Well flow sensing apparatus

Claim 2

Flow sensing apparatus for generating a signal in response to a flow condition through a flow conduit comprising; elongated tubular body means sized for close-fitting insertion into a flow conduit and adapted to force a substantial portion of the fluid flow in the conduit therethrough, and having elastomeric seal means thereon arranged to seal against the inner surface of a flow conduit; a flow responsive member slidably located in said tubular body means and adapted to close the inner passage of said body means in one position of said member; biasing means in said body means abutting said member and continuously urging said member against the fluid flow through said body means towards said closing position in said body means; extension means attached to said member and extending slidably out of said body means; and, switch means operably engaging said extension means and arranged to convert movements of said extension means into pulse signals.

Claim 3

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises an electro-mechanical switch adapted to receive and convert mechanical pulses into an electrical pulse signal.

Claim 4

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said extension means is an elongated rod arranged to extend out of said tubular body means and the flow conduit, with cam means thereon; and said switch means includes and is actuated by a mechanical cam follower engaging said cam means.

Claim 5

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow member in a second position in said tubular body means forms a flow orifice therein, and said tubular body means has flow exit means through the wall thereof downstream of said flow orifice.

Claim 6

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tubular body means further comprises connection means for securing said body means to a flow conduit system, said connection means being located at least partially exteriorly to the flow conduit system; with said extension means arranged to extended sealingly and slidably through said connection means.

Claim 7

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said switch means is securedly attached to said exterior portion of said connection means.

Claim 8

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for expanding said seal means into relatively tight sealing engagement with the inner wall of a flow conduit.

Claim 9

The flow sensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said seal means comprises an elastomeric ring encircling said body means, and said expanding means comprises a shouldered sleeve threadedly engaging said body means and arranged to apply axial compression to said seal ring to radially expand said seal ring.

Claim 10

A flow sensing cartridge adapted to be inserted through a flowline having a flow tee therein, said flow cartridge comprising: a tubular body adapted to be inserted through a flow tee and into a flow conduit; connection means on said body for connection to a flow tee through which said body has been inserted; an annular orifice seat in said body; an orifice closing member located slidably in said body and arranged for substantially sealing engagement in said orifice seat in a first position of said slidable member; seal means on said body for sealing engagement with the inner surface of a flow conduit; biasing means continuously urging said orifice member against said orifice seat; orifice flow area means downstream of said orifice seat arranged to allow fluid flow past said orifice seat from the flow conduit in a second position of said orifice member; signal rod means attached to said orifice member and extending sealingly and slidably out of said tubular body past the flow tee; and, switch means engaging said signal rod means and adapted to be actuated into sending signal pulses by movement of said signal rod means.

Claim 11

A flow sensing cartridge adapted to be inserted through a flowline having a flow tee therein, said flow cartridge comprising: a tubular body adapted to be inserted through a flow tee and into a flow conduit; connection means on said body for connection to a flow tee through which said body has been inserted; an annular orifice seat in said body; an orifice closing member located slidably in said body and arranged for substantially sealing engagement in said orifice seat in a first position of said slidable member; seal means on said body for sealing engagement with the inner surface of a flow conduit; biasing means continuously urging said orifice member against said orifice seat; orifice flow area means downstream of said orifice seat arranged to allow fluid flow past said orifice seat from the flow conduit in a second position of said orifice member; signal rod means attached to said orifice member and extending sealingly and slidably out of said tubular body past the flow tee; and, switch means engaging said signal rod means and adapted to be actuated into sending signal pulses by movement of said signal rod means.

Claim 12

The flow sensing cartridge of claim 9 further comprising seal expanding means for radially expanding said seal means into tight sealing engagement with the inner wall of a flow conduit.

Claim 13

The flow sensing cartridge of claim 9 wherein said switch means comprises an electro-mechanical switch adapted to be actuated into sending electrical impulses by mechanical movement of said signal rod means.

Claim 14

An amplified flow sensor for generating pulsed signals in response to pumped fluid flow through aa flow conduit, comprising: back pressure valve means locatable in a flow conduit and operable by high pressure; low pressure response means connected to and fluidically communicating with said back pressure valve means and responsive to pressure pulses therethrough; signal means operable connected to said pressure response means and mechanically actuated thereby; said signal means adapted to send a signal in response to said pressure pulses through said low pressure response means.

Claim 15

An amplified flow sensor for generating pulsed signals in response to pumped fluid flow through aa flow conduit, comprising: back pressure valve means locatable in a flow conduit and operable by high pressure; low pressure response means connected to and fluidically communicating with said back pressure valve means and responsive to pressure pulses therethrough; signal means operable connected to said pressure response means and mechanically actuated thereby; said signal means adapted to send a signal in response to said pressure pulses through said low pressure response means.

Claim 16

The flow sensor of claim 12 wherein said back pressure valve means comprises a valve member, a valve seat adapted to receive said valve member in closing engagement therein, and first resilient biasing means urging said valve member into said valve seat.

Claim 17

The flow sensor of claim 13 wherein said low pressure response means comprise a tubular body having an orificed flow passage therethrough, a pressure responsive member in said body and arranged to be moved into closing engagement in said flow passage, and second resilient biasing means urging said pressure responsive member against flow through said flow passage; said first biasing means being substantially stronger than said second biasing means.

Claim 18

A flow sensing system for detecting fluid flow from a rod-pumped oil well through the oil well production flowline, said sensing system comprising: high pressure opening means adapted to be located in a well flowline and arranged to open said flowline to fluid flow only in response to relatively high pressure therein; high amplitude response means in communication with and downstream of said opening means and adapted to generate a large responsive movement upon opening of said opening means; and, signal means operably connected to said response means and adapted to generate a signal in response to said generated movement.

Claim 19

A flow sensing system for detecting fluid flow from a rod-pumped oil well through the oil well production flowline, said sensing system comprising: high pressure opening means adapted to be located in a well flowline and arranged to open said flowline to fluid flow only in response to relatively high pressure therein; high amplitude response means in communication with and downstream of said opening means and adapted to generate a large responsive movement upon opening of said opening means; and, signal means operably connected to said response means and adapted to generate a signal in response to said generated movement.

Claim 20

The flow sensing system of claim 15 wherein said high amplitude response means comprises a flow sensing cartridge adapted for slidable engagement in a flowline; said cartridge having a spring biased flow valve therein and resilient sealing means thereon for sealing engagement in a flowline.

Claim 21

The flow sensing system of claim 16 wherein said high pressure opening means comprises a resiliently biased valve located upstream of said response means and having closing biasing means substantially stronger than said spring biased flow valve.

Claim 22

The flow sensing system of claim 17 wherein said high pressure opening means further comprises a valve seat encircling a flow passage, a valve member arranged for closing said flow passage by abutting said valve seat, a biasing spring arranged to bias said valve member into said seat against pump fluid flowing therethrough, and means for adjusting the biasing force of said spring.