Latch for a ball and sleeve plunger
AssigneeFlowco Production Solutions, LLC
InventorsGarrett S. Boyd, Mitchell A. Boyd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved latch structure for a two piece ball and sleeve bypass plunger comprises a single retaining ring installed in a groove formed in the inside diameter of the sleeve portion of the bypass plunger. The cross section profiles of the groove and the associated retaining ring are smaller in the radial direction. The depth of the groove in the sleeve is substantially reduced to provide increased wall thickness and robustness of the sleeve along the diameter of the sleeve, thereby extending the useful life of the bypass plunger.
Claims14
In a two piece bypass plunger comprising a ball and sleeve, a latch mechanism disposed within the bypass plunger for retaining the ball against a seat in a lower end of the sleeve, comprising:
- a single retaining ring installed in a groove proximate the seat and formed in the inside diameter of the lower end of the sleeve of the bypass plunger for retaining the ball against the seat;
- wherein
- the cross section profile of the groove is rectangular and defined by a first aspect ratio R1 such that its radial dimension A1 is less than ⅔ of its axial dimension B1;
- and
- the cross section profile of the retaining ring is rectangular and defined by a second aspect ratio R2 such that its radial dimension A2 is less than ⅔ of its axial dimension B2.
In a ball and sleeve bypass plunger, the sleeve formed as a hollow cylindrical member having a first inside diameter and first and second open ends, a check valve apparatus, comprising:
- a spherical seat formed to a first radius inside the first open end of the sleeve, wherein the center of the first radius of the spherical seat is disposed on a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and proximate the first open end;
- a groove formed around the first inside diameter of the sleeve proximate a plane passing through the center of radius of the spherical seat and normal to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, wherein the groove is rectangular in cross section and its radial dimension A1 is less than ⅔ of its axial dimension B1;
- a spherical valve formed having a second radius and disposed within the sleeve and against the spherical seat;
- and
- a circular retaining ring having a gap in its perimeter and a rectangular cross section, wherein the radial dimension A2 of the retaining ring is less than ⅔ of the axial dimension B2 of the retaining ring;
- and wherein
- the circular retaining ring is disposed within the groove formed around the inside of the sleeve for latching the spherical valve against the spherical seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.