Drive head for flexible conveyor fluid lifting system

A system for transporting fluids, comprising:

• a drive head with a frame for mounting near a tubing string orifice;
• a drive wheel and a second wheel rotatably mounted on said frame and each adaptable to receive an endless fluid-entraining conveyor, said conveyor following a conveyor path adjoining said first and second wheels and extending into and out from said tubing string orifice, said second wheel being nearer said orifice on said conveyor path than said drive wheel;
• a first conveyor track of said drive wheel having a first radius and adaptable to contact said conveyor through at least a majority of the circumference of said first conveyor track;
• a second conveyor track formed on said second wheel and having a second radius larger than said first radius;
• a prime mover coupled to said drive wheel for imparting a rotational force thereto;
• and
• a remote pulley located at an end of said tubing string opposite said orifice, said conveyor passing around said remote pulley.

A system for transporting fluids, comprising:

• a drive head with a frame for mounting near a well head;
• a drive wheel and a second wheel rotatably mounted on said frame and each adaptable to receive an endless fluid-entraining conveyor, said conveyor following a conveyor path adjoining said first and second wheels and extending to and from said well head, said second wheel being nearer said well head on said conveyor path than said drive wheel;
• a first conveyor track of said drive wheel having a first radius and adaptable to contact said conveyor through at least a majority of the circumference of said first conveyor track;
• a second conveyor track on said second wheel with a second radius larger than said first radius;
• a prime mover coupled to said drive wheel for imparting a rotational force thereto;
• and
• a downhole pulley located in said well at a predetermined distance from said well head, said conveyor passing around said downhole pulley.

A method for transporting materials, comprising the steps of:

• passing a continuous conveyor through a conveyor path that leads from an orifice of a tube and into a drive head;
• passing said conveyor around a portion of a third conveyor track disposed on a second wheel mounted on a frame of the drive head;
• passing said conveyor from said third conveyor track to a first conveyor track formed on a drive wheel mounted on said frame;
• passing said conveyor around at least a majority of the circumference of said first conveyor track;
• passing said conveyor from said first conveyor track to a second conveyor track formed on the second drive wheel;
• passing said conveyor from said second conveyor track to a fourth conveyor track formed on a third wheel mounted on said frame;
• passing said conveyor from said fourth track into said orifice;
• passing said conveyor over a pulley located at a remote end of said tubing string;
• returning said conveyor from said pulley to said orifice and into said drive head apparatus to complete said conveyor path of said conveyor;
• and
• rotating said drive wheel to cause said conveyor to move along said conveyor path, thereby causing material to be transported along said tube toward said orifice.

A drive head for use in transporting materials, comprising:

• a frame for mounting near a tubing orifice;
• a drive wheel, a second wheel, and a third wheel rotatably mounted on said frame and each adaptable to receive a fluid-entraining conveyor, said conveyor following a conveyor path adjoining said drive, second, and third wheels and extending to and from said tubing orifice, said second wheel being nearer said orifice on said conveyor path than said drive wheel, said third wheel being nearer said orifice on said conveyor path than said second wheel;
• said drive wheel having a first conveyor track with a first radius adaptable to receive a conveyor on said conveyor path such that said conveyor winds about at least a majority of the circumference of said first track;
• said second wheel having a second conveyor track with a second radius larger than said first radius and a third conveyor track distinct from said second conveyor track;
• said conveyor following said conveyor path such that said conveyor comes into contact with said third conveyor track on said second wheel as said conveyor follows said conveyor path away from said orifice and said conveyor comes into contact with said second track on said second wheel after said conveyor comes into contact with said drive wheel and as said conveyor follows said conveyor path towards said orifice;
• and
• a prime mover coupled to said drive wheel for imparting a rotational force thereto.

A drive head for use in transporting fluids, comprising:

• a frame for mounting near a well head;
• a drive wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, said drive wheel including:
• a wheel hub formed of a first, relatively hard material;
• and
• a drive tire having a gripping surface for a fluid-transporting conveyor, said tire formed of a second material which exhibits a higher coefficient of friction with respect to said conveyor than said first material of said wheel hub and mounted on said wheel hub.

A drive head for use in transporting fluid materials, comprising:

• a frame for mounting near a tubing orifice;
• a drive wheel, a second wheel, and a third wheel rotatably mounted on said frame and each adaptable to receive, in sequence, a fluid-entraining conveyor, said conveyor following a conveyor path adjoining said drive wheel, said second wheel, and said third wheel, and extending from and back to said tubing orifice, said second wheel being nearer said orifice on said conveyor path than said drive wheel, said third wheel being nearer said orifice on said conveyor path than said second wheel;
• said drive wheel having a first conveyor track with a first radius such that said conveyor winds about said drive wheel through at least a majority of the circumference of said conveyor;
• said second wheel having an interior conveyor track with a first radius and an exterior conveyor track with a second radius, said second radius being larger than said first radius;
• said third wheel having an interior conveyor track with a third radius and an exterior conveyor track with a fourth radius, said fourth radius sufficiently small to not come into contact with said conveyor;
• said conveyor following said conveyor path such that said conveyor comes into contact with said exterior conveyor track of said second wheel as said conveyor follows said conveyor path away from said orifice and said conveyor comes into contact with said interior conveyor track of said second wheel after said conveyor comes into contact with said drive wheel and as said conveyor follows said conveyor path towards said orifice, and such that said conveyor lastly comes into contact with said interior conveyor track of said third wheel as said conveyor follows said conveyor path and proceeds toward said orifice;
• and
• means for imparting a rotational force to said drive wheel.