US3610337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tubing unloader
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to apparatus for unloading fluid from a string of tubing disposed in a well bore which comprises a first conduit member having the lower end thereof adapted to be connected to a lower portion of the tubing string and having a fluid port extending through a side thereof, and a second conduit member telescopingly mounted within the first conduit member having the upper end thereof adapted to be connected to an upper portion of the tubing string. The first conduit member includes an internal seating surface positioned below the fluid port for sealingly engaging the lower end of the second conduit member. A spring-loaded dog is attached to one of the conduit members facing a peripheral surface of the other of the conduit members, and continuous groove means are provided in the peripheral surface of the other conduit member for slidably engaging the spring-loaded dog. The continuous groove means are of a shape such that the second conduit member may be alternately moved with respect to the first conduit member and locked in positions whereby the interiors of conduit members are communicated with the fluid port, or the second conduit member is engaged by the seating surface of the first conduit member thereby preventing communication between the interiors of the conduit members and the fluid port.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:04
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B34/00; E21B34/06; E21B34/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for unloading fluid from a string of tubing disposed substantially vertically in a well bore which comprises: a first conduit member having one end thereof adapted to be connected in said tubing string and having a fluid port extending through a side thereof; a second conduit member having one end telescopingly mounted within the other end of said first conduit member and having the other end thereof adapted to be connected in said tubing string; said first conduit member including an internal seating surface for sealing engaging the end of said second conduit member mounted therein; a spring-loaded dog attached to one of said conduit members facing a peripheral surface of the other of said conduit members; and the other of said conduit members including continuous groove means in the peripheral surface thereof for slidably engaging said spring-loaded dog, said continuous groove means being of a shape such that said conduit members may be alternatively moved with respect to each other and positively locked in positions whereby the interiors of said conduit members are Communicated with said fluid port or said second conduit member is engaged by the seating surface of said first conduit member thereby preventing communication between the interiors of said conduit members and said fluid port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for unloading fluid from a string of tubing disposed substantially vertically in a well bore which comprises: a first conduit member having one end thereof adapted to be connected in said tubing string and having a fluid port extending through a side thereof; a second conduit member having one end telescopingly mounted within the other end of said first conduit member and having the other end thereof adapted to be connected in said tubing string; said first conduit member including an internal seating surface for sealing engaging the end of said second conduit member mounted therein; a spring-loaded dog attached to one of said conduit members facing a peripheral surface of the other of said conduit members; and the other of said conduit members including continuous groove means in the peripheral surface thereof for slidably engaging said spring-loaded dog, said continuous groove means being of a shape such that said conduit members may be alternatively moved with respect to each other and positively locked in positions whereby the interiors of said conduit members are Communicated with said fluid port or said second conduit member is engaged by the seating surface of said first conduit member thereby preventing communication between the interiors of said conduit members and said fluid port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring-loaded dog is attached to the inside peripheral surface of said first conduit member facing the outside peripheral surface of said second conduit member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said continuous groove means comprises: a first vertical groove positioned in a side of said second conduit member; a second vertical groove positioned in the side of said second conduit member opposite from said first vertical groove; a first horizontal semiannular groove positioned above and connecting the upper ends of said first and second vertical grooves; a second horizontal semiannular groove positioned below and connecting the lower ends of said first and second vertical grooves; and means disposed in the lower end of said first vertical groove for permitting said spring-loaded dog to slide therefrom into said second horizontal groove, but preventing the reverse movement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for permitting said spring-loaded dog to slide from said first vertical groove into said second horizontal groove but preventing the reverse movement thereof comprises; each of said grooves being of generally rectangular shape in cross section; said dog having a surface for slidably engaging the bottom surface of said grooves and having an upwardly facing horizontal shoulder at the upper end thereof; the bottom surface of said first groove progressively increasing radially outwardly with respect to the axis of said second conduit member at the lower end thereof and terminating in a downwardly facing horizontal shoulder at the intersection of said first vertical groove with said second horizontal groove so that said dog will readily slide on the bottom surface of said first vertical groove into said second horizontal groove but will be prevented from reverse movement by engagement of the upwardly facing shoulder of said dog with said downwardly facing shoulder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 4 which is further characterized to include means disposed in the upper end of said second vertical groove for permitting said spring-loaded dog to slide therefrom into said first horizontal groove, but preventing the reverse movement thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for permitting said spring-loaded dog to slide from said second vertical groove into said first horizontal groove but preventing reverse movement thereof comprises: each of said grooves being of generally rectangular shape in cross section; said dog having a surface for slidably engaging the bottom surface of said grooves and having a downwardly facing horizontal shoulder at the lower end thereof; the bottom surface of said second vertical groove progressively increasing radially outwardly with respect to the axis of second conduit member at the upper end thereof and terminating in an upwardly facing horizontal shoulder at the intersection of said second vertical groove so that said dog will readily slide on the bottom surface of said second vertical groove into said first horizontal groove but will be prevented from reverse movement by engagement of the downwardly facing shoulder of said dog with said upwardly facing shoulder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 6 which is further characterized to include resilient sealing means disposed within said first conduit member sealingly engaging the outside periphery of said second conduit member and the inside periphery of said first conduit member when said conduit members are positioned with respect to each other so that communication between the interiors thereof and said fluid port is prevented.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said continuous groove means includes a pair of vertical groOves, a first horizontal groove extending between the upper ends of the vertical grooves and around a portion of its respective peripheral surface, and a second horizontal groove extending between the lower ends of the vertical grooves and around a portion of the respective peripheral surface opposite to the first horizontal groove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vertical grooves are positioned approximately 180* apart, around said peripheral surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |