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US 7,980,314 B2Granted
Gas restrictor for pump
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorJohn J Mack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inlet apparatus for a well pump.
Claims26
An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- wherein each valve member is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through a subset of the corresponding apertures.
1 more element
An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- wherein each valve member is adapted to cause a serpentine flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding apertures.
1 more element
An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- wherein each valve member is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the housing.
1 more element
An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing;
- and
- wherein each valve member comprises a tubular member.
3 more elements
An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing;
- and
- wherein each valve member comprises a tapered tubular member.
3 more elements
An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump, 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- wherein each valve member comprises a ball shaped member.
1 more element
A method of operating an intake valve for a submersible pump, the valve comprising a plurality of valve elements for controlling the flow of materials into a plurality of inlet passages defined in the valve, comprising:
- controlling a degree to which materials flow into the inlet passages of the valve by permitting a gravitational force to displace the valve elements relative to the valve.
An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:
- a pump;
- the pump having an intake section;
- 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;
- a motor coupled to the sealing section;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;
- wherein each valve member is adapted to prevent a flow of fluidic materials through a subset of the corresponding apertures.
7 more elements
An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:
- a pump;
- the pump having an intake section;
- 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;
- a motor coupled to the sealing section;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;
- wherein each valve member is adapted to cause a serpentine flow of fluidic materials through the corresponding apertures.
7 more elements
An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:
- a pump;
- the pump having an intake section;
- 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;
- a motor coupled to the sealing section;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;
- wherein each valve member is adapted to be displaced in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the housing.
7 more elements
An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:
- a pump;
- the pump having an intake section;
- 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;
- a motor coupled to the sealing section;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;
- wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing;
- and
- wherein each valve member comprises a tubular member.
9 more elements
An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:
- a pump;
- the pump having an intake section;
- 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;
- a motor coupled to the sealing section;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;
- wherein the valve members are free to move with respect to the tubular housing;
- and
- wherein each valve member comprises a tapered tubular member.
9 more elements
An apparatus for pumping a well, comprising:
- a pump;
- the pump having an intake section;
- 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;
- and
- a plurality of valve members operably coupled to the housing, each valve member adapted to control a flow of fluidic materials into at least one corresponding aperture;
- a sealing section coupled to the tubular housing;
- a motor coupled to the sealing section;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the motor and the pump and passing through the tubular housing for transmitting torque from the motor to the pump;
- wherein each valve member comprises a ball shaped member.
7 more elements
A method of operating a submersible pump comprising an inlet and an outlet, comprising:
- positioning the pump within a wellbore casing that traverses a subterranean formation;
- coupling a conduit to the outlet of the pump;
- coupling a valve to the inlet of the pump that comprises a plurality of valve elements for controlling the flow of materials into a plurality of inlet passages defined in the valve;
- coupling a motor to the pump;
- and
- controlling a degree to which materials flow into the inlet passages of the valve by permitting a gravitational force to displace the valve elements relative to the valve.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.