Sleeve and method of use for preventing polish rod scoring by a pump jack carrier structure

A method for protecting a reciprocating polish rod from circumferential scoring, the polish rod being rotated with a rod-rotator and being suspended by and extending through a bore of a pump jack carrier structure, the carrier structure having a top end for suspending the polish rod and a bottom end through which the polish rod extends, comprising:

• providing a cylindrical sleeve having top and bottom ends, the sleeve having an outer dimension adapted to fit the bore of the carrier structure and a bore through which the polish rod passes slidably and rotatably, the top end having an upset;
• installing the body of the sleeve into the top of the carrier structure and into its bore, the bottom end of the sleeve extending substantially to the bottom end of the of the carrier structure and the sleeve's upset retaining the sleeve therein;
• installing the polish rod through the bore of the sleeve;
• and
• suspending the polish rod from the top of the carrier structure so that the sleeve guides the polish rod through the carrier structure without contact of the polish rod and the carrier structure and thereby prevents circumferential scoring of the polish rod when the rod is rotated by the rod-rotator.

A sleeve fitted to a reciprocating carrier bar of a pump jack, the carrier bar having a polish rod extending therethough and having a top end which supports a rod-rotator, the polish rod being rotatably supported from a rod clamp located above the rod-rotator, the sleeve comprising:

• a bore through which a polish rod passes rotatably;
• a top end for supporting the rod-rotator and having an upset for retaining the sleeve to the carrier bar;
• and
• a bottom end which is spaced from the top end so that it extends substantially through the carrier bar so that the sleeve guides the polish rod through the carrier bar without contact between the polish rod and the carrier bar thereby prevents circumferential scoring therebetween when the polish rod is subsequently rotated by the rod-rotator.