Well pumping control

Claim 2

For combination with vertically reciprocable pumping means in a well, a system comprising a. apparatus at the well head to raise and lower said pumping means, b. a counterbalancing assembly operatively connected with said apparatus and including a holder positioned to be moved upwardly and downwardly as the pumping means is moved downwardly and upwardly respectively in the well, and c. means to adjust imposition on the holder of a quantity of counterbalancing metallic weights in compensating relation to variations in the load to be lifted by said apparatus, said means comprising mechanism to feed the weights onto and off the holder independently of movement of the holder.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 including said quantity of metallic weights carried by the holder.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said weights are defined by interconnected chain links.

Claim 5

For combination with vertically reciprocable pumping means in a well, a system comprising a. apparatus at the well head to raise and lower said pumping means, b. a counterbalancing assembly operatively connected with said apparatus and including a holder positioned to be moved upwardly and downwardly as the pumping means is moved downwardly and upwardly respectively in the well, and c. means to adjust imposition on the holder of a quantity of counterbalancing metallic weights in compensating relation to variations in the load to be lifted by said apparatus, comprising mechanism to feed chain onto and off the holder.

Claim 6

For combination with vertically reciprocable pumping means in a well, a system comprising a. apparatus at the well head to raise and lower said pumping means, b. a counterbalancing assembly operatively connected with said apparatus and including a holder positioned to be moved upwardly and downwardly as the pumping means is moved downwardly and upwardly respectively in the well, and c. means to adjust imposition on the holder of a quantity of counterbalancing metallic weights in compensating relation to variations in the load to be lifted by said apparatus, comprising mechanism to feed chain onto and off the holder.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4 wherein said mechanism comprises a chain driving sheave at the well head and a reversible rotary drive operatively connected with said sheave.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 including said pumping means in the well.

Claim 9

The system of claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes a drum at the well head, and including cable spooled on the drum for supporting said pumping means in the well.

Claim 10

The system of claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes a walking beam at the well head.

Claim 11

The system of claim 5 wherein said means includes a controller to sense an overload condition arising when the counterbalancing effect of said assembly is either insufficient or excessive.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein the controller has an output connected with said reversible rotary drive to effect rotation thereof in one direction to advance chain onto the holder when the controller senses insufficient counterbalancing by said assembly, and to effect rotation thereof in the opposite direction to withdraw chain from the holder when the controller senses excessive counterbalancing by said assembly.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10 wherein the controller includes a chain link counter.

Claim 14

The system of claim 4 including the chain which is coated with electrically insulative material.

Claim 15

In the operation of apparatus at a well head to reciprocate a pump in and lengthwise of the well, thereby to lift well fluid in the well, said apparatus including an electric drive, and wherEin the load imposed on said apparatus is to be counterbalanced by metallic weight imposed on a reciprocating holder, there being mechanism to feed weight onto and off the holder, the steps that comprise, a. sensing changing amperage requirements of the drive, and b. operating said mechanism in response to said sensing to feed said weight onto and off the holder at the well head in counterbalancing relation to changes in said imposed load.

Claim 16

In the operation of apparatus at a well head to reciprocate a pump in and lengthwise of the well, thereby to lift well fluid in the well, said apparatus including an electric drive, and wherEin the load imposed on said apparatus is to be counterbalanced by metallic weight imposed on a reciprocating holder, there being mechanism to feed weight onto and off the holder, the steps that comprise, a. sensing changing amperage requirements of the drive, and b. operating said mechanism in response to said sensing to feed said weight onto and off the holder at the well head in counterbalancing relation to changes in said imposed load.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein said weight consists of metallic chain and said last step is carried out by controllin the supply of metallic chain to effect the counterbalance.

Claim 18

For combination with a vertically reciprocable pumping means in a well, a system comprising a. apparatus at the well head to raise and lower said pumping means, said apparatus including a walking beam having a pivot and structure at one side of the pivot to receive weight imposed by the pumping means. b. a counterbalancing assembly operatively connected with the beam at the opposite side of said pivot, said assembly including a vertically reciprocating weigh holder extending underground, and c. means to adjust imposition on the holder of counterbalancing weight in compensating relation to variations in the load to be lifted by said apparatus, said means comprising mechanism to feed weight onto and off the holder independently of vertical reciprocation of the holder.

Claim 19

For combination with a vertically reciprocable pumping means in a well, a system comprising a. apparatus at the well head to raise and lower said pumping means, said apparatus including a walking beam having a pivot and structure at one side of the pivot to receive weight imposed by the pumping means. b. a counterbalancing assembly operatively connected with the beam at the opposite side of said pivot, said assembly including a vertically reciprocating weigh holder extending underground, and c. means to adjust imposition on the holder of counterbalancing weight in compensating relation to variations in the load to be lifted by said apparatus, said means comprising mechanism to feed weight onto and off the holder independently of vertical reciprocation of the holder.