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US 7,921,908 B2Granted
Gas restrictor for horizontally oriented pump
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsSteven K. Tetzlaff, Lance T. Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole pumping system includes a submersible pump assembly having a pump and a motor, and an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly. The inlet apparatus includes a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures, a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture, and a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member. At least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing.
Claims15
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing.
5 more elements
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing;
- and
- wherein one or more of the valve members are pivotally coupled to the spring members.
7 more elements
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing;
- and
- wherein one or more of the valve members are pivotally coupled to the housing.
7 more elements
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing;
- wherein the first ends of the spring members are pivotally coupled to the housing.
6 more elements
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing;
- and
- wherein the spring members comprise a curved portion that is coupled to corresponding valve members.
7 more elements
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing;
- wherein the spring members comprise a curved portion that is coupled to corresponding valve members;
- and
- wherein the spring members further comprise a first straight portion coupled to an end of the curved portion that extends in a direction parallel to the axis that is coupled to the housing.
8 more elements
A downhole pumping system, comprising:
- a submersible pump assembly comprising a pump and a motor;
- and
- an inlet apparatus operably coupled to the submersible pump assembly, the inlet apparatus comprising:
- a tubular housing for connection to an intake of the pump, the housing having an axis and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart apertures;
- a plurality of valve members, each valve member positioned within a corresponding aperture;
- and
- a plurality of spring members coupled to the housing, each spring member coupled to a corresponding valve member;
- wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spring members and the valve members extend above the outer surfaces of the housing;
- wherein the spring members comprise a curved portion that is coupled to corresponding valve members;
- wherein the spring members further comprise a first straight portion coupled to an end of the curved portion that extends in a direction parallel to the axis that is coupled to the housing;
- and
- wherein the spring members further comprise a second straight portion coupled to another end of the curved portion that extends in a direction parallel to the axis that is not coupled to the housing.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.