Variable orifice bypass plunger
View Patent ↗A plunger mechanism comprises an adjustable bypass valve. Depending on well parameters, a user may desire to adjust the descent rate of a plunger in service. The present device allows the user to vary or adjust the bypass orifice to alter the flow of liquid through the plunger core.
1. A variable orifice bypass plunger comprising:
a cylindrical body having an upper end, a lower end, and an internal channel therethrough, said internal channel capable of passing a fluid from said upper end;
said lower end connectable to valve assembly comprising a push rod positionable in an open and a closed bypass mode;
said valve assembly further comprising a variably sized or adjustable inlet, said inlet in communication with said internal channel; and
wherein said valve assembly further comprises an outer body having an inlet hole and a rotatable control cylinder mounted therein, said rotatable control cylinder having a hole in a closure wall, wherein a rotation of said rotatable control cylinder adjusts said holes of said outer body and said rotatable control cylinder in relation to one another.
2. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said valve assembly is threadably connectable to said lower end.
3. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein said rotatable control cylinder further comprises a top surface having engagement holes capable of receiving spring loaded engagement means to set said rotatable control cylinder at a desired rotation.
4. The plunger of claim 3 , wherein said control cylinder further comprises a tool hole capable of receiving a tool to adjust said control cylinder.
5. The plunger of claim 4 , wherein said outer body further comprises a slot capable of receiving said tool and a push rod clutch brake assembly capable of holding said push rod in either its open or its closed mode.
6. The plunger of claim 3 , wherein said spring loaded engagement means further comprises a spring and a ball, said spring and ball capable of being received in a recess in said outer body.
7. An internal bypass plunger comprising:
a plunger body having an internal conduit with an inlet at its bottom and an outlet at its top;
said plunger bottom comprising a push rod movable from an extended position which leaves said inlet open, to a retracted position which closes said inlet;
said plunger bottom further comprising a side opening and a rotatable cage mounted inside, said cage comprising ahole aligned with said side opening;
wherein a change in the alignment of said side opening and said cage hole varies said inlet; and
wherein said rotatable cage further comprises a releasable lock assembly to maintain a rotated position until a user changes it.
8. The plunger of claim 7 , wherein said push rod comprises a clutch assembly capable of maintaining said push rod in a set position.
9. The plunger of claim 7 , wherein said releasable lock assembly further comprises a recess in said plunger bottom capable of receiving a spring and a ball, said ball lockable into a recess in said cage.
10. The plunger of claim 7 , wherein said cage further comprises an adjustment hole capable of receiving a tool.
11. The plunger of claim 10 , wherein said plunger bottom further comprises a slot capable of receiving said tool.
12. A variable bypass plunger comprising:
a plunger body having a fluid channel and an inlet thereto at its bottom;
a variable bypass assembly connectable to said bottom;
said variable bypass assembly comprising a rotatable casing with a side hole;
wherein an internal fixed cage comprises a side hole alignable with said casing side hole to provide a variable orifice in fluid communication with said bottom inlet; and
wherein a push rod is mountable in said variable bypass assembly to open and close said bottom inlet.
13. A variable orifice valve adapted to connect to an internal bypass plunger, said valve comprising:
an upper neck having a threaded connection for a plunger bottom;
said valve having a lower end with a clutch brake for a centrally mounted push rod;
said push rod having an upper valve head to seal an outlet of said upper neck in a retracted position, and open said outlet in an extended position;
said valve having an external housing with an inlet hole;
a rotatable cage mountable in said external housing; and
wherein a hole in said cage is moveable in relation to said external housing inlet hole to provide a variable orifice for said outlet.
14. The valve of claim 13 , wherein said cage comprises a lock to temporarily set said cage in a desired position until a user changes the position.
15. The valve of claim 14 , wherein said cage comprises an adjustment hole for a tool, and said external housing comprises a slot to receive said tool.
16. The valve of claim 15 , wherein said lock further comprises a recess in said external housing, said recess capable of receiving a spring and a ball, said ball slidingly engageablewith a recess in said cage.
17. A variable orifice valve for an internal bypass plunger, the apparatus comprising:
a housing capable of providing a connection at its upper end to a lower end of a plunger;
said housing having a lower end comprising a clutch to support a push rod in a set position;
said push rod capable of opening and closing said upper end; and
a cage means mountable in said housing, said cage means capable of rotation to a desired position so as to align a cage hole with a housing hole, thereby providing a variable orifice to said upper end.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said cage means comprises a spring loaded catch capable of engaging a portion of said housing, said catch capable of temporarily setting said cage means at a position until a user changes said position.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the cage means comprises an adjustment hole to receive a tool for rotational adjustment.