Locking gas equalizer assembly

A gas equalizer for use in a reciprocating subsurface pump having a standing check valve in a standing cage and a traveling check valve in a traveling cage, comprising:

• unseating means effective to mechanically unseat said traveling valve when said traveling cage is in a position nearest said standing valve;
• a sliding surface depending from said traveling valve;
• and
• piston means slidably attached to said sliding surface for reciprocating said unseating means within said traveling valve;
• said sliding surface and said piston means defining at least two facing planar surfaces for lateral stability of said piston means effective for relative reciprocation of said piston means on said sliding surface in said traveling valve.

A subsurface pump having a reciprocating stroke from an assembly of sucker rods extending from a borehole, comprising:

• a standing check valve disposed in a standing valve cage;
• a traveling check valve disposed in a traveling valve cage;
• a gas equalizer, including unseating means slidably disposed between said standing valve and said traveling valve for mechanically unseating said traveling valve when said traveling valve cage is in a position nearest said standing valve cage;
• and
• locking means for locking said gas equalizer against rotation relative to said traveling valve cage and said standing valve for rotatably removing said sucker rods from said traveling valve in said borehole.