Internal shock absorber bypass plunger
View Patent ↗A bypass plunger having one or more internal shock absorbing elements and a variety of bypass orifice options is disclosed.
1. A plunger comprising:
a cylindrical body having an upper end, a lower end, and an internal longitudinal orifice;
said lower end connectable to a bypass valve assembly, the bypass valve assembly comprising a moveable actuator rod positionable in an open and a closed bypass mode, whereby a pressurized gas bypasses the internal longitudinal orifice when the actuator rod is positioned in the open bypass mode during a plunger fall;
an internal shock absorbing assembly in connection with the cylindrical body and the bypass valve assembly; and
wherein a falling or a rising of the plunger results in the plunger hitting a well stop, causing the internal shock absorbing assembly to absorb a portion of an impact force created by the plunger striking the well stop.
2. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein the internal shock absorbing assembly further comprises a cylinder housing connectable to the bypass valve assembly.
3. The plunger of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder housing of the internal shock absorbing assembly is connectable to the cylindrical body through a captive collar.
4. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein the internal shock absorbing assembly further comprises an internal shock absorbing element supportable within the cylindrical body.
5. The plunger of claim 4 , wherein the internal shock absorbing element further comprises a spring.
6. The plunger of claim 4 , wherein the internal shock absorbing element further comprises an elastomer.
7. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein the bypass valve assembly further comprises one or more variably sized bypass orifices to receive and deliver a flow of pressurized gas from a well bottom to the internal longitudinal orifice when the actuator rod is positioned in the open bypass mode.
8. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein the bypass valve assembly further comprises a clutch to hold the actuator rod in the respective open or closed positions.
9. The plunger of claim 7 , wherein the bypass valve assembly further comprises a cylindrical housing having one or more variable set positions for adjusting a size of one or more bypass orifices.
10. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein the upper end further comprises a connecting member connectable to an upper internal shock absorbing assembly.
11. The plunger of claim 10 , wherein said upper internal shock absorbing assembly further comprises a cylinder housing connectable to said cylindrical body through a captive collar.
12. The plunger of claim 10 , wherein the upper internal shock absorbing assembly further comprises an internal shock absorbing element supportable within the cylindrical body.
13. A plunger comprising:
a mandrel body having two ends;
a first of said ends having a connecting member to connect thereto a shock absorbing assembly;
said shock absorbing assembly comprising an internal shock absorbing element capable of absorbing a portion of an impact force created when a falling or a rising of the plunger results in the plunger hitting a well stop;
said internal shock absorbing element being supportable within the mandrel body; and
wherein said shock absorbing assembly is connectable to a bypass valve assembly, said bypass valve assembly further comprising a moveable actuator rod positionable in an open and a closed bypass mode, whereby a pressurized gas bypasses a internal longitudinal orifice of said mandrel body when said actuator rod is positioned in the open bypass mode during a plunger fall.
14. The plunger of claim 13 , wherein said shock absorbing assembly further comprises a collar to contain said internal shock absorbing element within said mandrel body.
15. The plunger of claim 13 , wherein said bypass valve assembly further comprises one or more variably sized bypass orifices to receive and deliver a flow of pressurized gas from a well bottom to said internal longitudinal orifice when said actuator rod is positioned in the open bypass mode.
16. The plunger of claim 13 , wherein said second of said ends further comprises a connecting member connectable to a second shock absorbing assembly.
17. The plunger of claim 16 , wherein said second shock absorbing assembly further comprises a cylinder housing connectable to said mandrel body through a captive collar.
18. The plunger of claim 16 , wherein said second shock absorbing assembly further comprises an internal shock absorbing element supportable within said mandrel body.
19. A plunger comprising:
a mandrel means having an internal conduit, said mandrel means functioning to pass fluids through a casing of the plunger;
an internal shock absorbing means connectable to said mandrel means and functioning to absorb a portion of an impact force created by the plunger striking a well stop; and
a lower end bypass valve means connectable to the internal shock absorbing means and functioning to pass fluids through the mandrel means in an open mode, and block fluids in a closed mode.
20. A plunger comprising:
an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end;
each of said upper and lower ends comprising an internal shock absorbing assembly;
said lower end further comprising a bypass valve assembly connectable to the lower end internal shock absorbing assembly; and
wherein a falling or a rising of the plunger results in the plunger hitting a well stop causing each of said internal shock absorbing assemblies to absorb a portion of an impact force created by the plunger striking the stop.