IP Library Granted Patent US 7,438,125
Granted Patent B2
US 7,438,125 · App. 11/110,447 · Granted Oct 21, 2008

Variable orifice bypass plunger

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,438,125
App. No.
11/110,447
Granted
Oct 21, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (43)

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.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 17, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CHAMPIONX LLC; APERGY ESP SYSTEMS, LLC; APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORP; HARBISON-FISCHER, INC.; NORRIS RODS, INC.,; NORRIS RODS, INC.,; NORRISEAL-WELLMARK, INC.; PCS FERGUSON, INC.; QUARTZDYNE, INC.; US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072004/0019 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ACE DOWNHOLE, LLC; HARBISON-FISCHER, INC.; NORRIS RODS, INC.; PCS FERGUSON, INC.; QUARTZDYNE, INC.; SPIRIT GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.; THETA OILFIELD SERVICES, INC.; APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORP.; NORRISEAL-WELLMARK, INC.; US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION; WINDROCK, INC.
Reel/Frame 060305/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: ACE DOWNHOLE, LLC; APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORP.; HARBISON-FISCHER, INC.; NORRIS RODS, INC.; NORRISEAL-WELLMARK, INC.; PCS FERGUSON, INC.; QUARTZDYNE, INC.; SPIRIT GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.; THETA OILFIELD SERVICES, INC.; US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION; WINDROCK, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053790/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 9, 2018
From: APERGY (DELAWARE) FORMATION, INC.; APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORP.; APERGY ENERGY AUTOMATION, LLC; HARBISON-FISCHER, INC.; NORRISEAL-WELLMARK, INC.; PCS FERGUSON, INC.; QUARTZDYNE, INC.; SPIRIT GLOBAL ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.; US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION; WINDROCK, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 046117/0015 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 15, 2014
From: PRODUCTION CONTROL SERVICES, INC.
To: PCS FERGUSON, INC.
Reel/Frame 034630/0529 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2012
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: PRODUCTION CONTROL SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 028109/0402 →
AMENDMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2008
From: MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., AS RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 020638/0368 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 11, 2007
From: PRODUCTION CONTROL SERVICES, INC.
To: MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL, A DIVISION OF MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 018731/0991 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2005
From: VICTOR, BRUCE M.
To: PRODUCTION CONTROL SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 016501/0500 →