuration and position of the horsehead are selected to avoid excessive wire rope sling wear and excessive lateral movement of the polish rod;
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- (c) the position of the fulcrum and length of the beam are selected so that the beam support does not intersect nor interfere with a wellhead.
A pumping unit of a walking beam type of class I geometry, having a source of rotary motive power, a crank driven by the source of rotary motive power, a pitman pivotally connected at one end of the crank and pivotally connected at an opposite end to one end of a beam, a beam support for pivotally supporting the beam at a fulcrum, and a horsehead at an opposite end of the beam, said horsehead having a convex arcuate surface for supporting a wire rope sling connectable to a remote pump, said pumping unit being arranged to permit relatively efficient pumping of a well having a central axis inclined at an angle to geological vertical in a range from 10.degree. to about 45.degree. in that:
- (a) the beam support configuration, the beam support location and angle of inclination to the vertical of a longitudinal axis of the beam support are selected to maintain resultant forces exerted by the beam on the beam support as substantially compressive forces;
- (b) a combination of the size, configuration and position of the horsehead and the length of the pitman is selected so as to maintain within the arcuate surface of the horsehead a lowermost point of contact of the wire sling therewith over a full range of oscillatory motion of the beam, while maintaining a notional line joining the lowermost point of contact and the fulcrum substantially perpendicular to the inclined central axis of the well;
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- (c) the position of the fulcrum and length of the beam are selected so that the beam support does not intersect nor interfere with a wellhead.
A pumping unit of a walking beam type of class I geometry, having a source of rotary motive power, a crank driven by the source of rotary motive power, a pitman pivotally connected at one end to the crank and at an opposite end to one end of a beam, a samson post pivotally supporting the beam at a fulcrum, and a horsehead at an opposite end of the beam, said horsehead having a convex arcuate surface for supporting a wire sling connectable to a remote pump, the pumping unit being arranged to be an adjustable pumping unit capable of relatively efficiently pumping a well having a central axis inclined in a range of 0.degree. to about 45.degree. to geological vertical, in that, for a given well having a central axis inclined within said range;
- (a) the pitman is adjustable in length, the length thereof being increased with increasing angle of inclination of the well to the vertical, so as to maintain within the arcuate surface of a horsehead a lowermost point of contact of the wire sling therewith over a full range of oscillatory motion of the beam, while maintaining a notional line joining the said lowermost point of contact and the fulcrum substantially perpendicular to the inclined central axis of the given well;
- (b) the samson post comprises a pair of coplanar legs and at least one rear leg, wherein the samson post is adjustably positionable to so as to maintain sufficient clearance between the samson post and a wellhead of a given well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.